regarding a 5.45x39 bolt action

[Tim K]

What are your specific accuracy desires? I don't have a lot of experience with that particular cartridge, but surplus ammo typically delivers 3" or worse groups at 100 yards. If that's good enough for you, proceed.

[OgenRwot]

Yeah that's kinda what I was thinking. If it's for p-doggin you're gonna need MOA or better because those things are less than MOA out at 300 yards.

It doesn't make much sense to me to build a rifle around surplus ammo. Kinda defeats the purpose of building a rifle in the first place...accuracy.

[DirtyHarry]

it can be done for cheap with a savage action, most expensive part would be the barrel. Build a rifle for accuracy but most of all- to shoot it, lots.

[DOC]

Sounds like fun. 3" is good enough for prairie dogs.

[Tim K]

3" is good enough for prairie dogs.

I suppose that's true if you don't shoot past 75 yards.

[DirtyHarry]

a Russian SKS can shoot groups tighter than 3" at 100 yds. Guess the only way to find out the true accuracy is to build it though

[ERNO]

Hornady sell's the new steel cased 5.45x39 topped with the A-Max bullet, though I have not bought any from Natchez yet for my Polish Tantal and my Smith & Wesson AR-15; which I can shoot all day at pine cones and Magnoila cones that I throw up against the 100 yard backstop at the range where I have permission to do so.
Target shooters used the 5.45x39 shell casing as the base for the 6mm PPC, I believe.
Green River might be making a new barrel for the Tantal.

P.S.- I can really make those pine cones dance!



Erno

[Tim K]

Out of curiosity, what is the cost of that ammo?

I reload .223 for $0.19 a round. Is it much less than that?