.219 Donaldson Wasp

.219 Donaldson Wasp

The .219 Donaldson Wasp, developed by Harvey Donaldson in the late 1930s, is a wildcat cartridge built for precision, flat trajectories, and efficient case design. Based on the .219 Zipper case, it was refined to improve shoulder angle and case taper in order to deliver high velocities without excessive powder usage or undue barrel wear. Despite its age, the cartridge remains popular among handloaders who appreciate its unique blend of speed, accuracy, and economical reloading characteristics.

One of the key appeals of the .219 Donaldson Wasp is how it balances performance with manageable recoil and component availability. Bullet weights from recent tests are typically 50 to 55 grains, paired with fast-to-medium burning powders such as IMR-3031, H4198, Hodgdon H4895, and IMR-4064. With quality brass (often formed from .30-30 Winchester) and clean reproduction of chamber dimensions, shooters report tight group performance—even when comparing to more modern cartridges.

Historical footage and test data show that, under ideal conditions, the .219 Donaldson Wasp is capable of velocities in the low 3,000s fps range with lighter bullets, and slightly less with heavier bullets, reflecting the case capacity and pressures safely achievable. One interesting feature of its history is how load development was supported by handloading magazines like Handloader, which helped preserve and refine data over the decades.

Although factory ammunition never became widespread, reloading continues to be a practical option. Wildcatters form brass, fine-tune seating depth, and use primers that offer consistent ignition. Because the case has some rim and shoulder peculiarities, concentricity and annealing practices are more critical than average. Proper firearm barrel condition, especially clean bore and sharp rifling, significantly impact accuracy.

Source: Handloader Issue #201 – October, 1999