No Comments If you’re curious about .22 WMR ballistics, then you’ve landed in the right place. This relatively powerful rimfire round — not to be confused with the .22LR — is popular as both a varmint hunting round and for self defense.
We look at the .22 WMR ballistics of the most popular .22 WMR rounds in both rifles and handguns below!
.22 WMR Ballistics Quick Facts
- The .22 WMR cartridge is a rimfire round known for its accuracy, speed, and power
- The .22 WMR has many names: .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, .22 WMR, .22 Magnum, .22 Mag, .22 WMRF, .22 MRF, and .22 Win Mag
- Winchester introduced the .22 WMR in 1959 as a solution to varmint control in agricultural settings
- As a hunting round, the .22 WMR is ideal for small to medium game at short to medium ranges
- When comparing the .22 WMR vs. .22LR, the .22 WMR is more powerful and has a flatter trajectory than the .22LR
- .22 WMR and .22 LR are not interchangeable
- There are many rifles and revolvers chambered for the .22 WMR as well as a few semi-auto handguns
- Some shooters opt for revolvers chambered in .22 WMR for self defense because they have relatively light recoil while offering decent ballistic performance
- Out of a rifle, the .22 WMR generally has velocities between 1500 and 2300 fps
.22 WMR Ballistics Table
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight | Bullet Style | Velocity (fps) Muzzle | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | Energy (ft-lbs) Muzzle | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | Trajectory (inches) Muzzle | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | Ballistic Coefficient G1 | Sectional Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Maxi-Mag 46gr. Segmented HP | 46gr. | Poly-Coated SHP | 1875 | 1623 | 1403 | 1222 | 1090 | 359 | 270 | 201 | 153 | 121 | -1.5 | 0.9 | 0 | -5.3 | -16.5 | 0.139 | 0.131 |
| CCI Maxi-Mag 30gr. VNT | 30gr. | VNT | 2200 | 1866 | 1571 | 1321 | 1134 | 322 | 232 | 164 | 116 | 86 | -1.5 | 0.5 | 0 | -4.1 | -13.2 | 0.116 | 0.085 |
| CCI Maxi-Mag 30gr. TNT JHP | 30gr. | TNT JHP | 2200 | 1768 | 1405 | 1141 | 990 | 322 | 208 | 131 | 87 | 65 | -1.5 | 0.7 | 0 | -5.1 | -16.9 | 0.088 | 0.085 |
| CCI Maxi-Mag 40gr. JHP | 40gr. | JHP | 1875 | 1574 | 1319 | 1129 | 1010 | 312 | 220 | 155 | 113 | 91 | -1.5 | 1 | 0 | -6 | -18.9 | 0.114 | 0.114 |
| CCI 30gr. V-MAX | 30gr. | V-MAX | 2200 | 1866 | 1571 | 1321 | 1134 | 322 | 232 | 164 | 116 | 86 | -1.5 | 0.5 | 0 | -4.1 | -13.2 | 0.116 | 0.085 |
| CCI TNT Green 30gr. HP | 30gr. | Speer TNT Green HP | 2050 | 1648 | 1317 | 1091 | 964 | 280 | 181 | 116 | 79 | 62 | -1.5 | 0.9 | 0 | -5.9 | -19.1 | 0.090 | 0.085 |
| CCI Gamepoint 40gr. JSP | 40gr. | JSP | 1875 | 1614 | 1385 | 1201 | 1071 | 312 | 231 | 170 | 128 | 102 | -1.5 | 0.9 | 0 | -5.5 | -17 | 0.133 | 0.114 |
