I'm sure this has been discussed before, but what would it take to get a run of cz-858's or csa rifles in varying barrel lengths made in 5.45x39? I'm sure the surplus market has tons of this ammo available and places like Marstar could likely import it, aslong as we had a rifle to use it. I would much prefer a 5.45 to a 5.56 version.
5.45 cz-858
- Thread starter cote_b
- Start date
.30/06 FTW
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
The issues were with the gas holes being drilled too large. It had nothing to do with the .223/5.56 calibre itself.
Perhaps that was the latest issues. There were many prior to that one. I own two and have experienced a couple of non gas hole related things. Some of the chambers required some polishing for proper extraction and feeding. Some would not seat magazines properly. I have heard of a couple of other issues. Usually, they are more or less easy fixes. That being said, the platform is a 7.62x39 initial design.
Well it could be readily available if we asked the importers to get it for us, if we had a reasonably affordable and available gun to use 5.45. It certainly wont be more than .223, which seems to be a popular enough CSA these days. More than anything, I think a 5.45 would just be really cool to have since we cant have Ak-74's and I can't think of a better platform that we can own.
Other than cheap ammo I don't see 5.45 as a benefit over current offerings. With its growing popularity in the US as a cheap alternative to 5.56 I doubt the price of surplus will be competitive with 7.62.
TDC
Neither is .223, yet people still buy those. There was a thread a while ago about people wanting a 7.62x51 version of a Cz858 and there seemed to be enough interest in it, and that is certainly not as a cheap as 7.62x39. I would be willing to pay as much or a little more perhaps for 5.45 to get another cz-858 in that chambering. I personally think the price would be comparable. I have looked at some 5.45x39 on some American sites and it seems to go for 180 per 1080 rounds. So in Canada, youd pay a bit more but I still think it would be worth it. I'm positive that if such a rifle was made that it would do well in Canada, provided we had an importer bring in surplus ammo.
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
CSA is currently just finishing up their .22LR Vz 58 project and will be working on a 7.62x51 Vz 58 project after they're finished with the .22LR project. No 5.45x39 project is heard of in the near future. 7.62x51 is obviously a better business choice over a 5.45x39. Even the .223 Vz 58 was a better business choice as .223 is already largely available in North America and a large number of ranges don't allow surplus steel core ammo. Plus, not everyone buys a gun simply just to shoot cheap ammo at tree stumps, dirt, or to shoot a zombie target well doing a back flip in a ninja costume.
You're going from 7.62x39 to 5.45x39. What's there to mess up? Same cartridge, smaller bullet.
