Which caliber do you prefer in an AK?

K

Kimio

New member
The 5.45x39mm or the 7.62x39mm?

I ask simply because I'm looking around at the various brands of AK's out on the market. Currently I'm looking at either a SAIGA or an Arsenal AK47 or AK74.

I've had the pleasure of firing a Norinco AK47 in the original 7.62x39 chambering, but I'm still curious about how the 5.45x39 behaves. Unfortunately none of my local ranges has one to test fire, nor do I know anyone who owns one.

From what I've read, it's similar in felt recoil as that of a .223 with perhaps just a little more recoil.

Currently I'm slightly leaning towards the AK74, simply because of the cost of ammunition being even cheaper than that of the AK47's.

What would you recommend, and why? I'd prefer to stay with these two cartridges, nothing elaborate, I simply want a nice AK rifle that I can have some fun with at the range. No other reason other than plinking and target practice.
 
Last edited:
The first thing I might check is the availibility of the 5.45x 39 ammo vs. 5.56 and the prices in your area without having to order it or wait for the gunshow.

If you are going to buy a nice AK you might want to see if 5.56 is an option. I know that I can buy that 24/7 at the local Wally World and at other local stores.

may not be a problem for you but a person I know has complained about that.
 
I have owned both calibers for a while. The 7.62x39 is probably the better all around combat and hunting round. The 5.45 is the better urban self defense round.
The price on 5.45 is such that you can stock up on 1000's of rounds for not too much. Aim surplus has 2160rd cans for $250...
 
I prefer 5.56.

IMG_2240.jpg
 
Most of the cheap ammo is "slightly corrosive" which is like being "kind of pregnant".
I had an AK47 type rifle a decade ago and sold it for an outrageous price. A couple of years ago I bought a Century AK74 to shoot up the cheap ammo available and as a companion gun to an AR in 5.45. Accuracy is acceptable for the type of use it's designed for and function is 100%(trigger is actually better than I expected). Mine has a scope mounting bracket on the left side to which I added a high quality adjustable mount allowing a 2x lighted reticle optic for increased accuracy. It's a 1 1/2-2" shooter with a couple of different types of ammo. I haven't had good results with Wolf 70 grain including a few noted keyholes @ 25 yards but it would do for close shooting at big targets and would be devastating on soft tissue.
Comparing the 5.45 vs. 7.62, the bigger frontal area of the 7.62 hits harder while the 5.45 is designed to penetrate soft body armor better. The 7.62 is a better hunting round(my opinion) but performance of either is 100% dependant on using proper bullets.
Magazine options and price favors the 7.62 in a big way. After some comparisons, I can't see that 5.45 will function well from 7.62 mags and vice versa. Followers and the alignment of the top round are totally different in the mags I've compared.
 
I would stick to 7.62 as 5.45 is too small for me to hunt with legally. For a range toy though the 5.45 is going to cost about the same OTC.
 
Hey guys - first post here. I have a Polish Tantal in 5.45 x 39. It's modified with a Tapco forward (Galil style) handguard, Tapco folding stock (the folding stock that came with the rifle was too short for comfort) and a Tapco supplied SAW type grip. I also changed out the rear sight for a peep sight that offers more adjustments. I call it my Galil-ski.

I find 5.45 to be easily available and cheap. Any of the 'usual suspects' seem to carry everything from Tula to Wolf to big sardine cans full of rounds. I haven't bought one of those, but I will typically purchase about 500rounds (mixed FMJ and JHP) at a time for around $70. Can't do that with 5.56 / .223.

The ranges I use require JHP ammo from "assault rifles" and I have had good luck with Wolf (sometimes hard to find) and Tula. Avoid the Silver Bear JHP. I bought several boxes only to find out that they were a good 2 mm shorter than a regular FMJ and they pretty much all failed to feed.

It's been a while since I shot 7.62 x 39, but I recall that the recoil was noticable without being too hard to manage. The recoil on the 5.45 is very light and getting back on target and firing again is very easy.

