Winchester Ammunition Introduces 21 Sharp Rimfire Cartridge

Winchester Ammunition’s 21 Sharp, a new cartridge that is an evolution in rimfire technology and performance, has an innovative design that provides significant benefits for recreational shooters and small-game hunters. Winchester engineering expertise is at the core of the 21 Sharp design, built from the ground up for enhanced accuracy and on-target performance with both lead and lead-free projectiles. Ammo manufacturers have tried with little success to incorporate lead-free projectiles into use in the venerable .22 Long Rifle (LR) cartridge. While those products are available, none have ever met the accuracy and on-target performance that a lead projectile can provide due to the original .22 LR design. The new 21 Sharp rimfire cartridge has been purposefully designed to provide top performance with lead-free projectiles rather than accommodating them later.

The new cartridge allows for a wide range of bullet types, including full metal jacket (FMJ), copper matrix, and plated-lead options. Jacketed hollow point (JHP) bullets will also be available in 21 Sharp, delivering extreme expansion and energy transfer.

“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,” says Kyle Masinelli, senior director of product innovation and strategy for Winchester Ammunition. “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.”

There are four 21 Sharp ammunition offerings. Game & Target 25 grain, Copper Matrix: This lead-free rimfire bullet produces sub 1.5 MOA groups at 50 yards, outperforming all lead-free .22 LR offerings available today. Game & Target 37 grain, Black Copper Plated: This bullet is most comparable to a standard .22 LR offering with improved accuracy and offers an economical round for plinking applications. Game & Target 42 grain, FMJ: Winchester designed this high-performance full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet for those high-volume range sessions with less frequent cleanings and more time for shooting. Super X 34 grain, JHP: The jacketed hollow point (JHP) bullet outperforms its rival, the .22 LR, in terms of accuracy, expansion, and impact energy on small game. (winchester.com)