7,62x39 & 5,45x39 comaprison

alien5551 · August 25, 2008, 09:32 AM

Which of them is most lethal? I found the the 5,45 has special features making it very lethal round but how it shows when comparing to to JHP or JSP 7,62? Sorry for my english I'm not from US

And what about the recoil of 7,62 in full auto?

Rampant_Colt · August 25, 2008, 10:15 AM

**BLANKET STATEMENT WARNING**

7.62x39 has more wounding potential than the 5.45x39

http://www.firearmstactical.com/wound.htm

http://www.firearmstactical.com/imag...4%20545x39.jpg

http://www.firearmstactical.com/imag...20762x39mm.jpg

I make the above statement based on my own experience by breaking things and blowing sh_t up side-by-side using a -47 and -74

IMO Wolf 7.62x39 Military Classic 123gr JHP is the best bang for the buck available - 20rds for $4

7.62x39 on full-auto is more difficult to control than the 5.45. The recoil is not that bad... Go to YouTube and search for AK-47 and AK-74. I think that the 5.45 muzzle brake is more effective at reducing recoil than the slant brake on the 7.62s

Citizen Carrier · August 25, 2008, 11:36 AM

I've read that AKs in 5.45 and 5.56 are more accurate than the 7.62 mainly because the rate of twist in the barrel for the 7.62 was carried over from tooling for Mosin-Nagant rifles.

In other words, the rate of twist would be great if the AK was firing bullets weighing 150 grains or more. Not so great when the bullet weight is only 124 grains.

The other calibers got a brand new start and their rates of twist are better for their weights.

Rampant_Colt · August 25, 2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citizen Carrier

I've read that AKs in 5.45 and 5.56 are more accurate than the 7.62 mainly because the rate of twist in the barrel for the 7.62 was carried over from tooling for Mosin-Nagant rifles.

In other words, the rate of twist would be great if the AK was firing bullets weighing 150 grains or more. Not so great when the bullet weight is only 124 grains.

The other calibers got a brand new start and their rates of twist are better for their weights

Quote:

Originally Posted by alien5551

Which of them is most lethal? I found the the 5,45 has special features making it very lethal round but how it shows when comparing to to JHP or JSP 7,62? Sorry for my english I'm not from US

And what about the recoil of 7,62 in full auto?

He is inquiring about recoil characteristics and lethality between 5,45x39 and 7,62x39 cartridges [they use commas instead of periods in Europe

]

Please stay on topic

hockeysew · August 25, 2008, 01:27 PM

7.62 x 39
Very good short range stopping power-Good to about 200 yards than it really falls off the wagon. Large caliber with decent penetration at short distance. Solid wound potential but generally dont fragment so well unless using HP ammo.
5.45 x 39
Very similar in performance to .223. Very high velocity round. Decent longer range up to about 450 yards. Wound patterns very similar to .223/5.56 due to hyper velocity and fragmentation.

Remember when the Soviets invaded Afghanstan? The Mujahadeen were claiming the Soviets were using exploding and "poisioned" bullets. Nope- just the 5.45 round in the AK-74.

+1 on the 74 muzzle brake- very effective but it do make it louder!

Citizen Carrier · August 25, 2008, 03:03 PM

Off topic? I've found that hits--from a more accurate rifle--are always more lethal than misses, regardless of ballistics.

If I were considering a purchase, I would surely take that into account.

HorseSoldier · August 25, 2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Which of them is most lethal?

7.62x39 throws a bigger, heavier bullet downrange, and if you're discussing a single round's terminal performance, I'd give it the nod over 5.45x39 assuming an identical wound somewhere that matters.

I find 5.45x39 to be more accurate than 7.62x39, though by a fairly narrow margin (AK iron sights are a bigger issue with AK accuracy than caliber at real combat ranges, in my opinion). You can also carry a bigger basic load of ammunition for a 5.45 rifle than a 7.62x39 rifle for the same weight. Finally, 5.45 does have a lighter recoil impulse, meaning it's going to be quicker back on target, even in semi-auto.

So, perhaps, the 5.45mm AK is somewhat more likely to get a hit, and somewhat more likely to get multiple hits if a single round does not do the job.

