5.45x39

Overview

With the need for an intermediate higher velocity cartridge to compete with America's relatively new 5.56x45 Russia developed the 5.45x39 cartridge along with the development of the AK-74 to fire it. The performance and capabilities of the new round greatly outweighed those of the antiquated 7.62x39 round and in turn led to the 7.62 round being pushed out of service with the 5.45x39 becoming the new standard round used by Russia.

7N6

7N6 was the first variant of 5.45x39 adopted in 1974. It is a FMJ projectile with similar performance to 5.56x45 ammunition. 

This round has the following variants:

• 7T3M is a 7N6 Tracer variant.

7N6M

7N6M is a modernised variant of 7N6 with the M literally standing for "Modernised". 7N6M possesses improved penetration capabilities over its predecessor. While it has better penetrative capabilities it does not out perform 5.56x45, almost all variants of 5.56x45 greatly out perform it in armour and barrier penetration.

7N10

7N10 is a further improved penetration round which was developed in an attempt to compete with 5.56x45. Although it is a massive improvement over 7N6M it is still outperformed by most 5.56 variants.

7N22

7N22 is an armour penetration round designed with the specific purpose of defeating modern body armours (at the time as it was adopted in 1998). The round was designed with a steel perpetrator in the bullet and possesses similar capabilities to that of 5.56x45 M855A1.

7U1

7U1 is a subsonic variant on 7N6 with a much heavier bullet and reduced powder charge to bring the speed of the round down to subsonic speeds to work better with suppressors and eliminate supersonic cracks. However the performance is greatly effected by the change. 

Stats

Note: 343.2 m/s is the subsonic barrier - anything below that is considered subsonic. Subsonic ammunition removes the bullet crack down range making the round better suited to stealth.

Note: Barrier penetration represents the rounds ability to go through walls and barriers. Armor piercing represents the rounds ability to penetrate body armor plates.