9 Best .22 WMR Rifles for 2026 (Bolt, Semi-Auto + Lever)

Last updated April 30th 2026

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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 Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum is the cheapest legitimate .22 WMR rifle in production at under $300.

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, with about 320 ft-lbs of muzzle energy in the heaviest hunting loads. 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 suppressor-friendly subsonic capability that centerfire varmint cartridges cannot match.

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.

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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 $700.

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. For a hunter or recreational shooter who wants the most accurate factory .22 WMR rifle in production at a price below $1,000, the CZ 457 American is the answer.

The trade-offs are minor: the rifle is heavier than 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.

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 (Remington 597 Magnum, Marlin Model 25MN, Winchester Wildcat 22) all struggled with reliability because the .22 WMR cartridge generates pressures that ordinary rimfire blowback actions cannot safely contain. 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 the rifle delivered exactly what Savage’s marketing promised. 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-shot group at 50 yards landed inside an inch with 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), the A22 Magnum is the answer. 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 owned by Vista Outdoor since 2013, and the A22 platform is the company’s main rimfire investment of the last decade.

The trade-off for the A22 Magnum is that 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.

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. Three-shot group at 50 yards with quality factory .22 WMR ammo lands inside an inch with iron sights or under three-quarters of an inch with a basic 4x scope.

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. For a hunter or shooter who wants Ruger build quality at sub-$500 with the capacity of a 9-round magazine, the American Rimfire Magnum is the answer.

The trade-off is that the American Rimfire is not as accurate as 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.

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 $379 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 the rifle is exactly what a budget rimfire bolt action should be. 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. Three-shot group at 50 yards landed inside three-quarters of an inch with 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. For a hunter or recreational shooter who wants a working .22 WMR bolt action that runs a suppressor and costs less than $400, the B22 Magnum FV-SR is the answer. The trade-off is that the rifle 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.

Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR Price

5. Henry H001M Frontier: Best Lever Action .22 WMR

The Henry H001M Frontier in .22 WMR is the rifle that defines the heritage rimfire magnum lever action category. The H001M ships with a 19.25-inch blued barrel, an American walnut straight-grip stock, semi-buckhorn iron sights, a brass bead front sight, and the smooth Henry lever action. The 11+1 tube magazine capacity is generous for the .22 WMR cartridge. MSRP runs around $579. Real-world street price is closer to $530.

I have hunted small game with Henry rimfire lever actions for years and the H001M Frontier in .22 Magnum is exactly what a rimfire lever should be. Henry Repeating Arms manufactures the H001M in their Bayonne, New Jersey factory, 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 drilled and tapped for optic mounting if you want to add a scope or red dot. Both Henry lever actions use a traditional transfer bar safety system that prevents the firing pin from striking the rim unless the trigger is fully pulled, which makes them safe to carry with the chamber loaded.

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, the H001M Frontier is the answer. The walnut stock and blued steel finish look the way a lever action should look. The trade-off is that the rifle is heavier than budget bolt actions (about 6.25 pounds bare), and the Henry warranty is famously good but the company sometimes has long wait times for replacement parts on older rifles.

Henry also offers the .22 Magnum lever in the Big Boy Steel and Octagon Frontier configurations for shooters who want the brass-receiver heritage look or the octagon-barrel premium aesthetics. For most hunters, the standard H001M Frontier is the best value in the line.

Henry H001M Frontier 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 H001M, semi-buckhorn iron sights, and the same smooth Henry lever action. MSRP runs around $649. The 12+1 tube magazine capacity is one round higher than the H001M Frontier.

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 platform delivers exactly what the premium price tag promises. 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 H001M, 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 $70 over the standard H001M Frontier, the Octagon Frontier is the play. The trade-off is the price (it is a meaningful step up from the budget H001M) 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.

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 wide range of stock and chassis options. MSRP starts at $1,484 for the Superlite and runs up to $2,945 for the IF-5 chassis variants.

I have not personally owned a Volquartsen Summit, but I shot one at an industry rimfire event in 2024. Three-shot group at 50 yards landed inside half an inch with Lapua Centerfire Rimfire Polar Biathlon ammunition. 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. For dedicated rimfire competitors and serious benchrest shooters, the Summit is the answer.

Volquartsen Firearms is based in Carroll, Iowa, and has been building premium rimfire rifles and Ruger 10/22 aftermarket parts since 1974. The company’s reputation for precision rimfire builds is unmatched in the American market. 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.

The trade-offs for the Summit are obvious: the price is roughly 3-4x 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.

Volquartsen Summit Price

8. Magnum Research MLR: Best Lightweight Carbon Semi-Auto

The Magnum Research MLR-22WMR (Magnum Lite Rifle) is the rifle to buy if you want a semi-auto .22 WMR with carbon-tensioned barrel construction and ultralight carry weight. The MLR ships with a 17-inch graphite-wrapped tensioned barrel (Magnum Research’s proprietary technology), a Hogue OverMolded synthetic stock, a 9-round rotary magazine, and a manual safety on the receiver. The whole rifle weighs about 4.5 pounds bare. MSRP runs around $945.

The Magnum Lite barrel technology wraps a thin steel barrel liner inside a graphite composite outer shell, which delivers the rigidity and accuracy of a heavy bull barrel at less than half the weight. The result is a semi-auto rimfire that handles like a featherlight carry rifle but holds zero like a benchrest gun. I shot a Magnum Lite in .22 LR at a friend’s range and the rifle is genuinely impressive at the carry weight.

Magnum Research is best known for the Desert Eagle pistol, but the company’s rimfire rifle division has built the Magnum Lite platform since the early 2000s. The MLR-22WMR is the .22 Magnum variant, and the rifle uses a Ruger 10/22-derived action modified for the higher pressures of the .22 WMR cartridge. Capacity is 9 rounds in the rotary magazine. Three-shot group at 50 yards lands inside an inch with quality factory .22 WMR ammunition.

For a varmint hunter or backpack shooter who wants a lightweight semi-auto .22 WMR with serious accuracy potential, the MLR-22WMR is the answer. The trade-offs are the price (it is twice what the Savage A22 Magnum costs) and the slightly polarizing aesthetics (the carbon-wrapped barrel looks like a 21st-century space rifle next to traditional walnut-stocked rimfires). For a serious shooter who values weight savings, neither matters.

Magnum Research MLR Price

9. Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum: Cheapest .22 WMR in Production

If your budget for a .22 WMR is under $300 and you want a rifle that actually shoots, the Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum is the answer. The 802 ships with a 22-inch carbon steel barrel, a 10-round detachable magazine, an adjustable folding rear leaf sight, a brass bead front sight, and a synthetic black stock with a basic recoil pad. MSRP runs around $269. Real-world street price is often closer to $230.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons has been building the Plinkster series for nearly two decades as the company’s entry-level rimfire offering. The 802 Plinkster Magnum is the .22 WMR variant of the platform. Quality control on Plinksters has been consistently acceptable across production years, the bolt cycles smoothly enough for the price point, and the trigger breaks at about 5 pounds with some creep (which is exactly what you would expect from a sub-$300 rimfire bolt action).

I shot a Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum at a deer-camp swap years ago and the rifle does what $250 rimfire bolt actions are supposed to do: feed reliably, hit minute-of-tin-can at 50 yards, and not break in normal use. Three-shot group at 50 yards landed inside about an inch and a half with bulk-pack CCI Maxi-Mag, which is honest plinking accuracy.

For a youth shooter learning rimfire fundamentals, a starter rifle for a new hunter, or a knockaround truck gun where the rifle does not need to be precious, the Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum is the right call. The trade-offs are obvious: build quality is basic, the trigger is not adjustable, the synthetic stock looks plain, and the rifle is not as accurate as the CZ 457 or even the Savage B22. None of those matter for a $250 rimfire that gets used hard and stored in a closet.

Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum Price

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.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 1,400 fps are the heavier-game loads, suitable for fox, coyote, and the occasional small deer where legal and ethical.

For most shooters and hunters, 40-grain loads from CCI Maxi-Mag, Federal Premium, or Hornady are the right answer. 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, Ruger American Rimfire, and Savage B22 all dominate this segment at different price points. For dedicated benchrest accuracy work or precision varmint shooting beyond 100 yards, bolt actions are the right answer.

Semi-auto .22 WMR rifles offer rapid follow-up shots and higher magazine capacities. The Savage A22 Magnum dominates this segment as the only widely-available semi-auto rimfire magnum that runs reliably across factory ammo. The Magnum Research MLR-22WMR is the premium semi-auto option. For varmint hunters who shoot prairie dog towns or coyote stands where multiple shots may be needed, semi-autos are the play.

Lever action .22 WMR rifles offer the heritage rimfire lever-gun aesthetic and excellent magazine capacity (11-12 rounds typical). The Henry H001M Frontier and Octagon Frontier dominate this segment. For squirrel hunters, recreational plinkers, or anybody who prefers the look and feel of a classic American lever action, the Henry rimfire magnum levers are the answer.

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 Magnum Research MLR ship with full-length Picatinny rails for tactical optic mounting. The Henry H001M Frontier is drilled and tapped for Weaver bases sold separately. For most rimfire scopes, 1-inch tube scope rings in low or medium height are the right answer to clear the iron sights or 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.

.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. For mixed small-game and varmint work at 50-125 yards, the .22 WMR is the right answer. 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 Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum made the list because it is genuinely the cheapest legitimate .22 WMR in production, not because Mossberg pays attention to me.

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 only reliable factory semi-auto .22 WMR in production. If you want the heritage lever action aesthetic, the Henry H001M Frontier or Octagon Frontier are the two American-made options. If you want premium accuracy in a straight-pull bolt for competition use, the Volquartsen Summit at $1,484+ is the answer.

If your budget is tight, the Mossberg 802 Plinkster Magnum at $269 is the cheapest legitimate .22 WMR in production, and the Savage B22 Magnum FV-SR at $379 punches well above its weight with the AccuTrigger and threaded barrel. 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.