The 5.45×39mm cartridge was a Russian development in the early 1970s, and is an example of an international tendency towards relatively small sized, light weight, high velocity military service cartridges. Cartridges like the 5.45×39mm, 5.56×45mm NATO and Chinese 5.8×42mm allow a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight compared to their larger and heavier predecessor cartridges and produce relatively low bolt thrust and free recoil impulse, favouring light weight arms design and automatic fire accuracy. (Wikipedia.com)
Possibly South African
Military Arms Research Service, San José CA
FACTORY 3 – ULYANOVSK RUSSIA
Some sources state that these were Czech experimental loadings, however they are fakes. Most of the European collectors specialising in military cartridges share this opinion. They first showed up during the 90’s where specimens were offered at the Chicagoland Cartridge Show. Apparently they were sold as BARREL PROOF rounds.
FACTORY CODE 5, SPREEWERKE, LUBBEN, GDR
Observation
FACTORY CODE 10, KAZANLAK, BULGARIA
Dummy
FACTORY CODE 17, PODOLSK RUSSIA
FACTORY CODE 21, POLAND
Barrel Proof
FACTORY CODE 60, FRUNZE, RUSSIA
As with the Ulyanovsk examples above, this is a fake.
FACTORY CODE 270, LUGANSK, RUSSIA – CURRENTLY EASTERN UKRAINE
Blank
Reference
FACTORY CODE 322, UZINA MECANICA SADU, ROMANIA
The 5.45×39 RSA, experimental tracer uses a Romanian LS case (323 88) with 322 87 also observed. The GM projectile with tracer compound is in fact the experimental aspect in this cartridge. It has a lacquered green tip.
FACTORY CODE 323, UZINA MECANICA SADU, ROMANIA
FACTORY CODE 324, ROMANIA
FACTORY CODE 539, TULA CARTRIDGE WORKS, RUSSIA
Proof load – 10% overpressure
Proof load – 30% overpressure
KAZAKSTAN
UNFINISHED CASE
COMMERCIAL HEADSTAMPS
