The .219 Zipper is a rifle cartridge that was developed by Winchester in the early 1930s. It was designed primarily for varmint hunting and small game, offering high velocity and flat trajectory ideal for those purposes. The cartridge is based on a necked-down .25-35 Winchester case to accept a smaller, .22 caliber (.224 inch) bullet. Standard factory loads drove a 56-grain bullet at approximately 3,200 feet per second, which made it suitable for taking down small to medium-sized varmints at extended ranges.
The .219 Zipper was chambered in lever-action rifles like the Winchester Model 64 and the Marlin Model 336, which was somewhat unusual since lever-action rifles typically were not known for their ability to handle high-pressure cartridges effectively.
With the advent of more modern, efficient, and commercially popular cartridges, the .219 Zipper fell out of favor and is now considered obsolete with limited ammunition available primarily through specialty manufacturers and reloading.
Use Cases:
- Varmint hunting (e.g., prairie dogs, groundhogs)
- Small game hunting (e.g., rabbits, foxes)
The .219 Zipper is valued among some shooting enthusiasts and collectors today for its historical significance and unique performance in lever-action rifles.