22 LR vs. 22 Mag: Which Rimfire Cartridge Is Better?

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "22 LR vs. 22 Mag: Knights of the Rimfire Round Table"
(https://ammo.com/comparison/22-wmr-vs-22-lr)

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 plinking at the range.

The 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR, or 22 Mag) is the rimfire cartridge hunters need to take on larger pests, and at greater ranges than the 22 LR can manage.

In this article, we will compare the 22 LR 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 their differences in recoil, ballistics, hunting capabilities, defense, and more!

What Is the Difference Between 22 LR and 22 WMR?

The difference between the 22 LR and 22 WMR is this: the 22 WMR has higher muzzle velocity and kinetic energy, despite firing bullets of identical weight. It owes this feat to its larger case, which holds more gunpowder.

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 you.

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 due to its narrower diameter. 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 comparing two rimfire cartridges, it’s good to begin with their physical specs.

Placing these rounds side by side instantly reveals their size disparity. The 22 Mag is considerably longer than the 22 LR, with an overall length of 1.350” compared to the 22 LR’s 1.000”.

Both cartridges are .22 caliber. The 22 LR fires a 0.2255” diameter bullet; the 22 WMR, 0.224”. The 22 WMR is slightly wider than the 22 LR than its bullet alone can account for, with a base diameter of 0.2455” compared to the 22 LR’s 0.226”.

The 22 WMR’s longer, wider case can contain more powder, which accounts for the round’s higher muzzle velocity despite firing bullets of the same weight as the 22 LR.

Both cartridges fire similar bullets, typically weighing between 30 and 50 grains. Forty-grain bullets are most popular for either cartridge. Both cartridges share the same SAAMI standard maximum average pressure of 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.

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When fired from a 6-pound rifle, a 22 LR generates 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 1.00 ft-lb of free recoil. That’s negligible, which is why most shooters have no problem handling 22 WMR despite it having more recoil than the 22 LR.

Muzzle Velocity

The 22 Mag is the clear winner in terms of ballistic performance. It dominates the 22 LR in terms of muzzle velocity, kinetic energy, and trajectory.

Many manufacturers load both cartridges with a variety of bullet weights. For this example, we will compare CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR 40 grain CPRN and CCI Maxi-Mag 22 WMR JHP.

For its size, the 22 LR has a respectable 1,235 fps muzzle velocity. However, it simply cannot keep up with the larger 22 Magnum's higher muzzle velocity of 1,875 fps.

Some varieties of 22 LR ammo push the limits of the cartridge's muzzle velocity, such as CCI Stinger, which fires a 32 grain bullet at 1,640 fps. Even so, a Hornady Varmint Express 22 WMR 30 grain V-MAX significantly outshines CCI Stinger with its 2,200 fps muzzle velocity.

The bottom line is that the smaller 22 LR cartridge simply cannot keep up with the 22 WMR.

Muzzle Energy

The CCI Maxi-Mag 22 WMR can dish out over twice as much muzzle energy as the CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR: 312 ft-lbs vs. 135 ft-lbs, respectively.

That amount of kinetic energy out of a rimfire round is rather impressive, which is why many varmint hunters favor the 22 WMR over the 22 LR for larger critters like coyotes and groundhogs.

Trajectory

When it comes to bullet drop, the high velocity of the 22 WMR gives it a flatter trajectory and a longer effective range than the 22 LR.

Considering a 50-yard zero for both cartridges, the 22 LR will have around 6” of bullet drop at 100 yards, compared to 2” for the 22 WMR.

Hunting

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When it comes to hunting, the 22 LR is at its best taking on small game like rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons. The 22 WMR is adept at taking larger varmints like coyotes and woodchucks, or longer-range targets like prairie dogs.

Both rounds are excellent options for pest control. A rimfire cartridge offers shooters a low-recoil option for taking on smaller game animals while preserving the meat.

Though many shooters will attest that they consistently take coyotes with their beloved 22 Long Rifle (you might be one of them), it does not mean that it is the best option for the varmints. Most 22 LR ammo lacks the downrange kinetic energy to harvest larger game animals ethically and consistently. This is why many shooters prefer the 22 WMR for coyotes.

