Snapshot: Winchester’s Rimfire Rout

by
posted on February 5, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
rout.jpg

It seemed like a good idea at the time. When the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. rolled out its graceful, 10-shot semi-automatic Model 1903 rifle, it wasn’t entirely clear that the .22 Long Rifle would become the most dominant rimfire cartridge of all time. Back in 1903, smokeless powder was still a relatively new thing in commercial firearms, and Winchester was concerned that blackpowder .22 Long Rifle cartridges would be used in the Thomas Crossley Johnson-designed Model 1903.


To keep blackpowder .22s from gumming up the works in the blowback-operated, tubular-magazine-fed Model 1903,
Winchester decided to chamber the gun for a new rimfire cartridge, the .22 Winchester Automatic. It featured a proprietary case and an inside-lubricated 45-gr. bullet. When Winchester commissioned this piece of art to promote the then-brand-new Model 1903 and its brand-spanking-new cartridge, the company thought it had a winner on its hands.

But Winchester lost the battle—and the war—against the .22 Long Rifle. The company waved the white flag in 1933, and its Model 1903 became the Model 63—chambered in .22 Long Rifle. No factory guns for the .22 Winchester Automatic cartridge have been produced since the 1930s. And Winchester now makes billions of .22 Long Rifle cartridges every year, but no .22 Winchester Automatic. That said, Aguila Ammunition has done special runs of .22 Winchester Automatic for the more than 125,000 Model 1903s made.

Image courtesy WinfieldGalleries.com.

Latest

Gotw Walther Pdp Prox Pmm Web
Gotw Walther Pdp Prox Pmm Web

Gun Of The Week: Walther Arms PDP Pro-X PMM Compact

Within Walther Arms' line of Performance Duty Pistols, the Pro-X PMM stands out, thanks to a number of features. We head to the range to see exactly how these upgrades and enhancements impact the design.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 31, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: CZ 600 Alpha

One of several models in the CZ 600 series of rifles, the CZ 600 Alpha is an affordable bolt-action design with a unique action that incorporates a lightweight receiver and a "hybrid controlled feed" system.

San Tan Tactical Launches Defender Program

San Tan Tactical has launched a Defender Program to provide increased support for the professional community of law enforcement officers, servicemen and women and veterans.

I Have This Old Gun: The Ortgies Pistol

One of the lesser-known, German-made handguns from the early 20th century, the Ortgies pistol has a fascinating history stretching from the end of World War I all the way to the conclusion of World War II.

New For 2025: Taurus GX4 Strike Bravo

In a collaboration with Strike Industries, Taurus USA has launched its GX4 Strike Bravo, which combines elements of its popular micro-compact handgun with a chassis-frame design capable of accepting a stabilizing brace.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.