AK74 5.45 vs M16 5.56

[ATC]

The world is covered with the graves of victims of .22 caliber bullets, both Eastern and Western. That's good enough for me.

5.45 is by far my favorite all-around caliber because I don't spend much time shooting at paper.

 

[MechAg94]

Texas only says you have to shoot deer with center fire ammo. How many states actually say you can't shoot .223? Of course, I wouldn't count states that restrict a lot of rifle ammo or say shotguns only.

Me, I just think it is fun to shoot light and handy rifles.

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

A couple of 150 LB mulies would tell you about how adequate the 5.45x39mm was if they were able...

People try and make black and white distinctions between the accuracy of the AK and the AR. However, when the two combat rifles (not match rifles) shooting ball ammo at human sized targets are compared side by side at the same distance, there really isnt much differance between them. I say this is a small arms trainer who in the last two years has put thousands of soldiers through qualifications.

People talk about theoretical accuracy... Shooting ball ammo, the M16A2 is only required to shoot, as I recall, 2.5 MOA from the factory. On average, a human being is 20 inches from shoulder to shoulder. 300 meters, which is the max distance for qualification, requires only 6 MOA... which is well within the capabilities for any AK. In fact, I've never seen an AK shoot worse then 4 MOA. Excuses.

 

[BADUNAME13]

2 of those POS WASR2's would do 'head shots' offhand at 100 meters.

And they WERE POS's!

 

[Frog48]

I'd personally think the 5.45 x 39 AK bullet is superior than the 5.56 nato in that it has better penetration and that it's tumbling and yawing effects are devastating on the body.

Which is better? Lets put it this way... I wouldnt want to be shot by either of them, either way it'll ruin your day.

 

[alucard0822]

5.56 and 5.45 are comprable in most ways. There is no real world evidence to completely discount one over the other. I think that both do have some unique strengths and weaknesses that are inherent in the design of the rounds and the rifles that fire them, mainly velocity vs grain weight and fragmentation vs yawing. If a 69gr SMK is used in 5.56 vs a 70gr fmj in 5.45 the differences should be next to nothing. As far as accuracy goes, if say the M-16 can obtain 2MOA and the AK-74 can obtain 3 MOA clamped in a vise that would only equate to a 12" vs an 18" spread at 600 yds, and in battlefield conditions where shooting standing, or off of an improvised rest are going to be the main styles, then there would be little to no difference. I personally enjoy shooting both, the 74 being a lot cheaper to feed, and the generally crappy performance of wolf in an AR, means that with the present state of ammo cost, more and more people will hopefully broaden their collections to include this great chunk of commie steel.