.19-223 Calhoon

.19-223 Calhoon: A High-Velocity Wildcat for the Modern Varmint Shooter

The .19-223 Calhoon represents one of James Calhoon’s most ambitious efforts to create a high-velocity, flat-shooting wildcat cartridge optimized for varmint hunting. Built on the proven .223 Remington case, this cartridge necks down the bore to .198 inches, combining the speed and efficiency of smaller caliber bullets with the case capacity and reliability of the .223 platform. Designed to push lightweight bullets to remarkable velocities while maintaining accuracy and manageable recoil, the .19-223 Calhoon appeals to shooters seeking an edge in long-range varmint shooting and precision applications.

Using the .223 Remington as its parent case offers significant advantages. This widely available brass provides ample powder capacity, allowing handloaders to take full advantage of the smaller bore diameter. The resulting performance makes the .19-223 Calhoon a versatile cartridge, capable of achieving velocities well beyond 4,000 feet per second with lighter projectiles. These speeds translate to flatter trajectories and reduced wind drift, two critical factors for hitting small targets at extended ranges.

Handloading is essential for the .19-223 Calhoon, as it remains a true wildcat with no commercial factory ammunition. Shooters typically begin by resizing standard .223 Remington brass using custom dies to neck the case down to .19 caliber dimensions. While this process requires precision, the abundance of .223 brass makes it relatively simple to produce consistent, high-quality cases. Combined with James Calhoon’s proprietary .19 caliber bullets, handloaders can tailor loads for their specific rifles, balancing velocity, accuracy, and terminal performance.

The .19-223 Calhoon shines in varmint hunting scenarios, where speed and accuracy are paramount. The cartridge’s ability to deliver blistering velocities with lightweight bullets results in explosive terminal performance on small game while maintaining minimal recoil for fast, accurate follow-up shots. For handloaders who enjoy fine-tuning their ammunition, the cartridge’s capacity provides ample flexibility to experiment with different powders and bullet seating depths to optimize performance.

One of the greatest benefits of the .19-223 Calhoon is its compatibility with rifles already chambered for the .223 Remington. Many bolt-action and single-shot platforms can be converted with relative ease, making this wildcat accessible to shooters who want to enhance the capabilities of a familiar rifle. When paired with quality barrels and precision handloads, the .19-223 Calhoon offers accuracy and downrange performance that rivals or exceeds many standard factory cartridges.

While the .19-223 Calhoon may not be as widely recognized as other wildcats, it holds a special place among precision varmint shooters who value innovation and performance. Its unique blend of speed, efficiency, and adaptability makes it an excellent choice for those willing to invest the time and effort into handloading. For shooters seeking the next step beyond traditional varmint cartridges, the .19-223 Calhoon delivers a compelling balance of power and precision.