ProCharger
Member
Debating on the caliber at hand for either an SAR-1 or SAR-2. Which would you prefer and why?
Brett
Brett
5.45x39 or 7.62x39
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ny32182
Member
7.62x39.
Cheap, readily available, and its the round the rifle was originally designed to fire.
5.45 is hard to come by. Stick to .223.
Cheap, readily available, and its the round the rifle was originally designed to fire.
5.45 is hard to come by. Stick to .223.
Nightcrawler
Member
5.45 hard to come buy? You can buy it online and at the bigger gun stores. NO, they won't have it at Wal-mart, but who buys 7.62x39mm (in 20 round boxes) from Wal-Mart anyway?
.223 might not work great in an AK. The problem is magazines.
AK-74 magazines (5.45mm) are cheap and plentiful. .223 AKs usually use AK-74 mags with Robinson followers, but the SAR-3s use their own mag that's a lot harder to come by.
I'd get the 5.45 just to be different, but that's me.
.223 might not work great in an AK. The problem is magazines.
AK-74 magazines (5.45mm) are cheap and plentiful. .223 AKs usually use AK-74 mags with Robinson followers, but the SAR-3s use their own mag that's a lot harder to come by.
I'd get the 5.45 just to be different, but that's me.
ProCharger
Member
Is there a price difference in the rifles themselves?
Nightcrawler
Member
From what I've seen, not much. Sometimes SAR-2s are cheaper (less demand) but in any case the price difference is not great.
I've got both. Like them both.
The 7.62 is a little cheaper than the 5.45, but not by much. Same with mags, most places anyway. The rifles themselves are about the same, although its way easier to find the 7.62 version. The SAR-2 is getting harder to find. I got mine as soon as I heard Century wouldnt be importing any more. I called them to verify, yep, it was true, so I ordered before the price went up and availability went down.
My advice: get both.
The 7.62 is a little cheaper than the 5.45, but not by much. Same with mags, most places anyway. The rifles themselves are about the same, although its way easier to find the 7.62 version. The SAR-2 is getting harder to find. I got mine as soon as I heard Century wouldnt be importing any more. I called them to verify, yep, it was true, so I ordered before the price went up and availability went down.
My advice: get both.
I've got a .223 AK. There is only one true mag, but it works fine. Oh, and converted 5.45 Bakelites work too, but cost about the same as Weigars, after conversion.
Which caliber? Are you a "big & slow" person, or a "small & fast" person?
I'd want a 5.45, before a 7.62. The Soviets musta had some reason to make the change. And I think it would be more fun to shoot than a "bottlenecked .30-30."
If you're worried about ammo availability, get some dies and a reloading setup.
Hmmmm, wait a minute, does anyone make 5.45 brass and bullets?
Which caliber? Are you a "big & slow" person, or a "small & fast" person?
I'd want a 5.45, before a 7.62. The Soviets musta had some reason to make the change. And I think it would be more fun to shoot than a "bottlenecked .30-30."
If you're worried about ammo availability, get some dies and a reloading setup.
Hmmmm, wait a minute, does anyone make 5.45 brass and bullets?
10mmshooter
Member
I have an SAR-1. I want an SAR-2 to go with it. If I had to pick one...I'd take the SAR-1.
Mostly because of the available drums, etc. But...To the best of my knowlege...there isn't a domestically produced 5.45x39mm ammo out there. If..for some reason...there would ever be a ban on imported ammo...the 7.62 will still be available. Plus...I like larger calibers anyway.
Mostly because of the available drums, etc. But...To the best of my knowlege...there isn't a domestically produced 5.45x39mm ammo out there. If..for some reason...there would ever be a ban on imported ammo...the 7.62 will still be available. Plus...I like larger calibers anyway.
cheygriz
member
I have two 7.62X39 AK type weapons, and a 5.45X39 SAR-2. I really love all three of them.
Bit if for some reason I could only keep one of them, it would be the SAR-2 5.45X39. I wouldn't even have to stop and think about it.
The 5.45X39 has no recoil, ammo is almost as cheap, it's FAR more accurate, and it's far more effective. (Just ask the Afghans)
Bit if for some reason I could only keep one of them, it would be the SAR-2 5.45X39. I wouldn't even have to stop and think about it.
The 5.45X39 has no recoil, ammo is almost as cheap, it's FAR more accurate, and it's far more effective. (Just ask the Afghans)
Tomac
Member
ARperson
Member
As hinted at above, it really depends on what you want from the rifle.
The 5.45 is like shooting an AR, a noticable "bump" into the shoulder and a loud crack. My SAR2 and CUR2 are both fun to shoot because the recoil is minimal. But, 5.45 ammo can be hard to find. My favorite ammo guy at the gun show was completely out (or didn't bring any at all) the last time we went (expressly to get the 5.45 too!).
The 7.62 is easier to come by, but shooting it comes with the "problems" of shooting a larger caliber. If those don't bother you, then they aren't really problems.
You might consider just getting both!
The 5.45 is like shooting an AR, a noticable "bump" into the shoulder and a loud crack. My SAR2 and CUR2 are both fun to shoot because the recoil is minimal. But, 5.45 ammo can be hard to find. My favorite ammo guy at the gun show was completely out (or didn't bring any at all) the last time we went (expressly to get the 5.45 too!).
The 7.62 is easier to come by, but shooting it comes with the "problems" of shooting a larger caliber. If those don't bother you, then they aren't really problems.
You might consider just getting both!
7.62, for nostalgia. I didn't buy an AK to fill any mission requirement, I just wanted one for the sake of having it. The AK-47 is The Classic that earned the AK it's reputation.
If you have other more practical requirements, then 5.45 might be advantageous.
If you have other more practical requirements, then 5.45 might be advantageous.
RustyHammer
Member
I have both ... would go with 7.62 if I could only have one. Mostly because it is more of a "classic",easier to find cartridges for, and pack more of a kick -- should you need it.
That said, both are a heck of a lot of fun to shoot!
That said, both are a heck of a lot of fun to shoot!
rock jock
Member
7.62x39. It is the classic AK round. Cheap, cheap ammo. Lots o' mags. I started using it recently in 3-gun practice and the recoil will not bother you after a few rounds.
charleym3
Member
A tough choice
I might go with the 7.62 just for ammo availability, but both are great fun to shoot.
I might go with the 7.62 just for ammo availability, but both are great fun to shoot.
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