| CCI Maxi-Mag 40gr. TMJ | 40gr. | TMJ | 1875 | 1603 | 1366 | 1179 | 1052 | 312 | 228 | 166 | 124 | 98 | -1.5 | 0.9 | 0 | -5.6 | -17.5 | 0.127 | 0.114 |
| Federal Champion 40gr. FMJ | 40gr. | FMJ | 1880 | 1570 | 1311 | 1121 | 1002 | 314 | 219 | 153 | 112 | 90 | -1.5 | 1 | 0 | -6.1 | -19.2 | 0.111 | 0.114 |
| Federal Game Load 50gr. JHP | 50gr. | JHP | 1530 | 1347 | 1197 | 1086 | 1006 | 260 | 201 | 159 | 131 | 112 | -1.5 | 1.6 | 0 | -7.7 | -22.8 | 0.158 | 0.142 |
| Federal Varmint & Predator Speer TNT 30gr. HP | 30gr. | HP | 2200 | 1777 | 1419 | 1155 | 1000 | 322 | 210 | 134 | 89 | 67 | -1.5 | 0.7 | 0 | -5.1 | -16.5 | 0.090 | 0.085 |
| Hornady Varmint Express 30gr. V-MAX | 30gr. | V-MAX | 2200 | 1798 | 1454 | 1189 | 1026 | 322 | 215 | 141 | 94 | 70 | -1.5 | 0.6 | 0 | -4.8 | -15.7 | 0.095 | 0.085 |
| Remington Premier Magnum Rimfire 33gr. AccuTip-V | 33gr. | AccuTip-V BT | 2000 | 1730 | 1495 | 1289 | 1135 | 293 | 220 | 163 | 122 | 94 | -1.5 | 0.7 | 0 | -4.6 | -14.5 | 0.136 | 0.094 |
| Remington Magnum Rimfire 40gr. JHP | 40gr. | JHP | 1910 | 1610 | 1355 | 1160 | 1032 | 324 | 230 | 163 | 119 | 95 | -1.5 | 0.9 | 0 | -5.7 | -17.8 | 0.117 | 0.114 |
| Remington Magnum Rimfire 40gr. PSP | 40gr. | PSP | 1910 | 1600 | 1340 | 1143 | 1018 | 324 | 228 | 159 | 116 | 78 | -1.5 | 1 | 0 | -5.8 | -18.3 | 0.113 | 0.114 |
| Winchester Defender 40gr. JHP | 40gr. | JHP | 1910 | 1592 | 1326 | 1130 | 1008 | 324 | 225 | 156 | 113 | 90 | -1.5 | 1 | 0 | -6 | -18.7 | 0.110 | 0.114 |
| Winchester Super-X 40gr. FMJ | 40gr. | FMJ | 1910 | 1592 | 1326 | 1130 | 1008 | 324 | 225 | 156 | 113 | 90 | -1.5 | 1 | 0 | -6 | -18.7 | 0.110 | 0.114 |
| Winchester Super-X 40gr. JHP | 40gr. | JHP | 1910 | 1592 | 1326 | 1130 | 1008 | 324 | 225 | 156 | 113 | 90 | -1.5 | 1 | 0 | -6 | -18.7 | 0.110 | 0.114 |
| Winchester USA 45gr. CPHP | 45gr. | CPHP Plated Dynapoint | 1550 | 1322 | 1147 | 1031 | 953 | 240 | 174 | 131 | 106 | 91 | -1.5 | 1.7 | 0 | -8.3 | -24.9 | 0.126 | 0.128 |
| Winchester Varmint LF 25gr. Polymer Tip NTX | 25gr. | Polymer Tip NTX | 2100 | 1643 | 1280 | 1052 | 930 | 245 | 150 | 91 | 61 | 48 | -1.5 | 0.9 | 0 | -6.2 | -20.3 | 0.080 | 0.071 |
| Winchester Varmint HV 30gr. JHP | 30gr. | JHP | 2250 | 1819 | 1450 | 1173 | 1011 | 337 | 220 | 140 | 92 | 68 | -1.5 | 0.6 | 0 | -4.8 | -15.9 | 0.089 | 0.085 |
| Winchester Varmint HV 30gr. Polymer Tip V-Max | 30gr. | Polymer Tip V-MAX | 2250 | 1842 | 1490 | 1215 | 1041 | 337 | 226 | 148 | 98 | 72 | -1.5 | 0.6 | 0 | -4.5 | -14.9 | 0.095 | 0.085 |
| Winchester Varmint HE 34gr. JHP | 34gr. | JHP | 2120 | 1753 | 1437 | 1192 | 1037 | 339 | 232 | 156 | 107 | 81 | -1.5 | 0.7 | 0 | -4.9 | -16 | 0.102 | 0.097 |
The .22 WMR ballistics table above is gathered from manufacturers’ product catalogs as well as the use of ballistic calculators to fill in any missing data. Generally, manufacturers display rifle data from rifles with a 24″ barrel length, which can be assumed for the above data.
