I am taking the 5.45x39mm plunge! updated 09-23-09

[Hunter Rose]

I don't get the complaints on corrosive ammo either. I got a little bit of rust near the flashhider when flushing the barrel w/ water and not being diligent enough with the compressed air/oil to displace the wter. Since then I've said to hell with water and just clean and keep well lubed w/ Weaponshield CLP. No corrosion noted so far, I keep expecting to see rust but it has been fine. I'm only 2500 rounds in though, but I do live in Louisiana where it is very humid.

In my experience the danger of corrosive ammo corrosion is overrated.

[CoryCop25]

Originally Posted by warnerd

I have a S&W 5.45 Upper and I'm having problems with my Silver Bear ammunition. I'm having failure to extracts and the cases are getting stuck into the chamber. Only with Silver Bear ammo, but the surplus rounds are working perfectly. Had to pull back on the charging handle while hitting stock against the ground to get the steel casings out of the chamber.

Check your spent cases. If they are NOT chipped or broken at the rim, check your extractor and o-ring. If they ARE chipped then maybe the case is too soft.

[Littlelebowski]

Last rifle class I took, as the guy next to me dealt with a KAC SR15 malfunctioning with the new Lancer mags, I repeatedly admonished my 5.45 that it would not run well with the C Products mags and cleaning it would take too long.

I was proven wrong again. You just can't trust the internet.

[Colon Towel]

Quick question. And I am sure that this has been addressed already, but I cannot seem to find it here. Is the stock flash hider threaded on the M&P15R or is it the compression type? I want to get a new flash hider but was not sure if I would have to take it to a gunsmith to do so.

[copper]

Originally Posted by Colon Towel

Quick question. And I am sure that this has been addressed already, but I cannot seem to find it here. Is the stock flash hider threaded on the M&P15R or is it the compression type? I want to get a new flash hider but was not sure if I would have to take it to a gunsmith to do so.

It is threaded with the standard AR15 thread, which is 1/2x28. Any muzzle device for a .223 AR15 should fit fine.

[Boss Hogg]

I shot Mike Pannone's class this past weekend with a 14.5" midlength 5.45 barrel I bought from Ballistic Advantage LLC in Florida. With 7N6 surplus ammo (marked 1976), and an EOTech, I scored 375 out of 400 on the 40-shot aggregate drill (100 yd prone, 75 yd sitting, 50 yd kneeling, 25 yd standing)

C Products mags worked fine. You can't go wrong with $0.13 training ammo......particularly when it's accurate.

With a Geissele SSA trigger I had no problems with ignition.

[MTR7]

Well for those who may care my upper now has just north of 19,000 rounds of corrosive ammo through it. I was at the CTT Solutions class this week end with Boss Hog. This makes the fourth carbine class it has been to. Every round fired has been 1970's vintage Soviet corrosive 7n6 ammo. Every round has gone off, not one popped primer, split neck or case head separation. Maybe just maybe the of the weakness and the fragility of the Armalite platform is just a myth.

Please do not by one as corrosive ammo makes a horrible mess and is a night mare to clean.

Regards
Toxic Matt

[Suburban]

Any new fixes for the CProducts magazines? I seem to be getting a lot of bolt over base failures, but I can't tell if it's the rounds jamming in the magazine tube, or the bolt running too fast for the magazine to keep up.

Stronger mag springs that'll fit? I've read that AK-74 mag springs will fit, but I can't find anyone selling just the springs. I tried to talk Tapco into selling the springs they use for their AK-74 mags, but they tell me the springs are shorter than standard AK-74 mag spring because of follower and floor plate design. I tried stretching the springs, but after some use, I see that they've returned to their original length.

I think someone mentioned that they get a lot of failures to feed from the right side of the magazine - I get that too, particularly when loaded with 20+ rounds. The right-side feed lips seem to flare out toward the front of the magazine One magazine with a more matte finish just gives nothing but stoppages.

I tried modding a MagPul follower to fit the CProduct mag body, but it didn't help any.

Tried PMags. Older Maglevels are a definate no-go. Newer ones and new standard PMag I can get about 15 rounds into before they bind up, and even then they won't drop free anymore. I watched the video on YouTube on how to load the PMags with 5.45mm, but I still can't get them to work.

Upper is Spike's Tactical. I've tried it with the ST-T2 buffer that came with it, as well as an H buffer.

[30 cal slut]

Originally Posted by Suburban

Any new fixes for the CProducts magazines? I seem to be getting a lot of bolt over base failures...

Wow. I've never had that failure with C Products mags (can't say I've ever had it with a 5.56 round either).

[Boss Hogg]

Originally Posted by Suburban

Any new fixes for the CProducts magazines? I seem to be getting a lot of bolt over base failures, but I can't tell if it's the rounds jamming in the magazine tube, or the bolt running too fast for the magazine to keep up.

Stronger mag springs that'll fit? I've read that AK-74 mag springs will fit, but I can't find anyone selling just the springs. I tried to talk Tapco into selling the springs they use for their AK-74 mags, but they tell me the springs are shorter than standard AK-74 mag spring because of follower and floor plate design. I tried stretching the springs, but after some use, I see that they've returned to their original length.

I think someone mentioned that they get a lot of failures to feed from the right side of the magazine - I get that too, particularly when loaded with 20+ rounds. The right-side feed lips seem to flare out toward the front of the magazine One magazine with a more matte finish just gives nothing but stoppages.

I tried modding a MagPul follower to fit the CProduct mag body, but it didn't help any.

Tried PMags. Older Maglevels are a definate no-go. Newer ones and new standard PMag I can get about 15 rounds into before they bind up, and even then they won't drop free anymore. I watched the video on YouTube on how to load the PMags with 5.45mm, but I still can't get them to work.

Upper is Spike's Tactical. I've tried it with the ST-T2 buffer that came with it, as well as an H buffer.

I'm able to shoot my S&W with a 5.4 oz DPMS buffer, and a Sprinco "Red" spring. It doesn't short stroke, and I've never gotten a bolt over base with that combination.

You may want to spray the inside of the unloaded magazine with DuPont teflon spray (red can). The followers can bind and stick (some say due to the lacquer on the case), creating bolt over base issues.

[greywolf2112]

I got into the 5.45x39 game very early, before any of the big boys got into manufacturing them. My upper was custom built by Kurts Kustom Firearms out of central Florida. He took a new AK-74 Bulgarian barrel, plugged the gas port, drilled a new on in midlength position for an AR, mated it to the AR upper, and off we went. I use a semi-auto Youngs NM chrome Bolt Carrier, and a AA .221 Genghis bolt. I have an adjustable gas block that stays in the full open position (probably could have just used a regular gas block), T2 buffer, and CS blue spring. I am also using a Geiselle SSA-E trigger.

Except for some problems I was having when I switched buffers and springs, I've had very good performance - excellent accuracy, and my C-Prod mags (both matte and gloss ones) have performed flawlessly, even fully loaded.

I think what helped with the mags is that I replaced all the followers with the white 87GN followers, replaced the springs, teflon coated them as well as the inside of the mags.

But I am selling it - I figure that the extra $50 I save per 1000 rounds isn't worth the extra space, optics, lower, ammo storage, etc. that I have to deal with - the money I get from selling it and the ammo will pay for a lot of 5.56 ammo as well as some better optics for my "go-to" rifles - I'll practice with what I intend to use, or even with my .22LR upper.

[bubba04]

I have been lucky and haven't had any issues with ny c product mags. I wish we would see surplus drift down a little in price.

[Dust]

I am looking at a low pro gas block for myM1S 5.45, and the Kies adjustable gas block, and the YHM lo pro that I am looking at are about the same price. DOes anyone see a reason to get the adjustable gas block?

[Suburban]

Originally Posted by Boss Hogg

I'm able to shoot my S&W with a 5.4 oz DPMS buffer, and a Sprinco "Red" spring. It doesn't short stroke, and I've never gotten a bolt over base with that combination.

You may want to spray the inside of the unloaded magazine with DuPont teflon spray (red can). The followers can bind and stick (some say due to the lacquer on the case), creating bolt over base issues.

I sprayed some Hornady One Shot case lube into one of my magazines, it was the only dry lube I had handy, and it seemed somewhat appropriate . I got through the first magazine load with no issues, though I did have another bolt-over-base type stoppage on the 2nd round after reloading the magazine.

Picked up a carriage bolt to make into a feedlip tool. I'll look into getting that semi-permanent Teflon spray. Maybe I can get this upper to really sing yet.

Sucker needs a free-float handguard though. Very hold sensitive.

[30 cal slut]

while we're on the subject of training ...

anyone try to run a double feed malf clearance drill with 5.45?

the long bullets make this fairly difficult to fingerbang the cartridges out, vs. 5.56.

[Boss Hogg]

Originally Posted by 30 cal slut

while we're on the subject of training ...

anyone try to run a double feed malf clearance drill with 5.45?

the long bullets make this fairly difficult to fingerbang the cartridges out, vs. 5.56.

When I was at the aforementioned CTT class Mike Pannone recommended against doing malfunction drills with steel case ammo. They can be a royal PITA.

[30 cal slut]

interesting.

[Boss Hogg]

Originally Posted by Suburban

I sprayed some Hornady One Shot case lube into one of my magazines, it was the only dry lube I had handy, and it seemed somewhat appropriate . I got through the first magazine load with no issues, though I did have another bolt-over-base type stoppage on the 2nd round after reloading the magazine.

Picked up a carriage bolt to make into a feedlip tool. I'll look into getting that semi-permanent Teflon spray. Maybe I can get this upper to really sing yet.

Sucker needs a free-float handguard though. Very hold sensitive.

It's Dupont Teflon Silicone spray, in a yellow can. Try Home Depot or Lowe's. I haven't had ANY bolt over base issues since I used it. And I've only applied once.

[Suburban]

Originally Posted by Boss Hogg

It's Dupont Teflon Silicone spray, in a yellow can. Try Home Depot or Lowe's. I haven't had ANY bolt over base issues since I used it. And I've only applied once.

Dupont Chain Saver with Teflon - it's a yellow can

Lowe's has listed a Dry Wax lube and a silicone lube.

I couldn't find anything at Home Depot, just WD40 and PB Blaster.

[ryanschmidt65]

How is ammo these days? I heard it went up quite a bit for 5.45