Curious about 5.45 availability...

[db_tanker]

So...as an owner of a very lovingly cared for CUR2 AK I am curious as to when domestic manufacturers may pick up on cranking out cheap 5.45x39 ammo?

I know Hornady makes it now...but with it being steel case I wonder if they simply purchase the casings from an alternative source...likely from someplace where there is much shooting, tractors stealing tanks, etc...


To be honest, not really sure if anyone else has posted this and if this is no bueno then lock/delete/etc but I AM curious about this...

IF we get more local ammo supply...will this mean we can get some domestic bolt rifles chambered in it then? I know about the SSG 82...looks like an ugly child from a Mosin and a Stevens 325 (I own both so don't hate on me!)

So...thoughts? Will ammo become more available for the self loading rifles? Will that supply then generate bolt rifles?

Not going to lie...I eventually will want a lever action chambered in 5.45x39...eh...nah...never mind on the lever gun.

 

[Ignition Override]

With higher US labor costs - assuming that "Covid" didn't cause some turnover in staff-the idea of US production + shipping costs for bulk ammo being Anything similar to what is on the linked page (here) is difficult for me to picture. And with sanctions on importing items now from "you know where", would it take a huge, future economy of scale to have really low prices?

5.45x39mm Ammo | Cheap 5.45x39mm Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com 2022

Waiting usually means paying higher prices, especially with "current events" .

You might want to go to AKfiles, if not already, for seasoned in-depth knowledge of the outlook. Many members are gun builders.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

What American-made centerfire Rifle ammo - in recent years, not i.e. 1992.... - has been considered low-cost?

With higher US labor costs - assuming that "Covid" didn't cause some turnover in staff-the idea of US production + shipping costs for bulk ammo being Anything similar to what is on the linked page (here), 'escapes me'.

One can always find it online:
5.45x39mm Ammo | Cheap 5.45x39mm Ammunition - AmmoSeek.com 2022

Waiting usually means paying higher prices, especially with "current events" .
Also, 5.45x39 is probably used by most or all of the newer members of NATO, in eastern Europe. We know that they are a little bit nervous right now.

You might want to go to AKfiles, if not already, for seasoned in-depth knowledge of the outlook. Many members are gun builders.

Think again.

5.45mm is not very popularly utilized by members outside Ukraine/Russia.

 

[Mars5l]

There's a lot of wolf/tula around me. I've been tempted to buy a bunch incase later on. PSA is supposed to start making steel case but still at least a year away for that. I recall isn't the Hornady more a premium target round? Don't see a lot of AKs guys wanting to pay the premium for it.

 

[Mullo98]

I personally doubt there'll be bolt gun chamberings in that caliber anytime soon out side of custom rifles. As for ammo availability, there's probably will be US and possibly foreign plants turn out batch's sooner or later. But it wouldn't be cheap sadly...

 

[JCooperfan1911]

The main advantage of the 5.45 is its more controllable in automatic fire when using the Soviet style burp gun tactics the AK became known for.

7.62 hits harder and penetrates on target better. A lot easier to find too. Just makes more sense for us civilians saddled with the neautred semi-auto only variants.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

5.45 has always been difficult for me as I loved that Wolf 55 (or 53 gr maybe) soft points.

If PSA can make some in batches, that come close to 5.56 ammo, that's my best hope at this point

 

[HPJeep]

You have the former Warsaw Pact counties that makes it as well as Scandinavian countries. The USA and probably Mexico will pick up the slack due to unfulfilled demand. Just because Russia is sanctioned doesn't mean the end of 5.45 availability.

 

[N555]

I don't know for sure anyone outside of Russia or Ukraine has 5.45 ammo tooling. The 5.45 bullets could have been made wherever because bullets are relatively easy to make. Cases, not so much.
The appeal was for a long time anyone could buy 5.45 ammo for like 4 or 5 cents a shot.

 

[Speedo66]

The popularity of AK-74’s seemed to decline as surplus ammo ran out.

Wonder how many 74’s were actually sold here, I wouldn’t think the number was very high. Maybe not high enough to justify setting up ammo production.

 

[DustyGmt]

My LGS out in East bumshoe VT has had a few sealed tins of 5.45x39 1000/rd for $400. I believe that's a good deal nowadays. About the same for 7x39. I was tempted to just grab them and make a few bucks because I know that at even a 30% markup somebody would be happy to buy and still not feel they were getting porked.

I am glad I sold my soviet style weapons years ago but then again, I would have made a good profit. Especially since my Wasr-10 would have sold for more than double ($350) and my Saiga Kalishnakov would have sold for 4x what I paid. I got a good trade back 7-8 years ago for it, some cash, a couple sealed cases of SS109 PPU and a PB Interceptor Kevlar vest with front/back/side ceramic plates........ definitely got my money out of it and then some....

 

[P5 Guy]

5.45x39 Ammo | 5.45x39 Bulk Ammo | 5.45x39 Ammunition | Sportsman's Guide (sportsmansguide.com)

Many ads for 5.45 this is just one.

 

[Mullo98]

5.45x39 Ammo | 5.45x39 Bulk Ammo | 5.45x39 Ammunition | Sportsman's Guide (sportsmansguide.com)

Many ads for 5.45 this is just one.

Note that many of those are both Russian made and out of stock.