22LR vs 22WMR: Which Rimfire Caliber is Right for You?

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If you shoot rimfire, you’ve probably wondered whether the 22 WMR is worth the extra cost over the 22 LR — or whether the 22 LR is really “enough gun” for what you need it to do. These two cartridges share the same caliber designation and a rimfire priming system, but that’s roughly where the similarities end. The 22 LR is the most popular ammunition in the United States by a wide margin, with billions of rounds sold every year. The 22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire), introduced in 1959, is its bigger, faster, harder-hitting cousin — purpose-built for shooters who need more reach and more energy on target than the humble Long Rifle can deliver.

Choosing between these two cartridges isn’t really about which one is “better.” It’s about what you plan to do with it. A weekend plinker and a rancher dealing with coyotes at 100 yards have very different requirements, and neither caliber does everything well. The 22 LR excels at being cheap, quiet, and easy to shoot. The 22 WMR excels at hitting harder and reaching farther. Understanding exactly how they differ — in ballistics, cost, firearm availability, and practical applications — will help you decide which one belongs in your safe, or whether you need both.

In this guide, we’ll break down every meaningful difference between the 22 LR and 22 WMR, from muzzle velocity and energy to the real-world cost of a day at the range. By the end, you’ll know exactly which rimfire caliber fits your needs in 2026.

22 LR vs 22 WMR: Side-by-Side Comparison

Before we get into the details, here’s a quick snapshot of how these two rimfire cartridges stack up against each other. This table covers the most important specs that matter to real-world shooters.

The numbers tell a clear story: the 22 WMR delivers roughly two to three times the muzzle energy of the 22 LR, with significantly higher velocity and a longer effective range. But it also costs three to four times as much per round. Those tradeoffs define every decision between these two cartridges.

22 LR: The Case For America’s Favorite Rimfire

The 22 LR has been around since 1887, and it’s earned its place as the most widely produced and consumed ammunition cartridge in the world. The reason is simple: it does more things acceptably well than any other round in existence. You can train with it, plink with it, compete with it, hunt small game with it, and introduce brand-new shooters to firearms with it — all without breaking the bank or developing a flinch. At $0.05 to $0.08 per round for standard loads, a 500-round afternoon at the range runs you $25 to $40. Try that with centerfire ammunition and your wallet will feel the difference immediately.

Virtually every firearms manufacturer on the planet makes something chambered in 22 LR. Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Browning, Taurus, CZ, Savage, Volquartsen — the list goes on. Whether you want a semi-auto rifle, a bolt-action target gun, a revolver, or a semi-auto pistol, there are dozens of excellent options in every price range. Ammo availability is equally unmatched. Even during the worst ammo shortages of the past decade, 22 LR was among the first calibers to come back in stock. You can buy it at Walmart, at gun stores, online in bulk, and at gas stations in rural America. There’s a reason most gun owners have at least one 22 LR in their collection.

The 22 LR also pairs beautifully with suppressors. Because the standard-velocity loads are already subsonic (around 1,050 fps), a suppressed 22 LR rifle produces remarkably little noise — often just the mechanical cycling of the action and the sound of the bullet hitting the backstop. This makes suppressed 22 LR one of the most pleasant shooting experiences available, and a fantastic option for backyard-legal ranges or pest control situations where you don’t want to alarm the neighbors.

That said, the 22 LR has clear limitations. It runs out of useful energy quickly past 75 yards, and wind drift becomes a real problem beyond 50 yards with those light, slow-moving bullets. It’s marginal on anything larger than squirrels and rabbits, and it is not a self-defense cartridge by any serious measure. If you need to reach out past 100 yards, dispatch a raccoon cleanly, or deal with predators, the 22 LR simply isn’t the right tool for the job.

