Today we’re putting two .22 rimfire rounds head to head: the .22LR vs. .22 Mag. Both .22 rounds are popular among varmint hunters and plinkers. They’re also often confused for each other by newer shooters. That’s why we decided to look at the differences between the two rounds.

Keep reading for our .22LR vs. .22 Mag caliber comparison.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag: Quick Facts

• Both rounds are .22 caliber rimfire rounds
• .22 Mag is taller and slightly wider than the .22LR
• .22 Mag is more powerful and has a flatter trajectory than the .22LR
• .22 Mag is better suited for hunting small to medium game like coyotes, raccoons, etc. at longer distances than .22LR can reach
• .22LR ammo is more readily available and cheaper with more options available
• Both rounds have manageable recoil, though .22LR has less recoil
• .22LR uses a heeled bullet 
• A .22 Mag is too big to chamber in a .22LR gun
• A .22LR may chamber in a .22 Mag but it is dangerous to fire it

Winchester 22 LR Ammunition - 333 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP

$24.99

CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR Ammunition - 100 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP

$12.00

Hornady Varmint Express 22 WMR Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 30 Grain V-MAX

$19.00

Federal Champion 22 WMR Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 40 Grain FMJ

$19.00

.22LR vs .22 Mag: The Basics

First, let’s take a look at the very basics of the .22LR vs. .22 Mag.

Both types of .22 ammo are rimfire rounds with light recoil. Generally speaking, the .22 Mag is going to be more powerful than the .22LR due to its higher velocities.

.22LR Basics

The .22LR, or .22 Long Rifle, is one of those most popular rounds in the world. It is a rimfire round commonly used for plinking, varmint hunting, competitions like Steel Challenge and NRL22. Because of its soft recoil, it is often used to introduce new or young shooters to firearms.

Stevens Arms & Tool Company designed the .22LR in the U.S. in 1887 as a more powerful option than the .22 Long cartridge. 

.22 Mag Basics

You may have heard the names .22 Magnum, .22 Mag, .22 WMR, .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, .22 Win Mag, .22 WMRF, and .22 MRF. All of these are the same round. You’ll most commonly hear shooters refer to it as .22 Mag and .22 WMR, which is what we’ll use in this article.

The .22 Mag is a rimfire round created from the .22 WRF. Winchester introduced the .22 Mag in 1959 specifically for varmint control, especially in agricultural settings. The round offered more power and effective range than the .22LR, while being more affordable than centerfire rounds. Today it is still a popular choice for varmint hunting, but concealed carriers are also finding it to be an adequate choice for self defense.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag: Ballistics

When looking at ballistics, the .22 Mag is certainly more powerful than the .22LR. In the chart below, you can see the results of our independent velocity testing. When comparing similar bullet weights of each caliber, you can see that the .22 Mag travels at faster velocities and packs a bigger punch in regards to muzzle energy than .22LR.

This is pretty standard when looking at .22LR vs. .22 Mag. Many .22 Mag rounds have muzzle velocities upwards of 2,000 fps while even the fastest .22LR still tends to be under 2,000 fps.

Next, we’ll take an even deeper look at the ballistics of the .22LR vs. .22 Mag.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag: Self Defense

Now, let’s compare how the .22LR vs. .22 Mag stack up for self defense.

We’ve previously covered the efficacy of .22LR for self defense. The .22LR round is pretty anemic for self defense. Even with typical high velocity .22LR, you’re looking at a 31gr. to 40gr. bullet traveling only around 1200 to 1400 fps out of a 16” rifle barrel. 

Now, .22 Mag on the other hand has gained popularity over the last few years as a self defense round, specifically in conjunction with snub nose revolvers. Modern .22 Mag revolvers typically hold six or seven rounds. Revolvers of the same size chambered in .38 Special typically only hold five rounds, and chambered in .22LR hold eight. This means you’re getting a little extra capacity over the .38 Special, while having less recoil.

