The .225 Winchester is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced by Winchester in 1964. It was designed for varmint hunting, providing a flat trajectory and high velocity. The .225 Winchester was intended to replace the .220 Swift and to act as a competitor to the .22-250 Remington.
Specifications-wise, it typically features a bullet diameter of .224 inches (5.7 mm) and a necked-down, bottlenecked shape. Common bullet weights range from 40 to 55 grains, and it can achieve muzzle velocities around 3,500 to 3,800 feet per second, depending on the specific load.
Despite its performance capabilities, the .225 Winchester did not achieve widespread popularity and has largely fallen out of favor, with the .22-250 Remington becoming more prominent in the varmint hunting community. Consequently, ammunition and rifles chambered in .225 Winchester are now relatively rare, and it is more of a collector's item or a niche cartridge for enthusiasts.
As a high-speed, small-caliber round, the .225 Winchester is best suited for small game and varmint hunting, such as prairie dogs, groundhogs, and coyotes. It offers good accuracy and effective range for these purposes.