Being able to shoot cheap is important for both the fun factor and the confidence that I can hit what I am shooting at most of the time.
 
Between those two i would pick 7.62x39 beacuse of the versatility. I only own one ak its a saiga but its chamberd in 308win and shoots amazingly for an ak.
 
7.62x39

Read somewhere that Klashnikov himself preferred the 7.62 cal over the newer 5.45.

That's good enough for me. With a Mini-30 and a M77 in the same cal, it one LESS caliber fopr me to half to purchase too!
 
Anyone have some suggestions on what model I should go for? I'm really leaning towards an Arsenal AK47 chambered in the 7.62x39mm.

The SGL21 seems to be the most appealing both in looks and cost so far, though I really like the look of the side folder the SGL21-94 as well.

How heavy are these rifles? Does the synthetic stocks hold up well to wear and tear? Is there any compatability issues with older AK magazines? Arsenal seems to have a very well established history, and I think they'd be the first I'd consider purchasing an AK pattern rifle from, however, are there any other brands I should look into?

From my understanding the Arsenal AK's are simply rifles purchased from SAIGA that are specced to the Russian standards and simply built here in the states.

please correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Last edited:
AK's just don't look right to me without the distinctive deep curve of the 7.62x39 magazine. However, for simply going out and plinking it's hard to beat the prices of the cheap spam cans of 5.45 ammo. Personally I prefer the 7.62, but if I could I would have one of each. My single expensive firearm purchase for this year has already been taken up by a Colt AR, so maybe next year I'll grab an Arsenal SGL in 7.62x39.
 
From what i have been told the arsenal sgl21 is a reworked saiga. You could prob buy a saiga and do the conversion yourself if so inclined. It would save your bank account a bit.
 
I tried both but come to find out I really like the 308 the best.It just depends on what you want it to do.;)
 
The 5.45 recoils like a 22lr...and the cheap ammo is very attractive.
I picked up a saiga just because of the cheap 5.45 ammo, and I find I like it a lot.
I own a 7.62x39, and it is a fine cartridge...probably the better combat round. But, I like a carbine for HD, and I would not use my 7.62x39 for that. The 5.45, however makes a great urban HD round.
 
Scuse me, but AK's are 7.62x39 anything else is an abomination or not an AK....This assumes you're talking AK47 and not 74.
 
7.62 x 39

7.62 x 39
For a man-sized target at 100-200 meters, considering the time it designed in, it's an amazing weapon.
 
in my opinion 5.45 is a good compromise if you are leaning between 7.62x39 and 5.56. it doesn't kick nearly as hard as the 7.62 and has much less wind drift and bullet drop over distance. it still isn't quite as good as 223 but the price is definitely a plus. I would rather get 2180 rounds of 5.45 for $250-ish than 1000 rounds of 223 for $350-ish. it is a cheap plinker and ever since 7.62x25 went up it is the cheapest centerfire round out there for plinking. owning both an AK47 and an AR15 I know what I like of both worlds and if I wanted a good medium between round effectiveness and round price a 5.45 would be my first choice...my main conundrum has been choosing between an AK74 and an AR in 5.45...sometimes selection is a bad thing:D

oh and if you're worried about only finding 5.45 in surplus ball ammo hornady makes a VMAX round for 5.45 but it's still kind of spendy, I believe that 50 rounds is $30. still a hunting round is going to cost more than ball ammo regardless of caliber.
 
I currently own an AR15, and the recoil is very manageable. I certainly like the AK pattern rifles though, it's just a toss up right now of what model and caliber I want to get one in.

I like the power of the 7.62x39 but the cost of the 5.45x39 is very appealing as well.

Seems like most people like the 7.62x39 round, I'll have to do some more digging and see. I may just end up getting the 7.62 caliber AK anyway since I don't have to buy a new set of brushes and stuff, plus it's the same caliber as an SKS that I've been eying as of late as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top