Last updated September 2026
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- Treat every gun as loaded
- Point the muzzle in a safe direction
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot
- Know your target and what’s beyond
Quick Answer: The CZ 457 American is the best .22 WMR rifle you can buy in 2026, the same precision-grade Czech bolt-action that defines the .17 HMR class chambered in the heavier .22 Magnum cartridge for small game and varmint work.
Best semi-auto .22 WMR: the Savage A22 Magnum, with a delayed-blowback action engineered for the higher-pressure rimfire round. Best classic lever-action .22 Mag: the Henry H1 Classic. Best budget bolt-action: the Ruger American Rimfire Magnum. Best suppressor-ready: the Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR with threaded barrel.
The biggest mistake .22 WMR buyers make is choosing the cartridge expecting .22 LR ammo cost. .22 WMR runs $0.25-$0.40 per round, similar to .17 HMR and 6-8x more than .22 LR; reserve it for small game and varmint work where the heavier bullet justifies the cost. Where I have shot a rifle here I have put at least 200 rounds through it across multiple bullet weights, and the picks I have not shot in .22 WMR say so in their own sections.
| Rifle | Model Details | Key Specs | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
BEST OVERALLCZ 457 American Turkish walnut, cold hammer-forged 24.8″ barrel, adjustable trigger. The Czech precision rimfire that turns the .22 WMR into a serious tack-driver. |
Caliber: .22 WMR Capacity: 5+1 Barrel: 24.8″ hammer-forged |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
BEST SEMI-AUTOSavage A22 Magnum Delayed-blowback action, 10-round rotary magazine, AccuTrigger. The first reliable semi-auto rimfire magnum in production. |
Caliber: .22 WMR Capacity: 10+1 Barrel: 21″ carbon steel |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
BEST MID-BUDGETRuger American Rimfire Magnum Marksman trigger, 9-round rotary magazine, three modular stock options. Ruger value at sub-$500. |
Caliber: .22 WMR Capacity: 9+1 Barrel: 18-22″ varies by SKU |
Check Price ↓ |
 |
BEST AFFORDABLE BOLTSavage B22 Magnum FV-SR AccuTrigger, threaded heavy barrel, 10-round rotary mag. Best sub-$400 bolt action rimfire magnum in production. |
Caliber: .22 WMR Capacity: 10+1 Barrel: 16.25″ threaded |
Check Price ↓ |
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BEST LEVER ACTIONHenry H1 Classic American walnut, blued steel, classic lever action design. The rimfire magnum lever gun Henry built its reputation on. |
Caliber: .22 WMR Capacity: 11 Barrel: 18.5″ blued |
Check Price ↓ |
Table of Contents
How we tested: Every pick here is ranked against our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun. Where we have not shot a specific variant ourselves, we say so in that section.
Best .22 WMR Rifles for 2026
The best .22 WMR rifles for 2026 cover bolt action precision rimfires, the first reliable semi-auto magnum rimfire ever produced (the Savage A22 Magnum), American-made lever actions from Henry, and premium straight-pull bolts from Volquartsen. The CZ 457 American leads accuracy-per-dollar in the bolt action segment, the Savage A22 Magnum is the only semi-auto .22 WMR rimfire most shooters will ever need, and the Rossi RS22M is the cheapest way into a self-loading .22 WMR at around $320.
The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR or .22 Mag) turned 67 years old this year. Winchester introduced the cartridge in 1959 as a high-velocity rimfire intended to bridge the gap between the .22 LR and small centerfire varmint cartridges like the .22 Hornet. The cartridge fires 30-50 grain bullets at 1,400-2,200 feet per second muzzle velocity. Muzzle energy peaks around 320 ft-lbs with the fast 30-grain varmint loads and sits around 300 ft-lbs with the heavy 50-grain hunting loads, so all three weights land in a narrow band and you should pick the bullet for what it does on arrival, not for the energy figure. That puts the .22 WMR in the same energy class as the .22 Hornet at close range, with the rimfire’s ammunition cost advantage and the option of a genuine subsonic load, Winchester’s 45-grain Super-X X22MSUB at about 1,060 fps, which no centerfire varmint cartridge offers.
What changed for .22 WMR rifles in the last decade is the platform diversity. Savage launched the A22 Magnum semi-auto in 2017 with a delayed-blowback action that finally solved the reliability problems that plagued earlier semi-auto rimfire magnums. CZ refined the 457 series in 2019 with adjustable triggers and modular stocks. Ruger updated the American Rimfire with the Marksman trigger and modular stock system. Volquartsen kept building $2,000+ premium straight-pull bolt actions for serious rimfire competitors. And Henry kept making American walnut lever actions that look the way rimfire rifles are supposed to look.
I have shot .22 WMR rifles since I was 14 years old (my first hunting rifle was a Marlin 25M in .22 Magnum, long since discontinued), and I still keep a CZ 457 in the safe for varmint work and squirrel hunting. The picks below are the nine I would actually recommend across the full spectrum of .22 WMR use cases. If you want broader rimfire reading, our 10 Best .22 LR Rifles roundup covers the lighter rimfire alternative, and our .22 LR vs .22 WMR guide covers the cartridge comparison.
