8.5" 5.45x39

[ryr8828]

Fun toy?
Useless waste of money?
Viable weapon?

[96 SS]

Full of awesome 8" 5.45:
http://world.guns.ru/userfiles/images/assault/as03/aks74u.jpg

[Iraqgunz]

This doesn't seem like an AR General Discussion Area topic.

[ryr8828]

I should have given more info. I was browsing aim surplus to see if they had any new ammunition arrivals and came across an 8.5" 5.45x39 ar barreled upper receiver. It kind of piqued my curiosity.

I did some google before I posted the thread and apparently 8.5" will give you 2500 fps out of the 5.45. That makes it superior to my 16" ps90 (fun range toy) which is listed around 2100 fps.

[CumbiaDude]

Like 96SS posted, there is some pretty extensive data out there on a particular 8" barreled 5.45 weapon ;)

2411 f/s muzzle velocity, starts trans-sonic around 240 m, goes subsonic around 430 m. I think 5.45 is a better short-barrel round than 5.56, since 5.45 is made to yaw. If you get good 5.56 rounds that fragment reliably at lower velocities, that would be better, but not all 5.56 does that. Personally I like 7.62 even better for short barrels, but what do I know? :D

So, I'd say it's a viable PDW, but if you try and use it like a carbine you might be disappointed. I know the short AKs can still get great accuracy even from a short barrel, so it could be possible with an AR, too - you're just gonna have to watch the drop :D

[lloydkristmas]

If you're looking for a SBR type AK, those cheap Draco pistols actualy make a pretty good base. As far as I remember, they are untouched by Century Arms and are all Romanian. The x39 tends to retain a little more oomph out of a short barrel than does 5.45mm, but either one is way better than a SMG.

As far as the accuracy goes with those 5.45 Krinks, I had no trouble hitting a 1.5foot wide steel plate at 200yds with one, and for a weapon like that, I say thats perfectly adequate.