22 Mag / 22 WMR Ammo

Overview of 22 Mag Ammo

22 WMR, commonly called 22 Mag or 22 Win Mag, was introduced by Winchester in 1959 as a significant step up from 22 LR in velocity, energy, and effective range. It fires the same .224-inch diameter bullet as 22 LR but from a longer, wider case at significantly higher pressure, producing muzzle velocities of 1,500-2,000 fps compared to 22 LR's 1,080-1,280 fps. That velocity advantage translates to roughly twice the muzzle energy of 22 LR, a flatter trajectory, and reliable terminal performance on varmints and small game out to 125 yards.

One critical safety note: 22 WMR and 22 LR are not interchangeable. The 22 WMR case is longer and wider than 22 LR. A 22 WMR cartridge will not chamber in a 22 LR firearm. A 22 LR cartridge technically fits in a 22 WMR chamber but will not fire reliably and creates an unsafe condition due to inadequate case support. Always verify your firearm's chamber markings before purchasing. Browse our 22 LR ammo page if you need ammunition for a standard 22 LR firearm.

Popular 22 Mag Brands We Carry

• CCI 22 Mag Ammo: Maxi-Mag 40gr TMJ (0023) in 1,000-round cases. CCI's Maxi-Mag is the most widely used 22 WMR load for high-volume range training, with a total metal jacket that minimizes lead fouling and feeds reliably in semi-automatic platforms.
• Speer 22 Mag Ammo: Gold Dot Short Barrel 40gr JHP (954) in 500-round cases. Purpose-designed for reliable expansion from short-barrel revolvers and pistols as small as 2-inch barrels. The only major 22 WMR load specifically optimized for defensive handgun use.
• Armscor 22 Mag Ammo: 40gr JHP (50157) in 500-round cases with nickel-plated brass for reliable feeding and corrosion resistance. An affordable JHP option for varmint hunting and small game.

Best 22 Mag Ammo for Specific Uses

Why Buy 22 Mag Ammo from BulkMunitions?

• In stock and ready to ship. We only list ammunition that is physically in our warehouse. No backorders.
• Next-business-day shipping from our Knoxville, TN warehouse on orders placed before our daily cutoff.
• Bulk pricing on the most popular 22 Mag loads. CCI Maxi-Mag in 1,000-round cases and Armscor JHP in 500-round cases deliver the best per-round pricing on the two most common 22 WMR loads we carry.
• We tithe 10% of profits to Christian-based, 2A-supporting organizations every quarter, and our customers vote on where it goes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 22 Mag the same as 22 WMR?

Yes. 22 Mag, 22 WMR, 22 Win Mag, and 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire all refer to the same cartridge. The official SAAMI designation is 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, abbreviated 22 WMR. Most shooters and retailers use 22 Mag or 22 WMR interchangeably and there is no functional difference between boxes labeled with any of these names.

Can I shoot 22 WMR in a 22 LR firearm?

No. 22 WMR and 22 LR are not interchangeable. The 22 WMR case is longer and wider than 22 LR, so a 22 WMR cartridge will not chamber in a 22 LR firearm. A 22 LR cartridge can physically fit into a 22 WMR chamber but creates an unsafe condition due to inadequate case support. Always verify your firearm's chamber markings before purchasing. If you need 22 LR ammunition, browse our dedicated 22 LR page.

What is 22 Mag good for compared to 22 LR?

22 Mag produces roughly twice the muzzle energy of 22 LR and extends reliable terminal performance on varmints and small game from 22 LR's practical 75-yard ceiling to approximately 125 yards. It is a better choice for prairie dogs, groundhogs, and predator hunting where shots beyond 75 yards are expected. The tradeoffs are higher per-round cost and more limited firearm availability. For plinking and small game inside 75 yards, 22 LR remains the more economical choice.

More About 22 Mag Ammo

Winchester introduced the 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire in 1959, developed from the older 22 Winchester Rimfire (22 WRF) case which dated to 1890. The new cartridge used a larger, stronger case capable of operating at higher pressure than any previous rimfire design, producing velocities approaching those of light centerfire loads from a rimfire platform. Marlin chambered the first production firearm for the cartridge in their Model 57M Levermatic carbine in 1959, with Winchester following with their own Model 61 pump-action rifle in 1960.

The cartridge found its primary audience among varmint hunters and pest control professionals who needed more range and terminal performance than 22 LR could provide but did not want the expense, noise, or equipment requirements of centerfire varmint cartridges. In the agricultural Midwest and Great Plains, 22 WMR became a staple for ground squirrel, prairie dog, and woodchuck control, where its flat trajectory and reliable 125-yard performance made it practical for the open-country shooting those applications required.

Today 22 WMR is chambered in a broad range of bolt-action and semi-automatic rifles, lever-action carbines, and revolvers. The Ruger American Rimfire, CZ 455 and 457, Savage A22 Magnum, and Kel-Tec CMR-30 carbine are among the most popular current production options. The cartridge has also found a secondary following as a defensive revolver round, particularly following Speer's development of the Gold Dot Short Barrel load designed to expand reliably from barrels as short as 2 inches, addressing a longstanding concern about JHP expansion reliability at the lower velocities produced by short-barrel handguns.