At a Glance
A note on the name. .22 WMR and .22 Magnum are the same cartridge. WMR stands for Winchester Magnum Rimfire, and you will see it written .22 WMR, .22 Magnum or just .22 Mag on the same shelf, sometimes on the same box. If a rifle is chambered for one it is chambered for all three names. It is not the same as .22 LR and the two are not interchangeable, which is the mistake worth avoiding.
| Pick | Best For | Street Price | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall .22 WMR Rifle CZ 457 American | Best Overall .22 WMR Rifle | $620-$660 | Price ↓ |
| Best Semi-Auto .22 WMR Savage A22 Magnum | Best Semi-Auto .22 WMR | $420-$500 | Price ↓ |
| Best Mid-Budget Bolt Ruger American Rimfire Magnum | Best Mid-Budget Bolt | $337-$410 | Price ↓ |
| Best Affordable Bolt Action Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR | Best Affordable Bolt Action | $355-$400 | Price ↓ |
| Best Lever Action .22 WMR Henry H1 Classic | Best Lever Action .22 WMR | $420-$450 | Price ↓ |
| Best Premium Lever Action Henry Octagon Frontier | Best Premium Lever Action | $530-$549 | Price ↓ |
| Best Premium Straight-Pull Bolt Volquartsen Summit | Best Premium Straight-Pull Bolt | $1,354 used | Price ↓ |
| Lightest Rifle Here Magnum Research Magnum Lite Straight Bolt | Lightest Rifle Here | $884-$954 | Price ↓ |
| Best Budget Semi-Auto Rossi RS22M | Best Budget Semi-Auto | $320-$400 | Price ↓ |
1. CZ 457 American: Best Overall .22 WMR Rifle
The CZ 457 American in .22 WMR is the rifle I tell anybody asking about a precision rimfire magnum to buy first. The 457 ships with a 24.8-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, a Turkish walnut classic American-style stock with high flat comb, an adjustable trigger (weight, creep, and overtravel), and CZ’s smooth 60-degree bolt throw. MSRP runs around $799 for the standard American configuration. Real-world street price is closer to $620.
I keep a CZ 457 in the safe and the rifle has produced honest sub-MOA groups at 100 yards with quality .22 WMR ammo since the day I bought it. The 24.8-inch hammer-forged barrel wrings every last fps out of the cartridge (roughly 100 fps faster than a 16-inch barrel with the same load), and the adjustable trigger breaks cleanly at about 2.5 pounds when set up right. The 60-degree bolt throw is smooth and fast, and the polymer 5-round magazine drops free reliably.
CZ-USA is the American import arm of Ceska Zbrojovka Uhersky Brod, the Czech firearms manufacturer that has been building rifles since 1936. The 457 series replaced the 455 in 2019 and is the current premium bolt action rimfire offering. The American configuration has the sporter walnut stock and standard barrel; the Varmint configuration adds a heavy bull barrel for benchrest work; the Pro Varmint adds a tactical chassis-style stock. If you want the most accurate factory .22 WMR in production and can live under $1,000, buy the CZ 457 American and stop reading.
Not much argues against it. It is heavier than the budget rimfires (about 6.6 pounds bare with the long barrel), the 5-round polymer magazine is a smaller capacity than the 9-10 round rotary mags on the Ruger American Rimfire and Savage B22, and the European-style ergonomics take some getting used to for shooters trained on Remington 700 platforms.
Pros
- Cold hammer-forged 24.8 inch barrel
- Turkish walnut stock with high comb
- Adjustable trigger (weight, creep, overtravel)
- 60-degree bolt throw
- Sub-MOA accuracy with quality ammo
- Czech precision rimfire heritage
Cons
- Heavier than budget rimfires at 6.6 lb
- 5-round magazine smaller than competitors
- European ergonomics take getting used to
CZ 457 American Price
2. Savage A22 Magnum: Best Semi-Auto .22 WMR
The Savage A22 Magnum is the rifle that finally solved the .22 WMR semi-auto problem. Earlier semi-auto rimfire magnums struggled because the .22 WMR runs at pressures a poorly executed rimfire blowback action can fail to contain. The Remington 597 Magnum is the cautionary tale: Remington issued a safety warning and recall on the 597 in magnum chamberings in 2009 after out-of-battery detonations, and the magnum version left the catalog. Savage engineered the A22 Magnum with a delayed-blowback action that uses an interrupter lug to lock the bolt closed until peak chamber pressure has subsided. The result is the first reliable factory semi-auto .22 WMR rifle in production. MSRP is $473.
I shot a Savage A22 Magnum at a buddy’s range last summer and for once the marketing was not overselling it. The 10-round rotary magazine fed reliably across CCI, Hornady, and Federal factory ammunition. The AccuTrigger broke at 2.25 pounds out of the box. Three shots went inside an inch at 50 yards on CCI Maxi-Mag 40-grain. The 21-inch carbon steel barrel with 1:16 twist handles all standard .22 WMR loads.
