The .220 Russian (5.6x39mm) is a Soviet varmint cartridge derived from the 7.62x39mm military case, necked down to accept .224" bullets. Developed in the early 1960s for Soviet varmint and small game hunting, it gained worldwide significance as the parent case for the .22 PPC and 6mm PPC benchrest cartridges developed by Palmisano and Pindell in 1974 — considered by many the most accurate cartridges ever produced. Lapua commercialized the .220 Russian case and still produces it today.
Type: Rifle
Introduced: 1963, Soviet Union
Parent case: 7.62x39mm
Standardization: SAAMI
Bullet diameter: 0.224" (5.69 mm)
Case length: 1.524" (38.7 mm)
Overall length: 2.205" (56.01 mm)
Max pressure: 25,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimless
Primer: Small Rifle
Typical twist rate: 1:14
Muzzle velocity: 3000–3450 fps
Muzzle energy: 1039–1370 ft-lbs
Effective range: 300 yd
Common bullet weights: 52, 55, 63 gr
Primary use: target_shooting, benchrest_competition, varmint_hunting
Production status: Limited
Also known as: 5.6x39mm · 220 Russian
History: The Soviet firearms industry developed the 5.6x39mm from surplus 7.62x39mm tooling for civilian varmint hunting. The short, fat case derived from the AK case proved to have extraordinary inherent accuracy. American benchrest shooters Lou Palmisano and Cornelius Pindell recognized the cases potential and developed the .22 PPC and 6mm PPC in 1974 by modifying the .220 Russian case with a sharper…
Notable firearms: Soviet semi-automatic hunting rifles, Custom benchrest rifles