5.45 X 39 AK.74

Research notes

The 5.45×39mm cartridge was a Russian development in the early 1970s, and is an example of an international tendency towards relatively small sized, light weight, high velocity military service cartridges. Cartridges like the 5.45×39mm, 5.56×45mm NATO and Chinese 5.8×42mm allow a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight compared to their larger and heavier predecessor cartridges and produce relatively low bolt thrust and free recoil impulse, favouring light weight arms design and automatic fire accuracy. (Wikipedia.com)

Possibly South African

Military Arms Research Service, San José CA

FACTORY 3 – ULYANOVSK RUSSIA

Some sources state that these were Czech experimental loadings, however they are fakes. Most of the European collectors specialising in military cartridges share this opinion. They first showed up during the 90's where specimens were offered at the Chicagoland Cartridge Show. Apparently they were sold as BARREL PROOF rounds.

FACTORY CODE 5, SPREEWERKE, LUBBEN, GDR

Observation

FACTORY CODE 10, KAZANLAK, BULGARIA

Dummy

FACTORY CODE 17, PODOLSK RUSSIA

FACTORY CODE 21, POLAND

Barrel Proof

FACTORY CODE 60, FRUNZE, RUSSIA

As with the Ulyanovsk examples above, this is a fake.

FACTORY CODE 270, LUGANSK, RUSSIA – CURRENTLY EASTERN UKRAINE

Blank

Reference

FACTORY CODE 322, UZINA MECANICA SADU, ROMANIA

The 5.45x39 RSA, experimental tracer uses a Romanian LS case (323   88) with 322   87 also observed. The GM projectile with tracer compound is in fact the experimental aspect in this cartridge. It has a lacquered green tip.

FACTORY CODE 323, UZINA MECANICA SADU, ROMANIA

FACTORY CODE 324, ROMANIA

FACTORY CODE 539, TULA CARTRIDGE WORKS, RUSSIA

Proof load - 10% overpressure

Proof load - 30% overpressure

KAZAKSTAN

UNFINISHED CASE

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