For a varmint hunter who wants the rapid follow-up shots that semi-autos provide (think prairie dog towns where you may want 3-5 quick shots), nothing else in this cartridge is close. The rifle weighs 5.5 pounds bare with the synthetic stock, which makes it noticeably easier to carry than the heavier CZ 457 or Ruger American Rimfire. Savage Arms has been independent since Vista Outdoor divested it in 2019, and the A22 platform is the company’s main rimfire investment of the last decade.
Where the A22 Magnum asks something back is ammunition. Semi-auto rimfires are inherently fussier than bolt actions about ammunition selection. Cheap bulk-pack .22 WMR (looking at you, Remington Premier Magnum bulk) sometimes causes feeding issues. Stick to CCI, Federal, or Hornady factory loads and the rifle runs reliably. For dedicated benchrest accuracy work, a CZ 457 will out-shoot the A22 Magnum by about half-MOA, but for hunting and plinking inside 100 yards, the A22 Magnum is more than accurate enough.
Pros
- First reliable semi-auto .22 WMR in production
- Delayed-blowback action with interrupter lug
- 10-round rotary magazine
- AccuTrigger at 2.25 lb out of box
- Lightweight at 5.5 lb
- Affordable at $473 MSRP
Cons
- Picky about cheap bulk-pack ammo
- Less accurate than CZ 457 for benchrest
- Synthetic stock looks plain
Savage A22 Magnum Price
3. Ruger American Rimfire Magnum: Best Mid-Budget Bolt
The Ruger American Rimfire Magnum is what happens when Ruger applies their Marksman trigger and modular stock system to a .22 WMR rimfire. The American Rimfire ships with a 9-round rotary magazine (a meaningful capacity advantage over the CZ 457’s 5-round mag), a Marksman adjustable trigger, three interchangeable stock modules for length-of-pull and comb-height adjustment, and a barrel length that varies by SKU from 18 to 22 inches. MSRP runs around $459. Real-world street price is closer to $400.
I have run the Ruger American Rimfire in .22 LR for several years and the platform handles like a Ruger American centerfire rifle, just lighter and chambered in rimfire. The .22 WMR Magnum variant uses the same action with a beefier bolt and longer magazine well. Expect about an inch at 50 yards on irons with decent factory ammo, and nearer three-quarters with a basic 4x on top.
Sturm Ruger builds the American Rimfire in their Mayodan, North Carolina factory. Quality control has been excellent across the line. The Marksman trigger is genuinely better than the OEM trigger on most sub-$500 bolt rimfires, and the modular stock system lets the same rifle fit a 5’4″ youth shooter and a 6’3″ adult by swapping comb and pull modules. Ruger build quality, nine rounds and change from $500. That is the whole pitch, and it adds up.
It will not out-shoot a CZ 457 or a Volquartsen Summit (typical 1 MOA vs sub-MOA). For dedicated precision rimfire competition, the Ruger is not the right tool. For practical hunting and recreational shooting, it is one of the best buys in the segment.
Pros
- Marksman adjustable trigger
- 9-round rotary magazine
- Modular stock for fit
- Sturm Ruger build quality
- Sub-$500 price point
- American-made in Mayodan NC
Cons
- Not as accurate as premium CZ 457
- Polymer stock looks utilitarian
- Magazine tab feels cheap
Ruger American Rimfire Magnum Price
4. Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR: Best Affordable Bolt Action
The Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR is the bolt action .22 WMR I would buy if I had $390 to spend and wanted a rifle that genuinely shoots. The FV-SR ships with the AccuTrigger (user-adjustable down to 1.5 pounds), a heavy 16.25-inch threaded barrel (5/8×24 threads accept standard rimfire suppressors and brakes), a 10-round rotary magazine, and a black synthetic stock. For a budget bolt action with suppressor-host capability built in, the B22 Magnum FV-SR is hard to beat.
I shot a Savage B22 Magnum at a deer-camp swap last fall and it does the job a budget rimfire bolt action is supposed to do. The AccuTrigger is the same trigger you find on Savage’s $1,000+ centerfire rifles, just scaled down for a rimfire receiver. The heavy 16.25-inch barrel adds about a pound of weight up front (which helps with offhand shooting steadiness), and the threaded muzzle accepts a basic rimfire suppressor without gunsmith work. It printed three-quarters of an inch at 50 yards on CCI Maxi-Mag 40-grain.
Savage Arms has been refining the B22 platform since 2017 and the FV-SR variant specifically targets shooters who want suppressor and threaded-barrel features at the budget price point. A working .22 WMR bolt action that takes a can and costs less than $400 is a narrow brief, and the B22 Magnum FV-SR is the rifle that meets it. You pay for that barrel in weight, because it is heavier than the Ruger American Rimfire (about 6.5 pounds bare), and the synthetic stock is the basic injection-molded design that all Savage budget rimfires use.
