This is is a simple overview of interesting cartridges, loads, with some comments.
A 'cartridge' is made up of:
In contrast, a centerfire cartridge has the primer in the center of the end of the brass case, it is usually removable, and most centerfire cartridge brass can be reloaded with the proper equipment.
A 'cartridge' is made up of:
- A case (usually brass) which holds it all together.
- A primer which produces a hot spark to ignite the powder when struck by the gun's spring loaded firing pin or hammer.
- Powder/propellent which burns and pushes the projectile/bullet down and out the barrel.
- A bullet/projectile which flies down range and connects with the target.
In contrast, a centerfire cartridge has the primer in the center of the end of the brass case, it is usually removable, and most centerfire cartridge brass can be reloaded with the proper equipment.
 |
| A small sample of .22's pictured above from left to right: |
CCI Maxi Mag 40gr. bullet, .22 WMR Winchester Magnum Rimfire
CCI Stinger 32gr. HP bullet, .22 long rifle hollow point
CCI Mini Mag 36gr. HP bullet, .22 long rifle hollow point
CCI Shotshell 31gr. of number 12 shot, .22 long rifle shotshell
Aguila Super Colibri 20gr. bullet, .22 long
CCI Short 27gr. HP bullet, .22 short hollow point
CCI CB Cap 29gr. bullet, .22 CB Short
RWS BB Cap 18gr. bullet, .22 BB Cap
Interesting and Popular Rimfire Cartridges
Note: This page does not include all the rimfire cartridges, but only those which I consider
significant or interesting. Cartridges are generally listed here in order beginning with the
lowest energy/power level to higher energy/power levels.
Most of the ballistic information below came from CCI or Aguila. Cartridges from Winchester, Remington, Federal... will be about the same for a similar load and bullet weight. HP (hollow point) loads give a little more expansion in the lower velocity loads and are somewhat explosive with the faster loads. Some magnum loads use jacketed bullets, and most .17 caliber loads have a jacketed bullet with a plastic insert in the tip (polymer tip).
Note: An *astrick indicates that the cartridge will fit and fire in a standard .22 long rifle chamber, but not that it will function or eject properly in a semi-auto or some other guns.
*.22 Aguila Colibri 20 gr./375 fps./6 ft-lbs I believe this round has the lowest power of any rimfire cartridge made today. It is intended for handguns only, very low noise, very short range, indoor practice. I don't believe it would work in a longer rifle's barrel, it would most likely get stuck in the barrel. Many pellet guns have more energy/power than this cartridge, but that's not a bad thing for the intended use.
*.22 Aguila Super Colibri 20 gr./575 fps./11 ft-lbs. Like the regular Colibri this cartridge is also intended for handguns, but it has a little more power, and some use it carefully in rifles it could get stuck in the barrel. I wrote several makers of rimfire cartridges years ago requesting a cartridge much like this. A pellet gun alternative. I wanted something quieter and safer than the CB round. The Super Colibri is super quiet when fired in a rifle. It's not intended for hunting, but I've taken sparrows and two skunks in town.
*.22 BB Cap 18 gr./780 fps./24 ft-lbs. One of the oldest rimfire cartridges; I have a few, but I don't know if they are still made. No powder, only primer powered, but they have a loud crack when compared to similar low power rounds. They were originally made for gallery shooting I believe.
*.22 CB Short 29 gr./727 fps./33 ft-lbs. This low powered round is intended for quiet short range plinking and pest control. When compared with the Colibris the CB is generally more accurate, and has more range (still short range). But it is considerably louder, more powerful, and somewhat more dangerous because the faster, heavier bullet, will keep going or shoot through material which would stop the Colibri or Super Colibri.
*22 CB Long 29 gr./727 fps./33 ft-lbs. This is exactly the same cartridge as the CB Short (CCI brand), but with a longer case it will function better in repeating actions designed for the long rifle case. I once shot these rimfire cartridges often but like the Super Colibri better for my uses today. Note: All of these low power rimfire cartridges must be manually chambered and ejected in a semi-auto gun.
