.225 Winchester

.225 Winchester
.225 Winchester center with .223 Rem (left) and .308 Win (right)
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	USA
Production history
Designer	Winchester
Designed	1964
Specifications
Parent case	.219 Zipper
Case type	rimmed, bottleneck
Bullet diameter	.224 in (5.7 mm)
Neck diameter	.260 in (6.6 mm)
Shoulder diameter	.406 in (10.3 mm)
Base diameter	.422 in (10.7 mm)
Rim diameter	.473 in (12.0 mm)
Rim thickness	.049 in (1.2 mm)
Case length	1.930 in (49.0 mm)
Overall length	2.50 in (64 mm)
Rifling twist	1-12"
Primer type	Large rifle
Maximum CUP	50,000 CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 40 gr (3 g) SP 4,020 ft/s (1,230 m/s) 1,436 ft⋅lbf (1,947 J) 50 gr (3 g) SP 3,768 ft/s (1,148 m/s) 1,577 ft⋅lbf (2,138 J) 55 gr (4 g) SP 3,643 ft/s (1,110 m/s) 1,621 ft⋅lbf (2,198 J) 60 gr (4 g) SP 3,428 ft/s (1,045 m/s) 1,566 ft⋅lbf (2,123 J)
Test barrel length: 24" Source: Hodgdon [1]

The .225 Winchester / 5.7x49mm cartridge was introduced in 1964 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Description

The .225 Winchester cartridge was derived from the .219 Zipper case, though its rim diameter was reduced ^[2] to accommodate the standard .473-inch bolt face. It was developed with the goal of supplanting the .220 Swift, a cartridge that had earned a reputation for accelerated barrel erosion. Although the .225 Winchester featured a more modern, straight-tapered case design, it was ultimately overshadowed in popularity by the older .22-250 Remington, ^[3] which had already gained widespread acceptance as a wildcat cartridge before being commercially standardized one year later.

Factory rifles chambered for the .225 Winchester were produced by Winchester—notably the Model 70 and Model 670—as well as by Savage Arms in the Model 340. ^[4] All mass-produced firearms offered in this chambering were either bolt-action or break-action designs. Winchester discontinued rifle production in .225 Winchester in 1971; ^[5] however, the company has continued limited seasonal manufacturing of factory ammunition and cartridge cases. Reloading dies remain commonly available, and cartridge brass can also be formed from .30-30 Winchester cases with appropriate modification.

The .225 Winchester's case is a parent case for some of SSK Industries' ^[6] popular line of JDJ cartridges designed by J.D. Jones, chosen for its strength and semi-rimmed design which makes it well suited for use in break-open actions. ^[7]

See also

• .224 Weatherby Magnum
• 5 mm caliber
• List of rifle cartridges
• Table of handgun and rifle cartridges

References

1. "225 Win data Hodgdon". Data.hodgdon.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
2. Page, Warren (July 1970). "Thunder and Lightning". Field & Stream. LXXV (3): 68.
3. Trzoniec, Stan (2016). ".225 Winchester" (PDF). Rife Magazine. pp. 43–47. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
4. ".225 Winchester | Handloader Magazine".
5. "225 Winchester | Black Dog Ammunition". 22 January 2022.
6. Mann, Richard A.; Barnes, Frank C., eds. (2012). Cartridges of the world : a complete and illustrated reference for over 1500 cartridges (13th ed.). Iola, Wis.: Krause. p. 228. ISBN   978-1440230592.
7. "Mr". 2010-03-28. Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2012-05-22.

• .225 Win data at Accurate Powder

External links

• .225 Winchester at Chuck Hawks