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Posted: 11/14/2013 7:22:59 PM EDT
[#1]
yes over at gunco website , we reload 5.45 using 222 cal and 223 brass resized in lee 5.45 dies ( special order) also we resize 223 projectiles or buy hornaday 221 projectiles
using 222 load data |
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Posted: 11/14/2013 7:33:46 PM EDT
[#2]
RWS made some brass at some point.
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Posted: 11/14/2013 8:12:16 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: yes over at gunco website , we reload 5.45 using 222 cal and 223 brass resized in lee 5.45 dies ( special order) also we resize 223 projectiles or buy hornaday 221 projectiles using 222 load data Always learning something new here.
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Posted: 11/14/2013 9:06:13 PM EDT
[#4]
It isn't worth is financially. Surplus is cheap enough, and die companies do VERY limited runs at a premium price, and you have to resize 222rem brass, and resize projectiles.
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Posted: 11/15/2013 5:20:08 AM EDT
[#5]
the special dies where $ 38, the resizing die was $ 22 we get the brass for free and projectiles we have already, yah surplus is cheap well on and off it has been, but you can load your own formula I worked up one for hog with 70gr tsx blems from midway
wait till our dear leader stops imports and he will by executive fiat if he has his way its time to start thinking ahead, instead of from behind I am old enough to remember when 30 cal carbine was plentiful and cheap same with good 8mm mauser surplus, same will happen with russian calibers |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 6:25:38 AM EDT
[#6]
I have reloaded 5.45. I have used 222 & 223 brass to do so, because I had lots of 223 on hand. I have not yet fired my brass more than once, so I can't say for sure which brass would be preferable. For bullets I resized 223. Occasionally someone will sell the blems from hornady. But in a nutshell you can convert 223 components to reload 5.45.
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Posted: 11/15/2013 7:18:27 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
the special dies where $ 38, the resizing die was $ 22 we get the brass for free and projectiles we have already, yah surplus is cheap well on and off it has been, but you can load your own formula I worked up one for hog with 70gr tsx blems from midway wait till our dear leader stops imports and he will by executive fiat if he has his way its time to start thinking ahead, instead of from behind I am old enough to remember when 30 cal carbine was plentiful and cheap same with good 8mm mauser surplus, same will happen with russian calibers Right now, the taps are turned "on" letting 5.45 IMPORTS flow into the USA. We are just one or two mass shootings away from those taps being shut off forever. Bonus Q: how's the supply of Norinco 223 ammo in your area? 
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Posted: 11/15/2013 7:56:48 AM EDT
[#8]
I'm interested in this even though I don't own a 5.45. I don't want to buy something for which I can't reload. Even if I can build an ammo fortress of corrrosive, steel-cased, steel-jacketed ammo, I can't shoot it at my steel targets. If I could reload it, I could shoot copper jacketed bullets at my precious steel.
Hornady makes 5.45 ammo. Drat, steel case only. |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 8:12:06 AM EDT
[#9]
I find it better to anneal 223 brass before I resize, but I got a good deal on some rem 222 brass a while back, so I have been using that, as to save my 223 brass, I have reloaded my resized brass a few times already no real problems yet
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Posted: 11/15/2013 9:18:26 AM EDT
[#10]
Does anyone have any links where I can purchase the 5.45x39 dies?
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Posted: 11/15/2013 10:23:21 AM EDT
[#11]
Please post these questions in the tacked "where to find" thread.
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Posted: 11/15/2013 11:45:13 AM EDT
[#12]
Forgive me for asking if this is a dumb quesiton, but how are you people making 5.45x39 brass out of .223 or .222 cases?