Personally I think, shot placement and engagement speed trumps bullet weight with assault rifle cartridges, so like the 5.45 over the 7.62, but others may disagree due to different prioritizing of the strengths and weaknesses of the two rounds.

Quote:

And what about the recoil of 7,62 in full auto?

I've used both AKs and vz.58s on full auto, and the recoil isn't too bad -- dismal accuracy at anything but close range, but not painful or physically punishing.

SimpleIsGood229 · August 25, 2008, 07:10 PM

The bullet that is more accurately placed on target is the more lethal.

Cali Sig · August 28, 2008, 12:00 PM

A friend of mine was issued an AK-74 when he was in the Armenian Military...
He said that they loved how much lighter and more accurate it felt compared to the Ak-47...
But one thing he thought was funny was how the 5.45 bullets were just ricocheting off trees and walls.
Where as the 7.62 rounds were destroying them..

August 25, 2008, 09:32 AM	#1
alien5551 Junior Member Join Date: August 24, 2008 Posts: 8	7,62x39 & 5,45x39 comaprison Which of them is most lethal? I found the the 5,45 has special features making it very lethal round but how it shows when comparing to to JHP or JSP 7,62? Sorry for my english I'm not from US And what about the recoil of 7,62 in full auto?

August 25, 2008, 10:15 AM	#2
Rampant_Colt Senior Member Join Date: March 17, 2006 Location: Parts Unknown Posts: 1,478	BLANKET STATEMENT WARNING 7.62x39 has more wounding potential than the 5.45x39 http://www.firearmstactical.com/wound.htm http://www.firearmstactical.com/imag...4%20545x39.jpg http://www.firearmstactical.com/imag...20762x39mm.jpg I make the above statement based on my own experience by breaking things and blowing sh_t up side-by-side using a -47 and -74 IMO Wolf 7.62x39 Military Classic 123gr JHP is the best bang for the buck available - 20rds for $4 7.62x39 on full-auto is more difficult to control than the 5.45. The recoil is not that bad... Go to YouTube and search for AK-47 and AK-74. I think that the 5.45 muzzle brake is more effective at reducing recoil than the slant brake on the 7.62s __________________ member of an elite paramilitary organization: Eagle Scouts

August 25, 2008, 11:36 AM	#3
Citizen Carrier Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 671	I've read that AKs in 5.45 and 5.56 are more accurate than the 7.62 mainly because the rate of twist in the barrel for the 7.62 was carried over from tooling for Mosin-Nagant rifles. In other words, the rate of twist would be great if the AK was firing bullets weighing 150 grains or more. Not so great when the bullet weight is only 124 grains. The other calibers got a brand new start and their rates of twist are better for their weights. __________________ Once you've got your sights adjusted to the ammunition you have, step away from the bench. In competition or the field...there are no benches.

August 25, 2008, 03:03 PM	#6
Citizen Carrier Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 671	Off topic? I've found that hits--from a more accurate rifle--are always more lethal than misses, regardless of ballistics. If I were considering a purchase, I would surely take that into account. __________________ Once you've got your sights adjusted to the ammunition you have, step away from the bench. In competition or the field...there are no benches.

August 25, 2008, 01:27 PM	#5
hockeysew Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Posts: 91	7.62 x 39 Very good short range stopping power-Good to about 200 yards than it really falls off the wagon. Large caliber with decent penetration at short distance. Solid wound potential but generally dont fragment so well unless using HP ammo. 5.45 x 39 Very similar in performance to .223. Very high velocity round. Decent longer range up to about 450 yards. Wound patterns very similar to .223/5.56 due to hyper velocity and fragmentation. Remember when the Soviets invaded Afghanstan? The Mujahadeen were claiming the Soviets were using exploding and "poisioned" bullets. Nope- just the 5.45 round in the AK-74. +1 on the 74 muzzle brake- very effective but it do make it louder!

August 25, 2008, 07:10 PM	#8
SimpleIsGood229 Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Posts: 136	The bullet that is more accurately placed on target is the more lethal.

August 28, 2008, 12:00 PM	#9
Cali Sig Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Posts: 21	A friend of mine was issued an AK-74 when he was in the Armenian Military... He said that they loved how much lighter and more accurate it felt compared to the Ak-47... But one thing he thought was funny was how the 5.45 bullets were just ricocheting off trees and walls. Where as the 7.62 rounds were destroying them..