Rimfire cartridge family: .22 CB to .17 WSM and .21 Sharp
Written in our own words from the sources cited after each fact. We haven't run hands-on tests for this page; where sources disagree we say so. Prefer the primary source (SAAMI, the maker, the governing body) if anything here conflicts with it.
The family table
| Cartridge | Introduced | Typical load | Pressure (MAP) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| .22 BB / CB cap | 1845 (BB)[Smith & Wesson] | CCI CB Long: 29 gr at 710 fps[CCI CB Long (29 gr, 710 fps)] | - | Specialty, very quiet |
| .22 Short | 1857[Wikipedia] | 29 gr; original load 4 gr black powder[Wikipedia] | 21,000 psi per Grokipedia citing SAAMI[Grokipedia] | Still made[Smith & Wesson] |
| .22 Long | 1871[Smith & Wesson] | 29 gr[American Rifleman] | - | Limited |
| .22 Long Rifle | 1887[Wikipedia] | 40 gr standard[Wikipedia]; SAAMI nominal velocities about 1,100–1,435 fps by load[ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1-2026 (rimfire)] | 24,000 psi[ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1-2026 (rimfire)] | Dominant |
| .22 WMR | 1959[Wikipedia] | CCI Maxi-Mag 40 gr at 1,875 fps[CCI Maxi-Mag .22 WMR (40 gr, 1,875 fps)] | SAAMI uses a wider 0.10 CV for it[ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1-2026 (rimfire)] | Common |
| 5mm Rem Mag | 1969/1970[American Hunter][Chuck Hawks] | - | - | Obsolete[Chuck Hawks] |
| .17 HMR | 2002[Chuck Hawks] | 17 gr V-Max at 2,550 fps (original Hornady)[Chuck Hawks] | 26,000 psi per Grokipedia citing SAAMI[Grokipedia] | Common |
| .17 HM2 | 2004[American Hunter] | 17 gr at about 2,100 fps[Wikipedia] | - | Niche |
| .17 WSM | 2012[Wikipedia] | Winchester 20 gr at 3,000 fps[Wikipedia][Winchester rimfire ammunition] | 33,000 psi per Grokipedia citing SAAMI[Grokipedia] | Niche |
| .21 Sharp | 2024[Winchester] | 25 gr Copper Matrix at 1,750 fps; 42 gr FMJ at 1,330 fps[Winchester] | 24,000 psi[SAAMI] | New |
Pressures marked "per Grokipedia citing SAAMI" are secondary; we confirmed the .22 LR and 21 Sharp values in SAAMI's own documents.
Things that trip people up
- Heeled bullets: a .22 LR bullet is the same diameter as the case and has a narrow "heel" inside it[Wikipedia]. The .21 Sharp uses the same case but a smaller, non-heeled bullet[American Rifleman].
- Interchangeability: Wikipedia notes many .22 LR guns can also fire .22 Short and Long, depending on the mechanism[Wikipedia]; semi-autos often won't cycle them. Never put .22 LR in a .22 WMR chamber. American Rifleman warns that although .21 Sharp will fit a .22 LR chamber, you need a .21 Sharp barrel to shoot it, and .22 LR won't fit a .21 Sharp chamber[American Rifleman].
- Magnum vs LR: see .17 HMR vs .22 LR vs .22 WMR and .22 WMR guide.
Sources
- Smith & Wesson: History of .22
- CCI CB Long (29 gr, 710 fps)
- Wikipedia: .22 Short
- Grokipedia: Rimfire ammunition
- American Rifleman: The .22 LR, history & performance
- Wikipedia: .22 Long Rifle
- ANSI/SAAMI Z299.1-2026 (rimfire)
- Wikipedia: .22 WMR
- CCI Maxi-Mag .22 WMR (40 gr, 1,875 fps)
- American Hunter: Top 7 rimfire cartridges
- Chuck Hawks: .17 HMR, 5mm Rem and .22 WMR compared
- Wikipedia: table of handgun and rifle cartridges
- Winchester rimfire ammunition
- Winchester: 21 Sharp introduction (Sept 18, 2024)
- SAAMI: 21 Sharp public introduction (June 2023)
- American Rifleman: Winchester's new .21 Sharp