The .21 Sharp, is a SAAMI-standardized rimmed straight wall rifle cartridge standardised by Winchester Ammunition.
.21 Sharp was announced in September 2024 by Winchester Ammunition and was released in 2024. Initial factory loads for the .21 Sharp include a variety of bullet types such as jacketed hollow point, copperâÂÂplated, full metal jacket and leadâÂÂfree copper matrix options, demonstrating a broader selection than traditional .22â¯LR ammunition at launch.
The cartridge was designed to shoot a copper jacketed bullet using a .22 LR case as some jurisdictions ban lead bullets. Winchester marketed the .21 Sharp as offering improved accuracy and reduced felt recoil compared to standard .22 LR ammunition, highlighting its appeal for smallâÂÂgame hunting and precision shooting.