5.45 x 39: anything decent?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.45 x 39: anything decent?

Posted: 9/29/2005 7:28:46 PM EDT

Now that I've been bitten by the AK bug and am building a Bulgarian -74, I'm told that all the ammo selections in this caliber are all pretty miserable performers. Initially looked OK, with 60 gr bullets at the same velocity (more or less) as 5.56, but I hear bullet construction is nothing special: just yaw, no fragmentation -- clearly designed with armor penetration as top priority and nothing else.

True?

Posted: 9/29/2005 10:31:53 PM EDT

[#1]

aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_5_45x39.html

Silver Bear 5.45mm is made by Barnual and is better than Wolf 5.45mm. Wolf 5.45mm will fire but Barnual made 5.45mm will be more accurate. It has the zinc plating instead of the lacquer coating.

Posted: 9/30/2005 6:01:39 AM EDT

[#2]

I've had excellent results with this ammo from CIA. It's on sale for $10/50 every now and then. I've come close to one inch groups at 100 yards with it.

www.centuryarms.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=97

Posted: 9/30/2005 1:21:19 PM EDT

[#3]

I'm not aware of any fragmenting 5.45, as this caliber is available almost exclusively as military loadings and with steel bullet jackets. Little if any non-factory ammo is available. Wounding is limited to yaw effects, just like a 5.56 bullet that doesn't have enough impact velocity to fragment.

-Troy

Posted: 9/30/2005 5:32:09 PM EDT

[#4]

Thanks to all. Well, it'll be cool-looking and reliable (definition of AK), but I guess not nearly as effective a weapon as my AR and FN.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.45 x 39: anything decent?

AR-15 » Ammunition

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