Quoted: Campybob, the russian army still does issue rifles in 7.62x39. Just thought I'd let you know.
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It is true that they still use 7.62x39mm in some of the RPK's and for other limited roles. Its mainly a Spec-Op type weapon now though. The mainstream troops are all equiped with 5.45x39mm. Apparently some American spec- ops troops are equiped with 7.62x39mm as well..... 7.62x39mm is a good caliber which fills a niche in the caliber world. I suspect that it will be around a long time after 5.45x39.5mm is gone....
Interestingly the Russians have started producing 5.56mm AK's for export. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't eventually switch over to a Russian 5.56mm. You can make 5.56mm behave just like 5.45mm currently does, except that 5.56mm will always be a more powerful round (and hence better).
I have a SAR-2 and a SAR-3. I think that 5.45mm is interesting. But the bottom line is that 5.56mm has more powder in the bullet and will always fire at a higher velocity. Just as 357 will always be preferable to 38 spl., 5.56mm is better than 5.45mm.
And just for the record, the AK is my favorite rifle and I have a quite different types. It may be that 5.56mm AKs are the way of the future though. Although I suspect that 7.62x39mm will always be around and in use for limited roles. Interestingly, the US military has been experimenting with subsonic 200 grain 7.62x39mm AR's (yes I said AR's), for use as short ranged silent sniper rifles. It is a very versatile round and will be with us for a long time.
-SouthernShark