[RMTactical]

Both are super cheap ammo, but I think 5.45 ammo is a little cheaper right?

Plus, 5.45 has a very light recoil.

The reason I am leaning towards 7.62x39 though is, I currently already stock the caliber because I have an SKS, and I kind of like the heavier round in comparison to all of my 5.56 AR15's. Mags will be cheaper too.

This is a very small consideration (maybe a scale tipper if all else is equal) but I think the 7.62 AK's "look" better as well.

What do you guys think?

[maxxmojo]

If you're going to be making any 300+ yard shots and want decent accuracy go with the 5.45. If you're going to be doing 100 - 200 yard shots and you'll be shooting into thick trees/brush/whatever go with the 7.62. Also, the J-Tac47 or the FSC47 will make your 7.62 have about the same recoil as a 5.45 (assuming you get a 7.62 with a barrel threaded with 14x1 LH threads).

Or just get both.

[RMTactical]

Originally Posted by maxxmojo

Or just get both.

Well, of course this is the most obvious answer...

[9mm +p+]

7.62 all the way, just get a quality AK and if you want decent accuracy reload or get quality ammo like some Lapua and the 5.45's so called accuracy advantage disappears. 7.62 is much more effective in a fight, much more effective in the field as a hunting round and still fairly affordable. No question in my mind and please spare me the "I shot a moose with my 74 " stories.

[Reswob]

The corrosive surplus 5.45 is still dirt cheap, but could dry up any time, and of course it's corrosive. New stuff (Silver Bear) is a tad more expensive than 7.62. Mags are also about $1-2 more than 7.62 mags. Recoil? AK? Not really. And finally, a 5.45 and 7.62 AK will look exactly the same until you put the mag in.

[H&K .45 AUTO]

I have owned multiple copies of both calibers, and at least for me.... The 7.62 just makes more sense. Here's how I see it:

I don't hunt with my AK. Its primary role is to provide me with entertainment as I use it to blast away at soda bottles, paper targets, old light bulbs, various fruits, etc. when I take it to the range. As a sideline role, my AK serves as my bump in the night gun... It's the one I want to have in my hand when the zombies come so to speak. Hahahaha!

In my part of the country, the rural areas are dominated by heavy woods, and thick brush, leaving most likely shooting distances well inside of 150 yards. As such, I don't demand pinpoint accuracy of my AK, especially beyond about 100 yards.

Ammo for the 5.45 is currently cheaper, but 7.62 is still not terribly expensive. 7.62 is also generally easier to find, and there is a much greater variety of ammo available in 7.62.

As for ballistic comparison... I believe that the slower, heavier 7.62 has the advantage for my expected ranges, and environment. (As a side note... I also carry a .45 ACP for the same reasons).

I have no doubt that a smaller, faster bullet will get the job done , I just feel more comfortable knowing that items normally considered to be cover, are merely concealment from my 7.62 AK. If I ever felt the need to go the smaller/faster route... I'd look to the AR in 5.56 to exploit the obvious accuracy advantage that platform offers.

I guess it all just depends on where you live, what the intended use of the rifle is, how accurate you need it to be, and at what distance. For me though... The 7.62 just makes sense.

[ri.ben]

call me crazy but i think the taper of the 545 556 mags look better.seriously tho the flatter shooting/lighter gun are nice benefits of the smaller cartridge.7.62 has some nice advantages if you shoot with obstructions around.i think the 7.62 soft point is the most affordable/effective round available.if i had an sks and was only going to have one other gun i would get the 7.62.into having 556 and 762 tho.

[Novocaine]

If I could get 5.45 AK it would be my HD gun, not AR.

But AKM is a better rifle to compliment AR. You can do more with AR and -47 than you can do with AR and -74. Both in practical terms and in terms of fun.

[RMTactical]

Originally Posted by Novocaine

If I could get 5.45 AK it would be my HD gun, not AR.

But AKM is a better rifle to compliment AR. You can do more with AR and -47 than you can do with AR and -74. Both in practical terms and in terms of fun.

