Thoughts on AR in 5.45

[Jose]

Anything bad about owning one? I sold my 5.56 Bushmaster I while back and looking at buying another one and it's hard to beat the price on a 5.45 rifle right now. What are the cons about buying one???

[David]

I've heard they're perfectly fine to have. You'll have to clean your gun every outing though since all that 5.45 surplus ammo is corrosive.

[Jose]

That doesn't sound like a bad thing than and should just lead to better habits cleaning a rifle out.

Separate question. Can AR's chambered in 5.45 be changed over to 5.56 with just an upper swap? I know I've been around weapons for a long time but I never really knew the answer on that one.

[David]

That doesn't sound like a bad thing than and should just lead to better habits cleaning a rifle out.

Separate question. Can AR's chambered in 5.45 be changed over to 5.56 with just an upper swap? I know I've been around weapons for a long time but I never really knew the answer on that one.

They do swap, but a 5.56 lower internals may not work on a 5.45 upper assembly. 5.45 lowers will generally have heavier springs and hammers to ignite a primer on a 5.45 cartridge.

[Darren M]

So, 5.45 LPK would work for both?

[David]

So, 5.45 LPK would work for both?

I would assume so.

[MULEY4X4]

I have a spikes 5.45x39 upper. Everything on the upper is melonite coated. The spikes came with a nickel boron bolt. I clean it after every trip to the range. I just stick it in the sink and spray it with windex and douse it in warm water. My first outing at the range sucked! I upgraded to a Spikes T-2 buffer. It shoots like a dream now. It also needs a heavy trigger spring as well. The ammo is corrosive and gross. However I don't feel guilty about shooting it at all. The only thing that could be touch or go is Mags.


I would say go for it!!

[Jose]

Still doing my research and came across this article. Pretty good read.

http://rationalgun.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-definitive-545x39mm-ar15-article.html

[YALE]

Why not just get a Saiga (or whatever they're called now) in 5.45? Seems like running 5.45 in a DI gun is a pain in the butt.

[IHaveAMustang]

My SBR is an 11.5" 5.45x39 and i had to upgrade the trigger spring to get it to punch through the old Rusky primers in my surplus ammo.

Other than cleaning it after every outing, it's a CHEAP AR to operate...I bought two spam cans of 1080. I still have 300 or so rounds left of the first one, and the second one is still sealed.

[CJ]

Why not just get a Saiga (or whatever they're called now) in 5.45? Seems like running 5.45 in a DI gun is a pain in the butt.

This would be my recommendation. The conversion is easy, they are cheap guns, and they are true Izhmash russian AK's. You can mount optics to them as well. I would think you could convert a Saiga AK for the same price as buy an AR upper. I'm pretty sure it could be done.

[Roscoe]

I have one..... Well, only as of yesterday.... Wonder if I can use a. 5.56 can on it though?

[David]

I have one..... Well, only as of yesterday.... Wonder if I can use a. 5.56 can on it though?

Given a thorough cleaning afterwards, most say 5.45 in a 5.56 can won't be an issue other than a slight increase in db.

[MULEY4X4]

Given a thorough cleaning afterwards, most say 5.45 in a 5.56 can won't be an issue other than a slight increase in db.

I don't have a suppresor on mine but I do have a dynacomp in 556. Seems to work fine.

[bulldog896]

If you wanna try one I have an upper I am looking to sell