*.22 Short 29 gr./1080 fps./75 ft-lbs. I've always been attracted to the cute little .22 short, but I seldom shoot them. The little round can actually do almost anything the long rifle can do at a little less range. Shorts are harder to find, and often more expensive. These short rimfire cartridges are popular with rapid fire target pistol shooters. Listed is the high velocity solid load, but it is also made with a 27 grain hollow point bullet (my favorite). Other standard velocity loads, special rapid fire, and other target loads are made.
*.22 Long 29 gr./1240 fps./99 ft-lbs. This round has the bullet of the short, and the case of the long rifle. But even with the lighter bullet it's about the same velocity as the long rifle and produces less energy. Some still like it, but it's about to join the rimfire cartridges which are only history.
*.22 Long Rifle 40 gr./1235 fps./135 ft-lbs. Easily the most popular cartridge of all time. Bullets range from 30 grains to 60 grains in weight, but when someone says get "The .22" this 40 gr. load or the similar hollow point load is most often used. Because millions are sold this is one of the least expensive loads to shoot. Like most rimfire's it's easy to shoot, not terribly loud, almost no recoil, generally accurate, and fairly effective on many small critters. My advice for most shooters: Find a similar low priced load that fits your needs, is accurate in your gun, and stay with it. Even similar loads may shoot differently.
*.22 Long Rifle Shotshell 31 gr./1000 fps./#12 (not listed) When I was a kid we called it "rat shot". I have shot quite a few of these CCI loads. CCI uses a plastic bullet capsule for tiny #12 shot and it doesn't foul the barrel much. These will kill a bird, snake, mouse, rat, but only at a few yards. Years ago I did kill a dove flying over at close range using a Contender handgun. The small load of tiny pellets runs out of energy and spreads quickly after spinning down a rifled barrel. Winchester and Federal still make shot loads which have crimped brass ends. A few 'smooth bore' .22 shotguns have been made and they are said to shoot these crimped rimfire cartridges fairly well.
*.22 Stinger 32 gr.HP/1640 fps./191 ft-lbs. The Stinger was the first (non-magnum) rimfire to move well past the speed of sound. It's faster, but uses a smaller lighter bullet. I remember the first black bird I shot with one. I was surprised when the bird seemed to explode. Like many new cartridges it was "the bomb" when new. It was fun because it had a much more explosive effect on what it hit than an ordinary .22 round. But! It cost more to shoot, and I soon learned that it was less accurate (in my guns). Out past 50 yards the lighter bullet looses speed quickly and is probably less effective than an ordinary high velocity round.
*.22 Aguila Supermaximum 30 gr./1750 fps./204 ft-lbs. This new hot little number is sort of a super Stinger, and I imagine it will preform in a very similar way. It is available with a solid or hollow point bullet.
.22 WMR 40 gr./1875 fps./312 ft-lbs. The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire is not new, it doesn't have a reputation for accuracy, still in my opinion this the most reliably deadly rimfire. There are HP and solid bullet loads. No rimfire would be my first choice for stopping a larger critter, but of the rimfires I'd choose this one.
.22 WMR "Hyper" 30 gr.HP/2200 fps./322 ft-lbs. CCI and others started making what I think of as the ".22 Magnum Stinger Rounds". As with the original Stinger, the main difference is using a lighter bullet so that it has a higher velocity. This lighter bullet magnum will preform in a way similar to what I said about the Stinger: It will have more explosive results out to about 50 yards or a little more. At longer range the slower heavier standard 40 grain mag. may be more effective.
.22 WMR 50 gr./1530 fps./260 ft-lbs. There are some "heavy" 50 grain bullet loads for the .22 Magnum. I have never used them. Generally a heavier bullet in a load is intended for bigger heavier animals. I can't think of anything I'd want to use these for. I'd want to use a centerfire for larger animals. The standard .22 mag. load has more energy and velocity, but I don't know everything.
