Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 5.45mm vs. 5.56

I'd like to hear opinions about the 5.45 mm ammo from anyone who has used them on hogs or varmint. Can you compare the terminal effectiveness of the 5.45 to the 5.56?
Thanks

5.45 is a more damaging on flesh then the 5.56 Its a longer thinner cartridge that is nick named the Poison Bullet because of the wound entry it leaves. At the tip of the nose of the round underneath it there is nothing there but air.Bellow that is a steel core or bi-metal core depending on where its from (Country).The bullet flips end over end when it hits a target leaving a massive wound channel.If I were to pick between these 2 cartridges I would choose the 5.45x39 cartridge.It is a very hot round for one. It also is extremely cheap aimsurplus you can get 1080rds in a sealed tin for 125.00 shipped. Try buying 1080 of .223 and see what the price is. It penetrates better and its a heavier bullet over the standard 55 grain .223/5.56 average grain is 59 - 70 grain depending on the make.The AK-74 is my favorite rifle.Also for the AR lover a new 5.45x39 upper is coming out.Which will be nice I hope this helps you and the 5.45x39 is the way to go.

indfw have you shot things with both cartridges?

Yes I have things in Bothe rifles. Robinson XCR Bushmaster AR-15 bothe in 223/5.56 Bulgarian AK-74 5.45x39 And yes Ive done a lot of penetration test with bothe.

indfw,
Can you provide any comparison of the terminal effectiveness of the 5.45 vs the 5.56?

Watch these 1st one is in jap but you can see the difference.I dont think the Russians would have went to a smaller round over their 7.62x39 if it wasnt more effective on flesh in my opinion.Penetration is excellent as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqaeX2KigSc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQxvTIIZQY

You're comparing fragmenting ammo to ammo that doesn't. 5.45 and 5.56 loads that don't fragment perform similarly, with the former yawing earlier.

I would rather use 5.56mm.

Look at the (back) of that clay when the 5.45 hits. Also cost effectiveness of the 5.45x39 is way superior even if you would consider ballistics similar. Your talking .08 cents around for 5.45 VS .50 cents a round for .223 Thats a no brainer.

Sure it's more cost effective, never denied that. Ballistically though, they are very similar.

Isn't it just steel cased ammo though? The cheapest prices I found was about $130 per 1080. It's cheap enough but it's still just blasting ammo. I've got an AK-47 that serves as a blaster already. I looked a S&W 5.45 upper but I decided I would never shoot enough to justify the purchase.

Terry

cant get excited about a round with no domestic manufacturer.

Its only cheaper till you cant import it.

NOI

SoG has non corrosive packs of 1080 for around $109. Or at least they did a while back.

You can buy 10,800 rounds and an then an upper if you already have a lower and still come out ahead if you never see another round for sale if you just want to go bang.

Eventually I am hoping the ACR becomes available in 5.45.

I've seen a few cottontail rabbits shot with the 5.45--MUCH less damage than I expected. I ended up cleaning and keeping all of them.

Thats because 5.45 passes clean through.

Sure did. I guess the "poison bullet" effect requires a more robust target?

Yeah it doesn't yaw immediately.