What's with the love for 5.45x39 mm ammo?

[Aloha_Shooter]

There's some teeth gnashing in the IWI Tavor buyers intel thread about not being able to get the Tavor straightup in 5.45x39. Rather than continue polluting a buyers intel thread, I wanted to understand why the heck people want it in 5.45x39 (other than getting cheap surplus Commie ammo). What's the attraction -- or is there any attraction other than ammo costs?

[Ronin13]

I don't see any plus outside of low cost... it's already been proven that 5.56 is better than 5.45 in combat- at least by PEO.

[cstone]

If you have an AR in it, an AK-74, and stock lots of 5.45, than having another rifle that shoots it out of magazines you already own, makes pretty good sense.

It is close enough in ballistics to 5.56, and has proven to be effective in combat. I don't have any major issues with the corrosive surplus ammunition.

If I ever obtain a Tavor, I would want to have both barrels to give me the ability to shoot whichever I choose.

Choice is good.

[Zundfolge]

5.45x39 is about to lose its only advantage; cheapness.

Expect to see Oblowme implement more import bans and when that happens, 5.45 will become more expensive than .308.

[Dingo]

I am a devoted fan of the round.

A: because it's still 1/2 to 2/3 less than 5.56 in terms of cost. It will definitely go up soon, but for now it's still ridiculously cheap at 230/K
B: because the ballistics are very similar (some say on soft tissue, the 5.45 out performs since it's primarily a tumbler - not a fragmenter as some 5.56 ammo tends toward)
C: quite accurate and low-recoiling
D: since I stocked up on that round instead of 5.56, I'm biased. When Shadow Ops FINALLY gets my lower in, I will be putting together a 5.45 build.

[Dave]

Pretty much cost was its main advantage. In 2006 a buddy of mine got a used AK-74 for 275 and 1k rounds of commie milsurp for 150. It's still a bit cheaper than AR's or 7.62 AK variants, but not the huge discount it used to be.

[Squeeze]

I just got wind that Obastard signed an executive order recently banning the import of ammunition into the U.S. Anyone heard the same or able to confirm?

[Dingo]

Pretty much cost was its main advantage. In 2006 a buddy of mine got a used AK-74 for 275 and 1k rounds of commie milsurp for 150. It's still a bit cheaper than AR's or 7.62 AK variants, but not the huge discount it used to be.

True, but I'll take .23 per round over .70 - $1 a round anyday, esp when they're so close ballistically.

[cstone]

I just got wind that Obastard signed an executive order recently banning the import of ammunition into the U.S. Anyone heard the same or able to confirm?

I am certain that he would like to. As of today, surplus ammunition is still being imported into the USA.

I believe that when the surplus runs out, brass cased, boxer primed ammunition will be manufactured and it will cost about the same as commercial 5.56. Hopefully, by that time, I will have burned up my 5.45 barrels and I can have the rifles rebarreled into whichever caliber makes sense at the time.

[Zundfolge]

I just got wind that Obastard signed an executive order recently banning the import of ammunition into the U.S. Anyone heard the same or able to confirm?

Not quite. What he did is sign an EO that puts him in the position where he COULD ban imports of guns, ammo or anything firearm related with just a phone call.

[Circuits]

I just got wind that Obastard signed an executive order recently banning the import of ammunition into the U.S. Anyone heard the same or able to confirm?

What the EO actually did was transfer authority over the defense articles list from the secretary of state's office to the attorney general. The ability to ban or vastly curtail imported ammunition has always been there - I guess this just gives it one of Obama's more reliable stooges, rather than Hilary or John Kerry.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Okay, so it seems it's just about the cost and availability of the ammunition. Thanks, I didn't want to jump to conclusions, just wanted to see if I was missing something there.

[Chilipepperlewis]

I have a 5.45 upper and really like it. The ammo is cheap and it shoots every bit as good as my .223. It lacks a lot from the 5.56 but that's to be expected I think. I wish I could reload them, but you can usually find ammo cheaper then what we reload .223 for.

[jreifsch80]

My only ar15 is in 5.45 it shoots no different at all than when I first built my ar and had a 16 inch 5.56 colt barrel (accuracy and reliability). Also I have had no more malfunctions with my 5.45 at than when it was a 5.56 by the way I've never cleaned it and it still runs great last I shot it and I have maybe 500-600 rounds through it

[funkymonkey1111]

I've been thinking about an AK74 just because of the price. I just looked on gunbot and 5.45x39 is $175/1080. That's about the cheapest centerfire shooting you can do--cheaper than 9mm, and in some extreme cases, not a ton more expensive than shooting .22LR.

[cstone]

I just had a crate delivered to my porch today. $368 for 2160 rounds works out to a hair over $.17 per round. Sure it isn't reloadable, but that is what I have rifles chambered in 5.56 for [Flower]

Besides, I like the storage longevity of those spam cans and the crates come in handy around the house. Even the opened spam cans get used as planter boxes by my wife. She paints them real pretty after I file out the sharp edges.

[trlcavscout]

I just had a crate delivered to my porch today. $368 for 2160 rounds works out to a hair over $.17 per round. Sure it isn't reloadable, but that is what I have rifles chambered in 5.56 for [Flower]

Besides, I like the storage longevity of those spam cans and the crates come in handy around the house. Even the opened spam cans get used as planter boxes by my wife. She paints them real pretty after I file out the sharp edges.

See gun guys are into recycling! And keeping the misses happy.