Velocity classes
Standard-velocity, high-velocity, and subsonic are load descriptions. Their numerical limits and test conditions belong to the exact product. A rifle catalog velocity should not be assumed for a handgun.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · RIMFIRE
.22 WMR
Winchester Magnum Rimfire is a separate .22 rimfire cartridge, commonly abbreviated .22 Mag. It has its own case and bullet dimensions, rather than being a faster loading of .22 LR.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.315–1.350 in
33.401–34.290 mm - Case length · max
- 1.055 in
26.797 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.2245 in
5.702 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.294 in
7.468 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Rimfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2245 in / 5.702 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 6 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 30–50 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.22 WMR is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
.22 WMR and .22 LR are separate chamberings. Compare handgun data with handgun data when evaluating a short-barrel load.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Winchester announced the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire in 1959. It was a new, larger-case rimfire offering, distinct from both the .22 Long Rifle and the older .22 Winchester Rimfire. Jacketed bullets and increased case capacity placed it between the familiar small rimfires and the small centerfire sporting cartridges.
The launch involved an unusual timing detail: Smith & Wesson’s Model 48 revolver was among the early firearms available, while Winchester’s own Model 61 rifle followed in 1960. The WMR went on to appear in rifles and handguns, giving it a broader platform history than a rifle-only description suggests. It also provided the case family used for Hornady’s .17 HMR decades later. That makes the .22 Magnum both a lasting sporting cartridge and a link between mid-century rimfire development and the small-caliber rimfire revival of the early 2000s.
Historical sources: American Rifleman: Model 48 and .22 WMR introduction history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Bullet design
Round-nose, hollow-point, and polymer-tipped bullets have different intended roles. A tip or hollow cavity is not a reliable substitute for the maker’s product description.
Specialty products
Target and reduced-noise products may trade velocity or bullet shape for a particular use. Verify reliable operation and the firearm maker’s ammunition restrictions rather than assuming every rimfire product behaves alike.
In the cited .22 WMR examples, bullet weights are 30, 40, 45, 50 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
30 grains
2,200 fps
V-MAX®
40 grains
1,880 fps
FMJ
45 grains
1,000 fps
JHP
Compare all 6 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady83202 | 30 gr 1.94 g | V-MAX® | 2,200 fps 671 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗ |
| Federal737 | 40 gr 2.59 g | FMJ | 1,880 fps 573 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Federal · PDF p. 64 ↗ |
| FederalPD22WMR1 | 45 gr 2.92 g | JHP | 1,000 fps 305 m/s | 2 in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| Hornady83200 | 45 gr 2.92 g | FTX® | 1,000 fps 305 m/s | 1 7/8 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Federal757 | 50 gr 3.24 g | JHP | 1,530 fps 466 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Federal · PDF p. 64 ↗ |
| Federal757BTL250 | 50 gr 3.24 g | JHP | 1,530 fps 466 m/s | Not stated here; see source | Federal · PDF p. 64 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.22 WMR: velocity by barrel length
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| CCI Game- point 40 gr. JSP | BBTI | 2: 887; 3: 1089; 4: 1248; 5: 1355; 6: 1484; 7: 1529; 8: 1594; 9: 1672; 10: 1687; 11: 1709; 12: 1750; 13: 1749; 14: 1783; 15: 1799; 16: 1780; 17: 1825; 18: 1837; 19: 1827 |
| CCI Maxi- Mag 40 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 946; 3: 1160; 4: 1353; 5: 1474; 6: 1575; 7: 1617; 8: 1706; 9: 1759; 10: 1817; 11: 1835; 12: 1881; 13: 1889; 14: 1963; 15: 1967; 16: 1987; 17: 1980; 18: 1985; 19: 1999 |
| CCI Maxi- Mag HP+V 30 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 884; 3: 1236; 4: 1510; 5: 1672; 6: 1763; 7: 1887; 8: 1950; 9: 2000; 10: 2060; 11: 2079; 12: 2168; 13: 2181; 14: 2230; 15: 2304; 16: 2316; 17: 2280; 18: 2322; 19: 2285 |
| CCI V-Max 30 gr. polymer tip | BBTI | 2: 1085; 3: 1336; 4: 1504; 5: 1723; 6: 1804; 7: 1904; 8: 2012; 9: 2061; 10: 2144; 11: 2097; 12: 2204; 13: 2220; 14: 2298; 15: 2294; 16: 2276; 17: 2288; 18: 2298; 19: 2348 |
| Federal 30 gr. Speer TNT HP | BBTI | 2: 895; 3: 1228; 4: 1457; 5: 1657; 6: 1821; 7: 1879; 8: 1979; 9: 2018; 10: 2102; 11: 2135; 12: 2163; 13: 2227; 14: 2244; 15: 2275; 16: 2283; 17: 2334; 18: 2324; 19: 2355 |
| Fiocchi PSD 40 gr. JSP | BBTI | 2: 899; 3: 1101; 4: 1287; 5: 1433; 6: 1526; 7: 1626; 8: 1650; 9: 1723; 10: 1791; 11: 1788; 12: 1843; 13: 1852; 14: 1885; 15: 1916; 16: 1887; 17: 1918; 18: 1920; 19: 1908 |
| Fiocchi PSD 40 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 853; 3: 1117; 4: 1269; 5: 1477; 6: 1544; 7: 1606; 8: 1696; 9: 1772; 10: 1772; 11: 1845; 12: 1811; 13: 1886; 14: 1951; 15: 1873; 16: 1934; 17: 1938; 18: 1950; 19: 1936 |
| Hornady 45 gr. Flex Tip eXpand- ing | BBTI | 2: 843; 3: 1049; 4: 1239; 5: 1307; 6: 1454; 7: 1525; 8: 1536; 9: 1630; 10: 1643; 11: 1652; 12: 1699; 13: 1698; 14: 1751; 15: 1738; 16: 1702; 17: 1755; 18: 1764; 19: 1773 |
| Hornady V-Max 30 gr. | BBTI | 2: 962; 3: 1153; 4: 1379; 5: 1602; 6: 1740; 7: 1821; 8: 1977; 9: 1966; 10: 2069; 11: 2093; 12: 2144; 13: 2245; 14: 2243; 15: 2240; 16: 2252; 17: 2318; 18: 2313; 19: 2296 |
| Hornady 25 gr. NTX | BBTI | 2: 1114; 3: 1308; 4: 1492; 5: 1670; 6: 1824; 7: 1818; 8: 1928; 9: 2024; 10: 2065; 11: 2146; 12: 2138; 13: 2191; 14: 2250; 15: 2229; 16: 2166; 17: 2241; 18: 2235; 19: 2265 |
| Win'ster 30 gr. Hornady Polymer Tip V-Max | BBTI | 3: 1288; 4: 1454; 5: 1575; 6: 1694; 7: 1763; 8: 1803; 9: 1924; 10: 1951; 11: 1989; 12: 2052; 13: 2071; 14: 2105; 15: 2127; 16: 2129; 17: 2160; 18: 2110; 19: 2149 |
.22 WMR: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 30 gr Hornady V-MAX® | Hornady | 0: 2200; 100: 1454; 200: 1026 |
| 40 gr Federal FMJ | Federal | 0: 1880; 50: 1570; 100: 1311 |
| 45 gr Federal JHP | Federal | 0: 1000; 25: 961; 50: 933; 75: 905; 100: 880 |
| 50 gr Federal JHP | Federal | 0: 1530; 50: 1347; 100: 1197 |
| 45 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 1000; 50: 920; 100: 857 |
| 50 gr Federal JHP | Federal | 0: 1530; 50: 1347; 100: 1197 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .22 WMR?
Winchester Magnum Rimfire is a separate .22 rimfire cartridge, commonly abbreviated .22 Mag. It has its own case and bullet dimensions, rather than being a faster loading of .22 LR.
What diameter does .22 WMR use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2245 inches (5.702 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
.22 WMR and .22 LR are separate chamberings. Compare handgun data with handgun data when evaluating a short-barrel load.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
BBTI points come from the cited cut-down barrel study. The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 25 ↗
- Winchester: historical timeline ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 182 ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 64 ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗
- Ballistics by the Inch: archived measured barrel data (2020 archive) ↗
- BBTI: study index and source records ↗
- American Rifleman: Model 48 and .22 WMR introduction history ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.