Lindcott Armory Revolver · Obsolete
5.5mm Velo-Dog
Revolver cartridge designed specifically for cyclists to shoot at aggressive dogs — hence 'Velo' (bicycle) and 'Dog.' Fired from small hammerless folding-trigger pocket revolvers carried in the coat pockets of 19th-century European cyclists..
- Caliber
- 0.225″ · 5.715 mm
- Introduced
- 1894
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Self Defense
- Status
- Discontinued
- Introduced
- 1894
- Type
- Revolver
- Origin
- France
- Inventor
- Charles-François Galand
- Manufacturer
- Various European
- Standard
- Obsolete
- Status
- Discontinued
- Availability
- Collector
- Case capacity
- 6.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:14
- Primer
- Centerfire
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 18,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 25 yd
- Max range
- 75 yd
- Recoil
- 0.3–0.8 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open 5.5mm Velo-Dog ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Cartridges of the World · secondary source| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.71 | 0.225 | · |
| Neck ⌀ | 6.30 | 0.248 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 6.43 | 0.253 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 7.82 | 0.308 | · |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.19 | 0.047 | ~ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 28.45 | 1.120 | · |
| Overall length | 34.29 | 1.350 | · |
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. 5.5mm Velo-Dog is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 4 active loads across 4 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 19 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graf & Sons | Lead RN | 45 | Lead RN | 750 | 56 | — |
| Fiocchi | Lead RN | 45 | Lead RN | 750 | 56 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | Lead RN | 45 | Lead RN | 750 | 56 | — |
| CBC | Classic | 45 | Lead RN | 700 | 49 | — |
| Norma | Classic | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| Kynoch | Classic | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| Armscor | Standard | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| PPU | Standard | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| Wolf | FMJ | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 820 | 67 | — |
| Societe Francaise des Munitions | Lead RN | 45 | Lead RN | 750 | 56 | — |
| Gevelot | Lead RN Original | 45 | Lead RN | 750 | 56 | — |
| Graf | Standard | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 750 | 56 | — |
| Fiocchi | Classic | 45 | Lead Round Nose | 750 | 56 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
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.
Connected reference
History
Designed by Charles Galand in 1894 during the cycling craze that swept Europe. Dog attacks were a genuine hazard for cyclists on rural roads, and the Velo-Dog revolver offered a compact solution. The cartridge's long case for its caliber was functional rather than aesthetic — small European pocket revolvers had limited cylinder length. Dozens of manufacturers made Velo-Dog revolvers across Europe through the early 20th century. Ammunition is no longer commercially made.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 5.5mm Velo-Dog use?
- 5.5mm Velo-Dog typically uses a 1:14 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 5.5mm Velo-Dog?
- 5.5mm Velo-Dog uses a 0.225″ (5.715 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 5.5mm Velo-Dog still in production?
- 5.5mm Velo-Dog is discontinued; typical availability is collector.
- What is 5.5mm Velo-Dog used for?
- 5.5mm Velo-Dog is primarily used for self defense.
Sources & provenance
- ReferenceGun Digest Books — Cartridges of the World (Gun Digest Books, F. C. Barnes)
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 4 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →