22 LR vs 22 WMR vs 17 HMR - What's the best rimfire ammo cartridge?

Rimfire cartridges are undoubtedly some of the most popular cartridges used in America. Rifles calibered in .22 LR, . 22 WMR, and . 17 HMR are likely in the gun safes of almost any hunter reading this story right now. Some of these calibers have a long history, and some are relative newcomers on the scene, but all of them are great to shoot. Rimfires are the standby for every hunter who has ever pursued a cottontail or squirrel, enjoys plinking from time to time, or has handed the American shooting heritage down to the next generation. These guns are fun, have a definite hunting niche, and are a big part of the hunting culture. That being said, which is the best?

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The debate of what rimfire cartridge is best, like most gun debates, is pretty personal. It really depends on what you are doing. There are times the .22 LR might be your absolute best choice, and times when bringing it into the field would be laughable. In order to help some young shooter out there gain some perspective, let’s take a look at the .22 LR, .22 WMR, and the .17 HMR to see where each one shines, and where the come up a bit short. After reading this, hopefully the right cartridge choice for you is more clear.

Author’s Note: All ballistics data in the ensuing test will reference this chart located in this link.

.22 LR

The .22 LR, or Long Rifle, is the oldest cartridge of this bunch. It was developed in 1887 and has been in gun cabinets ever since. Rifles calibered for .22 LR have come in every style and have been made by almost every company that ever produced a firearm. You can find old beat up rifles all around the country, and manufacturers are still churning them out with regularity. Ammunition for the .22 LR is also relatively cheap and easy to find. It is an excellent cartridge for shooting small targets at short distances. The amount of ammunition out there, in combination with the different styles, make the .22 LR one of the most versatile cartridges out there. That beings true, it is common for the .22 LR to be loaded with a 40 grain bullet it can project in the neighborhood of 1,300 fps. Because of its light point weight, and low muzzle velocity, this gun shines when used on targets less than 50 yards.

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One of the biggest drawbacks to the .22 LR is the drop of the bullet downrange, and its susceptibility to wind. When compared to other rimfires, the .22 LR notices more drop after about 75 yards, which significantly increases after 100 yards. This makes longer shots much more difficult. Not only do the bullets drop, but they also can see significant impact by the wind. In the linked data wind drift was almost eight inches at 125 yards with only a 10 mph wind. That can certainly impact accuracy. Also, even if you can hit your target downrange, you wouldn’t want to use a .22 LR for long hunting shots. After around 100 yards the kinetic energy of the bullet significantly drops to the point where shots become unethical in the minds of most hunters.

At the end of the day, while the .22 LR has some limitations, is has proven to be fantastic at what it does well. The .22 LR is a great small game cartridge, especially if those shots stay under 100 yards, and is one first time shooters will like to shoot.

.22 WMR

Another good option for a rimfire gun is the .22 WMR, or Winchester Magnum Rimfire. It was designed in 1959 and really opened more doors for small caliber shooters than the .22 LR. Since its creation, this round has really grown in popularity and has proven to be effective for many tasks and shooting situations. