Rimfire · SAAMI
.22 Short
The first commercially successful metallic cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.2224″ · 5.65 mm
- Introduced
- 1857
- Case
- Rimfire
- Parent
- .22 BB Cap
- Primary use
- Pest Control, Gallery Shooting, Olympic Pistol
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1857
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Smith & Wesson
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson / Various
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 2.7 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:24
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimfire
- Max pressure
- 21,000 psi, SAAMI transducer
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Max range
- 1150 yd
- Recoil
- 0.2–0.26 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .22 Short. Parent case: .22 BB Cap.
Performance
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 ⌀ | 5.65 | 0.222 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 5.74 | 0.226 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 5.74 | 0.226 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 7.06 | 0.278 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.09 | 0.043 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 10.69 | 0.421 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 17.65 | 0.695 | ✓ |
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 Short is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Firearms chambered in .22 Short
Lineage
lengthened + powder charge
History
Introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1857 for the Model 1 revolver — the first commercially successful metallic cartridge revolver. The genesis of the rimfire cartridge concept. Still used in Olympic 25m Rapid Fire Pistol competition.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .22 Short use?
- .22 Short typically uses a 1:24 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .22 Short?
- .22 Short uses a 0.2224″ (5.65 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .22 Short still in production?
- .22 Short is active; typical availability is common.
- What is .22 Short used for?
- .22 Short is primarily used for pest control, gallery shooting, olympic pistol.
- What is .22 Short based on?
- .22 Short is derived from the .22 BB Cap case.
Sources & provenance
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI Z299.1 - 2019 (R2026) Voluntary Industry Performance Standards for Rimfire Ammunition — Velocity and Pressure Data (Transducer) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Standard SAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .22 Short archived
- Manufacturer Aguila — Aguila 22 Super Extra Short High Velocity Copper Plated Solid Point (SKU #1B220110) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer Winchester Ammunition — Winchester Super-X Rimfire — 22 Short (Symbol X22S) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer CCI — CCI Short Hollow Point 22 Short (Part #0028) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer CCI — CCI Short CPRN 22 Short (Part #0027) · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 34 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
