CornCod 1 Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 I have begun thinking about getting a small caliber AK-type rifle. At the moment, which ammo is cheaper .223/5.56mm or 5.45X39? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Krinkovliu 0 Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 5.45x39 is the cheapest by far. You can buy military surplus (= corrosive) for about $120/1000 rds. You can buy steel case non-corrosive Russian made ammo for about $170/1000. .223 ammo costs about 2x this amount. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
acercanto 6 Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 Err, maybe I'm stupid or something, but isn't there only 2 small-caliber Saiga rifles? I thought they were 5.56/.223 and 7.62x39.. Never heard of 5.45x39, that ratio would be like a .17HMR or .223WSSM or something.. Clueless, Acer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uzitiger 193 Posted November 10, 2007 Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 Saiga doesn't make a 5.45x39 rifle but you can get a Bulgarian or Romanian WASR in that caliber. I've also seen some Polish 5.35 kits being sold which you can build. Presently 5.45x39 ammo is the cheapest center fire ammo available but that could change the way all the ammo prices have shot thru the roof. If you buy one and can afford to stockpile a few thousand rounds in case prices go up and availability changes the way it did with 7.62x39. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nalioth 405 Posted November 10, 2007 Report Share Posted November 10, 2007 You can also build yourself an AK from a kit. 5.45 = about .21 caliber. In the USA they had a rifle at one time chambered in ".21 Genghis" (which was nothing more than a 5.45x39). Polish Tantal Bulgarian AKS-74 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CornCod 1 Posted November 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 It would be great if the Saiga folks would consider making a rifle in 5.45X39. I would buy one without hesitation. The reputed spotty quality on the Romanian rifles might make me hesitate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
topmaul 42 Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 5.56 is fine you will never have to worry about the supply of ammo drying up like it did after Katrina not sure what the hurrican had dot do with the ammo supply but you could not find 5.45 to save you life Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Twinsen 86 Posted November 15, 2007 Report Share Posted November 15, 2007 5.56 is fine you will never have to worry about the supply of ammo drying up like it did after Katrina not sure what the hurrican had dot do with the ammo supply but you could not find 5.45 to save you life I just prefer $0.18 per round to $0.65, so I'm going 5.45mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ironhead7544 35 Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 (edited) One thing to consider is there are no cheap brass cases to reload the 5.45x39 with. Right now the ammo is cheap but coud dry up if Clinton gets elected. She could ban imports with a presidential order like Bill did for the Chinese stuff. I do think someone will start making cases here as a market will develop quickly. Edited November 17, 2007 by ironhead7544 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CornCod 1 Posted November 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 If I do get a 5.45X39 I would want to get it as cheap as possible. Is there a company offering any of the 5.45mm Romanian low-cap models for sale these days.? Impact was selling 7.62X39 low-caps, but I can find anything in the other caliber. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MD_Willington 11 Posted November 17, 2007 Report Share Posted November 17, 2007 Classic arms had a 5.45 magazine blow out, the single stacks were $1 a piece... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dyi 0 Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 (edited) As cheap as it is going to get 5.45 http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/p/...846bc0960286c63 http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.php/am...roducts_id/1399 $299 wasr2 + $130 1k bulg = $430 for a high cap 5.45 w/ 1000rds vs $250 saiga + high cap conversion 922r ($100 depending on what you do) + $200 1k wolf = $550 for a high cap 5.56 w/ 1000 rds As for availability, I own both since 223 is native BUT at 5.45 ammo prices its stacked so deep I'd wear out a barrel before I ran out of ammo. Edited November 19, 2007 by dyi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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