The 5.45x39mm case has a bigger case head 
I've never tried it, but logic would tell me I'd want to use 7.62x39, 6mm PPC, or 22 PPC cases to form my 5.45x39 brass. |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 12:37:14 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Right now, the taps are turned "on" letting 5.45 IMPORTS flow into the USA. We are just one or two mass shootings away from those taps being shut off forever. Bonus Q: how's the supply of Norinco 223 ammo in your area? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: the special dies where $ 38, the resizing die was $ 22 we get the brass for free and projectiles we have already, yah surplus is cheap well on and off it has been, but you can load your own formula I worked up one for hog with 70gr tsx blems from midway wait till our dear leader stops imports and he will by executive fiat if he has his way its time to start thinking ahead, instead of from behind I am old enough to remember when 30 cal carbine was plentiful and cheap same with good 8mm mauser surplus, same will happen with russian calibers Right now, the taps are turned "on" letting 5.45 IMPORTS flow into the USA. We are just one or two mass shootings away from those taps being shut off forever. Bonus Q: how's the supply of Norinco 223 ammo in your area? When it is no longer importable, the market will fill the void with US made components and ammo. The selection is so limited now, because there is no money in it, why try to reload so early? No real reason. If you are that tied up in 5.45 firearms, a barrel's lifetime supply of ammo was available for very cheap ($100/1080 rd delivered) just a few years ago and is still cheap compared to .223 5.45 is still cheap enough to stack it deep if you really want to get into the 5.45 game. Norinco import ban has nothing to do with the discussion since they were never the sole source in the US for any ammo they sent to the US. When the cheap 7.62x39 from China dried up, the market responded with cheap Russian ammo. If the Russian ammo dries up, the market will correct either with PC importable ammo, or domestic ammo/components. |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 12:40:43 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Forgive me for asking if this is a dumb quesiton, but how are you people making 5.45x39 brass out of .223 or .222 cases? The 5.45x39mm case has a bigger case head I've never tried it, but logic would tell me I'd want to use 7.62x39, 6mm PPC, or 22 PPC cases to form my 5.45x39 brass. |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 12:44:22 PM EDT
[#15]
Poland gave up the 5.45x39 Tantals many moons ago, now that they are in tune with the US and running 5.56 Beryls, I have been waiting for Polish 7n6 to show up in country.
Might want to keep an eye on Hornady in the coming year, enough pressure and they might supply 5.45 brass... |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 12:51:57 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Poland gave up the 5.45x39 Tantals many moons ago, now that they are in tune with the US and running 5.56 Beryls, I have been waiting for Polish 7n6 to show up in country. Might want to keep an eye on Hornady in the coming year, enough pressure and they might supply 5.45 brass... I can't imagine the market for virgin 5.45 brass is there. Even after almost doubling in price in the last few years, 5.45 is still only .16 per round. The numbers just aren't there. Sure, you can reload for your 5.45, but it will be like swimming upstream. And at the end of the day, why? The appeal for 5.45, esp in ARs, is cheap surplus ammo. Not its reloadability. When I go to the trouble to reload for an AR, it sure isn't 5.45 |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 2:00:08 PM EDT
[#17]
I don't understand the premise of why you would want to reload 5.45. Not many match type barrels available in that caliber, and you would be hard pressed to reload 5.45 for cheaper than you can buy it.
JMHO ZA |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 2:22:30 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I can't imagine the market for virgin 5.45 brass is there. Even after almost doubling in price in the last few years, 5.45 is still only .16 per round. The numbers just aren't there. Sure, you can reload for your 5.45, but it will be like swimming upstream. And at the end of the day, why? The appeal for 5.45, esp in ARs, is cheap surplus ammo. Not its reloadability. When I go to the trouble to reload for an AR, it sure isn't 5.45 Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Poland gave up the 5.45x39 Tantals many moons ago, now that they are in tune with the US and running 5.56 Beryls, I have been waiting for Polish 7n6 to show up in country. Might want to keep an eye on Hornady in the coming year, enough pressure and they might supply 5.45 brass... I can't imagine the market for virgin 5.45 brass is there. Even after almost doubling in price in the last few years, 5.45 is still only .16 per round. The numbers just aren't there. Sure, you can reload for your 5.45, but it will be like swimming upstream. And at the end of the day, why? The appeal for 5.45, esp in ARs, is cheap surplus ammo. Not its reloadability. When I go to the trouble to reload for an AR, it sure isn't 5.45 You are confusing necessity with desire, not the best move. |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 2:27:21 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I don't understand the premise of why you would want to reload 5.45. Not many match type barrels available in that caliber, and you would be hard pressed to reload 5.45 for cheaper than you can buy it. JMHO ZA Cost per round savings isn't really concerning me. I want to have the supplies set up and working with good data that I have worked up. The knowledge gained is what I am seeking. I think it would be a great idea to be able to develop this round a little further. I have an AR chambered for this round and would like to continue to shoot it should surplus market dries up and the manufactured ammo rises to where it is cheaper to reload than buying new. Granted, I stocked up on 5.45 when it was $180 per 2160rd crates and have quite a bit stocked up. |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 2:52:59 PM EDT
[#20]
WHY WHY WHY wtf get on a thread where you can contribute something of value instead of putting down others and trying to act superior
to answer the sensable questions for those who are willing to learn the dies where made up by lee on special order through a group buy on Gunco, there is another company that sells the dies I forget the company name. our group buy last year sold out immediately yes the base diameter is smaller on the 223/556 or 222 but the standard ak 74 bolt will pick up and the ejector will eject fine with these cases, some guys have replaced the 5.45 bolts with 223 bolts with the same stem thickness that really solves that concern, but so far no problems using the original bolts if you reload these cases it give you a better choice of projectile grains you can use, beside military applications we are stuck with and are reloadable also many of us have pulled the projectiles from steel cases, this is tough on the interia pullers and replaced the projectile like the herters and hornady ammo currently sold with so so results |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 3:46:34 PM EDT
[#21]
You can get sizing dies for that caliber from some of the specialty outfits or on special order. You use .222 Rem case as the brass and resize, trim etc, some such process. You have to resize .224 bullets down to .220 or .221 using a Lee bullet swager or some die for that purpose. A PITA, but some people do it and have success at it. Keep searching the internet or in an AK forum and you will find it.