The 10-round rotary magazine is the same magazine system the Savage A22 Magnum uses, which means parts and accessories cross-compatible. The receiver is drilled and tapped for standard Weaver-pattern scope bases. For under $400, this is genuinely one of the best buys in the rimfire magnum segment.
Pros
- AccuTrigger at the $390 mark
- Threaded 16.25 inch heavy barrel
- 10-round rotary magazine
- Suppressor-host capability built in
- Cross-compatible with A22 magazines
Cons
- Heavier than Ruger American at 6.5 lb
- Synthetic stock looks plain
- Iron sights not standard
Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR Price
5. Henry H1 Classic: Best Lever Action .22 WMR
The Henry H1 Classic in .22 WMR is the rifle that defines the heritage rimfire magnum lever action category. Henry catalogs it as the H1 Classic Rifle .22 WMR, model H001-22M, and it ships with an 18.5-inch blued barrel, an American walnut straight-grip stock, a fully adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, a hooded blade front sight, and the smooth Henry lever action. The 11-round tube magazine is generous for the .22 WMR cartridge. MSRP is $540. Street price runs closer to $440.
I have hunted small game with Henry rimfire lever actions for years and the H1 Classic in .22 Magnum is the shape a rimfire lever ought to be. Henry Repeating Arms builds the H1 Classic in the United States, and quality control is consistently excellent across the line. The action cycles smoothly with all standard .22 WMR loads, the trigger breaks at about 4 pounds (typical for a Henry rimfire), and the receiver is grooved for 3/8-inch tip-off rings if you want to add a scope or red dot. Both Henry levers use a quarter-cock hammer notch rather than a transfer bar, which is worth knowing because the two behave differently. Carry condition is a judgment call and Henry’s manual is the authority on it, not me.
For a squirrel hunter, recreational shooter, or anybody who wants a heritage-styled rimfire lever action that handles like a scaled-down centerfire lever gun, this is the one to own. The walnut stock and blued steel finish look the way a lever action should look. The trade-off is not weight, because at 5.25 pounds bare it is lighter than every other rifle here bar the carbon-barrelled Magnum Research. It is the trigger, which breaks around 4 pounds against the 2 to 2.5 pounds you get from the CZ and the Savages, and the fact that a tube magazine is slower to top up than a detachable rotary. The Henry warranty is famously good, though the company sometimes has long wait times for replacement parts on older rifles.
Henry also builds the .22 Magnum lever in Large Loop, Youth and Octagon Frontier configurations, the last of which is pick 6 below. For most hunters the standard H1 Classic is the best value in the line.
Pros
- American walnut and blued steel
- 11-round tube magazine
- Smooth Henry lever action
- Made in Bayonne New Jersey
- Famous Henry warranty service
- Grooved receiver takes 3/8 inch rings
Cons
- Trigger heavier than the CZ or Savages
- Trigger pull heavier than CZ or Ruger
- No threaded barrel for suppressors
Henry H1 Classic Price
6. Henry Octagon Frontier: Best Premium Lever Action
The Henry Octagon Frontier in .22 WMR is the rifle to buy if you want the Henry lever action with the premium 20-inch octagon barrel and upgraded furniture. The Octagon Frontier ships with a 20-inch octagon-shaped blued barrel, American walnut furniture with a more refined finish than the standard H1 Classic, semi-buckhorn iron sights, and the same smooth Henry lever action. MSRP is $670. The 12-round tube magazine holds one more than the H1 Classic.
I have not personally hunted with the Octagon Frontier, but I have shot the Henry Octagon Frontier in .22 LR at a buddy’s range and the extra money does show up in the handling. The octagon barrel is heavier and more rigid than a round profile, which contributes to slightly tighter accuracy (typical 1.5-2 MOA with iron sights at 50 yards). The walnut on the Octagon variants is a step above the standard H1 Classic, with deeper figure and a more refined oil finish.
For a Henry buyer who wants the premium aesthetics and slightly improved accuracy at the additional $130 over the standard H1 Classic, the Octagon Frontier is the play. What it costs you is the price (a meaningful step up from the H1 Classic) and the slightly heavier weight from the octagon barrel (about 6.6 pounds bare). For a heritage rimfire lever action that you might pass to your kids, the Octagon Frontier is the buy.
Pros
- 20 inch octagon-shaped barrel
- Premium walnut finish
- 12-round tube magazine
- Smooth Henry lever action
- Heritage lever-gun aesthetics
- Grooved receiver takes 3/8 inch rings
Cons
- Heavier than the H1 Classic at 6.6 lb
- Premium price step up over H1 Classic
- No threaded barrel option
Henry Octagon Frontier Price
7. Volquartsen Summit: Best Premium Straight-Pull Bolt
The Volquartsen Summit in .22 WMR is what you buy when you have the budget and you want the most accurate factory rimfire magnum bolt action in production. The Summit is a straight-pull bolt action design (not traditional turn-bolt) that delivers semi-auto-fast cycling speed with the inherent accuracy of a closed-bolt platform. Volquartsen builds the Summit with a precision-machined receiver, a match-grade barrel, an upgraded TG2000 trigger, and a long list of stock and chassis options. MSRP starts at $1,484 for the Superlite and runs up to $1,872 for the chassis builds.
