| 5.6×39mm | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Type | Hunting | |||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1961 | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | SAKO & Lapua | |||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | 7.62×39mm | |||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimless, Bottle-Neck | |||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | .223 in (5.7 mm) [1] [2] | |||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | .215 in (5.5 mm) [2] | |||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | .248 in (6.3 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | .402 in (10.2 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | .447 in (11.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | .447 in (11.4 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | .059 in (1.5 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Case length | 1.524 in (38.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 1.917 in (48.7 mm) | |||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 30.1 gr H2O (1.95 cm3) | |||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Small rifle | |||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 51,000 psi (350 MPa) | |||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Source(s): [1] | ||||||||||||||||
The 5.6×39mm, also known in the U.S. as .220 Russian, is a cartridge developed in 1961 for deer hunting in the USSR. [3] It fires a 5.6mm projectile from necked down 7.62×39mm brass. While it originally re-used 7.62x39 cases, once it became popular enough commercial ammunition started being manufactured, both in the USSR and in Finland. [4] [5] When it was introduced to the United States by SAKO it was stamped .220 Russian. Lapua later changed the designation to .220 Russian for the American market as well. [6] [5]
Contents
Soviet 5.6×39mm cartridges were loaded with smokeless powder VT (винтовочный пироксилиновый порох ВТ), as well as Soviet 7.62×54mmR and 9×53mmR hunting cartridges. [7] It is the parent case for the .22 PPC, 6mm PPC, and the 6.5mm Grendel cartridges. [6]
