Rifle · Wildcat
.22 Cheetah
A high-performance varmint wildcat pushing .224-caliber bullets past 4,000 fps from a .308 Winchester-based case — the fastest practical .22-caliber cartridge outside of experimental rounds..
- Caliber
- 0.224″ · 5.69 mm
- Introduced
- 1989
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .308 Winchester
- Primary use
- Varmint, Target
- Status
- Limited
- Introduced
- 1989
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Jim Carmichael / Guns & Ammo
- Manufacturer
- Jim Carmichel / Marlin
- Standard
- Wildcat
- Status
- Limited
- Availability
- Scarce
- Case capacity
- 47 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:12
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 62,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 400 yd
- Max range
- 800 yd
- Recoil
- 5–8 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .22 Cheetah, 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
- .308 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.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.69 | 0.224 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 6.35 | 0.250 | ~ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | — | — | |
| Shoulder angle | 40° | — | ~ |
| Base ⌀ | 11.91 | 0.469 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 12.01 | 0.473 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | — | — | |
| Neck length | — | — | |
| Case length | 44.83 | 1.765 | ~ |
| Overall length | 66.04 | 2.600 | ~ |
Missing a dimension for .22 Cheetah? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
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
Developed around 1989 by Guns & Ammo's Jim Carmichael as an exploration of maximum .22-caliber performance. The Cheetah uses a shortened, blown-out .308 Winchester case with a steep 40-degree shoulder to maximize powder capacity while keeping the overall length manageable in a standard short action. At over 4,000 fps with a 50-grain bullet, it represents the practical velocity ceiling for .224-caliber projectiles before case capacity and pressure become limiting factors. Dies and custom brass are available from specialty suppliers. Never achieved mainstream status but remains a reference cartridge for maximum .22 performance.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .22 Cheetah use?
- .22 Cheetah typically uses a 1:12 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .22 Cheetah?
- .22 Cheetah uses a 0.224″ (5.69 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .22 Cheetah still in production?
- .22 Cheetah is limited; typical availability is scarce.
- What is .22 Cheetah used for?
- .22 Cheetah is primarily used for varmint, target.
- What is .22 Cheetah based on?
- .22 Cheetah is derived from the .308 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 →