| .33 Winchester Center Fire | |
| Image Size: | 300px |
| Origin: | United States |
| Type: | Rifle |
| Design Date: | 1902 |
| Production Date: | 1902–1940 |
| Parent: | .45-70 |
| Case Type: | Rimmed, bottleneck |
| Bullet: | .338 |
| Neck: | .365 |
| Shoulder: | .443 |
| Base: | .508 |
| Rim Dia: | .610 |
| Case Length: | 2.11 |
| Length: | 2.80 |
| Primer: | large rifle |
| Bw1: | 200 |
| Btype1: | (factory load) |
| Vel1: | 2200 |
| En1: | 2150 |
| Bw2: | 200 |
| Btype2: | (maximum load) |
| Vel2: | 2420 |
| En2: | 2608 |
| Balsrc: | Barnes & Amber 1972 |
The .33 Winchester Center Fire (colloquially .33 Winchester, .33 WCF,[1] or .33 Win) is a centerfire rifle cartridge designed and produced from 1902 to 1940 by Winchester Repeating Arms Company for their Model 1886 lever-action rifle.
With the new Model 1886 lever-action rifle, and appearance of new smokeless powders on the market, in 1891, Winchester Repeating Arms Company started to experiment with necking down the .45-70 cartridge. The first attempt, a .31-62 with a 200-grain bullet, reportedly resulted in pressures too high for the action. Only a decade later, the desired result was achieved with a new caliber when the .33 Winchester was introduced in 1902.[2] [3] Never popular due to lack of range despite high muzzle velocity (the 1886's tube magazine ensured that aerodynamic pointed-tip bullets couldn't be used except while single loading), the only other firearms offered in this chambering were the Winchester Model 1885 and Marlin Model 1895. The round was eventually replaced by the .348 Winchester in 1936, and ultimately discontinued by Winchester in 1940,[4] although it is still currently produced in small numbers by other ammunition manufacturers.
A good round for deer, elk, or black bear in wooded terrain at medium range, it outperforms the ballistically similar .35 Remington and can be improved with modern powders.[4]