22 WMR: The Case For the Magnum Rimfire

The 22 WMR was designed from the ground up to do what the 22 LR couldn’t: deliver meaningful energy at extended rimfire distances. With muzzle velocities ranging from 1,530 fps with heavier 50-grain bullets to over 2,200 fps with lightweight 30-grain polymer-tipped loads, the 22 WMR generates two to three times the muzzle energy of the 22 LR. That’s not a marginal improvement — it’s a fundamentally different level of capability. At 100 yards, a 22 WMR still carries enough energy to cleanly dispatch coyotes and similarly sized varmints, while a 22 LR at that distance is barely adequate for squirrels.

The flatter trajectory and better wind resistance of the 22 WMR make it a more practical choice for shooters who need to hit targets accurately beyond 75 yards. The higher velocity means less holdover at distance, and the heavier bullets available in the caliber resist wind deflection better than the 40-grain projectiles common in 22 LR. For farmers and ranchers dealing with groundhogs, prairie dogs, and coyotes, the 22 WMR has been a go-to cartridge for decades. It bridges the gap between the 22 LR and centerfire varmint rounds like the 223 Remington, offering more power than the former without the noise, recoil, and expense of the latter.

Some shooters also turn to the 22 WMR as a backup or last-resort self-defense caliber. Firearms like the KelTec PMR-30 (which holds 30 rounds of 22 WMR in a flush-fit magazine) and the Ruger LCR in 22 WMR have attracted a following among shooters who prioritize capacity and shootability over raw stopping power. While no serious defensive firearms instructor recommends a 22 WMR as a primary carry gun, it hits significantly harder than the 22 LR and can be a viable option for recoil-sensitive shooters who might otherwise not carry at all.

The downsides of the 22 WMR are real, though. At $0.18 to $0.25 per round, it costs three to four times as much as 22 LR, which makes high-volume plinking and training expensive. The selection of firearms chambered in 22 WMR is dramatically smaller than what’s available in 22 LR. It’s louder — not centerfire loud, but noticeably more than 22 LR, especially unsuppressed. And despite the similar name, you absolutely cannot fire 22 WMR ammunition in a 22 LR chamber or vice versa. The cartridges are different diameters, and attempting to interchange them is dangerous.

Ballistics Breakdown: Real-World Performance

On paper, ballistics tables tell you a lot. In the field, what matters is how the bullet performs at the distances you actually shoot. At 25 yards — typical indoor range distance — both the 22 LR and 22 WMR perform well, and most shooters won’t notice a huge practical difference in accuracy or terminal effect on a paper target. At 50 yards, both cartridges are still in their comfort zone, though the 22 WMR’s flatter trajectory means less holdover and more forgiving shot placement. It’s at 75 yards and beyond where the gap between these two rounds becomes impossible to ignore.

At 100 yards, a standard 40-grain 22 LR bullet has dropped roughly 10-12 inches from line of bore and retained only about 70-80 ft-lbs of energy. A 40-grain 22 WMR load at the same distance has dropped around 4-5 inches and still carries 140-160 ft-lbs of energy — roughly double what the 22 LR delivers. That energy difference matters enormously when you’re shooting at something other than paper. A 22 LR that hits a raccoon at 100 yards may wound it. A 22 WMR with a hollow-point or polymer-tipped bullet at the same distance will typically produce a clean, ethical kill.

Wind drift is another area where the 22 WMR pulls ahead decisively. In a 10 mph crosswind at 100 yards, a 22 LR round can drift 8-12 inches or more depending on the load. The faster, heavier 22 WMR projectiles cut that drift roughly in half. For varmint hunters who shoot in open fields and prairies where wind is a constant factor, this advantage alone can justify the cost premium. If you’re a target shooter trying to ring steel at 100+ yards with consistency, the 22 WMR will frustrate you less on windy days.

Cost of Shooting: Where 22 LR Dominates

For most recreational shooters, cost per round is one of the biggest factors in choosing a caliber — and this is where the 22 LR absolutely destroys the competition. At current 2026 prices, bulk 22 LR ammunition runs $0.05 to $0.08 per round, with deals on standard-velocity bricks of 500 regularly available at or near the $25 mark. Premium match-grade 22 LR is more expensive at $0.12-0.15 per round, but even that undercuts standard 22 WMR pricing. Bulk 22 WMR typically runs $0.18 to $0.25 per round, and premium loads can push past $0.30.