Rimfire Optics
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I have not personally owned a Volquartsen Summit, but I shot one at an industry rimfire event in 2024. Half an inch at 50 yards, on Lapua Polar Biathlon. The straight-pull action cycles faster than any traditional turn-bolt bolt action, which makes the Summit competitive in rimfire benchrest events that involve timed fire. Dedicated rimfire competitors and benchrest shooters are the people this rifle was built for.
Volquartsen Firearms is based in Carroll, Iowa, and has been building premium rimfire rifles and Ruger 10/22 aftermarket parts since 1974. Nobody in the American rimfire market builds them tighter. The Summit platform is the company’s flagship bolt action rifle and is also offered in .17 HMR for shooters who prefer the smaller-caliber rimfire.
One practical note before you go looking. New .22 WMR Summits are thin on the ground, and the only example our pricing tool finds at the moment is a used consignment rifle rather than a new one, which is why the figure beside it sits below the $1,484 MSRP. Buy it on that basis or order new from Volquartsen direct. The other trade-offs are obvious: the price is roughly 2-3x what the CZ 457 American costs, and the rifle is overkill for most hunting and recreational shooters. For dedicated rimfire competitors who need the absolute best accuracy and fastest cycling speed in a factory rimfire bolt action, the Volquartsen Summit is the only answer that makes sense.
Pros
- Match-grade barrel
- Straight-pull action for fast cycling
- TG2000 trigger upgrade
- Precision-machined receiver
- Sub-half-MOA accuracy potential
- Volquartsen reputation for rimfire precision
Cons
- Premium price at $1,484-$1,872
- Overkill for most hunting use
- Straight-pull learning curve
Volquartsen Summit Price
8. Magnum Research Magnum Lite Straight Bolt: The Lightest Rifle Here
Carry weight is the whole argument for this one. Magnum Research catalogs it as SBA22WMH: a 19-inch graphite-wrapped tensioned barrel with a threaded muzzle, an aluminum receiver with the Picatinny rail machined into it rather than bolted on, a Hogue OverMolded stock, and 9 rounds. It weighs 4.45 pounds and runs 38 inches overall, which makes it the lightest rifle in this roundup by the better part of a pound. Street price sits between $884 and $954.
That barrel is why anybody pays the money. A thin steel liner sits inside a graphite composite shell, so you get roughly the stiffness of a bull barrel at about half its weight, and the thing walks like a stalking rifle while holding zero like a bench gun. The action is a manual straight-pull with spring-assisted closing, worked with a shove and a tug instead of lifting a handle through ninety degrees. It is quicker than a turn-bolt once your hand learns it.
One thing to sort out before you go shopping. The semi-auto Magnum Lite in .22 WMR is gone. Magnum Research’s rimfire line now runs to the SwitchBolt in .22 LR, this Straight Bolt in .17 HMR and .22 WMR, and the Custom SwitchBolt, and none of them is a magnum self-loader. Retailers have not all caught up: this exact SKU still shows up on at least one major site titled “Magnum Lite .22 WMR Semi-Auto Rifle”. Same part number, same box, and it is a bolt action. If a semi-auto was what brought you here, picks 2 and 9 are your list.
I have not shot this one in .22 WMR, so take the accuracy talk as specification and reputation rather than my own targets. Where it earns its slot is the walking. Sling a Henry and a Magnum Lite over opposite shoulders for a morning of squirrel woods and you feel the difference by lunchtime. What it costs you is money, roughly double the Savage A22, and a look that suits nobody who came here for walnut.
Pros
- Lightest rifle here at 4.45 lb
- Graphite-wrapped tensioned barrel
- Rail machined into the receiver
- Threaded muzzle for a can
- Fast straight-pull action
Cons
- Roughly double the Savage A22
- Looks suit nobody wanting walnut
- Not a semi-auto, despite old listings
- Not shot by us in .22 WMR
Magnum Research Magnum Lite Straight Bolt Price
9. Rossi RS22M: Best Budget Semi-Auto .22 WMR
If your budget stops around $320 and you still want a magnum that cycles itself, the Rossi RS22M is the rifle that exists at that price. Rossi lists it as model RS22W2111 with a 21-inch barrel, a 10-round detachable magazine, a black polymer stock with textured grip panels, a cross-bolt safety, and a Picatinny rail fitted at the factory. It weighs 5.6 pounds bare and runs 39 inches overall. MSRP is $405.99, and street price sits closer to $320.
Rossi builds the RS22 line through Braztech in Brazil, and the magnum version is the only one that matters here. The rail is the honest selling point. A budget rimfire that arrives ready for a scope saves you the base, the rings and the fitting. Sight fitment varies by configuration on this rifle, so check the listing rather than assuming, but the rail means glass is the sensible plan either way.
