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 09-16-2009, 09:50 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bat Country Posts: 573 |  .223 versus 5.45x39
What are the pros and cons of each? Other than the obvious price difference. I have been offered a S&W M&P in 5.45 for $700, from a friend hard up on cash. __________________ "Call on God, But Row Away From the Rocks" -Hunter S. Thompson
“Freedom is something that dies unless it's used” -HST
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile—and the rest of us are F###ed until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. We owe that to ourselves and our crippled self-image as something better than a nation of panicked sheep."-HST | 
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| 09-17-2009, 12:28 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,199 |
probably will find more pros for the 5.56 than the 5.45.
5.56
Pros - more available ammo types, ranging from lightweight varmint rounds to heavier grain MATCH ammo, more performance. Also, much more available as far as accessories, from barrels, receivers, triggers, magazines, etc.
Cons-not as cheap as the 5.45
5.45
Pros - uhmm....more economical? 
Slo | |
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| 09-17-2009, 12:32 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bat Country Posts: 573 |
That's kind of what I thought, but I wasn't sure how similar they were in ballistics and performance. It just seems odd the S&W would offer it in a factory gun if there wasn't something to it....... __________________ "Call on God, But Row Away From the Rocks" -Hunter S. Thompson
“Freedom is something that dies unless it's used” -HST
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile—and the rest of us are F###ed until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. We owe that to ourselves and our crippled self-image as something better than a nation of panicked sheep."-HST | |
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| 09-17-2009, 12:34 AM | #4 | Call Me Doug Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: It's because I actually HAVE those skills! Posts: 21,258 |
I can't think of one good reason SUPPORTING the 5.45 to be honest.
I suppose you could pull some sort of ballistics versus the 5.56 at a close distance and show that the 5.45 might hit harder, thus being more dominant....
But ballistically at distance over that of "across the street" ??
If you have the extra cash lying around, maybe, but I wouldn't necessarily be shopping for this application...
JD __________________ "as for my Sword & Spear we will serve the throne, but NEVER that man who sits upon it" - Achilles - Warrior of Warriors
Quote:
Originally Posted by doctherock
Dillinger didn't have to let me try Cammenga Mags before I bought them; but he is a man of great character & a man who's word to me now is a good as gold. If he recommends it I know its good stuff.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ! | |
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| 09-17-2009, 12:50 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bat Country Posts: 573 |
I wasn't planning on getting one, he just offered. And No, I don't have extra cash laying around....at least not for a black rifle  I'll just wait and get one in.223 when the price bottoms out. __________________ "Call on God, But Row Away From the Rocks" -Hunter S. Thompson
“Freedom is something that dies unless it's used” -HST
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile—and the rest of us are F###ed until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. We owe that to ourselves and our crippled self-image as something better than a nation of panicked sheep."-HST | |
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| 09-17-2009, 01:16 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 3,252 |
The 5.45 was Russia's answer to the 5.56. Lighter and easier to field than their 7.62 x 39 or 7.62 x 54. I wouldn't buy one since ammo is not readily available, and the only ammo that is available is military ball. I don't see any reloading stats for this round in any of my manuals, so IMO it wouldn't be useful for much except plinking. __________________
Guns Have Only Two Enemies-Rust and Politicians
"The United States Constitution (c) 1791 - All Rights Reserved"
If Guns Kill, Do Pencils Mis-spell Words?
Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body - USMC
"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum" | |
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| 10-22-2009, 08:32 PM | #7 | Iron Man Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South central, NH Posts: 3,262 Likes Given: 2
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Ammo is not available? I have bought cans(1080rnds) for as cheap as $108.00. $150.00 to my door is the norm now. I shoot an AK74. I bought it when they were cheap, $269.00. Mine has a 3lb Tapco trigger and is a great little gun. There is no recoil at all. Mags were $6.95 each a few years ago. Average price for ammo over a few years is .12 a round. I also have a flat top scope mount and red dot for hunting. W/ 70gr HP wolf ammo it makes a great woodchuck and coyote gun. It is no AR, but a VG round for cheap paper punching or hunting vermin. I have been thinking of a 5.45 upper for my AR. BTW, I was paying $3.95 a box for 70gr hunting ammo less than a year ago. U.S. manufacturers are now jumping in w/ hunting ammo. I wish they would make it 50..55gr though. If you doubt the accuracy, I was at a shoot in July. Out of all the AK clones it was me and a guy w/ a SAR2 in .223. I won. We went out to 160 yards w/ open sights. 8" target. | |
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| 10-25-2009, 01:00 PM | #8 | Supporting Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SE, Ia Posts: 350 |
Hi Doc, I like the 5.45x39 rd, started shooting the Bulgarian mil surplus in my AK74s. When Century had it for a dime a rd delivered I stocked up big time. Please understand that I only use it for plink'in out to 200 - 300 yds.
I built up a couple S&W 16" uppers & a 20" mod 1 sales on Superior lowers. To tell the truth, I can't really tell the difference between the 5.45 & 5.56 when shooting it out of an AR. The penetration is very different though, with mil surplus ammo because of the "void" or air pocket in the nose of the rd., it won't shoot thru a 3/8" mild steel plate like the 5.56 ball will. Its made to tumble on impact.
We burn thru a lot of ammo, weather permitting, so cost is very important and the bulgy surplus is great stuff. I really like my ARs in 5.45 and the S&W has a chrome lined bbl, chamber & carrier - about the only part you can't clean for the corrosive surplus ammo is the gas tube and If it were to ever cause a problem, they are cheap & easy to replace.
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| 10-25-2009, 03:56 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pueblo, Colorado Posts: 1,680 |
Quote:
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What are the pros and cons of each? Other than the obvious price difference. I have been offered a S&W M&P in 5.45 for $700, from a friend hard up on cash.
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Just know that they are going for that (or close to it) NIB right now. Check out R&R Arms.
As far as the 5.45mm vs .223. The only advantage I see is that you can get a 2160rd case for around $300. If that's not appealing I don't know what is. | |
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