Meet Winchester's 21 Sharp (New Rimfire Cartridge)

The latest solution to a problem that probably does not exist.

Winchester decided to make a skinny 22, which is the same load for a 22, but without the heel. The bullet is the same diameter as the inside of a standard 22lr case. So far, only Winchester and Savage


The new cartridge is supposed to solve a couple problems, it comes off as a zippy rimfire hunting round for lead free states, and arguably, better aerodynamics for more accurate shooting.

I’m betting plenty of American Hunter readers never considered that the .22 LR could be improved, much less that it needs to be. But that’s not how the gun geeks at Winchester Olin look at such things.

Evidently they ask, “Can we do it better?” and “Should we do it better?” and “Will the shooting public buy it?” … in that order. Over time, this line of questioning by professional ballisticians and marketers is how American hunters and shooters—indeed the world at large—is offered new and improved calibers from which to choose each year. Whether those calibers stick around is up to us as consumers, and that is how it should be in a capitalist economy.

Click here for the full review. —> Review: Winchester 21 Sharp | An Official Journal Of The NRA

MSRP per box: $15-$25/100-rnd. box

AKA, 15 - 25 cents per round, versus 5-10 cents per round for regular .22LR.

.22 hunters will like it, but I’m not sure it’s going to make major inroads on the plinking market at that price jump.

New cal. requires new barrel

I’m thinking the kind of people who would want this cartridge are the PRS22 shooters, but the rules would have to be amended to allow for a non .22LR cartridge.

Likewise, I don’t see a new rimfire cartridge catching on unless Ruger gets onboard making a 10/22 (10/21?) and a RPR chambered in it.