.22 WMR Handgun Ballistics Table
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight | Bullet Type | Velocity (fps) Muzzle | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | Energy (ft-lbs) Muzzle | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | Trajectory 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 | Ballistic Coefficient | Sectional Density | Barrel Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protrection 40gr. HP | 40gr. | GDHP-SB | 1050 | 1001 | 961 | 925 | 894 | 98 | 89 | 82 | 76 | 71 | zero | -1.3 | -4.9 | -11 | 0.117 | 2" | |
| Hornady Critical Defense 45gr. FTX | 45gr. | FTX | 1000 | - | 926 | - | 868 | 100 | - | 86 | - | 75 | - | - | - | - | 0.11 | 0.128 | 1.875" |
| Federal Premium Personal Defense Punch 45gr. JHP | 45gr. | JHP | 1000 | 961 | 933 | 905 | 880 | 100 | 93 | 87 | 82 | 77 | 0.4 | zero | -2.9 | -8.48 | 0.136 | 0.128 | 2" |
| Winchester Silvertip 40gr. JHP | 40gr. | JHP | 1320 | - | 1001 | - | 935 | 155 | - | 89 | - | 78 | - | - | - | - | 0.11 | 0.114 | - |
Because a handful of manufacturers produce .22 WMR ammo optimized for pistols, we gathered the most common options in the table above.
The .22 WMR has become increasingly popular as a self defense round used out of a snub nose revolver. Modern .22 WMR snubbies offer a capacity of six or seven rounds, whereas .38 Special revolvers of the same size typically offer only five-round capacities. The felt recoil, even out of short barrels, is light and manageable, an improvement over the recoil of .38 revolvers. The .22 WMR also performs well in ballistic gel tests with proper ammo selection, penetrating adequately enough to hit vital organs.
.22 Magnum Cartridge Basics
| Parent Casing | .22 Winchester Rimfire |
| Designed | 1959 |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Winchester |
| Bullet Diameter | .224“ |
| Neck Diameter | .243″ |
| Base Diameter | .245″ |
| Case Length | 1.05″ |
| Overall Length | 1.35″ |
| Common Bullet Weights | 30gr-50gr |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Max Pressure (SAMMI) | 24,000 PSI |
To start, the round goes by many names, leading to confusion among shooters just learning about the cartridge. It goes by the following names:
- .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
- .22 WMR
- .22 Magnum
- .22 WMRF
- .22 MRF
- .22 Mag
- .22 Win Mag
It is most often confused with the .22LR, and it should be noted that the .22LR and .22 WMR are not interchangeable.
Winchester developed the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire in 1959 as a solution for varmint control in agricultural areas. The round offered more power and effective range than the .22LR, while being more affordable than the centerfire rounds available at the time.
It is a popular varmint hunting round, best suited for taking small to medium game at short to medium ranges. Shooters have many rifle options in the caliber, primarily bolt action rifles like the Ruger American and the CZ 457.
Revolvers chambered in .22 WMR have existed since the round’s introduction, and in modern times .22 WMR snubbies are increasingly popular. Several manufacturers are now producing semi-auto handguns in the caliber, like the Kel-Tec PMR-30 and and Walther WMP.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for a low-recoil self defense round, to varmint hunt or to just plink at the range, the .22 WMR is a great option that can fill many roles. You can load up on this powerful rimfire round right here at Target Barn!