.22 WMR Shotshell 52 gr./1000 fps./#12 (not listed) As far as I know only CCI makes a mag. shot load. These are still not a shotgun replacement, but I have taken a few black birds on the wing at 10 to maybe 15 yards. They hold considerably more shot and are a little more serious load than the very similar .22 long rifle version. Still only reliable killers at very short range because of the tiny #12 shot size.
.17 HM2 17gr.(polymer tip)/2100fps./166ft-lbs. In my opinion this round has the most
potential of the new rimfire cartridges! It uses the .22 long rifle case (actually the slightly
longer Stinger case). It's said to be very accurate. It could also be easier to shoot accurately
than the .22 long rifle because its higher velocity means less bullet drop.
Potentially a better ".22" But! The present loads are not versatile and it can't compete with the standard .22's cheap plinking or low noise loads. The present loads cost is nearer to the .22 WMR or even the .17 HMR. I think it only needs an additional less expensive lead bullet load for plinking. Even a good pellet gun alternative load might be possible. I think it's too late, and sometimes the good die young.
.17 HMR 17gr.(polymer tip)/2550fps./245ft-lbs. This little fire-cracker has made a lot of noise. It's fast, cute, and accurate, but not yet very versatile. Like the smaller HM2 no plinking loads, and not great for larger varmints in my opinion. It was the best "long range rimfire" for smaller pest before the Win Super Mag.
5 mm Remington Mag. 38gr./2100fps./352ft-lbs. This "dead" cartridge was interesting, but for Remington it was too little, and too late. It was only a little faster (the WMR was originally listed at 2000 fps), and late on the market after the .22 WMR. The .20 caliber is not very different than a .22, and it used the same .22 WMR case necked down to .20 caliber.
Simply using a metric designation could have been a part of the problem. In those days some probably thought metric was Un-American. Thinking about that led me to realize that Remington has had some good cartridges, but few really successful cartridges.
By successful I'm talking about super popular. Winchester has the .22 magnum, .30-30, .243, .270, .308 (7.62 mm military cartridge), .300 mag. .338 mag. and .458 mag. centerfires. Did I forget any?
I'm a fan of both Winchester and Remington, but the 7 mm Remington Magnum is their only real "metric" success I can think of. There's the .223 (5.56 mm military cartridge) and .22-250 Remington, "but they ain't metric" :-)
Win Super Mag 20gr.(polymer tip)/3000fps./400ft-lbs!
Note: This page was originally written years ago for my website. I've updated it somewhat, but today it's hard to find/buy most rimfire ammunition. We can only hope that will soon change.
Most of the ballistic information below came from CCI or Aguila. Cartridges from Winchester, Remington, Federal... will be about the same for a similar load and bullet weight. HP (hollow point) loads give a little more expansion in the lower velocity loads and are somewhat explosive with the faster loads. Some magnum loads use jacketed bullets, and most .17 caliber loads have a jacketed bullet with a plastic insert in the tip (polymer tip).
Note: An *astrick indicates that the cartridge will fit and fire in a standard .22 long rifle chamber, but not that it will function or eject properly in a semi-auto or some other guns.
*.22 Aguila Colibri 20 gr./375 fps./6 ft-lbs I believe this round has the lowest power of any rimfire cartridge made today. It is intended for handguns only, very low noise, very short range, indoor practice. I don't believe it would work in a longer rifle's barrel, it would most likely get stuck in the barrel. Many pellet guns have more energy/power than this cartridge, but that's not a bad thing for the intended use.
*.22 Aguila Super Colibri 20 gr./575 fps./11 ft-lbs. Like the regular Colibri this cartridge is also intended for handguns, but it has a little more power, and some use it carefully in rifles it could get stuck in the barrel. I wrote several makers of rimfire cartridges years ago requesting a cartridge much like this. A pellet gun alternative. I wanted something quieter and safer than the CB round. The Super Colibri is super quiet when fired in a rifle. It's not intended for hunting, but I've taken sparrows and two skunks in town.
