.19 Badger

Cartridge History

The 19 Badger is a proprietary wildcat cartridge developed by James Calhoon, a well-known innovator in the varmint shooting world. Designed in the early 2000s, the 19 Badger was part of Calhoon’s broader effort to create highly efficient, high-velocity small-caliber cartridges tailored for varmint and predator hunting. Building on the success of his earlier designs, such as the 19 Calhoon (based on the 22 Hornet) and 19-223, the 19 Badger offered shooters a unique combination of flat trajectory, low recoil, and exceptional accuracy in a compact package. At its core, the 19 Badger is a necked-down version of the 30 Carbine case, which has been modified to accept Calhoon's proprietary .198-inch (5 mm) bullets. The choice of the 30 Carbine as the parent case was deliberate. It provided a rimless, bottlenecked foundation with moderate case capacity and reliable feeding characteristics in small bolt-action platforms. Once necked down, the case offered enough powder capacity to push light-for-caliber bullets at impressive velocities, often exceeding 3,600 feet per second with 32- or 36-grain projectiles. Calhoon designed the cartridge with a practical mindset. He aimed to fill the performance gap between the 17- and 22-caliber cartridges commonly used for small game and varmint hunting. The 5 mm bullet diameter split the difference in wind drift and retained energy, making it highly effective out to moderate ranges without excessive barrel wear or recoil. The cartridge quickly gained a loyal following among handloaders and small-game hunters seeking an accurate, economical round that delivered results on prairie dogs, ground squirrels, and similar pests. In terms of dimensions, the 19 Badger has a case length of 1.290 inches and an overall cartridge length of approximately 1.780 inches. The shoulder diameter is 0.332 inches, and the base measures 0.354 inches. Calhoon offered custom rifles and conversion services, often based on the CZ 527 action, to accommodate the 19 Badger chambering. These lightweight, fast-handling rifles paired perfectly with the cartridge’s low recoil and high-speed characteristics. Although never adopted by any major commercial ammunition manufacturer, the 19 Badger remained available through Calhoon’s custom shop for many years. He also provided reloading dies, forming tools, and bullets tailored specifically for his 5 mm cartridges. The proprietary nature of the design, combined with limited but consistent support from Calhoon's business, kept the 19 Badger in niche circulation among enthusiasts who valued performance over mass-market popularity. Today, the 19 Badger represents a unique chapter in the history of wildcat cartridge development. It reflects James Calhoon’s engineering creativity and his commitment to precision varmint shooting. While the 5 mm bore remains uncommon in the broader shooting community, the 19 Badger proved that with thoughtful design and careful load development, small calibers could deliver big results.