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Kalashnikov Concern and Tula Cartridge Plant have developed a new intermediate cartridge called 6.02×41 and two rifles chambered in it – Mini SVCh and AK-22. The 6.02×41 is designed to replace both the 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 cartridges in the Russian military service. This joint project started in 2020 and apparently was just unclassified with the publishing of the Russian patent (RU2809501C1) protecting the design of the cartridge. Kalashnikov Gun Magazine were the first to report about this program.
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The overall shape of the 6.02×41 cartridge. Photo from the patent
The 6.02×41 is a rimless bottleneck cartridge. The 6.02 should be the bore diameter (land to land) which is what normally we see in the names of Soviet and Russian cartridges. If that’s the case, then this is likely a .243 caliber cartridge because 6.02mm is the exact bore diameter of the .243 caliber. The 41 in the cartridge name is obviously the length of the case in millimeters. Other dimensions of the 6.02×41 cartridge are sort of specified in the patent. Sort of, because instead of exact dimensions, the patent specifies ranges that the inventors consider optimal. According to the patent, the rim diameter is 10.7-10.9mm, which is right between the rim diameters of 5.45×39 (10mm) and 7.62×39 (11.43mm) cartridges. So in terms of case thickness, it’s similar to 6.8 SPC. The overall length of the new cartridge per the patent is 55 to 63mm (2.16″ – 2.48″). The case capacity is claimed to be not less than 1.93 cm3.
The design of the armor-piercing bullet of the 6.02×41 cartridge. Photo from the patent
The optimal bullet weight range for this cartridge is calculated to be 4.5 to 8 grams (69 to 123 grains). Below you can find graphs from the patent that compare the projectile velocities and energies of 6.02×41, 5.45×39 and 7.62×39 cartridges (the red text is added by the author). As seen in the graphs, the muzzle velocity of the 6.02×41 cartridge’s bullet is about 800 m/s (2625 fps) and it has a muzzle energy of about 2150 Joules (1585 ft-lb). According to Kalashnikov Gun Magazine, these numbers are for a 6.7-gram (103.4-grain) bullet. So performance-wise it’s close to the 6mm ARC which per SAAMI specs launches a 108-grain bullet at a muzzle velocity of 2700 fps.
Note that the projectile of the 6.02×41 cartridge leaves the muzzle at a lower velocity than the 5.45 bullet (presumably 7N6), however, starting at about 200 meters and all the way to 1000 meters, it wins in the velocity department. The 6.02×41 bullet also stays supersonic at 1000 meters. The test barrel lengths are unknown.
The 6.02×41 cartridge is claimed to outperform both the 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 in terms of energy, pretty much from the muzzle and throughout its flight to 1000 meters.
There is very little information about the prototype firearms chambered in the 6.02×41 cartridge other than that the AK-22 is an AK-12 pattern rifle and the Mini SVCh is a scaled-down SVCh (Chukavin Sniper Rifle).
The AK-22 rifle. Photo credit: Kalashnikov Gun Magazine, www.kalashnikov.ru
The SVCh rifle (top) compared to the Mini SVCh. Photo credit: Kalashnikov Gun Magazine, www.kalashnikov.ru
The 6.02×41 cartridge indeed looks to be a good candidate to replace both intermediate cartridges in the Russian military offering a pretty interesting ballistic performance with little to no disadvantages. Having a single intermediate cartridge will also decrease the logistical issues associated with using two intermediate cartridges. Now, this is an experimental cartridge and the guns are prototypes. Only time will tell if this project will be soon forgotten or if Russia will adopt a new cartridge. At any rate, replacing the entire fleet of 7.62×39 and 5.45×39 guns will not happen overnight. We’ll keep an eye on the development of this project and will let you know if anything interesting happens.
