5.45x39 Ammo

5.45x39 vs. 7.62x39: How Do They Compare?

The 5.45x39 and 7.62x39 are the two primary AK-pattern rifle cartridges. The 7.62x39 fires a heavier 123-grain bullet at approximately 2,350 fps, delivering significant energy at short to medium range with a pronounced rainbow trajectory beyond 300 yards. The 5.45x39 fires a lighter 53-grain bullet at approximately 2,950 fps, producing a much flatter trajectory, reduced recoil, and meaningfully better accuracy at longer ranges. The Soviet military switched from the 7.62x39 to 5.45x39 for the same reasons the US switched from .30-06 to 5.56 — lighter ammunition, higher velocity, flatter trajectory, and the ability to carry more rounds. For target shooting and competition use, 5.45x39 is the more accurate cartridge at distance; for hunting and terminal performance on large game, the heavier 7.62x39 remains preferred.

Military Surplus 5.45x39: The 7N6 Round

The most historically significant 5.45x39 loading is the Soviet/Russian 7N6, the standard military ball round that was widely imported to the United States as surplus ammunition before ATF reclassification in 2014. The 7N6 features a steel core inside a bimetal jacket that gives it mild armor-piercing characteristics. As a result of the steel core, the ATF reclassified 7N6 imports as armor-piercing handgun ammunition (due to the existence of AK-74 pistols chambered in the caliber), making further importation illegal. Existing 7N6 in the market predates this ruling. Current 5.45x39 commercial production from PPU, Wolf, and Hornady uses conventional FMJ or hollow point projectiles without steel cores.

Current Commercial 5.45x39 Ammunition Options

With 7N6 surplus largely gone from the market, current 5.45x39 availability centers on commercial production. PPU (Prvi Partizan) produces Boxer-primed brass-case 5.45x39 FMJ that is reloadable and cycles reliably in most AK-74-pattern rifles. Wolf and other Eastern European manufacturers produce steel-case bimetal FMJ in 5.45x39 at lower per-round cost suited for high-volume training. Hornady produces a 60-grain V-MAX varmint load for precision and hunting applications. The commercial market is smaller than 7.62x39 given the smaller installed base of 5.45x39 rifles in the US, but core FMJ training loads are consistently available.

Which Rifles Use 5.45x39?

The 5.45x39 is the standard cartridge for AK-74 pattern rifles including the Bulgarian Arsenal SLR-104, Kalashnikov USA KR-103, WASR-2 variants, and various other imported or domestically built AK-74 pattern rifles. It is not interchangeable with 7.62x39 or 5.56 NATO. Magazines for 5.45x39 AK rifles are typically orange or plum-colored polymer Bulgarian surplus mags or current-production steel or polymer alternatives — they are not interchangeable with 7.62x39 AK magazines.

Frequently Asked Questions: 5.45x39 Ammo

What rifles use 5.45x39?
5.45x39 is the cartridge for AK-74 pattern rifles including the Arsenal SLR-104, Kalashnikov USA KR-103, and most AK-74 builds. It is not compatible with 7.62x39 AK-47-pattern rifles or any AR-15 platform.

Is 5.45x39 armor-piercing?
The original Soviet 7N6 military surplus round contains a mild steel penetrator and was reclassified by ATF in 2014. Current commercial 5.45x39 production from PPU, Wolf, and Hornady does not use steel core projectiles and is not classified as armor-piercing.

Can you still buy 5.45x39 ammo?
Yes. Commercial 5.45x39 is available from PPU (brass case), Wolf (steel case), and Hornady. Military surplus 7N6 is scarce following the 2014 ATF ruling but still occasionally appears in the used market.

Is 5.45x39 more accurate than 7.62x39?
Generally yes at medium to longer ranges. The 5.45x39’s higher velocity and flatter trajectory produce less drop and wind drift beyond 300 yards compared to the heavier, slower 7.62x39.

Browse 5.45x39 Ammunition
Shop all 5.45x39 ammo at Impact Guns — we ship nationwide.

See Also: 7.62x39 Ammo • AK-47 Rifles • Arsenal Firearms • All Ammunition