Wildcat · Wildcat
.22-243 Winchester
The .22-243 Winchester is a varmint wildcat formed by necking the .243 Winchester case down to accept .224" bullets.
- Caliber
- 0.224″ · 5.69 mm
- Introduced
- 1958
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .243 Winchester
- Primary use
- varmint_hunting, benchrest_competition
- Status
- Obsolete
- Introduced
- 1958
- Type
- Wildcat
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Various / wildcat
- Manufacturer
- Wildcatters / Various
- Standard
- Wildcat
- Status
- Obsolete
- Availability
- Handload Only
- Case capacity
- 46 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:10
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 25,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 300 yd
- Recoil
- 5–8 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .22-243 Winchester, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- .243 Winchester
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.69 | 0.224 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 6.60 | 0.260 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 11.53 | 0.454 | ~ |
| Shoulder angle | 20° | — | ~ |
| Base ⌀ | 11.96 | 0.471 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 12.01 | 0.473 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.37 | 0.054 | ~ |
| Neck length | 6.12 | 0.241 | ≈ |
| Case length | 51.94 | 2.045 | ~ |
| Overall length | 68.83 | 2.710 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .22-243 Winchester is highlighted below.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Lineage
Connected reference
History
The .243 Winchester case has proven to be a versatile parent for multiple wildcats given its large case capacity and wide availability. The .22-243 emerged in the late 1950s as the .243 Winchester itself was being introduced, with wildcatters immediately seeing the potential of necking it down. Barrel life is shorter than milder .22 centerfires, and throat erosion is rapid at these velocities, limiting practical use for high-volume shooters. Factory equivalent performance is approximately achieved by the .22-250 Ackley Improved or .220 Swift.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .22-243 Winchester use?
- .22-243 Winchester typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .22-243 Winchester?
- .22-243 Winchester uses a 0.224″ (5.69 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .22-243 Winchester still in production?
- .22-243 Winchester is obsolete; typical availability is handload only.
- What is .22-243 Winchester used for?
- .22-243 Winchester is primarily used for varmint_hunting, benchrest_competition.
- What is .22-243 Winchester based on?
- .22-243 Winchester is derived from the .243 Winchester case.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →