'Tactical' 7.62X39 or 5.45X39

[Teufelhunden]

Does anyone makes a high-expansion/low-penetration (for a rifle round) catridge for either of these calibers, something along the lines of Hornady's TAP line?

I'd REALLY like the Krebs KTR-03S for a patrol rifle, but am a little put off by the fact that there don't seem to be a whole lot of the usual 'tactical' ammunition makers paying attention to the Russian cartridges...

Folks on the thread where I was kicking around different patrol rifles opined that the 7.62X39 is too heavy for LEO use as there will be too much overpenetration. In a standard setup, I can agree with that, but if Hornady can make a .308 viable for closer work, I don't see why the Russian .30 can't also be made to work.

As far as the 5.45 is concerned, is mil-spec FMJ ammo (with the air-pocket) practical for LEO use, or should I also be looking for a FMJ or soft-point here?

Regardless, does anyone make a round of such description in a Russian chambering, or am I best off looking for high-end hunting ammunition?

-Teuf

 

[.45Guy]

Didn't magtech load their crap in 7.62x39 at one time?

 

[Nashmack]

Why not load your own? Sinterfire makes a compressed copper frangible projectile for use with the 7.62x39...

 

[rbernie]

The data from the manufacturers and the limited testing that I've done has indicated that the Speer and Hornady 123gr .311 bullets are very soft (if rapid controlled expansion is your thing) and that the Sierra 125gr .311 bullet is much harder (if penetration is your thing).

 

[grimjaw]

Teufelhunden, have Krebs magic up a version in .223 for you. They craft rifles from Saiga receivers, and Saiga makes them in .223, don't know why they wouldn't be able to do the math.

jmm

 

[Teufelhunden]

grimjaw,

My contact with Krebs has indicated they have no further intent to manufacture rifles in .223, for reasons unexplained. They had one come back on comission a while ago and immediately emailed me (which impressed me re. customer service), but I could not come up with the sum total on short notice.

Reloading unfortunately, is not an option at the moment since I don't have any reloading equipment. I'm interested in starting someday, but buying the gear to do so now would only cut into my saving for the rifle. As an aside, I doubt my department would allow me to carry any home loads on duty.

-Teuf