Yeah. I think you guys have me convinced. My ar's are my home defense guns. I like the 7.62 better in an ak. I long felt that way but started to waver recently. Now I am back on the 7.62 train.

[CarlosC]

Originally Posted by RMTactical

....My ar's are my home defense guns....

You should still consider an AK for home defense. Not really a bad choice, especially something like an AMD-65 which is smaller than any normal AR, except an SBR, making very easy to maneuver in narrow hallways etc. The AMD also has the added benefit of being able to blind any perp with the muzzle flash if you should happen to miss.

[toshbar]

My 5.45 does 7" groups at 500 yards; It costs me 13 cents to pull the trigger, mags cost $9 each.

I'm very satisified with my decision.

[Durden]

7.62 all the way.

If you want an anemic round, get an AR in 5.56....just kidding (sort of :-)

[RMTactical]

Originally Posted by CarlosC

You should still consider an AK for home defense. Not really a bad choice, especially something like an AMD-65 which is smaller than any normal AR, except an SBR, making very easy to maneuver in narrow hallways etc. The AMD also has the added benefit of being able to blind any perp with the muzzle flash if you should happen to miss.

I'm an AR15 guy and I have done all of my training with AR15's. I'm very confident with with them.

[cole]

Originally Posted by RMTactical

...
The reason I am leaning towards 7.62x39 though is, I currently already stock the caliber because I have an SKS, and I kind of like the heavier round in comparison to all of my 5.56 AR15's. Mags will be cheaper too.
... What do you guys think?

7.62x39 for the reasons you mentioned. I wanted a >100gr projectile so that made my choice for me. If I want something light, I'd choose the 5.56.

Also, I think the 5.45 corrosive surplus will dry up and that will be the end of that savings arguement. The 5.56 and 5.45 are pretty much the same. With the 5.56 and the M4/AR platform filling that light/fast niche, I don't think the 5.45 will obtain a mainstream US market after the corrosive surplus dries up. The 7.62 will persevere because, well, it's 7.62 (heavy/slow)... very different than 5.56. Maybe I'm wrong and only time will tell.

[G23c]

I like them both, but to choose one, I'd go old school, 7.62.

[stopatrain]

I vote for the 7.62

[Patrick Graham]

7.62x39 for AK.

Anything smaller belongs in an AR.

[Michigun]

I purchased 1 in each caliber... but the 7.62 is my "truck gun".

[docwade]

Its just a tool. Depends on the job you have. I have ak's in all three mentioned calibers. The job I use them for is steel plate shoots. I've tried to use the 5.45 but it doesn't have the knock down umph of the 7.62 on a 2 and a half foot tall caterpillar tread plate. I do love that 7.62 round.

[Janno05]

I was in the same position as you, and purchased my first AK this week. I decided to go for the 5.45 due to the cost of ammo. I ordered 2160 rounds from AIM surplus for 270 dollars shipped. I will eventually get a 7.62 as well, but in the mean time I will be sending a bunch of rounds downrange for 12 cents a round.

[backbore]

I went 7.62.

[Fangs404]

I bought 7.62 because it's basically the 9mm equivalent of the rifle world. There will always be insane amounts of it, and it'll always be cheap. I've read about how 5.45 is kinda drying up, and I didn't wanna have to deal with that.

[Janno05]

Originally Posted by Fangs404

I bought 7.62 because it's basically the 9mm equivalent of the rifle world. There will always be insane amounts of it, and it'll always be cheap. I've read about how 5.45 is kinda drying up, and I didn't wanna have to deal with that.

Wolf is producing 5.45 ammo now. You loose the cost advantage of the 5.45, but it will be there when the milsurp dries up. In the mean time, 5.45 is half the cost. I just budget out like it is 7.62 and buy double the ammo, shoot one can and stock the other. I figure by the time it dries up I will have a decent supply with this plan.

[mr.26]

My vote goes to the 5.45

[bryan cc tx]

I vote for the 7.62