.219 Zipper Load Data

The .219 Zipper has its origins in the early 1930s, when Winchester designed it as a high-velocity varmint cartridge to be chambered primarily in the Model 64 lever-action rifle. Derived from the .30-30 Winchester case, necked down to .22 caliber, the .219 Zipper was introduced in 1937 as part of an effort to compete with other popular small-caliber cartridges of the era such as the .22 Hornet and the .220 Swift. Although innovative for its time, particularly in providing a bolt-faced rimmed case for tubular magazine rifles, the Zipper's success was hindered by the limitations of lever-action rifle design, especially regarding the use of pointed (spitzer) bullets in tubular magazines. Despite these drawbacks, the .219 Zipper carved a niche among experimenters, reloaders, and wildcatters who appreciated its unique balance of power and compatibility with readily available rifles.

In terms of application, the .219 Zipper found favor primarily among varmint hunters and pest controllers. It gained a reputation for being an effective cartridge for dispatching small game and medium-sized predators at moderate ranges. Its flat trajectory and adequate velocity made it ideal for shooting at coyotes, foxes, groundhogs, and similar-sized animals, especially in open country where longer shots were possible. However, the Zipper's popularity waned as bolt-action rifles chambered in more modern cartridges came to dominate the varmint hunting market, offering higher velocities and better projectile options due to their ability to safely use pointed bullets. Still, among lever-action enthusiasts and ammo reloaders, the Zipper remains a fascinating classic that bridges the gap between nostalgic lever gun appeal and varminting performance.

The typical target species for the .219 Zipper include a range of small to medium game, with a particular emphasis on varmints. Its performance was, and remains, well-suited to animals such as coyotes, foxes, woodchucks, jackrabbits, and even the occasional bobcat. The cartridge’s mild recoil and respectable accuracy, when properly handloaded and paired with a suitable rifle, enabled shooters to make precise shots out to several hundred yards. Some hunters have experimented with the Zipper on larger game, but it is generally considered inadequate for anything beyond the smaller deer species, and even then, only when using appropriate bullet construction and with careful shot placement.

A key characteristic of the .219 Zipper is its bullet weight range and ballistics. Most factory loadings, when available, featured bullet weights between 46 and 56 grains, generally in flat-nose or round-nose profiles to be safe in rifles with tubular magazines. Muzzle velocities could approach 3,200 feet per second with lighter bullets, providing relatively flat shooting for its time. The rimmed .30-30-derived case has moderate case capacity, offering flexibility for reloaders to experiment with powders and bullets within safe pressure limits. Reloaders with custom single-shot or bolt-action rifles sometimes take full advantage of the Zipper’s potential by loading pointed varmint bullets for improved ballistics, though care is required to ensure proper feeding and safe operation. Despite its age, the .219 Zipper’s combination of nostalgia, versatility, and reloading potential ensures a lasting if specialized, following among dedicated shooting enthusiasts.