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.
Type: Revolver
Introduced: 1894, France
Parent case: None
Standardization: None
Bullet diameter: 0.225" (5.72 mm)
Case length: 1.12" (28.4 mm)
Overall length: 1.35" (34.3 mm)
Max pressure: 18,000 PSI
Rim type: Rimmed
Primer: Centerfire
Typical twist rate: 1:14
Muzzle velocity: 700–800 fps
Muzzle energy: 42–54 ft-lbs
Effective range: 20 yd
Common bullet weights: 38, 45 gr
Primary use: Self Defense
Production status: Discontinued
Also known as: 5.5mm Vélodogue · 5.5x26mmR
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…
Notable firearms: Various European hammerless folding-trigger pocket revolvers
Similar cartridges: .22 Long Rifle, .25 ACP