Need opinions picking 5.45 gun

[why.kyle]

Ok so here is the deal. I need help trying to decide.
I want an AR 5.45 upper..

Ive found a guy that is selling this, used but with only 80 rounds though it:
http://citadelgunandsafe.com/g/archives/1802

and for pretty much the same price CDNN has a S&W 5.45 upper.

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/smwe5upnew.html

So which one do you think would be a better deal? The main pull for the first on is the fancy furniture. but it isnt chromed lined which isnt a HUGE deal but its something to think about.. just take care in cleaning.

Or should I just stick with and fix up the ak 74 i have (which id sell/trade to get the upper) I say fix up because I bought it used by someone who didnt know how to deal with corrosive ammo.
I do like the AR platform better.. but the AK series has its benefits too..

Or is it to late to get on the 5.45 bandwagon? (I missed the 7.62x25 which was my first plan for cheap shooting) and I should invest my money somewhere else

Give me your thoughts and opinions.

 

[CnRnut]

Well if the bore is good on your AK,and you only need a gas tube and
piston,maybe gas block, I'd keep it.

 

[Dane17]

I have an lwrc 5.45 upper. It needed work to cycle reliably.

Also, 5.45 ARs can be mag finicky. Were I to do it again I would have gone the ak74 route.

Hope that helps.

 

[wally]

I've the S&W AR 5.45 upper, zero issues and the C-Products mags have all functioned perfectly.

On balance, a little rust never hurt an AK and it it is much easier to clean after shooting corrosive surplus. I wouldn't worry about it, if it functions.

The AR is more accurate, although I find AKs in 5.45x39 (or .223) usually shoot closer to 2 moa compared to the typical 7.62x39 ~4moa.

 

[wnycollector]

Happy owner of a S&W 5.45 AR upper here. Mine runs 100% using USGI mags with new springs and old style black followers and loading only 25 rounds. There are posts over at AR15.com that show guys chopping off the front leg of magpul followers (thus allowing it to tilt) and running 5.45 in their Pmags.

Accuracy with the S&W AR and 5.45x39 bulgy ammo is similar to my other AR's using Russian steel case 5.56. The bonus is it only costs $.12/round for 5.45 vs $.20/round for 5.56. My Saiga though gets similar accuracy as my 5.45 AR, but the ergo's are much better on the AR IMOO.

 

[weeniewawa]

Midway is having a sale on Adams piston uppers

$499 till Monday, pretty cheap for a piston

 

[Sky]

I used to shoot my SKS or AK much more than I do now because I have the AR Model 1 upper in 7.62x39. It really just depends on what you like to shoot. If cost is your primary concern then I would forget the 5.45 and look at .22 uppers......but that is just me (hunter) because I am not enthralled with the capabilities of the 5.45 for anything but paper, rabbits/small varmints and people.

 

[why.kyle]

The bore has some rust in it sadly.. and the muzzle break is rusted on (i dont believe its permanently attached either way it has some bad rust inside of it) and there is a bit of rust in the chamber.. odd the gas tube seems to be just fine. though the gas block has some. I havent shot it yet, because of a lack of opportunity/ammo
also it has a really pretty but not very useable stock on it that I would need to do something with.

 

[M1key]

^^^ sounds pretty rough. Scrub it down good with solvent and see whats left of the rifling. It may be okay with a little clean-up.

The Saiga in 5.45/4x scope will shoot ~1.5 MOA with Silver Bear, Wolf, Bulgarian WASP, and Russian 7N6. That kind of accuracy rivals any decent AR, but I don't like the idea of running the corrosive stuff through a DI gas system.

So, no AR for me.

M