5.45×39 mm cartridge

The 5.45×39 mm cartridge is a Soviet intermediate rifle round developed in the 1960s for the AK-74 family and still associated with Russian and other post-Soviet service rifles. This relationship-only entry documents its C.I.P. dimensions, 1974 adoption, and the cataloged rifles that fire it.

5.45×39 mm cartridge, Intermediate rifle cartridge, Munitions

Image source: 5.45 x 39 mm.svg

Profile

Origin: Soviet Union
Built by: Soviet Union
Type: Intermediate rifle cartridge
Service note: Developed in the early 1970s; adopted in 1974

ammunition cartridgeintermediate5.45mmsmall arms

Specifications

Case length: 39.82 mm
Overall length: 57.00 mm
Country of origin: USSR
Maximum pressure: 3550 bar
Projectile diameter: 5.60 mm

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Standard intermediate rifle cartridge associated with the AK-74 family

Firing Weapons

Kalashnikov documents both the AK-12 and AK-74M as 5.45x39 mm rifles.

Firing weapon	Weapon type	Source-backed note
AK-12	5.45 mm assault rifle	Kalashnikov Group identifies the AK-12 as a 5.45 mm rifle and explicitly lists 5.45x39 mm as its used cartridge.
AK-74M	5.45 mm assault rifle	Kalashnikov Group identifies the AK-74M as a 5.45 mm rifle, and its capabilities page lists 5.45x39 mm as the used cartridge.

Firing Weapons

The 5.45×39 mm round is documented as ammunition fired by Kalashnikov's AK-12 and AK-74M rifles.

Firing weapon

Weapon type

Firing evidence

5.45 mm assault rifle

Kalashnikov Group identifies the AK-12 as a 5.45 mm rifle and explicitly lists 5.45x39 mm as its used cartridge.

Sources: AK-12 - Kalashnikov Group

5.45 mm assault rifle

Kalashnikov Group lists the AK-74M as a 5.45 mm rifle, and Weaponsystems.net states that it fires the 5.45x39mm Soviet round.

Sources: AK74M capabilities, 5.45x39mm Soviet

5.45×39 mm cartridge Images

5.45×39 mm cartridge, Intermediate rifle cartridge, Munitions - view 1 — Source: 5.45 x 39 mm.svg

5.45×39 mm cartridge, Intermediate rifle cartridge, Munitions - view 2 — Source: 5.45x39mm.jpg

5.45×39 mm cartridge, Intermediate rifle cartridge, Munitions - view 3 — Source: 5.45x39mm.jpg

5.45×39 mm cartridge, Intermediate rifle cartridge, Munitions - view 4 — Source: 5-56 5-45 mm cases.jpg

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Sources

C.I.P. 5,45 x 39Publisher: C.I.P. | Note: Official TDCC sheet for dimensions, origin, and pressure data for the 5,45 x 39 cartridge. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 AK-12 - Kalashnikov GroupPublisher: Kalashnikov Group | Note: Official AK-12 product page identifying the rifle as a 5.45 mm weapon and listing 5.45x39 mm as its used cartridge. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 5.45x39 7N6 7N10 7N22 7N24Publisher: Modern Firearms | Note: Background reference for the cartridge's development in the mid-1960s and adoption in 1974 with the AK-74 family. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 5.45x39mm SovietPublisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Reference for the cartridge's platform association and its use with the AK-74 family. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 5.45 x 39 mm.svgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the C.I.P. dimension diagram used as the primary image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 5.45x39mm.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the original C.I.P. dimension diagram that the SVG file derives from. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the comparison photograph used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 5-56 5-45 mm cases.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for the cartridge-case photograph used on the page. | Accessed: 2026-06-23 AK74M capabilitiesPublisher: Kalashnikov Group | Note: Supports the AK-74M compatibility relationship because the official specifications page identifies the rifle as using 5,45 x 39 mm cartridges. | Accessed: 2026-06-23