*.22 BB Cap 18 gr./780 fps./24 ft-lbs. One of the oldest rimfire cartridges; I have a few, but I don't know if they are still made. No powder, only primer powered, but they have a loud crack when compared to similar low power rounds. They were originally made for gallery shooting I believe.
*.22 CB Short 29 gr./727 fps./33 ft-lbs. This low powered round is intended for quiet short range plinking and pest control. When compared with the Colibris the CB is generally more accurate, and has more range (still short range). But it is considerably louder, more powerful, and somewhat more dangerous because the faster, heavier bullet, will keep going or shoot through material which would stop the Colibri or Super Colibri.
*22 CB Long 29 gr./727 fps./33 ft-lbs. This is exactly the same cartridge as the CB Short (CCI brand), but with a longer case it will function better in repeating actions designed for the long rifle case. I once shot these rimfire cartridges often but like the Super Colibri better for my uses today. Note: All of these low power rimfire cartridges must be manually chambered and ejected in a semi-auto gun.
*.22 Short 29 gr./1080 fps./75 ft-lbs. I've always been attracted to the cute little .22 short, but I seldom shoot them. The little round can actually do almost anything the long rifle can do at a little less range. Shorts are harder to find, and often more expensive. These short rimfire cartridges are popular with rapid fire target pistol shooters. Listed is the high velocity solid load, but it is also made with a 27 grain hollow point bullet (my favorite). Other standard velocity loads, special rapid fire, and other target loads are made.
*.22 Long 29 gr./1240 fps./99 ft-lbs. This round has the bullet of the short, and the case of the long rifle. But even with the lighter bullet it's about the same velocity as the long rifle and produces less energy. Some still like it, but it's about to join the rimfire cartridges which are only history.
*.22 Long Rifle 40 gr./1235 fps./135 ft-lbs. Easily the most popular cartridge of all time. Bullets range from 30 grains to 60 grains in weight, but when someone says get "The .22" this 40 gr. load or the similar hollow point load is most often used. Because millions are sold this is one of the least expensive loads to shoot. Like most rimfire's it's easy to shoot, not terribly loud, almost no recoil, generally accurate, and fairly effective on many small critters. My advice for most shooters: Find a similar low priced load that fits your needs, is accurate in your gun, and stay with it. Even similar loads may shoot differently.
*.22 Long Rifle Shotshell 31 gr./1000 fps./#12 (not listed) When I was a kid we called it "rat shot". I have shot quite a few of these CCI loads. CCI uses a plastic bullet capsule for tiny #12 shot and it doesn't foul the barrel much. These will kill a bird, snake, mouse, rat, but only at a few yards. Years ago I did kill a dove flying over at close range using a Contender handgun. The small load of tiny pellets runs out of energy and spreads quickly after spinning down a rifled barrel. Winchester and Federal still make shot loads which have crimped brass ends. A few 'smooth bore' .22 shotguns have been made and they are said to shoot these crimped rimfire cartridges fairly well.
*.22 Stinger 32 gr.HP/1640 fps./191 ft-lbs. The Stinger was the first (non-magnum) rimfire to move well past the speed of sound. It's faster, but uses a smaller lighter bullet. I remember the first black bird I shot with one. I was surprised when the bird seemed to explode. Like many new cartridges it was "the bomb" when new. It was fun because it had a much more explosive effect on what it hit than an ordinary .22 round. But! It cost more to shoot, and I soon learned that it was less accurate (in my guns). Out past 50 yards the lighter bullet looses speed quickly and is probably less effective than an ordinary high velocity round.
*.22 Aguila Supermaximum 30 gr./1750 fps./204 ft-lbs. This new hot little number is sort of a super Stinger, and I imagine it will preform in a very similar way. It is available with a solid or hollow point bullet.