I have not put rounds through an RS22M myself, so this one is ranked on specification and on what I hear from people who own them, and I would rather say that than pretend otherwise. The reports split fairly cleanly: fed decent factory ammunition it runs, and fed the cheapest bulk magnum it can get sticky. That is not unusual for a blowback semi-auto in this cartridge, which is the whole reason the Savage at pick 2 went to the trouble of a delayed-blowback action.
Want a self-loading .22 Magnum without spending Savage money, or a truck gun nobody will cry over? That is where the RS22M fits. The trade-offs are what $320 buys: basic fit and finish, a trigger nobody is going to write home about, and accuracy around an inch and a half at 50 yards rather than the sub-MOA the CZ 457 delivers. If you want a semi-auto magnum you can stop thinking about, spend the extra hundred on the A22 Magnum.
Pros
- Cheapest semi-auto on this list
- Picatinny rail fitted at the factory
- 10-round detachable magazine
- 21 inch barrel for full velocity
- Light at 5.6 pounds bare
Cons
- No iron sights fitted
- Fussy with cheap bulk ammo
- Basic fit and finish
- Not shot by us in .22 WMR
Rossi RS22M Price
.22 WMR Buyer’s Guide
Choosing among the best 22 WMR rifles in 2026 comes down to action type (bolt, semi-auto, or lever) and intended use (varmint hunting, small-game hunting, plinking, or competition). The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire was developed by Winchester in 1959 to bridge the gap between the .22 LR and small centerfire varmint cartridges. SAAMI sets the .22 WMR chamber pressure ceiling at 24,000 psi. Tracked by the NSSF as the most popular rimfire magnum cartridge in American sporting use.
30 vs 40 vs 50 Grain
Modern .22 WMR loads cover three distinct use cases by bullet weight. 30-grain bullets at roughly 2,200 fps are the dedicated varmint loads (prairie dog, ground squirrel, woodchuck), with explosive expansion on small game and the flattest trajectory. 40-grain bullets at about 1,900 fps are the do-everything weight, suitable for varmints and small game including squirrel and rabbit. 50-grain bullets at around 1,650 fps are the heavier-game loads, suitable for fox and coyote inside 75 yards. The .22 WMR is not a deer cartridge, and rimfire is illegal for deer in effectively every state that regulates the question.
For most shooters and hunters, 40-grain loads from CCI Maxi-Mag, Federal Premium, or Hornady will cover almost everything you shoot at. For dedicated varmint shooters, step down to 30-grain Hornady V-MAX. For coyote or fox work, step up to 50-grain Federal Premium or CCI A22 Magnum.
Bolt Action vs Semi-Auto vs Lever
Bolt action .22 WMR rifles offer the inherent accuracy advantage of a closed-bolt platform, with most modern .22 WMR bolts capable of sub-MOA accuracy with quality factory ammunition. The CZ 457, the Ruger American Rimfire and the Savage B22 carve that space up between them at three different price points. Past 100 yards, or on a bench where the group matters more than the follow-up shot, take the bolt gun.
Semi-autos buy you speed. Follow-up shots come as fast as you can steer the rifle, and magazines tend to run deeper. The Savage A22 Magnum owns this ground, and it is the one I would trust across a mixed ammo shelf. The Rossi RS22M is the budget alternative, though it asks you to be choosier about what you feed it. There is no premium semi-auto left in this cartridge: Magnum Research retired theirs, and what carries the name now is a bolt action. For varmint hunters who shoot prairie dog towns or coyote stands where multiple shots may be needed, semi-autos are the play.
Lever guns are the romantic choice, and they carry well: 11 or 12 rounds down a tube magazine is normal. Henry has this category more or less to itself with the H1 Classic and the Octagon Frontier. For squirrel hunters, recreational plinkers, or anybody who likes the look and feel of a classic American lever action, Henry is where you shop.
Optics and Scope Mounting
Most modern .22 WMR rifles come scope-ready out of the box. The CZ 457 American uses an 11mm dovetail rail that requires CZ-specific scope rings or aftermarket adapters. The Ruger American Rimfire and Savage B22 Magnum use Weaver-pattern bases drilled and tapped into the receiver, which accept any standard 1-inch or 30mm scope rings. The Volquartsen Summit and the Magnum Lite Straight Bolt both give you a full-length Picatinny rail. The Magnum Lite’s is machined into the receiver rather than bolted on. The Henry H1 Classic has a 3/8-inch grooved receiver that takes tip-off rimfire rings rather than Weaver bases. Most rimfire scopes want a 1-inch tube in low or medium rings, high enough to clear the iron sights and the barrel taper. Pair your .22 WMR with quality glass: see our 9 Best Rifle Scopes roundup.
Effective Range and Trajectory
The .22 WMR is effective on small game (squirrel, rabbit, varmints) inside 100-125 yards with quality ammunition. For coyote and fox-sized predators, the cartridge is effective inside 75 yards with appropriate 50-grain loads. The 40-grain bullet drops about 5 inches at 100 yards from a 50-yard zero, which is meaningfully flatter than the .22 LR (which drops about 8 inches at 100 yards from a 50-yard zero). Beyond 125 yards, wind drift and energy loss make the .22 WMR less effective than dedicated varmint cartridges like the .17 HMR or .22 Hornet.
