Is the SAR2 or WASR in 5.45x39 worth getting?

Which model should I get?

  • SAR2

    Votes: 26 45.6%

  • WASR

    Votes: 15 26.3%

  • Other.

    Votes: 16 28.1%
  • Total voters
    57
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A

AugustusMcCrae

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Location
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I have been thinking about getting a rifle chambered for something like .223 but then I found out about the Russian version 5.45x39 & wanted to ask which I should get? The rifle will be used for plinking & HD. Which caliber has the least risk of over-penetration?

The price needs to be as low as can be. AR's are out of my price range. I've heard that the supply of 5.45x39 may be cut off since no domestic company makes it. Is that true or just a hype?

What is the best place to get either model? What is a reasonable price for each?
 
If your options are .223 and 5.45x39, get something in .223. The supply of 5.45 likely will dry up again, so unless you stockpile it you'll be stuck when you run out. I bought a good bit of 5.45 for plinking, then a WASR-2 to shoot it with. I'm now wishing I had put that money into more .223 and .308 ammo.
 
Get a .223 AK. 5.45x39 is cheap now, but will dry up sooner or later (likely sooner).
 
Yes, the supply of 5.45 may be cut off at anytime and I'd use 5.56 for HD, way more choices in ammo.

-NO US company makes the round.
-Everything new is imported from Russia. All it takes is an excuse to ban importation.
-You know the drill with surplus, here today gone tomorrow. Yes, Russia continues to use the round but the Polish and Bulgarian stuff is here because of their shift to 5.56.

BUT, that surplus 5.45 is cheap compared to every other round making it great for a plinker/shooter. 1080 rounds $119-130 or 2160 rounds for $208-240. If you can afford to stock up I would go for it. You could probably get a lifetime supply right now for a good price and not sweat a lack of supply or ban. I'm seriously tempted myself.

I'd personally go for a SAR-2, Polish or Bulgarian build for quality (should be under $600); but if a WASR2's price was just too good and I could look it over first I'd probably get it if you're looking for cheap.
 
Either model would be fine, just go with 7.62x39. It's a better combat round in my opinion and also more useful for hunting applications.
 
One more thing to add: If you want as cheap as possible and decide on 5.56, a Saiga will be your best bet. Yes, it'll need some work to become "evil" but it's cheap and high quality.

I have a Arsenal SLR-106, very high quality but it's price is in AR territory. A SAR-3 isn't cheap either. I'm not too keen a WASR-3, .223 AK can be fussy as is. Mags will run you too.
 
Depends how much you plan on shooting. Compared to x39 or 223 prices, shoot 4k rounds, and your $300 Wasr is "free".:)

As far as ammo, get it while it's relatively cheap. Sure, the 5.45 nowadays has to be imported, but so does most x39. If there's no more impotrt, one of the manufacturers will probably tool up for it.
 
I've run out of storage space for oddball calibers, and I'd feel very uncomfortable with that rifle unless I stocked-up heavily on ammo now.

Practicality makes it a non-starter for me.

I may have to eat my hat though when that stuff turns out to be the next 5mm Remington. That's OK. I still don't regret not stocking up on 5mm Remington ammo - well, at least not too much.
 
I got one. Fun to shoot. My WASR 2 had some problems and I ended up getting a Tantal build. You might consider getting a better rifle right up front. If a used rifle is a proven shooter, that might be a good option. The WASR will work fine now, but it took me some time to figure out what I needed to do to make sure it worked.

My main advice would be the get enough ammo that you can survive a drought for a while. It all depends on how much you shoot and if you have alternative guns to play with.
 
I've got one, a Polish Tantal, and enough ammo to be useful if I should 'need' it aside from what I regularly shoot.

If 5.45x39 eventually becomes impractical to shoot, I'll get a .223 AR or a .308 PTR91 or something.

An AK74 is indeed worth getting, just buy ammo regularly and in bulk.
 
5.45x39 will not "dry up". Yes, all the ammo comes from Russia. So what? If it's suddenly "banned" you'll see Winchester make it. Besides, if they ban import ammo, there's probably going to be much bigger problems than availability of 5.45x39.
 
My WASR2 is a great carbine

It is the cheapest to shoot of all my carbines....except .22lr

PY nailed it....if surplus is banned ALL ammo will be too expensive

It is less than half the price of 5.56 right now
 
Wolf makes non-corrosive 5.45. The WASR-2s are cheap. Mine cost $290 from Aim Surplus. It came with a great U.S. made trigger. Put the cheap ammo with the cheap rifle with great trigger and you can have lots of fun. 5.45 has about the same modest recoil as 5.56. Mags are also cheap. One of the best values in rifles/ammo today. If you are afraid that the cheap ammo will dry up some day, buy 5,000 or 10,000 rounds of the Bulgarian and store them in your underground bunker.

Drakejake
 
It is my opinion that the 5.45X39mm version of the AK should be chosen over the 5.56X45mm NATO versions. The 39mm cartridge length is what the AK was designed around, so the NATO cartridge is a tight fit. The 5.45X39mm cartridge uses a larger case head than the 5.56X45mm, in addition to the 5.45X39mm cases being made of steel, and operating at slightly less pressure. This translates into greater reliability with the 5.45X39mm over the 5.56X45mm NATO, with only a VERY slight reduction in velocity when comparing the two cartridges. Russian cartridges work best in Russian rifles.

All that said, I love my Romanian SAR2. Accurate, cheap and much better built than any WASR I've ever seen.

-Sefus
 
Thanks for all the advice. I've decided to get a 5.45x39 rifle, I just have to figure out which version to get.

I hear AIM has a nice version for around $300. I think it's the WASR. I've heard that WASR's are "hit or miss" when it comes to quality. If something is wrong with it, do I send it back to AIM or what?:confused:
 
I have a WASR that I bought through AIM, and its at CAI being 'repaired' as we speak. The FSB was canted, which I wasn't worried about initially. But, the thing will not cycle properly at all. So I sent it in to let them fix both problems. If I was set on a 5.45 rifle and had it do over again, I'd pay more and get the better rifle.
 
Yep the WASRs usually have one thing or another that the user isnt happy with. Figure it this way. Pay for it twice or buy it once. I got my never been shot SAR2 with five full mags, mag carrier, stripper mag loader and cleaning kit for $450. Not a screaming deal but I couldnt be happier with it.
 
If your options are .223 and 5.45x39, get something in .223. The supply of 5.45 likely will dry up again, so unless you stockpile it you'll be stuck when you run out.
Click to expand...

Wolf and Golden Tiger (and probably more) sell 5.45x39 by the case, for the same price or cheaper as 7.62x39.
 
Just buy the sar-2 and 10k of ammo you should be fine. Sar-2s have the cheapest priced ammo at the moment and i thought of getting one of em simply for that fact.
 
I have a saiga .223 and it is a very nice rifle. It is very accurate. I can shoot around 1" moa at 50 yards with 55gr hand loads without trying too hard.
You can get one for under $300.00
 
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