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  #1  
Old 06-16-2013, 01:05 PM
Harold M Harold M is offline
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Default Strange case found at the range

Yesterday I found a new-to-me case laying on the
Being a steel case, and showing no signs it doesn't appear to be formed from something else.

What is it?

Harold

Last edited by Harold M; 03-11-2019 at 12:47 AM.
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Old 06-16-2013, 01:44 PM
Bergera Bergera is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harold M View Post
Yesterday I found a new-to-me case laying on the ground at the range. It's a steel (ferromagnetic anyway) case, very military looking, red lacquer on the primer, .223 head size, BUT almost as short as a .221 fireball, .22 neck ID, shoulder softer than 30 degrees. Length: 1.554", Base to Neck: 1.307", Base to Shoulder: 1.190" or so. Neck dia: 0.252", Shoulder dia: 0.368".
Being a steel case, and showing no signs it doesn't appear to be formed from something else.

What is it?

Harold
5.45x39? which is what the ak74 uses
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  #3  
Old 06-17-2013, 01:48 AM
drewh drewh is online now
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Default 5.45 x 39

The case head on 5.45 x 39 is .394 not the .440 used for the 7.62 x 39
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Old 06-17-2013, 03:59 PM
drewh drewh is online now
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Looked at it myself before, but unfortunately it doesn't seem like anyone offers reloadable cases for it.
Drew
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  #5  
Old 07-02-2014, 04:15 AM
georgeld georgeld is offline
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Harold:
How about a picture of it next to a common case?
Thanks,
George
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Old 08-04-2014, 07:34 PM
thekriebles thekriebles is offline
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I believe you very well may be right on the 5.45x39mm assumption.
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  #7  
Old 08-05-2014, 03:20 PM
Chad Chad is offline
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I've got a few of those cases too from my local range. Never could figure out what they were. Now I know
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  #8  
Old 08-08-2014, 11:18 AM
Hog Patrol Hog Patrol is offline
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5.45x39, The Soviets answer to our .223
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  #9  
Old 09-13-2014, 01:58 AM
Rapidrob Rapidrob is offline
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Yes, the case is in fact 5.45x39. I shoot many rounds of that caliber in my rifles.
It is a very powerful round that is not given it's due on most boards.
I did a penetration test on 1" thick steel plate several years ago and compared it to our M855 'Green Tip" 5.56 ammo. The 5.45 blew a hole almost through the plate at 200 meters. The M855 just made a nice dent in it.
The bullet is very low drag and has a dead-air chamber in the nose .This causes the bullet nose to fold over instantly when it hits flesh and tumble the bullet.
The quality of the surplus ammo varies a lot. So do the bores in the barrels. It is .219 to .220 not .223. Many of the US made barrels as well as the Romanian barrels are .223. Accuracy is very poor.
In a proper bore, the little bullet is accurate to 500 meters with no problems.
No one is making brass or cheap loading dies for this caliber.
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Old 08-05-2015, 01:43 PM
GSRswapandslow GSRswapandslow is offline
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its a damn fun round too shoot in an AR or AK74, though. There are bolt action rifles chambered in the round that guards carried at one time. Good looking guns.

I've always thought it would make a great round for varmint if there was brass for it....but, i just went 222 instead
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