.22 WMR 40 gr./1875 fps./312 ft-lbs. The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire is not new, it doesn't have a reputation for accuracy, still in my opinion this the most reliably deadly rimfire. There are HP and solid bullet loads. No rimfire would be my first choice for stopping a larger critter, but of the rimfires I'd choose this one.
.22 WMR "Hyper" 30 gr.HP/2200 fps./322 ft-lbs. CCI and others started making what I think of as the ".22 Magnum Stinger Rounds". As with the original Stinger, the main difference is using a lighter bullet so that it has a higher velocity. This lighter bullet magnum will preform in a way similar to what I said about the Stinger: It will have more explosive results out to about 50 yards or a little more. At longer range the slower heavier standard 40 grain mag. may be more effective.
.22 WMR 50 gr./1530 fps./260 ft-lbs. There are some "heavy" 50 grain bullet loads for the .22 Magnum. I have never used them. Generally a heavier bullet in a load is intended for bigger heavier animals. I can't think of anything I'd want to use these for. I'd want to use a centerfire for larger animals. The standard .22 mag. load has more energy and velocity, but I don't know everything.
.22 WMR Shotshell 52 gr./1000 fps./#12 (not listed) As far as I know only CCI makes a mag. shot load. These are still not a shotgun replacement, but I have taken a few black birds on the wing at 10 to maybe 15 yards. They hold considerably more shot and are a little more serious load than the very similar .22 long rifle version. Still only reliable killers at very short range because of the tiny #12 shot size.
 |
Pictured left to right: .22 Short, .22 L. R., .22 Mag., .17 HM2, .17 HMR
|
Potentially a better ".22" But! The present loads are not versatile and it can't compete with the standard .22's cheap plinking or low noise loads. The present loads cost is nearer to the .22 WMR or even the .17 HMR. I think it only needs an additional less expensive lead bullet load for plinking. Even a good pellet gun alternative load might be possible. I think it's too late, and sometimes the good die young.
.17 HMR 17gr.(polymer tip)/2550fps./245ft-lbs. This little fire-cracker has made a lot of noise. It's fast, cute, and accurate, but not yet very versatile. Like the smaller HM2 no plinking loads, and not great for larger varmints in my opinion. It was the best "long range rimfire" for smaller pest before the Win Super Mag.
5 mm Remington Mag. 38gr./2100fps./352ft-lbs. This "dead" cartridge was interesting, but for Remington it was too little, and too late. It was only a little faster (the WMR was originally listed at 2000 fps), and late on the market after the .22 WMR. The .20 caliber is not very different than a .22, and it used the same .22 WMR case necked down to .20 caliber.
Simply using a metric designation could have been a part of the problem. In those days some probably thought metric was Un-American. Thinking about that led me to realize that Remington has had some good cartridges, but few really successful cartridges.
By successful I'm talking about super popular. Winchester has the .22 magnum, .30-30, .243, .270, .308 (7.62 mm military cartridge), .300 mag. .338 mag. and .458 mag. centerfires. Did I forget any?
I'm a fan of both Winchester and Remington, but the 7 mm Remington Magnum is their only real "metric" success I can think of. There's the .223 (5.56 mm military cartridge) and .22-250 Remington, "but they ain't metric" :-)
Win Super Mag 20gr.(polymer tip)/3000fps./400ft-lbs!
Wow! There is a new King of rimfire cartridges. I didn't see this one coming, I don't think many
did. This new rimfire cartridge appears to leave every rimfire before it in the dust. With a
slightly heavier bullet, greater velocity and energy than the .17 HMR this one should be a little
more capable at taking larger varmints. Unless there is a downside to this new .17 Winchester
cartridge; the .17 HMR's days are probably numbered.
Note: This page was originally written years ago for my website. I've updated it somewhat, but today it's hard to find/buy most rimfire ammunition. We can only hope that will soon change.
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