The 22 Long Rifle (22 LR) is one of the most popular cartridges across North America and the world. Its low recoil and extremely low cost per round make it ideal for training new shooters or spending a whole afternoon at the range plinking.
The 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR, or 22 Mag) is the rimfire cartridge hunters need to take on larger pests at greater ranges than the 22 LR can.
In this article, we will compare the 22LR vs 22 Mag so you can better understand each cartridge’s capabilities and which better suits your needs.
How We Tested The Cartridges
I grew up running around on the farm with a 22 LR. After I proved I could be trusted with it, my grandpa introduced me to his 22 Mag. No rabbit or coyote on the property was safe after that.
Though the 22 LR and 22 WMR are rimfire cartridges, they have some differences. This article compares the differences in recoil, ballistics, hunting capabilities, defense, and more!
What Is the Difference Between 22 LR and 22 WMR?
The difference between the 22LR and 22WMR is that the 22 WMR has a larger case and higher muzzle velocity and kinetic energy than the 22 Long Rifle, even though they fire similar bullet weights.
Can You Fire 22 Magnum in a 22 Long Rifle Firearm?
No, you cannot fire a 22 Magnum (22 WMR) cartridge in a firearm chambered for .22 LR. Furthermore, you should NOT fire a 22 LR in a 22 Mag firearm. Doing so could damage the firearm and injure the shooter.
A 22 Magnum is too large to fit into a 22 LR chamber and, therefore, cannot be fired. A 22 LR can fit in a 22 WMR chamber, but it fits loosely as it is thinner than the 22 WMR. If fired, a case rupture might occur, severely damaging the firearm and potentially injuring the shooter as well.
Cartridge Specs of 22 LR & 22 Mag
When evaluating rimfire cartridges, it’s a good idea to analyze the cartridge specs to gain more knowledge of each.
Putting the two cartridges side-by-side really showcases the difference between these two rimfire rounds. The 22 Mag is considerably longer than the 22 LR, with an overall length of 1.35” for the 22 WMR and 1” for the .22LR.
Furthermore, the 22 WMR is slightly wider than the 22 LR, as the 22 Mag has a base diameter of 0.242” compared to 0.226” for .22LR.
The longer and wider case of the 22 WMR can pack in more powder, therefore increasing muzzle velocity and kinetic energy of the bullets that it fires.
Although both cartridges are considered 22-caliber, the 22 LR fires 0.223” diameter bullets while the 22 WMR fires a 0.224” bullet diameter.
Even though the 22 Magnum can pack in more powder than the 22LR, both cartridges fire similar bullet weights between 30 and 50 grains. The 40 and 45 grain offerings are some of the most popular for both cartridges.
Likewise, both rimfire cartridges have similar SAAMI standardized maximum pressures around 24,000 psi.
Recoil: 22 Mag vs. 22 LR
Both the 22 LR and 22 WMR have very little felt recoil, though the 22 LR has less.
Recoil is an important consideration when purchasing a new firearm, as a round with heavy recoil will be more difficult to control and will slow the rate of accurate follow-up shots.
Recoil energy is determined by four factors: muzzle velocity (measured in feet per second, or fps), propellant charge weight, bullet weight, and firearm weight.
When fired from a 6-pound rifle, a 22 LR has around 0.19 ft-lbs of free recoil energy; less than one third that of 22 WMR at 0.62 ft-lbs.
Despite this apparent disparity, no one would argue that 22 WMR has high recoil. Both rimfire cartridges register less than 1 ft-lb of free recoil. That’s negligible, which is why the majority of shooters will have no problem handling 22 WMR.
Continue reading 22 LR vs. 22 Mag: Knights of the Rimfire Round Table on Ammo.com
speechless…lol