7N6 accuracy

[Junkie]

I know that 7N6 isn't being imported anymore, but I have enough of it that I expect to burn through the one barrel I currently have in 5.45 for an AR.

I currently have a fairly lightweight, compact carbine (although less so with the FRS-15). 14.5" Ballistic Advantage Hansen profile, pinned/welded 5M1, Mag Tactical lower, SS12G2.

It seems that with the cheap ammo dried up, 5.45 barrel prices have plummeted. Ballistic Advantage dropped all of their prices dramatically, and right now they're all $150.

If I assemble an SPR-ish gun, using a quality trigger (I have a G2S and an SSA-E, I could use either of those), free float handguard, and a reasonable but budget optic (was thinking Primary Arms 4-14 FFP BDC), what sort of accuracy could I expect if I do my part, firing 7N6? Is any of the commercial 5.45 significantly better? I know it's all steel case but don't know if any of it's reasonable stuff.

Thanks for any help.

[JMP]

It depends on the level of accuracy you are looking for. It's great ammo for blasting and shooting up close. Should you shoot further (400 yards+), the 7N6 is not a very accurate round as the projectile has a hollow cavity in the nose of the bullet. The cavity is not perfectly symmetrical, so the asymmetry and odd weight distribution reduce the performance in terms of accuracy at distances that would necessitate a scope. On the other hand, 5.56 NATO ammo isn't all the accurate either.

For accuracy with a 5.45x39 round, the 60gr Hornady V-Max is the best I know of. Since it doesn't have the hollow cavity, and it is a relatively long bullet, the accuracy is quite good and it can reach distances surprising far.

[Junkie]

With a good barrel, optics, and shooter what accuracy is attainable at 3-400 yards with 7N6?

Although, after looking at what I can get XM193 and even XM855 for, let alone cheap .223, I don't think it's worth putting any more money into 5.45x39. Sure, it's cool in an AR, and it used to be cheap, but it costs more than cheap .223 now so I don't think I'll buy another 5.45 barrel unless I wear this one out before I run out of ammo.

[MustangSteveGT]

I had noticably better accuracy with golden tiger then I had with 7n6. And now that most of it is sky high prices, makes it even less worth it to me.

[Junkie]

Yep. I'll keep my 14.5" lightweight gun for moving around and plinking, but I plan on building an 18" rifle gassed gun that should be more accurate, and fun at longer range. I guess it'll be 5.56, as cheap .223 is cheaper than cheap 5.45 and 193/855 can be had for around .33 a pop shipped.

The only reason I was considering going 5.45 on the longer/heavier rifle is that I have 4 crates of it.

[Click Boom]

You can still get cases of 7n6 for around 200

[motogunner356]

If you have 4 cases of it build it and shoot. One thing ppl forget about military designs and desired outcomes aren't centered on perfect accuracy. They have an eye on killing and injuring.

If you want a rifle for accuracy build 556 like you mentioned doing and buy good ammo, not military surplus. Not that it's inherently bad but for target you're not going to get the desired effects.

[Junkie]

You can still get cases of 7n6 for around 200

Where are they that cheap? And I think you mean spam cans for $200, not cases/crates (which are 2160 rounds).

I know that milsurp ammo isn't match ammo, but Lake City stuff seems to do better than 7N6.