The improved trajectory of the 22 Magnum also favors longer-range shots for animals like prairie dogs, which are typically taken at 100 yards or farther.

Although very powerful, the 22 WMR is typically not used for small game like squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits. No one’s saying you can’t use a 22 Mag on these critters, but there won’t be much left of them.

For recommendations on top-performing loads for coyotes, prairie dogs, and other pests, check out our guide to the best 22 WMR ammo.

Rimfire for Self-Defense/Home Defense?

The debate over whether 22 LR and .22WMR cartridges are capable enough for self-defense has raged on for well over a century.

To add fuel to the fire, several ammo manufacturers now offer self-defense rimfire ammo options such as Federal Punch, Hornady Critical Defense, and Speer Gold Dot. (For an in-depth look at how Federal's rimfire defensive load performs, check out our Federal Punch 22 WMR review.)

The 22 WMR has more kinetic energy than many 380 ACP loads, and the rimfire cartridge has considerably less felt recoil. This leads many shooters to be more accurate with a rimfire handgun – and putting shots on target is the key to ending a gunfight.

The anti-rimfire crowd will tell you that the small-diameter bullets rimfire cartridges fire do not create a wide enough wound channel nor penetrate deep enough to incapacitate a threat. Modern defensive centerfire ammo is tailored for optimal penetration through multiple layers of clothing that rimfire ammo might be unable to punch through effectively.

Despite all the ballistic advantages of centerfire ammo, the one indisputable benefit is reliability. Rimfire ammo, particularly 22 LR, is notorious for having reliability issues due to inconsistent priming compound levels inside the case’s rim. As it is a thoroughly mass-produced round, sometimes the priming compound is slightly thinner than it should be. If the firing pin pinches the rim in an area with less-than-optimal amounts of primer, you may get a “click” when you expect a “bang.”

A few dead rounds are not an issue when you’re on the range or out plinking at the farm. However, when your life is on the line, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your ammo will fire.

Centerfire primers, on the other hand, are extremely reliable. Misfires are substantially less frequent with this type of priming system.

Therefore, we recommend centerfire ammo for self-defense. Yes, a rimfire round can protect your home and family if needed. Still, centerfire ammo offers deeper penetration, larger wound channels, and enhanced reliability.

Ballistics: 22 LR vs. 22 WMR

The Ammo.com team has scoured the internet to bring you comprehensive ballistics tables for both rounds. Below are tables comparing bullet weight to muzzle velocity, kinetic energy, and trajectory for 22 LR vs. 22WMR.

22 WMR Ballistics

Note: This information comes from ammo manufacturers. Actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

22 Long Rifle Ballistics

Note: This information comes from ammo manufacturers. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

For our top picks across plinking, target shooting, and small-game hunting, check out our guide to the best 22 LR ammo.

Final Shots: 22 LR vs. 22 WMR

The 22 Long Rifle and the 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire are two exceptional rimfire cartridges that are perfect for training young shooters, plinking, target shooting, and varmint hunting.

The 22 LR has been the most popular cartridge in North America for over a century and shows no signs of weakening. It is the cartridge most new shooters fire their first shots with, as it has virtually no recoil and is extremely economical to shoot.

The 22 WMR is a definitive step up in power compared to the 22 LR, and excels at pest control. Designed to take on larger game and extend a shooter's effective range, the 22 Magnum hits twice as hard as a 22 LR with only a minimal increase in recoil.

Although the 22 Mag has superior ballistics to the 22 LR, most shooters will opt for the latter. Its low cost per round and ease of sourcing ammunition make it extremely appealing to weekend plinkers or target shooters.

If you're looking for a dependable 22 LR option for range sessions and plinking, CCI Blazer 40 grain LRN strikes an excellent balance between affordability and reliability. With consistent performance and minimal malfunctions, it exemplifies why the 22 Long Rifle remains the go-to choice for recreational shooters. Our CCI Blazer 22 LR review provides detailed testing results and comparisons to help you find the right plinking ammo for your needs.

No matter which cartridge you choose, make sure you stock up on ammunition here at Ammo.com. I’ll see you on the range!

Written by

Wes Littlefield