Shooting Home Page Prev. Menu 7.62 x 39mm		Back     "A-Z" INDEX &   SEARCH Re-Loading data and dimensions for 5.45 x 39mm calibre

The Soviet Russian 5.45 x 39mm calibre was developed to form a companion to the 7.62 x 39mm calibre that was used in the AK47. The 5.45 x 39mm calibre is used in the AK74.

The information given and photographs in this lighter coloured panel are mainly due to J.A. Freeman and are reproduced here with his permission. Jeff has his own website that concentrates on AK47 & AK74. 5.45 x 39 mm Russian This Russian ammunition was packed in 30rd paper wrapped bundles with paper separators each bundle was stapled on both ends. There were thirty six, 30 round bundles per sealed tin of 1080 rounds. Two tins per wooden case of 2160 rounds. Each case came with a tool to open the tins in a cut out in the inside of one side of the wooden case's wall.

The Soviet 5.45 x 39mm produces the wound channel profile shown below, has been re-drawn from information on Martin L. Fackler's website.

The full metal jacket Soviet 5.45 x 39mm has a copper plated steel jacket swaged over a steel core surrounded by lead, but there is an air space of about 5 mm inside the jacket tip. Fackler speculates that this air space would cause a shift of the bullet's centre of mass toward the rear, possibly contributing to its very early yaw. In addition, on bullet impact with tissue, the lead just behind the air space shifts forward into this space. This shift of lead occurs asymmetrically and may be one reason for the peculiar curvature of this bullet's path in the last half of its path through tissue. This bullet yaws after only about 70 mm of tissue penetration, assuring an increased temporary cavity stretch disruption in a higher percentage of extremity hits, other bullets need more tissue depth to yaw and in many cases cause only minimal disruption on similar extremity hits.

All pointed bullets, that do not deform, end their tissue path travelling base first, due to their centre of mass being forward of the centre of gravity this is their stable attitude. The rotation imparted to the bullet by the rifled gun barrel is sufficient to stabilise the bullet to travel point-forward in air (in properly designed weapons), but not in tissue where such factors as bullet shape and the location of centre of mass far outweigh rotation effects. The bi-lobed yaw pattern shown is typical of most shots. Occasionally the bullet yaws 180°, to the base forward position in one cycle.

Notes

Shooting Home Page  Prev. Menu   Back   Top   Email Me   Written... 20 February 2007, Code Altered... 17 May 2008,