AR upper in 5.45x39mm

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Glockfan.45

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Who here would be willing to buy one of these if somebody were to build them? With .223/5.56 prices being what they are right now, and 5.45 being dirt cheap by comparison I think this upper would sell like hot cakes. I keep waiting for one to come out but no takers yet.
 
5.45 being cheap now is an aberration as AKs in 5.45 haven't sold too well in the US. To me buying a gun without a domestic supplier of reloadable ammo is too risky. All it would take is an executive order to prevent all foreign ammo importation.

--wally.
 
To me buying a gun without a domestic supplier of reloadable ammo is too risky. All it would take is an executive order to prevent all foreign ammo importation.
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It doesn't take a heck of a lot of time or money to stock up on enough cheap surplus to last the life of the rifle's barrel. ...that is unless you wait until it gets expensive again.
 
Alexander Arms released one a few years back called the .21 Genghis. I think they can be had still if you call Alexander Arms directly.
 
To me buying a gun without a domestic supplier of reloadable ammo is too risky.
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You don't have to buy a new gun, just an upper.

With the current difference in prices between 5.45 and 5.56, you could pay back the price of the upper in 4 to 5 thousand rounds.
 
You don't have to buy a new gun, just an upper.

With the current difference in prices between 5.45 and 5.56, you could pay back the price of the upper in 4 to 5 thousand rounds.
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i agree and i do believe i would buy one, what an awesome thing to have for high volumes of shooting as well as for trainning, and keeping cost low.
 
Like Number 6 noted, Alexander Arms tried the idea. I don't think it was a strong seller for them.

Personally, I might be interested in one if the magazine issue was a non issue. Don't know if it was or not -- 5.45x39 has considerably less taper than 7.62x39, so even AK-74 mags are not especially curved.
 
I was reading on an AR makers site that steel-cased ammo should not be used in their rifles (whoever they were). What's that about?
 
Pretty sure that 5.45x39 is more than a necked down M43. That the AK-74 has a much straighter magazine is evidence of substantial changes to the case.

That said, it's no more difficult than making any other AR upper.
 
yea, but you would think that someone who built an AR designed to accept 7.62x39 (from the original AK mags), would also take 5.45x39...

it would make sense... no need to design an AR-compatible magazine for it, just use the AK-74 mags that are dirt friggin cheap
 
well, they DO make 7.62x39 AR's...
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Yes but those are a different lower. As far as domestic ammo goes I don't worry about it any more than the many, many people on this board that have AK47's or an SKS. I like the idea of a 5.54 upper because it comes close to the 5.56 in ballistics, and its the best value in centerfire rifle rounds today. I think the regular AR mags would work just fine for this (somebody with a AR15 and a AK74 check this for us) you may lose 1 or 2 rounds capacity though.

As far as I figure all that would need to be done is open up the bolt face a little, and have a barrel blank bored out to the right diameter.
 
Pretty sure that 5.45x39 is more than a necked down M43. That the AK-74 has a much straighter magazine is evidence of substantial changes to the case.
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5.45x39 case diameter at the head is quite a bit smaller than 7.62x39, less taper to the round, and slightly greater overall length. Besides the 39mm case length, they are not overly related rounds.
 
As for mags - those that have the .21 Genghis and those who are testing new 5.45x39 ARs (they are in the works) state that the HK High Reliability AR mags (you can get them for about $35-$45 each in the right places) can hold 28 rounds of 5.45x39 and function perfectly. Plus you have the added benefit of being able to use them for you AR in 5.56mm.

I've stocked up on a lot of ammo and these mags in anticipation of the uppers coming out soon.

My biggest problem now is trying to spend even MORE money on a 7.62x25 upper - LOL.
 
Unless you plan on using wolf, golden tiger, barnual, here's a little taste of what CORROSIVE surplus 5.45mm can do to your DIRECT IMPINGEMENT 5.45 upper.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=968&highlight=corrosive

ak-74_1.jpg

ak-74_2.jpg

ak-74_4.jpg

akapart-2.jpg

akapart-3.jpg

akapart-4.jpg
 
I'm confused. Those don't look like a DI/AR-15. The pics look like they are of an AK-74 clone.
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Exactly, that's from a AK74 while using a suppressor, then apparently leaving it in a safe for 3 weeks.

I'm thinking that the corrosive salts can be blown into the carrier and reciever of an AR15 upper that is chambered for 5.45mm and uses the direct impingement system. Of course, this is if you use corrosive 5.45mm and don't clean afterwards.
 
Still works though, yeah? :D

The 5.45 corrosive stuff is cheapest, but even wolf and the other non corrosive types are cheaper than 5.56 and about on par with 7.62x39. Personally, I'm hoping the magpul masada will be a good option and should be available in this caliber?
 
I don't think there is any special issue with direct impingement rifles using corrosive ammunition -- anything shooting the stuff needs thorough cleaning after firing. Leaving it to sit for 3 weeks is irresponsible, particularly if it's not chromed.
 
I have an AK clone in 5.45x39 and i use the polish and bulgarian corrosive surplus and nothing else. All i do is put some hoppes #9 on a patch of paper towell and run it down the barell a few times. If im in the mood for storing it for a long time i change the patch and do it one more time. i have never had the slightest bit of rust on anything so long as i dont let the gas tube stay bone dry or not clean it with hopped number #9 either one. as it will only rust if it has been shot with corrosive ammo AND is allowed to stay bone dry of any oil for a few days, and thats only the gas tube.

The cartridges (.223 and 5.45x39 are similar enough to interchange magazines, i do it all the time. the follower is all that must be a little diffrent. The case head and bolt face are so similar that the bolts and extractors on my AK's that shoot each are interchangeable also. the rim on the 5.45 is a tiny bit thicker but not enough for an extractor to even notice.

Golden tiger has 5.45, as does wolf, barnual, and ulyanovosk (sometimes bear, sometimes something else) then throw in the polish bulgarian and russian surplus and there is a lot of it around that is one thing that ISNT being sent to iraq.
 
I'd buy a 5.45 upper in a heartbeat if it was price effective and if non-crossive ammo was as easy to get as the Russian 7n6 stuff. Anyone with a 5.56 Ar should wish the round was as well designed as the 5.45:neener:

-Sefus
 
Not to mention that all the surplus is the PS machined steel ogive core. It punches through things SS109 wont.

I have seen 5.45x39 uppers on gunbroker for $479 about a year or so ago.

Its a wonderful round.

anyone know the twist on the AK-74 and clones in 5.45x39?
 
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