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.22 CHeetah Mark II

Warning! Notes: The test rifle was a Remington 40X with a 27-inch Hart barrel. Cases were formed from Remington BR .308 basic brass with RCBS forming dies. All case necks were turned to a diameter of .248-inch (with bullet seated) with a custom neck turner from Jarrett Rifles, Inc. Remington 7 1/2 primers were used with all loads. Warning: All loads were safe in the author's rifle but may be excessive in other rifles. Reduce all maximum powder charges shown by 20 percent for starting loads in other rifles. Handloader Issue #129 – September, 1987

Cartridge History

.22 Cheetah Mark II

The .22 Cheetah Mark II is an experimental wildcat based on refining the original Cheetah concept to improve case geometry, efficiency, and accuracy. The “Mark II” version includes tweaks like reduced body taper, sharper shoulder angle, and optimized neck length to better stabilize lighter .22 bullets while maintaining manageable pressures and feeding in custom rifles.

This cartridge was featured in Handloader Issue #129 – September, 1987, where test data and load tables are provided for select bullet and powder combinations. The article’s emphasis is on practical wildcat experimentation—handloaders refining loads for consistency across temperature, barrel length, and brass condition.

Typical bullet weights for the Mark II version of the Cheetah include 35 to 50 grains, especially in hollow point or polymer-tip varmint profiles. These lighter bullets, when matched with efficient powders like Benchmark, H322, or IMR 4198, produce flat trajectories and excellent terminal performance on small game at intermediate ranges. The data also explores how seating depth variations and careful neck tension adjustments help sharpen groups.

One of the article’s key points is how small changes in case prep make measurable differences in group consistency. The author details how annealing, uniform neck thickness, and precise trim length are vital for consistent performance, especially when pushing higher velocity loads. Moreover, the test rifles used in the feature had carefully chambered barrels and well-matched stocks, meaning the load data represents results in optimized rifles rather than average off-the-shelf guns.

While the .22 Cheetah Mark II never achieved wide popularity or commercial backing, the Handloader 129 write-up keeps its development legacy alive. The combination of modern bullet designs and wildcat innovation continues to attract shooters who enjoy pushing .22 performance to its creative limits. This cartridge remains a curiosity best suited for dedicated handloaders working on custom rigs.

Source: Handloader Issue #129 – September, 1987

Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.

Wt.	Bullet	Powder Manufacturer	Powder	Charge	Velocity (FPS)
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4350	Subscribe	4,043
Remarks: load density: 99 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4350	Subscribe	4,050
Remarks: load density: 100 percent
50	Hornady	Hodgdon	H-380	Subscribe	4,057
Remarks: load density: 96 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4320	Subscribe	3,530
Remarks: load density: 70 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4320	Subscribe	3,669
Remarks: load density: 73 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4320	Subscribe	3,910
Remarks: load density: 81 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4320	Subscribe	4,048
Remarks: load density: 83 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4320	Subscribe	4,081
Remarks: load density: 85 percent
50	Hornady	Alliant	RL-12	Subscribe	4,052
Remarks: load density: 80 percent
50	Hornady	IMR	IMR-4064	Subscribe	4,079
Remarks: load density: 92 percent
55	Nosler	IMR	IMR-4350	Subscribe	4,009
Remarks: load density: 99 percent
55	Nosler	IMR	IMR-4350	Subscribe	4,019
Remarks: load density: 100 percent
55	Nosler	Hodgdon	H-380	Subscribe	3,972
Remarks: load density: 92 percent
55	Nosler	IMR	IMR-4320	Subscribe	3,976
Remarks: load density: 83 percent
55	Nosler	IMR	IMR-4064	Subscribe	3,935
Remarks: load density: 86 percent