.22 Magnum sits in an odd but useful spot. It’s too much cartridge for casual plinking, not quite a centrefire round, and exactly right for a specific set of jobs that .22 Long Rifle can’t quite handle. Here’s what it actually offers.
Bridging Two Cartridges
Winchester developed the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire in 1959. The goal was to close the performance gap between the everyday .22 Long Rifle and the centrefire .22 calibres available at the time. Firearms chambered for it reached the market in 1960. The new round was built by lengthening the case of the older .22 Winchester Rimfire (WRF). That gave it more capacity for powder without changing the rimfire priming system that keeps ammunition simple and affordable.
More than sixty years on, .22 WMR remains a mainstay rimfire option, distinct enough from .22 LR to justify owning a rifle in each.
Ballistics and Performance
The defining feature of .22 WMR is velocity. A 40-grain bullet typically leaves the muzzle between 1,870 and 2,200 feet per second, around 50% faster than the same weight bullet from a .22 Long Rifle. That speed advantage carries all the way downrange. At 100 yards, a .22 WMR bullet still carries roughly 50% more kinetic energy than a .22 LR bullet has at the muzzle, and it delivers just over 140 foot-pounds of energy at that distance.
The result is a rimfire round that shoots flatter, hits harder, and stays effective further out than .22 LR, without stepping up to centrefire recoil or cost. It performs best from a rifle barrel, though it retains around 80% of its muzzle velocity when fired from a revolver. That’s part of why it’s also popular with handgun shooters.
What the .22 Magnum Is Used For
.22 WMR earned its reputation as the classic ranch and varmint cartridge. It’s effective on larger small game like foxes and rabbits at ranges where .22 LR starts to run out of authority. It’s a genuine step up in penetration and terminal performance over .22 LR for hunting applications, while remaining far cheaper to shoot than any centrefire option.
For target shooters at Phoenix Rifle Club, a .22 WMR rifle offers a useful middle ground. It’s more challenging and further-reaching than standard rimfire disciplines, but without the cost or recoil of moving to a full centrefire calibre.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Significantly flatter trajectory and more energy than .22 LR at all practical ranges
- Rimfire simplicity and lower ammunition cost compared to centrefire rounds
- Effective on larger small game where .22 LR falls short
- Works reasonably well from both rifles and revolvers
Cons:
- Ammunition costs noticeably more than standard .22 LR
- Not a serious option for anything beyond small to medium game
- Less widely stocked than .22 LR, so availability can vary
- Underpowered as a self-defence round compared to centrefire options
FAQ
Is .22 Magnum more powerful than .22 LR?
Yes, considerably. It’s around 50% faster with the same bullet weight and carries significantly more energy downrange. That makes it a genuine step up rather than a marginal improvement.
What is .22 WMR best used for?
It’s best suited to hunting larger small game like foxes and rabbits. It’s also a flatter-shooting, harder-hitting alternative to .22 LR for target shooters wanting more challenge at extended rimfire ranges.
Can I shoot .22 LR ammunition in a .22 WMR rifle?
No. The cartridges are different sizes and are not interchangeable. A rifle chambered for .22 WMR will not safely or reliably fire .22 LR ammunition.
Do I need a Firearm Certificate for a .22 Magnum rifle in the UK?
Yes. Like .22 LR and every other rimfire or centrefire rifle, .22 WMR is a Section 1 firearm in the UK. It requires a Firearm Certificate.
If you’re exploring other calibres, read about the historic .303 British or the flat-shooting .22-250 Remington.
Want to see how .22 WMR compares to standard rimfire on the range? Get in touch about membership at Phoenix Rifle Club to find out more.