The Rimfire Guide: .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR Explained

Rimfire ammo is where most shooters start, and where plenty of experienced shooters spend a surprising amount of time. It is cheap, quiet compared with centerfire, and simply fun. Here is a quick guide to the main rimfire rounds and how to buy them.

How rimfire differs from centerfire

In a rimfire cartridge, the priming compound sits inside the rim of the case. The firing pin crushes the rim to ignite it. That design is cheap to make but can't be reloaded, and it limits pressure, which is why rimfire rounds are small and relatively mild.

.22 Long Rifle

The .22 LR is the most popular cartridge in the world. It is ideal for training new shooters, plinking, small-game hunting and rimfire competition. Common types include:

• Standard velocity and subsonic: quiet and often very accurate, great for target work.
• High velocity: the everyday bulk ammo most people buy by the 500- or 1,000-round box.
• Hyper velocity: loads like CCI Stinger and Velocitor push lighter bullets faster for pests and small game.

Rimfire guns can be picky. If your pistol or rifle jams with one brand, try a couple of others before blaming the gun. Many semi-autos prefer high-velocity, copper-plated ammo.

.22 WMR (.22 Magnum)

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire uses a longer case for noticeably more velocity and reach than .22 LR. It is popular for varmints and small predators at moderate range. It costs more per round and is not interchangeable with .22 LR.

.17 HMR

The .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire fires a tiny, very fast bullet with a flat trajectory. Varmint hunters love it for precise shots on small animals. It is light on recoil and costs roughly the same as .22 WMR.

Buying rimfire smart

.22 LR is cheapest by far when you buy in bulk boxes. Hyper-velocity and match loads cost more, so many shooters keep a bulk supply for practice and a smaller stash of their gun's favorite premium load. Store rimfire like any ammo, cool and dry in sealed cans.

Find current prices on .22 LR and other rimfire loads on our daily ammo deals page.