5.45x39mm

Soviet reduced-caliber intermediate cartridge, introduced with the adoption of the AK-74. Initially was praised as having flatter trajectory, longer reach, higher hit probability, etc, than 7.62x39mm.

However, after field use, it was found that it lacked the effectiveness of 7.62x39mm against body armour, walls, and flesh, as well as having a disturbing tendency to ricochet off of walls. Therefore, 7.62x39mm remained in inventory, even if with somewhat limited usage.

Variants

 * 7N6: Mild steel core ball round.
 * 7n6M: Hardened core modernization.
 * 7n6VK: Experimental armour piercing prototype with a WC core.


 * 7N10: Enhanced penetration round with slightly heavier bullet.
 * 7N10M: Improved variant of the 7N10.
 * 7N18: Steel-core AP round designed for LMGs (namely RPK).
 * 7N20: Stop-gap steel-core AP round.
 * 7N22: Steel-core AP replacement for 7N20, rated to penetrate 5mm of HHA at 250m.
 * 7N24: WC-core AP round, rated to penetrate 5mm of HHA at 350m.
 * 7N24-1: Improved stop-gap version.
 * 7N24M: Further refined model, rated to penetrate 5mm of HHA at 500m.
 * 7N24M2: AP round with "optimized" construction of WC core. Features improved behind-armor performance.
 * 7N39: "Igolnik" WC-core AP round. Rated to penetrate 5mm of HHA at 550m. Maximum RHA penetration is about 15mm at 100m.
 * 7N39M: Experimental WC-core round with superhard tip. Ipmroved penetration of ceramic armor.
 * 7N40: Accurized steel-cored load.
 * 7T3: Tracer ball round. Improved version with delayed burn is 7T3M.
 * 7BT4: Armor piercing-tracer round with steel core.
 * 7Z24: Experimental tungsten AP load with reactive metal incendiary compound.
 * 7U1: Subsonic load.
 * BS5: Ukrainian advanced tungsten-core load, rated to penetrate 14mm of HHA at 220m.
 * Duplex: Experimental duplex FMJ load.
 * Luhansk: Unremarkable steel-core AP, produced in Luhansk.
 * Maket: Dummy round, useful as less-than-letal round.
 * PSP: Special ammo for use against underwater targets.
 * PRS: Reduced ricochet frangible load.
 * VMAX: Civilian varmint load by Hornady.
 * Wolf FMJ:Civilian FMJ load by Wolf.