Out of a snub nose revolver, select .22 Mag ammo tends to maintain a decent velocity and adequately penetrate ballistic gel despite the short barrel. This makes it a feasible option for self defense, especially with a snubby like a Smith & Wesson J Frame or Ruger LCR.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag Gel Test

To further compare the two rounds, we’re taking a look at the Federal Premium Personal Defense Punch .22LR and .22 Mag. Federal optimized the Punch round to be a reliable self defense rimfire round, so we took the two rounds to the range for a quick ballistic gel test to see how they stack up.

We shot each caliber into Clear Ballistics 10% synthetic ballistic gel with a 4-layer heavy fabric covering two times: one round out of a pistol and one out of a rifle. We took each shot from a 10-foot distance in accordance with the FBI’s testing protocols. I then measured the distance each round penetrated.

The FBI’s standards call of a penetration depth between 12″ and 18″. This correlates with rounds that travel deep enough to hit vital organs. As you can see, both rounds exceeded the minimum penetration depth, though the .22 Mag was slightly over 18″. Federal designed the Punch round to have minimal expansion, instead opting for the deep penetration, which both calibers displayed, even out of the pistols. When fired out of rifles, both rounds showed some expansion which is why the rounds fired out of the pistol penetrated deeper.

While both rounds in our test penetrated to the minimum 12″, .22 Mag generally has the advantage of deeper penetration out of small guns. The .22 Mag generally has the faster velocities and packs more of a punch with its muzzle energy.

If you’re set on using the .22LR for self defense, we recommend the CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN. Out of a rifle, the bullet will travel around 1000 to 1200 fps, defeat 4-layer denim, and penetrate deep enough to hit vital organs. The round can also be effective out of a pistol, but it will likely require precise shot placement and multiple rounds.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag: Hunting

You will find both the .22LR and .22 Mag used by varmint hunters across the country. The .22LR is better suited for smaller game like squirrels and rabbits, though the round can certainly take larger game. It is most effective at taking game out to about 75 to 100 yards.

The .22 Mag works well on small to medium game like coyotes and raccoon at longer distances than the .22LR can reach. Generally speaking, the .22 Mag will give you an extra 25 to 50 yards over .22LR. The round is capable of taking slightly larger game at 150 yards.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag: Price 

If we’re comparing the two rounds based on price, the .22LR will win every time. Ammo prices fluctuate, but .22LR ammo is generally the cheapest caliber available. Due to its popularity, it also is much easier to find in stock with a variety of options available.

The .22 Mag tends to be closer in price to centerfire pistol rounds like 9mm over the .22LR. There are also fewer options available when shopping for .22 Mag.

.22LR vs. .22 Mag: Recoil

Both the .22LR and .22 Mag are relatively soft shooting rounds. New shooters and those with physical limitations will find either round to be easier to shoot than centerfire ammo.

That being said, the .22LR is going to have slightly less recoil. It will also be a little quieter than the .22 Mag.

Final Thoughts

Winchester 22 LR Ammunition - 333 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP

$24.99

CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR Ammunition - 100 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP

$12.00

Hornady Varmint Express 22 WMR Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 30 Grain V-MAX

$19.00

Federal Champion 22 WMR Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 40 Grain FMJ

$19.00

If you’re trying to decide which cartridge is better between the .22LR vs. .22 Mag, you need to decide what it will be used for. Both rounds have strengths and weaknesses, but excel in different avenues.

The .22LR is the most popular round in the world and is easy to find available. It is an excellent round for fun at the range due to its affordability. Its light recoil makes it great for new shooters and competition, and it also works well on small game.

The .22 Mag packs more punch than the .22LR, making it a solid choice for small to medium game at greater distances. It has also proven its feasibility as a self defense round when paired with snubby revolvers.

Whichever round you pick, know you can load up with the best ammo at great prices here at TargetBarn.