{"id":2769,"date":"2025-10-24T17:44:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T17:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=2769"},"modified":"2025-10-24T17:44:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T17:44:42","slug":"22-lr-vs-22-wmr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/22-lr-vs-22-wmr\/","title":{"rendered":"22 LR VS 22 WMR"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rimfires generally need little in the way of introduction; 22 LR VS 22 WMR included. We most likely all cut our collective shooting teeth on them. More accurately, we all most likely cut our teeth on a .22 Long Rifle (.22LR)<\/a> firearm. They are the best primers for shooting: relatively quiet, very cheap, accurate, and fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are also very efficient slayers of rabbits, squirrels, nuisance birds, and a whole host of other small vermin. However, the venerable .22LR has a big brother who likes to lift weights and punch littler vermin in the mouth: the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR), known widely as the .22 Magnum. Let\u2019s have a look at the venerable classic and its punchy featherweight big brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

History & Data<\/b><\/h2>\n

The 22 LR and its bigger brother, the 22 WMR, both have humble beginnings. If you\u2019re a history buff like me, you like to know a bit about a cartridge’s origins, not just how it performs. The .22 LR traces its lineage to the .22 BB Cap, developed around 1845. From there it grew into the .22 short (in 1857), then graduated to the .22 Long (in 1871).<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunters and varminters wanted a rimfire round with true rifle-level performance. .22LR wasn’t cutting it for them, so in 1959, the .22 WMR was born. It offered a flatter trajectory, with more energy and better penetration. If your target is 100 yards or beyond, it’s a much more effective option than the .22LR.<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Cartridge Specs<\/th>\n.22 Long Rifle<\/th>\n.22 WMR<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Parent Casing<\/td>\n.22 Long<\/td>\n.22 Win Rimfire<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bullet Diameter<\/td>\n.223<\/span>“<\/td>\n.224<\/span>“<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neck Diameter<\/td>\n.226″<\/td>\n.243″<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base\u00a0Diameter<\/td>\n.226″<\/td>\n.245″<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Case Length<\/td>\n.613″<\/span><\/td>\n1.05″<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall Length<\/td>\n.888″<\/span><\/td>\n1.35″<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grain Weight<\/td>\n29gr-60gr<\/td>\n30gr-50gr<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Pressure (SAMMI)<\/td>\n24,000 PSI<\/td>\n24,000 PSI<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

22 LR VS 22 WMR:\u00a0Rimfire Shootout<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Federal Champion LRN .22LR VS. <\/strong>Federal Champion <\/strong>FMJ .22 WMR\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Champion VS Champion: Federal’s .22 WMR 40gr FMJ outperforms their .22LR 40gr FMJ in everything but price.<\/p><\/div>\n

Federal Champion is affordably priced and reliable, making it a great option for recreational shooting.. For many, it’s a go-to option when it’s time for training and plinking. Over the years, the name has become synonymous with the world of rimfire competition. Don’t be surprised to find this budget option in many a competitor’s range bag.<\/p>\n

22 LR<\/b>: Federal’s LRN bullets are perfect for plinking and training at the range, or sighting in a new pistol or rifle optic.<\/span><\/p>\n

22 WMR<\/b>: In .22 WMR, these full metal jackets hit targets hard. It’s your best bang for the buck in terms of pricing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Type<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nVelocity (Muzzle)<\/th>\nEnergy (Muzzle)<\/th>\n50 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n100 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n150 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
.22LR<\/td>\nFMJ<\/td>\n\u00a040gr<\/td>\n1,240 FPS<\/td>\n137 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,103 FPS\/108 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,011 FPS\/91 FT LBS<\/td>\n944 FPS\/79 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.22 Mag<\/td>\n\u00a0FMJ<\/td>\n40gr<\/td>\n1,880 FPS<\/td>\n314 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,1570 FPS\/219 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,311 FPS\/153 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,121 FPS\/112 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
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\n \"product\"\n <\/div>\n
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\n Federal Champion 22 LR 40 Grain Solid \u2013 5000 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $384.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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CCI Mini-Mag SHP Varmint .22LR VS. CCI Maxi-Mag Varmint JHP .22 WMR<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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JHP VS SHP: CCI’s .22 WMR JHP is about 145% more powerful (in energy) than the CCI Mini-Mag in .22LR.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The folks over at CCI know a thing or two about varmint control. They’ve been at it since 1951, in the hills of Lewiston, Idaho. If rats, or other small vermin, are driving you batty, their segmented .22lr is among the best in the industry. It delivers enough of a pop to eliminate most common pests. If you need to reach out and touch a quadruped from a safe distance, their .22 WMR JHP option will drop a rabid coyote in its tracks.<\/p>\n

