Looking at a AR pistol in 5.45x39 for range fun, but don't know much about the round other than the fact it's cheaper than 5.56 by several cents a round a a few cents a round than .223 in steel casing. Will it perform any better/worse in a shorter barrel (7"-8.5") than .223/5.56? I never thought about using that caliber and might sell the BCG and barrel to switch, but the cheaper ammo would be nice.

5.45x39 is accurate, and has devastating wound ballistics - at least in military loadings, out of military-length barrels.

Not sure how well it'll do out of a shorter pistol barrel, and/or using a simple lead-core bullet, though I guess hollowpoint is available for defensive and hunting use, as well.

Ok good to know. Is it on par with the 5.56 round?

As someone with several thousand rounds of 7n6, purchased before the ban, at the current market price it is not worth it IMO.  If you are doing it for the sake of doing something different then sure, but the savings really aren't there anymore.

Using SGAmmo as a reference;
5.45:  22 CPR - 26 CPR
223:  20 CPR -28 CPR
5.56: 30CPR and up

These are prices from 1000 round lots, before shipping.  If you were in OH I could point you to a guy selling 7n6 for 15 CPR which is pretty good.

Is sgammo similar to ammoseek.com? I'm guessing he doesn't ship ammo?

Sgammo

As to the Ohio 7n6, yes local only or I'd have bought some.

My 5.45x39 pistol, couple years old now;


ALG EMR 12" Rail (Giessele affiliated) 7.84oz !!
10.5" 5.45x39 1:8 Balistic Advantage Melonite bbl from AimSurplus
KAK Flash Can
Magpul K2 low angle pistol grip
Magpul MBUS
Thordsen Customs ENHANCED AR PISTOL BUILDERS PACKAGE
Primary Arms MRD on 1/3 Cowitness QD mount
Bushmaster Lower
PSA Upper/BCG/LPK



Little to no effect on it.  Blast away.  All my AR500 is from Widners.

16" AR15 Rifle does 2960fps/1031fpe with 7N6
10.5" AR15 Pistol does 2700fps/858fpe with 7N6

^ Thats 91% as powerful as a 16" if you are counting.

Russian 5.45 is superior to most common 5.56/223. In my opinion.