What .22 Magnum Actually Costs to Shoot
Here is the part the ballistics tables never get to. Taking the cheapest 50 round box of each on our own price cards, .22 LR works out at about 8 cents a round, .22 WMR at 28 cents and .17 HMR at 30 cents. A .22 Magnum round costs roughly three and a half times what a .22 LR round costs.
Put that into a range trip and it stops being an abstraction. Five hundred rounds is about $40 in .22 LR and about $140 in .22 Magnum. That is the difference between a rifle you shoot every weekend and one you take out twice a year, and it is the single biggest reason people regret the purchase. Nobody regrets the ballistics.
None of which is an argument against the cartridge. It is an argument for being honest with yourself about volume. If you want to shoot a lot, keep a .22 LR for practice and let the Magnum do the work it is actually better at, which is reaching past a hundred yards on small game with enough energy to finish the job cleanly.
These are the cheapest 50 round boxes our cards were showing the day this was written, compared like for like. Bulk cases are left out because .22 LR is sold in 1,500 round buckets and .22 Magnum largely is not, which would flatter the comparison. Prices move.
.22 WMR vs .22 LR vs .17 HMR
The .22 WMR sits between the .22 LR (lighter, cheaper, less velocity) and the .17 HMR (lighter bullet, faster, flatter trajectory) in the rimfire ammunition family. Each does something the others do not. The .22 LR is the most popular cartridge in America by volume and the cheapest to shoot, with about 1,200 fps muzzle velocity from a 40-grain bullet. The .22 WMR adds 700-1,000 fps and significantly more energy, useful for varmints and small game beyond .22 LR effective range. The .17 HMR uses a smaller 17-grain bullet at 2,500 fps with the flattest trajectory in the rimfire class.
For practical comparison: a 40-grain .22 LR drops about 8 inches at 100 yards from a 50-yard zero with about 75 ft-lbs of retained energy. A 40-grain .22 WMR drops about 5 inches at the same range with about 200 ft-lbs of retained energy. A 17-grain .17 HMR drops about 3 inches with about 130 ft-lbs of retained energy. The .22 WMR wins on retained energy at typical rimfire ranges, the .17 HMR wins on flat trajectory, and the .22 LR wins on price (about 1/3 the cost per round of either magnum).
For pure varmint hunting at known distances inside 150 yards, the .17 HMR is hard to beat. Mixed small-game and varmint work between 50 and 125 yards is where the .22 WMR lives. For high-volume plinking or training use, the .22 LR remains the dominant choice. For a deeper read on the lighter rimfire alternative, see our 10 Best .22 LR Rifles roundup.
How I Tested These .22 WMR Rifles
I have been shooting rimfire rifles since I was a kid and the .22 WMR specifically since my dad bought me a Marlin 25M when I was 14. The rifles in this roundup were either personally shot, borrowed from hunting partners, or evaluated through extensive range time at organized rimfire events. Where I have not personally fired a specific model in .22 WMR, I have either fired the same rifle in another rimfire chambering or relied on consistent reports from shooting partners I trust.
Every rifle on this list met the same basic criteria: it had to be in current production, it had to be chambered for .22 WMR from the factory, and it had to come from a manufacturer that was going to stand behind it. I weighted accuracy, reliability with factory ammunition, and value across the price spectrum. I did not weight brand loyalty. The Rossi RS22M and the Magnum Research Straight Bolt both made the list on specification rather than my own range time, and both entries say so plainly.
For background, I have hunted squirrel and rabbit across the Midwest, shot prairie dogs in South Dakota, and run various .22 WMR rifles through organized rimfire events out to 200 yards. The .22 WMR is the cartridge I keep coming back to when I want rimfire ammunition cost with meaningfully more velocity and energy than a .22 LR delivers, and the rifles above are the ones I think will serve hunters and shooters best for that role in 2026.
The Bottom Line
If you are shopping the best 22 WMR rifles in 2026 and you want my one-line answer: buy the CZ 457 American. It delivers sub-MOA accuracy in a rimfire magnum chambering for under $800, and the 24.8-inch hammer-forged barrel wrings every last fps out of the cartridge.
If you want the rapid follow-up shots that a semi-auto provides, the Savage A22 Magnum at $473 is the semi-auto .22 WMR I would trust with whatever is on the shelf. For the heritage lever look, Henry gives you two American-made choices in the H1 Classic and the Octagon Frontier. Shooting it competitively and chasing the last half-inch? Put the $1,484 into a Volquartsen Summit.
If your budget is tight, the Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR is the pick at around $355, punching well above its weight with the AccuTrigger and a threaded barrel, and the Rossi RS22M at about $320 is the cheapest way to get a semi-auto in this cartridge. The Ruger American Rimfire Magnum at $459 splits the difference between budget and serious accuracy. None of these are bad rifles. The worst pick on this list will still cleanly take any squirrel, rabbit, or varmint that walks in front of it inside 75 yards.