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Posted: 11/15/2013 4:09:55 PM EDT
[#22]
What trimmer are you guys using for the .223 to 5.45 converted brass? Doesn't seem like a standard Zip Trim stem or Dillon RT1200/Giraud set up. Just one of the lathe type trimmers with a .222 stem set to the proper length?
For those who said they used .222 bullets, did you resize them or just use them in a similar fashion to .312 bullets down a .308 barrel? I love my 74s and shooting cheap surplus but, like others, I like having the knowledge that I can reload for every firearm I own if the time comes when supply and/or price makes purchasing ammo an impossibility. Thanks Eric |
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Posted: 11/15/2013 7:59:03 PM EDT
[#23]
I've been loading 5.45x39 for several years now. Best results I've had for brass is using .222 Rem to form the case.
I found the dies on the EE here, they are Lee manufacture. As for components, I use a push through die to size .224 bullets down to .221. I used the minimum starting loads for .222 and worked my way up. Also, if you plan to shoot formed brass 5.45 a lot, I'd suggest buying a replacement extractor and having it angled for the smaller extractor grove of .222. |
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Posted: 11/16/2013 12:20:44 AM EDT
[#24]
The main reason I never got into 5.45x39 was the inability of reloading for this caliber.
I'm glad to know that it can be done with success. I reload steel Berdan 7.63x39 cases with my home cast bullets. Why, because I can. If people want to buy their ammo that's fine with me. I'm a reloader, so that's how I roll. Too bad the correct size Berdan primers aren't available in 5.45x39, then the steel cases could be reloaded.
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Posted: 11/16/2013 1:52:24 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I've been loading 5.45x39 for several years now. Best results I've had for brass is using .222 Rem to form the case. I found the dies on the EE here, they are Lee manufacture. As for components, I use a push through die to size .224 bullets down to .221. I used the minimum starting loads for .222 and worked my way up. Also, if you plan to shoot formed brass 5.45 a lot, I'd suggest buying a replacement extractor and having it angled for the smaller extractor grove of .222. Thanks for the breakdown on that. How do you form your cases? I haven't found a step by step process online with regards to 'expander ball out, size, trim, expander ball in, size again, etc' like I have for forming 7.62x25Tok cases from .223 (which I do). With winter coming up, it's the perfect time of year to tinker around with something like this.... |
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Posted: 11/16/2013 6:40:21 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Forgive me for asking if this is a dumb quesiton, but how are you people making 5.45x39 brass out of .223 or .222 cases? The 5.45x39mm case has a bigger case head
I've never tried it, but logic would tell me I'd want to use 7.62x39, 6mm PPC, or 22 PPC cases to form my 5.45x39 brass. It's a common misconception that 5.45x39 was derived from 7.62x39. If you actually measure the case head on a 5.45 round, you will find it to be fairly similar to .222 and .223. It is different, but not so much so that you can't use those for parent cases. |
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Posted: 11/17/2013 5:21:51 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It's a common misconception that 5.45x39 was derived from 7.62x39. If you actually measure the case head on a 5.45 round, you will find it to be fairly similar to .222 and .223. It is different, but not so much so that you can't use those for parent cases. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Forgive me for asking if this is a dumb quesiton, but how are you people making 5.45x39 brass out of .223 or .222 cases? The 5.45x39mm case has a bigger case head
I've never tried it, but logic would tell me I'd want to use 7.62x39, 6mm PPC, or 22 PPC cases to form my 5.45x39 brass. It's a common misconception that 5.45x39 was derived from 7.62x39. If you actually measure the case head on a 5.45 round, you will find it to be fairly similar to .222 and .223. It is different, but not so much so that you can't use those for parent cases. That seems like it would be a devlopement of a new wildcat round based on the 5.45x39. |
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Posted: 11/18/2013 10:10:02 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
. . . Why, because I can. If people want to buy their ammo that's fine with me. I'm a reloader, so that's how I roll. . . . If the reloading subforum ever needed a mission statement or motto, I nominate this! |
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