cord-mac138 0 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 ok i really want to get a saiga and convert it but im not sure which caliber i want yet.....i plan on using it primarily for target shooting and home defense/SHTF, but maybe hog/deer hunting a couple times a year but if not i have other rifles i can use for that. i might help me if i knew how much more accurate the 5.45 or 5.56 is compared to the 7.62...and i heard that u can snap a ak-74 mag right into the saiga 5.45 without mods, is that true? do u have to have a bullet guide or anything? if theres no mods needed then that would be a plus for the 5.45 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scattergun10 125 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 For all the things you mentioned you would use it for, I would go 7.62. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 30 cal all the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cord-mac138 0 Posted March 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 yeah thats what im thinking but i just wouldnt want to make the wrong choise....but the 223 isnt appealing to me at all anymore for some reason lol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
physicsnerd 139 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 7.62x39. When I got my Saiga rifle I asked the same question (without the .223 option) and figured that the 7.62 was the best to get first since a lot of states that allow rifle deer hunting also have minimum caliber restrictions. The 7.62 is OK while the 5.45 is not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L5K 162 Posted March 29, 2011 Report Share Posted March 29, 2011 I like the 5.45 cartridge a lot more than the 7.62. Both work, and both work well. If you want to use it for hogs and all that, 7.62 is also what I would recommend though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
davswn1986 7 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 7.62x39mm all the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Battosaii 99 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 the only thing 5.45 has over 7.62x39 is price and weight with 5.45 you can get surplus round pretty cheap and shoot a hell of alot more often but wont be very good for deer or hogs especially hogs you want to make sure them suckers are dead cause they will tear you up with them tusk's. Modern 7.62x39 rounds have shown to do much more damage to flesh then the 5.45 rounds so would be good for both home protection and hunting 7.62 all the way Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jimdigriz 580 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) the only thing 5.45 has over 7.62x39 is price and weight Lower price = More practice, more skill. I think you will also find women shooters more comfortable with the 5.45 than the 7.62x39, if one needs to share the gun with them. with 5.45 you can get surplus round pretty cheap and shoot a hell of alot more often but wont be very good for deer or hogs especially hogs you want to make sure them suckers are dead cause they will tear you up with them tusk's. 5.45 will do fine with deer or hogs, but may not be legal in some states to use for those applications. Modern 7.62x39 rounds have shown to do much more damage to flesh then the 5.45 rounds so would be good for both home protection and hunting I wouldn't be comfortable with 7.62x39 for home defense, due to its penetrative power. Also, it may do more damage, but the 5.45 will allow you to put more rounds on target more quickly. Edited March 30, 2011 by Jim Digriz 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigChongus 765 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I've got both a 5.45 and 7.62. I honestly wouldn't be able to decide between them. I just love them both. But, for what you want it for, I'd go with the 5.45. It's more accurate than the 7.62 and would fit the bill better for target shooting, and still be an effective SHTF/HD gun. Ammo's dirt cheap, too. Just doesn't have the shear knock-down force of the 7.62, though. 5.45 isn't always as available as 7.62, either. FWIW, it's not hard at all to get the 7.62 to accept mil-surp mags, so I wouldn't even make that a factor in your decision. with 5.45 you can get surplus round pretty cheap and shoot a hell of alot more often but wont be very good for deer or hogs especially hogs you want to make sure them suckers are dead cause they will tear you up with them tusk's. Ever see a 5.45 wound on a hog? They're pretty well FUBAR'd. Someone on another AK board has a log of deer he's taken with the 5.45 without issues. Edited March 30, 2011 by W8lifter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuffetDestroyer 969 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 I would go with the Phased Plasma Rifle out of those three. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BuffetDestroyer 969 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 With my Serious Face, I would go with 7.62x39. Taking out game animals or two legged threats, it is advantageous if there is any barrier between you and the target over the other two. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigChongus 765 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 ...which is why it's always better to buy two to have your bases covered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Battosaii 99 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 well main reason i ment 5.45 is not good for hunting cause its really not legal i dont think ive ever seen 5.45 soft points for sale anywhere Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stnls1911 55 Posted April 2, 2011 Report Share Posted April 2, 2011 i dont think ive ever seen 5.45 soft points for sale anywhere http://www.hornady.c...MAX-Steel-Case/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cord-mac138 0 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 alot of different opinions i see lol....well if some one could tell me how much more range/accuracy the 5.45 really has over the 7.62 that would help me alot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulry 50 Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 Get them all! Based on your specs you should go with the 7.62! I shot both last Friday and must say the 7.62 seems more powerful. Frosty Quote Link to post Share on other sites
atakacorp 147 Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 Hogs? 7.62X39 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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