Let’s put that in real-world terms. Say you go to the range and shoot 500 rounds — a pretty typical afternoon of plinking or training. In 22 LR, that costs you $25 to $40. In 22 WMR, that same session costs $90 to $125. Over a year of regular shooting — say 5,000 rounds — you’re looking at $250-400 for 22 LR versus $900-1,250 for 22 WMR. That’s a difference of $500-850 per year, which is enough to buy another gun. For families with multiple shooters or people who train regularly, the cost advantage of 22 LR is overwhelming.

Availability plays into the cost equation as well. Because 22 LR is produced in vastly greater quantities, you’ll find bulk deals from dozens of manufacturers and retailers. CCI, Federal, Winchester, Aguila, Norma, SK, Eley, and many others all produce 22 LR in large volumes. The 22 WMR market is much smaller, with fewer manufacturers and fewer price-competitive options. When ammo shortages hit, 22 WMR tends to get scarce faster and stay scarce longer than 22 LR simply because fewer rounds are produced overall.

Best Guns in Each Caliber

One of the biggest practical advantages of the 22 LR is the sheer number of excellent firearms available for it. The Ruger 10/22 is arguably the most popular semi-auto rifle in American history, with an aftermarket ecosystem rivaling the AR-15. For pistol shooters, the Ruger Mk IV is a benchmark target pistol, the Taurus TX22 offers outstanding value with reliable semi-auto function, and the Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory provides a quality range pistol at a competitive price point. Whether you want a precision bolt rifle from CZ, a lever-action from Henry, or a cheap plinker from virtually any manufacturer, the 22 LR market has you covered at every budget level.

The 22 WMR world is smaller but still has some standout options. The KelTec PMR-30 is probably the most interesting 22 WMR firearm on the market — a full-size semi-auto pistol with a 30-round flush-fit magazine that weighs under 14 ounces empty. The Ruger LCR in 22 WMR offers a lightweight revolver option for those who want a magnum rimfire in a carry-size package. On the rifle side, the Savage A22 Magnum provides a reliable semi-auto platform, while the Ruger American Rimfire in 22 WMR gives bolt-action enthusiasts an accurate and affordable option. Several manufacturers also produce combination guns and revolvers with interchangeable 22 LR and 22 WMR cylinders, letting you get the best of both worlds in a single firearm.

The Verdict: Which Rimfire Should You Choose?

If you’re buying your first rimfire firearm — or if you can only have one — the 22 LR is the clear choice. It’s the most versatile rimfire cartridge ever made, the cheapest to shoot by a wide margin, and the best platform for learning and maintaining shooting fundamentals. The sheer variety of firearms, ammunition types, and accessories available in 22 LR is unmatched by any other cartridge in any caliber. You can teach your kids to shoot, train for competition, plink on weekends, and hunt squirrels and rabbits — all with the same gun and the same inexpensive ammunition. No other round in existence offers that combination of versatility and value.

The 22 WMR earns its place as an addition to a collection, not a replacement for the 22 LR. If you hunt varmints on your property, need to deal with predators like coyotes, or want more terminal performance from a rimfire platform, the 22 WMR fills a real niche that the 22 LR simply cannot. It’s the right choice when you need more energy on target at longer distances but don’t want to step up to a centerfire cartridge. Think of it as a specialist tool — it does its specific job extremely well, but it’s not the everyday workhorse that the 22 LR is.

The best answer for most serious shooters is to own both. Start with a 22 LR for volume shooting, training, and general-purpose use. Add a 22 WMR when your needs expand to include varmint hunting or situations where more power and range matter. These two cartridges aren’t competitors — they’re complementary tools in a well-rounded rimfire arsenal. Together, they cover everything from casual plinking to serious pest control, all without the cost and recoil of centerfire ammunition.