Munitions / Small arms / 5.45x39mm Soviet
5.45x39mm Soviet
General Facts
- TYPE
Rifle cartridge - ORIGIN
USSR - NICKNAMES
5.45mm Kalashnikov
5.45mm M1974
5.45mm Russian - DESIGNED
Mid 1960's - early 1970's - DESIGNER
? - PRODUCTION
1974 - present - PRODUCERS
Armenia
Bulgaria
Poland
Romania
Russia
Serbia
USSR - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Flat trajectory
Limited weight
Armor piercing capabilities
Low recoil
Limited lethality
Introduction
The 5.45x39mm is a rifle cartridge of Soviet origin. In the early 1960's the USSR come into possession of the 5.56x45mm M193 round used in the US M16A1 rifle. The limited weight, flat trajectory and limited recoil of the 5.56x45mm round resulted in the USSR developing a similar round. It was found that the AKM would be a good platform for such a new rifle cartridge. This development resulted in the AK-74 assault rifle that became the standard issue rifle in the USSR and was widely exported.
Design
The 5.45x39mm round uses a bottlenecked case that is based on the one used for the 7.62x39mm round. The use of a case with near similar dimensions made the conversion of the AKM rifle much easier. Compared to the 7.62x39mm round the 5.45mm round is much thinner and lighter, while being more streamlined and slightly longer. The reduced weight results in a higher velocity, but reduces the energy and lethality. There is an air cavity in the nose that makes the 5.45mm tumble and yaw upon impact, which moderately increases lethality.
Weapon systems
The 5.45mm round is associated with the AK-74 assault rifle for which it was developed. It is also used in the AKS-74U sub machine gun variant and the RPK-74 light support weapon variant of the AK-74. The 5.45mm round is also in use with various other weapons of Eastern European origin, many of which are also based on the Kalashnikov design.
Performance
When fired from the AK-74 the 5.45x39mm 7N6 bullet has a muzzle velocity of 900 m/s and energy of over 1.400 J. At 400 meters these figures are reduced to 550 m/s and over 500 J. Compared to the older 7.62x39mm round it replaced the 5.45mm has less energy and not as good in penetrating brush or wood. On the other hand the 5.45mm round has a flatter trajectory, is more accurate and is better at penetrating steel.
Users
The first and foremost user of the 5.45x39mm round was the USSR, using it in the standard issue AK-74 assault rifle. The 5.45mm round remains in widespread use and is very common in Eastern Europe and the former USSR. It is in limited use in the rest of the world by those nations that use 5.45mm weapons of Eastern European origin.
5.45x39mm Soviet
5N7: The 5N7 is a FMJ round introduced in 1974. It is the first version of the 5.45x39mm round and uses a mild steel core.
7N6: The 7N6 is a FMJ round introduced in 1987. It is an improved version of the earlier 5N7 and uses a hardened steel core. Currently the 7N6 is the most common variant of the 5.45x39mm round.
7N10: The 7N10 is a FMJ round introduced in 1992. It is an enhanced penetration version of the 7N6 featuring an improved steel core for better penetration. The further improved 7N10M that was introduced in 1994 no longer has an air cavity in the tip.
7T3: The 7T3 is a FMJ tracer round that burns between 100 and 400 meters. The 7T3M is an improved version which of which 80% burns out to at least 800 meters.
7N22: The 7N22 is an AP round that will penetrate a 5mm armor plate at 250 meters.
7N24: The 7N24 is a more expensive AP round that will penetrate a 5mm armor plate at 350 meters.
7U1: The 7U1 is a subsonic FMJ round for use in the AKS-74UB compact assault rifle with silencer.
7H3: The 7H3 is a blank version, with the 7H3M being an improved model. The 7H4 is a dummy cartridge.
- Specifications:
- 5.45mm 5N7
- 5.45mm 7N6
- 5.45mm 7N10
- 5.45mm 7N22
- 5.45mm 7N24
- 5.45mm 7U1
- 5.45mm 7T3
- 5.45mm 7T3M
| Type | FMJ |
|---|---|
| Design | Mild steel core within lead body |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, red case mouth |
| Total length | 56.5 mm |
| Total weight | 10.75 g |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 3.43 g |
| Velocity | 870 - 900 m/s at 25 m |
| Penetration | ? |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | FMJ |
|---|---|
| Design | Hardened steel core within lead body |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, purple case mouth |
| Total length | ? |
| Total weight | ? |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 3.61 g |
| Velocity | 870 - 890 m/s at 25 m |
| Penetration | ? |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | AP |
|---|---|
| Design | Hardened steel penetrator within lead body |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, red case mouth, black tip |
| Total length | ? |
| Total weight | ? |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 3.68 g |
| Velocity | 870 - 890 m/s at 25 m |
| Penetration | 5 mm steel at 250 m |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | AP |
|---|---|
| Design | Tungsten penetrator within lead body |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, black case mouth |
| Total length | ? |
| Total weight | ? |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 4.1 g |
| Velocity | 820 - 840 m/s at 25 m |
| Penetration | 5 mm steel at 350 m |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | FMJ |
|---|---|
| Design | Heavy subsonic ball round |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, unknown bullet color code |
| Total length | ? |
| Total weight | ? |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 5.15 g |
| Velocity | 303 m/s from AKS-74U at muzzle |
| Penetration | ? |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | - |
| Type | FMJ-T |
|---|---|
| Design | Tracer round |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, unknown bullet color code |
| Total length | ? |
| Total weight | ? |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | ? |
| Velocity | ? |
| Penetration | ? |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | Red tracer burns from 100 to 400 m |
| Type | FMJ-T |
|---|---|
| Design | Tracer round |
| Color | Brown lacquered steel case, green tip |
| Total length | ? |
| Total weight | ? |
| Bullet diameter | 5.6 mm |
| Bullet length | ? |
|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 3.1 - 3.35 g |
| Velocity | 870 - 890 m/s at muzzle |
| Penetration | ? |
| Precision | ? |
| Case type | Bottlenecked, tapered, rimless, centerfire |
| Case length | 39.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 6.3 mm neck, 10.0 mm rim |
| Propellant | ? |
| Pressure | 42.600 PSI |
| Remarks | Tracer burns out to 800 m |