5.56x45mm NATO vs 5.45x39

Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over 5.56x45mm NATO and 5.45x39. These two iconic intermediate rifle cartridges have been popular with shooters and armed professionals for decades. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the two cartridges while delving into things such as their traits, features, and use cases. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

What is 5.56x45mm NATO?

The 5.56x45mm NATO is an iconic military caliber which is employed by many countries in military and law enforcement capacities. The 5.56x45mm NATO’s roots can be traced to the .223 Remington cartridge, a popular smallbore sporting cartridge. Initially development for the cartridge began in the United States in 1957 alongside efforts to develop a smallbore, high velocity firearm. This would eventually lead to the introduction of the AR-15 and subsequent M-16 series of rifles. The cartridge would go on to see use by American forces in the Vietnam War and subsequent conflicts. During the 1970s and 1980s, NATO expressed interest in a standardized, smallbore cartridge to replace the 7.62x51mm NATO round. This led to the cartridge’s adoption by NATO in the form of the SS109 cartridge. After its adoption, the round has seen use with NATO members and allies such as the United Kingdom, Austria, France, and even Japan. While originally intended for use in auto-loading rifles and carbines, the cartridge has been utilized in a variety of other firearms. Bolt action rifles are commonly found in the 5.56x45mm NATO round in addition to a few lever action rifles. The high velocity and light recoil of the cartridge can be appreciated in a multitude of platforms. Civilian shooters of all types enjoy the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, particularly when used in an AR. The light recoil of the cartridge can be felt in both manual action and autoloading firearms, making it a comfortable round to shoot out for various firearms. This means that novice shooters and experienced shooters alike can effectively utilize the cartridge. The round is particularly well-suited to instructing new shooters as they are exposed to a versatile and effective centerfire round which doesn’t boast the stout recoil of something like a .308 Winchester.

What is 5.45x39?

The 5.45×39 cartridge was developed in 1974 for use with the AK-74 rifle. The cartridge was intended to replace the 7.62×39 round and perform similarly to the West’s 5.56x45m NATO round. By going to a smaller diameter projectile, higher velocities could be achieved. Simply put, what the 5.45×39 may lack in mass when compared to the 7.62×39, it makes up for in its velocity and extended effective range. A lighter projectile traveling at higher velocities allows for a higher degree of penetration as well, a factor which was important to the Soviets during the Cold War era. Both the 5.45×39 and 5.56x45mm NATO loadings like the M855 “green tip” round were designed to have good effect on target when up against body armor of the Cold War era. Like its predecessor, the 5.45×39 has been utilized in a wide variety of firearms. Everything from mainline service rifles such as the AK-74 and AK-12 to shorter firearms like Krinkovs and even RPK light machine guns in the cartridge. The 5.45×39 essentially sought to be the Soviet’s answer to the 5.56x45mm NATO round. Many 5.45×39 loadings were developed for military usage such as the multiple 7N6 designations designed to have good effect on body armor. Civilian shooters adore the 5.45×39 cartridge and AK-74 pattern rifles are some of the most popular firearms in the world of AKs. Shooters enjoy the light recoil of the 5.45×39 and find it to be a capable and handy cartridge. Unfortunately, this round has been harder to get ahold of lately, mainly due to sanctions and the lack of widespread production enjoyed by something like the 7.62×39. Recent sanctions and scarcity of ammunition has led many 74 owners to divest themselves of their 5.45×39 ammunition and rifles. This painful reality was observed on forums such as The AK Files within recent years. That being said, we are finally seeing more importation of the round while domestic companies are committing to manufacturing the cartridge.

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How Available is 5.56x45mm Ammunition?

At this point in time, one will have no issue finding 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. The cartridge is supported by a variety of manufacturers and is offered in multiple types of loadings. These loadings cover everything from general purpose plinking to specialized hunting, match, or defensive loadings. Companies such as PMC, Winchester, Hornady, GGG, and Barnes are among the many companies who support the cartridge. Loadings will typically feature 55, 62, 69, or 77 grain projectiles as far as grain weight goes. Loadings will feature a wide variety of projectiles, encompassing full metal jacket (FMJ), soft point (SP), hollow point (HP), and frangible form to name a few.

How Available is 5.45x39 Ammunition?

Presently, 5.45x39 ammunition is a bit harder to get than 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition is. This is mainly due to the fact that import restrictions and sanctions hinder the importation of this cartridge. Many of the countries who produce the cartridge have been subjected to sanctions and other things which keep their 5.45x39 loadings out of the United States. Some countries have been working on spooling up domestic production to manufacture 5.45x39 ammunition. There are also a variety of offerings from companies such as TelaAmmo are bringing in loadings from countries which are not subjected to sanctions. Loadings are generally going to feature 60 or 65 grain projectiles as far as weight goes. These loadings will most commonly be found in FMJ form and can also be found in SP or HP form in certain loadings. Ammunition for the cartridge can be found in loadings tailored towards plinking, training, hunting, and even defensive use.

What is the Availability of Firearms in 5.56x45mm NATO?

As the 5.56x454mm NATO is one of the most common cartridges use in the United States, one will have zero issue finding firearms chambered in the caliber. These firearms are available in a variety of forms and types such as semi-automatic, bolt action, and even lever action form. Additionally, these firearms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as full-sized rifles, carbines, and even short-barreled rifles and pistols. Most firearms chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO will be semi-automatic and in the form of AR-15 style rifles. Prospective buyers will encounter offerings from companies such as Daniel Defense, Geissele, Colt, Smit & Wesson, and Ruger to name a few. Additionally, it is quite easy for an end user to build their own AR-15 from components offered by companies such as Aero Precision, Palmetto State Armory, and Bravo Company Manufacturing.

What is the Availability of Firearms in 5.45x39?

Most of the firearms chambered in 5.45×39 are going to be AK-74 based. These firearms will come in a variety of sizes and form factors, ranging from standard service rifles to the shorter Krinkov rifles. While Kalashnikov designs are the most prevalent firearms in this caliber, one will also find other types of firearms that accept the round. AR-15 style rifles can be chambered in the caliber along with modern production Galil models from IWI. The current production 5.45×39 Galil offering from IWI has the added benefit of being able to accept AK-74 pattern magazines, making sourcing feeding devices easy. There are also parts kits available for firearms in the 5.45×39 caliber. At the end of the day, there are fewer 5.45×39 firearm options available than there are for 5.56x45mm NATO. This is not to say that a firearm is unobtainable in this caliber, just that there are less options to select from. While many places that sell firearms may have 7.62×39 ammunition and firearms at the ready, this is simply not the reality when it comes to 5.45×39. If someone wishes to get into a 5.45×39 chambered firearm, they can certainly find something if they truly want to.

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Conclusion

At the end of the day, the 5.56x45mm NATO and 5.45x39 cartridges remain popular among shooters of all types. Even though the 5.45x39 isn’t as plentiful or in common use like the 5.56x45mm NATO, the round is far from unviable. The ammunition supply for the cartridge is increasing gradually with offerings from companies like TelaAmmo and others, allowing prospective customers to have more ammunition to choose from. Regardless of whether you shoot 5.56x45mm NATO or 5.45x39, we here at True Shot Ammo carry loadings for both calibers. Whether you shoot one of these calibers or are in the market for something else, we have got you covered. As always happy shooting. Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options. View more ammo comparisons:

5.56x45mm NATO vs 5.45x39