Stevens 200 in 5.45x39?

[motocop]

I am new to this board but have been researching this same idea. I found a Savage 340 in .222. Cost is $200. The bolt head and magazine will work fine. Manson Reamers carries the reamers as a stock item. They are currently out of stock for 2 weeks. The reamer is about $125. Im thinking about renting one. There is a special wrench for barrel removal that is around $30. I spoke with an old gunsmith about this conversion and his opinion is this action isnt made for cartridges in the 50,000 plus pressure range. I know the .556 is close. Glad I found this site. Art

 

[VirgilCaine]

5.45x39 USA
5.45x39.5 Russian

So, wait, there's a 5.45 US round and a 5.45 Russian?
I've never heard of this before, what are they talking about here?
I wasn't aware of any domestic 5.45x39mm production?

 

[motocop]

Sorry for the confusion. Im talking about the 5.45x39 converison. I bought some of this ammo and have been kicking around making up a bolt gun to shoot it.

 

[motocop]

This is the Russian imported ammo. Right now its about .14 a round which is real cheap. I jumped in on an old post from March.

 

[maskedman504]

Smith & Wesson has an AR (MP-15) chambered in 5.45x39. I don't know where they get the barrels.

 

[VirgilCaine]

No, I understand all that, I just wanted to know about the two (apparently) different calibers they Lothar Walter listed.

 

[maskedman504]

The 39 is meant for the case length, right?

Well, the 5.45x39 Russian round has a case lngth listed as:

Bullet diameter 5.60 mm (0.220 in)
Neck diameter 6.29 mm (0.248 in)
Shoulder diameter 9.25 mm (0.364 in)
Base diameter 10.0 mm (0.394 in)
Rim diameter 10.0 mm (0.394 in)
Rim thickness 1.50 mm (0.059 in)
Case length 39.82 mm (1.568 in)
Overall length 57.00 mm (2.244 in)
Rifling twist 255 mm (1 in 10 in)
Primer type Berdan, small rifle
Maximum pressure 380.0 MPa (55,114 psi)

I have never heard of 5.45x39 USA. Maybe they are just referring to USA manufactured 5.45x39 rounds, which may, or may not, have a slightly different specification?

 

[motocop]

Manson reamers will have them in 5.45x39 in a week or so. Price is $125

 

[alemonkey]

Sounds like a very interesting project, but are brass and bullets available? I don't think I'd drop that kind of money on a project unless I could handload for it to squeeze as much accuracy as possible out of the rifle.