Thread: 5.45x39mm build........looking for input.

Anybody done a 5.45x39mm AR15 build yet? What works and what don't work? From what I read I need a special barrel,bolt,and mags to make this work. I also read some surplus ammo has very hard primers and you have to use a Wolff extra power spring..????

SW makes one

Make sure the bore is chrome lined as most of the ammo except Wolf is corrosive. Most of the stuff I have seen on 5.45 AR's said to buy the S&W upper and have the bolt/carrier hard chromed for easier cleaning. I have been considering an S&W upper, but they are hard to find and still can be ammo sensitive even when running "right".

OTOH, my Bulgy AK-74 clone runs 100% and eats anything I feed it,...

Well, since I'm having a hard time finding a chrome lined barrel I guess I'm not going to do the build.


I did order some Portuguese surplus NATO 5.56 today.

I asked Ron about a 5.45 build in another thread and he said the barrels are very hard to find.

Good score on the 5.56. Care to point me in the right direction...

Got if from Copes Distributing.

Originally Posted by Strycnine

Anybody done a 5.45x39mm AR15 build yet? What works and what don't work? From what I read I need a special barrel,bolt,and mags to make this work. I also read some surplus ammo has very hard primers and you have to use a Wolff extra power spring..????

Sir I'd like to tell you that you are correct after I examined my AR, a S&W M&P15R.

Those are all the parts you need.

I recommend you save yourself trouble and buy the S&W Upper only if you already have a lower, and then get the hammer spring.

A warning though, the only person making the 5.45 magazines for AR's is Cproducts. They make the ones that come with the S&W and ones for aftermarket. Now the one that come with the gun are great, but the aftermarket ones have a really bad habit of tilting and not being as good. Luckily Cproducts will let you send them in for repair, so it's all good. I plan to buy some more and send in however many don't work. If you want to know the best source for getting them cheap then IM me and I'll share my secrets.



I purchased the rifle because I am frugal and can afford to shoot 5.45 very often.

Be warned that the surplus ammo is corrosive, and you'll need to clean like a mad-man with your own fancy solutions. People use their own doctrines for the job, and to be safe I do EVERYTHING that they do because I don't mind cleaning. You can a little more and get dirty wolf, which is not corrosive, just dirty.

I go with Scalding hot boiled and sink water followed by solution of window cleaner and water and then a little shaving cream for good measure. I'm just a nut like that.

Hope I could help you on my first post here. Greetings from ARFCOM

Great first post LaRue!

Can you show some pics of your setup?

Originally Posted by Strycnine

Great first post LaRue!

Can you show some pics of your setup?

Certainly sir. Like I said though, it's only a stock Smith & Wesson rifle.

But I'll try to show some pictures that show the only things marked specifically with 5.45.







As you can see, pretty standard stuff with a different chambering. Hurts my heart because I can't use a .22 conversion kit. Oh well.

Now sir here is the barrel marking



And the Bolt



I think you could get away by just using those parts. but I think you save yourself time and trouble by buying the S&W and getting everything you need, including the hammer spring and the most reliable magazine , stock.

Thanks for posting the pics. I think you're right, I'd be better off getting the S&W upper. Far as I know the S&W barrel is the only chrome lined barrel out there? I don't think the Model1Sales barrels are?