Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

While there may not be any domestic manufacturers of the 5.45 round now or in the future, the imported ammo with its cavity makes for a devastating round, and it's pretty economical.

Any info on the 5.45 AR configuration would be appreciated.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Well, it is a round designed for semi or full auto functioning with plenty of case taper. Not like the near straight walled 223 designed to shoot ground hogs out of bolt guns.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

lol

I've been reading up on the experiences of folks using the 5.45 uppers at arf.com. There are issues, but those issues do not seem to be insurmountable. Going to continue to do DD. I wouldn't make the move until I was comfortable with it. The Grendel build is the next order of business after M1A is all squared away. The M1A is just too dam heavy to be handy as a PDW. That 5.45 surplus ammo is just downright brutal - far superior to the poodle-shooting round. It seems those who use the looser chambered AK-74 barrels on the AR uppers have much better success.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Why not just get a '74?

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

I've owned both Model "1" Sales and S&W 5.45 uppers. I just sold the Mod 1, mainly because it wasn't chrome lined.

I haven't gone through thousands of rounds yet, but I've had zero problems. The Smiths are VERY accurate. I'm using C products SS mags, again with zero problems.

If I were in the market (lol, I'm always in the market), I'd go with either an upper or a complete rifle from S&W, or a Mod 1 if I found it significantly (>150 bucks) cheaper. I would stay away from the older cobbled up pieces. Some of them were made by skilled craftsmen, some were beaten together by bubbas...unless you know the builder personally it's a crapshoot.

Like I said, I've had no problems, but I've heard S&W's warranty is excellent.


BTW, why not a '74? Well, the price isn't that much more than a good '74, I've had a LOT of problems out of low end 74s (blah blah, I know that NO AK has EVER had a problem:bear_rolleyes:), mags are cheaper, they're WAYYY more ergonomic, and accuracy from the AK isn't even comparable to the AR.

I actually own several more '74s than 5.45 ARs, but I shoot the ARs a lot more. AKs not only bore me, they leave me feeling somewhat dirty, and not in a good way.:aetsch:

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

I've got a S&W 5.45x39 upper sitting on a dpms lower. I love it.

It's been 100% with the cproducts mags, and VERY accurate. I couldn't be more pleased.

I'm glad I bought mine. Honestly I should have repalced all my .223 uppers and sold all my .223 and replaced it with 5.45x39, lol. More economical. Especially back 10 months ago when $119 got you 1,080 rounds DELIVERED!

:9536:

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Have you had any issues at all with the lacquered cases causing a failure to extract?

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

LOL, if he had, he wouldn't love it. The 5.45 actually has case taper(unlike the retarded 5.56), so the phantom 'stuck cartridge' issue doesn't exist.

Just get the upper/rifle, and quit goofing around!!!

BTW, I assume by now everyone knows that Hornady is producing SSTs for 5.45?:RockOn:

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Well, I'm trying to get away from the retarded 5.56. lol IMO, the only way to squeeze any effective take-down performance out of the .223 is to go with a 72-77 grain bullet, which means using a 1/7 twist optimally, and that pretty much dogs the 55 grain. What a crock.

If I'm going to shoot a .22 bullet on steroids, might as well be the cheap 5.45.

Checked with S&W, and they're still making the 5.45 uppers, trying to find one now.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

It's .210.

IMO, the only reason for the 5.56 is compatibility, and special purpose roles where the 5.45 doesn't yet deliver. The new pills/ammo coming from Hornady may dissolve the second reason.

Of course this is right now. Maobama may close the gate on cheap 5.45 any day now, which would pretty much kill the whole game, IMO. Of course that doesn't matter to some of us, it's going to take a couple of fires to put me in danger of running out of 5.45.:biggrin:

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Like .01 is any substantial difference. lol

The same time I get the upper I'm going to back up the truck on the 5.45.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/sai-545.aspx

Buy a Saiga 5.45.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Grind the mag catch and use AK74 mags. Excluding standard 922r concerns, problem solved. :s1:

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Saigas are great, however I want to use the AR platform with a BM piston conversion to practice. Ultimately my AR lower is going to get a 6.5 Grendel upper. Plus there's the matter of accuracy of the AR over the AK.

Solve the 'retarded 5.56' issue and the shitting where it eats issue and the AR isn't so bad, in fact the 6.5G makes it pretty sweet with a piston conversion.

I've looked into doing up an AK into 6.5G, but it doesn't do the 6.5G justice.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

$400, just called them, it will be a couple of weeks before they're available again, waiting on bolt carriers.


http://www.bushmaster.com/products.asp?cat=6

Adams Arms piston conversion kit is $430.

I've considered the XCR, but no current availability on the 6.5G at this time and who knows how long it will be. Crap, Alexander is backordered at least six months from what I gather. The 6.5G is a real gamble right now, not for the faint of heart. But I do love the round, I think it's awesome.

Re: Anyone have any experience with ARs in 5.45x39?
 

Wildcard, C products mags are good to go and they're about 12 bucks each right now.

Double what 74 mags were a couple of years ago, but less than half what they are now.:bath: