The New Rimfire: Winchester’s 21 Sharp Cartridge

new rimfire caliber cartridge bullet 21 Sharp
The 21 Sharp is the latest from Winchester. Can it really unseat 22 LR? (Photo: Winchester)

New cartridges hit the gun market every year, but they’re typically centerfire rounds. Among the manufacturers staying on top of new ammo there’s Winchester, the venerable company that’s recently been responsible for new centerfires rounds like 350 Legend and 400 Legend. They’ve done what ammunition manufacturers rarely do—come out with a brand new rimfire cartridge, the 21 Sharp.

new rimfire caliber cartridge bullet 21 Sharp
Winchester’s 21 Sharp is the latest rimfire round to hit the market, and it looks promising. (Photo: Winchester)

What Is 21 Sharp?

The 21 Sharp was officially announced by Winchester in September. As a new rimfire round, it’s unique, but this one’s extra-special because Winchester seems to be hoping it’ll unseat long-time shooter favorite 22 LR. Yes, 21 Sharp has an uphill battle considering the 22 LR’s been around since 1887 and there are millions of guns that are chambered for it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a (literal) shot.

According to Kyle Masinelli, Senior Director of Product Innovation and Strategy for Winchester Ammunition:

The 21 Sharp cartridge offers significant advantages in the rimfire category, which is one of the more popular types of firearms and ammunition used by millions of people throughout the world. Winchester leadership in cartridge development spans more than 100 years and as the global leader in ammunition design and manufacturing; it’s our job to serve our customers with innovative products that fit their needs now and into the future. That is what has been done with 21 Sharp.

21 Sharp launched with multiple load options and bullet types—both lead and lead-free—and promises ballistic superiority, but will it deliver?

21 Sharp Ballistics

It’s early days yet to get too heavily into the ballistics of the latest rimfire round, but there’s some information available. Here’s the basic rundown from Winchester on the various loads the rimfire launched with:

Brand USA USA USA Super X
Symbol S21SLF X21C USA21 X21JHP
Caliber 21 Sharp 21 Sharp 21 Sharp 21 Sharp
Bullet Wt. 25 grain 37 grain 42 grain 34 grain
Bullet Type Copper Matrix Black Copper Plated Full Metal Jacket Jacketed Hollow Point
Velocity 1750 fps 1335 fps 1330 fps 1500 fps
Energy 170 ft-lbs 146 ft-lbs 165 ft-lbs 170 ft-lbs
Box Size 100 rounds 100 rounds 100 rounds 100 rounds

A few things give 21 Sharp a clear edge over the older 22 LR. The 21 Sharp is loaded with a bullet diameter of 0.2105-inches while the 22 LR’s bullet diameter is 0.2255-inches. That matters because the 22 LR was designed in the latter portion of the 19th century with a rebated heel. That means the base of the bullet is slightly narrower than the upper portion that’s left exposed above the mouth of the case.

That was a fine design for its time, but technology has changed and that means a more advanced and ballistically superior 21 Sharp. Furthermore, .22 LR is predominantly a lead round, a fact owed largely to its older shape. In the 21 Sharp, we get a bullet with the correct size and shape to accommodate a wider range of bullet types, all while producing superior ballistics.

The 21 Sharp promises a flat trajectory with an effective range on varmints and size-appropriate predators out to 100 yards, although the ideal range is stated as 50 yards. That said, it’s possible to reach further than 100 yards with the right weather, ammo, and rifle. And of course, if you simply want to ring steel, you can do even more with it. You bring the skills and let the 21 Sharp do the rest.

new rimfire caliber cartridge bullet 21 Sharp
It appears the 21 Sharp will be a cleaner-shooting rimfire cartridge. (Photo: Winchester)

What loads can you get in 21 Sharp?

At the time of this writing, Winchester is offering four different 21 Sharp loads. What’s really cool is they’re not like your stereotypical lead rimfire loads. That’s partly thanks to the modern shape of the bullet. It’s a lot easier to produce bullets that aren’t just lead round nose when the bullet in question isn’t heeled (more cost-effective, too). 21 Sharp loads available include:

  • Winchester Game & Target 21 Sharp 25 grain Copper Matrix
  • Winchester Game & Target 21 Sharp 37 grain Copper Plated
  • Winchester Game & Target 21 Sharp 42 grain Full Metal Jacket
  • Winchester Super X 21 Sharp 34 grain Jacketed Hollow Point
Savage Arms is manufacturing a line of bolt-action rifles chambered in 21 Sharp. Pictured is the Mark II Minimalist. (Photo: Savage)
Savage Arms is manufacturing a line of bolt-action rifles chambered in 21 Sharp. Pictured is the Mark II Minimalist. (Photo: Savage)

What 21 Sharp guns are there?

Bolt-action rifles chambered in 21 Sharp are being manufactured by Savage Arms. Assuming the round catches on, it seems safe to say more manufacturers will jump on board and announce new guns in the coming year.

Can you shoot 21 Sharp in a 22 LR rifle?

No, you can’t shoot 21 Sharp through a rifle chambered in 22 LR. Although the case of the 21 Sharp has the same dimensions as the 22 LR, the bullet diameter is different as is the shape of the bullet. 22 LR is a .22-caliber bullet round while 21 Sharp is a .21-caliber round. To use a 22 LR rifle with 21 Sharp, you’ll need to change the existing barrel for a 21 Sharp barrel.

Is 21 Sharp Worth It?

Only some trigger time will tell if the 21 Sharp is really the modern rimfire advantage it promises to be. It appears to be a cleaner shooting round that produces a flatter trajectory and higher velocities. The variety in bullet options is also nice and shouldn’t be discounted. Don’t you think there’s room in the gun world for a high-performing rimfire?

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23 thoughts on “The New Rimfire: Winchester’s 21 Sharp Cartridge”

      1. From the article: “No, you can’t shoot 21 Sharp through a rifle chambered in 22 LR. Although the case of the 21 Sharp has the same dimensions as the 22 LR, the bullet diameter is different as is the shape of the bullet. 22 LR is a .22-caliber bullet round while 21 Sharp is a .21-caliber round. To use a 22 LR rifle with 21 Sharp, you’ll need to change the existing barrel for a 21 Sharp barrel.”

  1. I will be interested in 21 Sharp if:

    1) Prices are markedly lower than 22 LR
    2) Availability is nearly as widespread as 22 LR
    3) There are subsonic offerings.
    4) There is an offering equivalent to .22 CB
    5) There are few semi-automatic and bolt-action rifle offerings in 21 Sharp.
    6) There are a few revolver offerings in 21 Sharp.

    Needless to say, all of those factors create a VERY steep mountain for this new cartridge to climb.

    1. Geoff "I'm getting too old for this shit" PR

      Why they didn’t produce a .22lr version is beyond me, another company made a centerfire-style copper-jacketed bullet called the ‘Uppercut’ for their .22lr offering.

      Hey, US, how long was your NFA wait time for your new silencers?

    2. 1 & 2 will never happen. You beat me to #3. Obviously, that needs to happen. I’d be interested if the ammo is relatively cheap.

  2. The only round capable of unseating the .22LR would be a modern .22LRCF (.22 Long Rifle Centerfire).

    Well… we’re waiting…

  3. Geoff "I'm getting too old for this shit" PR

    “No, you can’t shoot 21 Sharp through a rifle chambered in 22 LR. Although the case of the 21 Sharp has the same dimensions as the 22 LR, the bullet diameter is different as is the shape of the bullet. 22 LR is a .22-caliber bullet round while 21 Sharp is a .21-caliber round.”

    Load it into .22lr and let’s see what it will do.

    As is, it looks like it will rattle down the bore, maybe reloading it with a tissue paper patch to engage the rifling lands would be worth a try…

  4. While I love innovation I bought a Savage in 17Mach2 as well as one in 17HMRF; that stated, while the latter has readily available fodder, the Mach2 not so much. I bought a bunch of ammo but do not see anything new being made. SO! Will the 21 Sharp prevail? As stated in other answers, it depends on pricing, availability, accuracy and availablity of arms chambered in it. In my opinion, if Ruger being the largest maker in the USA does not adopt it; it fails..JMHO

  5. New and improved should be improved not just new. The same performance and same energy with the same rimfire disadvantages is just new and more expensive.

  6. I don’t see it.

    Got a jacketed bullet for high speed but still a rim fire with rim fire issues.

    Maybe go to a 25 or 30 with simile case length and center fire ignition.

    Could get heavier bullets at similar velocities with the small, efficient case size (most of our older standards were designed for black powder and old metallurgy.

    Elmer Keith promoted the idea of redoing the 25 Stevens Long with a heavier bullet than 22 mag at around 1250 fps.

    Seems like w could get a 25 or 30 in a shortish cartridge that would top 1250 fps in a handgun (single six?).

    And a rifle might give a substantial increase over that.

    Bottom line – I’d be more interested if I could reload it. Seems like Winchester is just wanting justify charging the equivalent of 9mm for a rim fire cartridge.

  7. Humberto C Martinez

    The actual bullet could be made to a size .2255 and still be a copper jacketed round. This would allow for good sale numbers without forcing .22LR owners to have different gun barrels installed.
    Heeled copper jacketed bullets can be produced given the technology and machine capabilities we now have.

  8. The real question for me here is. Will I be able to shoot this in competition. There are many different disciplines of rimfire competitions out there that only allow .22lr that is why it’s so popular right now.
    Not to mention how good it is on small game hunting.

    As good as the 21 sharp sounds it has a massive uphill battle if it is going to compete against to olde and much loved .22lr

  9. This is like reinventing the wheel. Despite all the complaints and negative comments the .22 LR has managed to remain in constant use AND the most widely used cartridge in the world for the last 187 years. This .21 Sharp is a stillbirth. There is no reason for it. There are no guns ( other than that plug ugly Savage prototype) being made for it. If Winchester had used their imagination and BRAINS they would have modernized the .25 Stevens into a .253 Winchester Magnum Rimfire , Sold the idea to Ruger and the rest would be history. Ive been in the firearms business for 60 years. I know a few things.

    1. You are certainly correct MR.
      The 21 is a good idea, just a few hundred years late, if the costs of ammo and arms to launch this new child is one penny more cost to the consumer, it dies.
      Manufacturers are looking to cut high costs associated with production of 22lr, which is a pain, an expensive pain to manufacture.
      Let’s remember the .20 Remington Magnum Rimfire, an excellent round, non-heeled projectile, ballistics are supirior to the .22 magnum cartridge, feeds reliably and is hella accurate, but it slipped into obscurity.
      Mainly due to Remington being the only U.S. manufacturer of rifles to shoot the round, the ‘twenty’ was wsy ahead of its time, which scares a lot of folk. Much like the new 21 is.

  10. For this to have even a remote chance of competing with.22LR, it is going to have to be widely available and widely used, and it will have to be priced competitively. I don’t see any of those happening short term.