22 LR<\/b>: CCI’s Mini-Mag segmented bullet delivers rapid expansion and explosive fragmentation on impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

22 WMR<\/b>: CCI’s Maxi-Mag features a jacketed hollow-point bullet design that transfers tremendous energy to the target.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Type<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nVelocity (Muzzle)<\/th>\nEnergy (Muzzle)<\/th>\n50 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n100 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n150 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
.22LR<\/td>\nSHP<\/td>\n\u00a040gr<\/td>\n1,235 FPS<\/td>\n127 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,081 FPS\/97 FT LBS<\/td>\n982 FPS\/80 FT LBS<\/td>\n880 FPS\/69 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.22 Mag<\/td>\n\u00a0JHP<\/td>\n40gr<\/td>\n1,875 FPS<\/td>\n312 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,574 FPS\/220 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,319 FPS\/155 FT LBS<\/td>\n1,115 FPS\/110 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
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\n \"product\"\n <\/div>\n
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\n Winchester Super-X 22 LR 40 Grain CPRN - 100 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $12.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Winchester Silvertip SHP .22LR VS. Hornady Critical Defense FTX .22 WMR<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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For predators in close vicinity, options like Winchester Silvertip or Hornady Critical Defense come in handy.<\/p><\/div>\n

Although we don’t recommend rimfire for personal defense, we’d be remiss not to mention Winchester’s Silvertip line. In terms of quality and reliability, it’s head and shoulders above the competition. Designed for pistol-length barrels, the segmented hollow point bullet will send any unwanted pest to meet its maker. Hornady’s 45gr FTX round in .22 WMR is an equally impressive entry. You can also run it in a handgun, or in something like a Kel-Tec CMR 30 with a 16″ barrel.<\/p>\n

22 LR<\/b>: Winchester’s Silvertip bullet is optimized for short barrels, giving it the velocity needed for close targets.<\/span><\/p>\n

22 WMR<\/b>: Hornady’s 45gr FTX round can be fired from handguns or PDWs in close-quarters encounters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n
Caliber<\/th>\nBullet Type<\/th>\nBullet Weight<\/th>\nVelocity (Muzzle)<\/th>\nEnergy (Muzzle)<\/th>\n50 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n100 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n150 Yards (Velocity\/Energy)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
.22LR<\/td>\nSHP<\/td>\n\u00a037gr<\/td>\n1,060 FPS<\/td>\n92 FT LBS<\/td>\n956 FPS\/75 FT LBS<\/td>\n889 FPS\/65 FT LBS<\/td>\n712 FPS\/42 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
.22 Mag<\/td>\n\u00a0FTX<\/td>\n45gr<\/td>\n1,000 FPS<\/td>\n100 FT LBS<\/td>\n926 FPS\/86 FT LBS<\/td>\n868 FPS\/75 FT LBS<\/td>\n808 FPS\/65 FT LBS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n
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\n \"product\"\n <\/div>\n
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\n Hornady Critical Defense 22 WMR 45 Grain FTX \u2013 500 Rounds <\/div>\n
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\n $174.85 <\/div>\n \n Shop Now\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Rimfire Pricing & Availability<\/span><\/h2>\n

.22LRs are not known for their power. Of course, that is exactly why they are the premier training tool in shooting. On top of that, rimfires are quite accurate at short distances, adding to their appeal. The .22LR is the standard caliber used by the Boy Scouts of America for marksmanship; the Civilian Marksmanship Program offers several programs for rimfires<\/span><\/a>, and not just for junior shooters. <\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes down to just plain dollars and cents, there is no comparison when you can buy competition-grade ammunition for around $0.04 per round for .22LR, as opposed to around $1.20 per round of .308 Winchester. Granted, it is a different type of shooting but I can sure get a lot of extra practice in when I can shoot 30 rounds for the price of one. The fundamental mechanics of shooting do not change with calibers, so rimfires are a tremendous way to hone your skills. <\/span><\/p>\n

.22 Magnums are considerably pricier than .22LR ammunition, but still around half the price of the cheapest .223 Remington cartridges. With this in mind, we are going to step into a comparison of a couple of popular rimfire loads to determine what the advantage is in stepping up to the Magnum vice the miserly Long Rifle, and if the Magnum is the best of two worlds (being cheap and providing power close to centerfire), or falls flat on either or both accounts. <\/span><\/p>\n

22 LR VS 22 WMR: Pros & Cons<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A photo comparing the .22 WMR rimfire cartridge (Left) and the .22LR rimfire cartridge (Right).<\/p><\/div>\n

22 LR Pros & Cons<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The strengths of the .22lr cannot be overstated, and they are numerous. It is not a one-size-fits-all caliber; it is far too small and underpowered for many uses. But when used within the parameters it is intended for, it is impossible to beat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pros:<\/h4>\n