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Common uses: Varmint
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 55gr Weatherby Select Plus Spire Point (Hornady) |
| Muzzle velocity | 3650 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 1627 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.235 |
| Case length | 43.2 mm |
| Overall length | 59.4 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3650 | 1627 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 3184 | 1238 | 0 |
| 200 | 2767 | 935 | -2 |
| 300 | 2387 | 696 | -8.5 |
| 400 | 2036 | 506 | -21.2 |
| 500 | 1720 | 361 | -42.3 |
At 1,000 yards, .224 Wby. (55gr at 3650 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 42.3 MOA / 12.3 MIL, retaining 903 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2387 | Supersonic | -8.5 | 2.7 | 0.79 |
| 400 | 2036 | Supersonic | -21.2 | 5.1 | 1.47 |
| 500 | 1720 | Supersonic | -42.4 | 8.1 | 2.35 |
| 600 | 1443 | Supersonic | -75.5 | 12.0 | 3.49 |
| 700 | 1221 | Transonic | -125.3 | 17.1 | 4.97 |
| 800 | 1069 | Subsonic | -198.5 | 23.7 | 6.89 |
| 900 | 972 | Subsonic | -302.2 | 32.1 | 9.33 |
| 1000 | 903 | Subsonic | -442.6 | 42.3 | 12.30 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .224 Weatherby Magnum is a fast, flat-shooting small-bore cartridge built almost exclusively for varmint and predator hunting, driving light .22-caliber bullets at velocities well above 3,500 fps. Its appeal is precision at extended range on prairie dogs, coyotes, and similar targets, paired with the smooth feeding and quality associated with Weatherby rifles. In practice its ballistics are only marginally better than more common cartridges like the .22-250, so its real limitation has always been proprietary, relatively expensive ammunition and scarce brass rather than performance. That commercial disadvantage, not any shortcoming in the field, kept it a niche choice throughout its production life. It remains a curiosity and a collector's favorite among Weatherby enthusiasts, prized more for its rarity and pedigree than for offering a decisive edge over mainstream .22 centerfires.
Roy Weatherby devised the .224 Weatherby Magnum years before its commercial introduction, which came in 1963, chambered in the compact Weatherby Varmintmaster rifle. Following the Weatherby house style, the cartridge uses a belted case, and it is the only belted magnum varmint cartridge in commercial production. Despite the Weatherby name and its high velocity, it never achieved wide popularity and was superseded by the cheaper .22-250 Remington, which eventually forced Weatherby to chamber rifles in that caliber; the Varmintmaster rifle was dropped in 1994, though Weatherby revived the chambering in 2025.
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