If you are still figuring out the right cartridge for your hunting style, look at our 10 Best .22 LR Rifles roundup for the lighter rimfire alternative, our .22 LR vs .22 WMR guide for the cartridge comparison, or our 11 Best .22 Bolt Action Rifles roundup for the broader rimfire bolt action category. Either way, store your new rifle properly: see our Best Long Gun Safes guide.
For the flattest-shooting rimfire varmint cartridge with bolt, semi-auto, and lever picks, see our best .17 HMR rifles roundup covering the CZ 457, Savage A17 semi-auto, Bergara BMR precision rimfire, Henry H001V Varmint Express lever, and 5 more.
What is the best .22 WMR rifle for the money?
The CZ 457 American is the best .22 WMR rifle for the money in production. The Czech-made bolt action ships with a 24.8-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, Turkish walnut stock, adjustable trigger, and 60-degree bolt throw for around $799 MSRP. For budget shooters, the Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR at around $390 punches well above its weight with the AccuTrigger and threaded barrel.
Is there a reliable semi-auto .22 WMR rifle?
Yes. The Savage A22 Magnum is the semi-auto .22 WMR I would trust across a mixed ammo shelf, and the one most shooters should buy. Earlier semi-auto rimfire magnums struggled with reliability because .22 WMR pressures exceed what ordinary blowback actions can safely contain. Savage engineered the A22 Magnum with a delayed-blowback action and interrupter lug that locks the bolt closed until peak pressure subsides. MSRP is $473, and the rifle ships with a 10-round rotary magazine and AccuTrigger.
What is the effective range of a .22 WMR rifle?
A .22 WMR rifle is effective on small game (squirrel, rabbit, varmints) inside 100-125 yards with quality ammunition. For coyote and fox-sized predators, the cartridge is effective inside 75 yards with appropriate 50-grain loads. The 40-grain bullet drops about 5 inches at 100 yards from a 50-yard zero, meaningfully flatter than the .22 LR. Beyond 125 yards, wind drift and energy loss make the .22 WMR less effective than dedicated varmint cartridges like the .17 HMR or .22 Hornet.
Is .22 WMR better than .22 LR?
It depends on the use case. The .22 WMR has 700-1,000 fps more muzzle velocity than the .22 LR and roughly 2.5x the muzzle energy, useful for varmints and small game beyond .22 LR effective range. The .22 LR is about 1/3 the cost per round, has minimal recoil, and dominates high-volume training and recreational shooting. For pure varmint hunting beyond 75 yards, the .22 WMR wins. For plinking, training, and small game inside 75 yards, the .22 LR is the better choice.
What grain bullet is best for .22 WMR?
For most shooters and hunters, 40-grain loads from CCI Maxi-Mag, Federal Premium, or Hornady will cover almost everything you shoot at. For dedicated varmint shooters, step down to 30-grain Hornady V-MAX for explosive expansion and flatter trajectory. For coyote or fox work, step up to a 50-grain Federal Premium and take the shot inside 75 yards. Most factory loads come in 30, 40, and 50 grain weights.
What rifles come chambered in .22 WMR?
The .22 WMR is chambered in nearly every major rimfire bolt action and lever action made today, plus the Savage A22 Magnum and Rossi RS22M semi-autos. Current production includes the CZ 457 American, Ruger American Rimfire Magnum, Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR, Savage A22 Magnum, Henry H1 Classic, Henry Octagon Frontier, Volquartsen Summit, Magnum Research Magnum Lite Straight Bolt, and Rossi RS22M. The Ruger 77/22 Magnum was discontinued in 2016.
Can I shoot .22 LR in a .22 WMR rifle?
No. The .22 LR and .22 WMR are different cartridges with different case dimensions. The .22 LR is shorter and smaller in diameter than the .22 WMR, and chambering a .22 LR in a .22 WMR rifle results in poor accuracy, potential rupture of the case, and possible damage to the rifle. Some .22 WMR firearms are sold as convertibles with a second cylinder or barrel, the Ruger Single-Six revolver being the best known, but that is a revolver rather than a rifle, but no .22 WMR rifle should be fed .22 LR ammunition without a proper conversion kit.
Is .22 WMR good for coyote hunting?
Yes, with appropriate 50-grain loads inside 75 yards. The .22 WMR delivers about 250-300 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and retains roughly 150-200 ft-lbs at 75 yards, which is enough for clean coyote kills with proper shot placement. For coyote hunting beyond 75 yards, the .17 HMR or a small centerfire varmint cartridge like the .22 Hornet or .223 Remington is the better choice. Avoid using lighter 30-40 grain hollow point loads on coyote-sized predators since they may not penetrate adequately.
The CZ 457 shoots .22 WMR too, with a swappable barrel. See our full CZ 457 review.
Prefer a pistol in the same caliber? See our Kel-Tec PMR-30 review, a 30-round .22 WMR handgun.
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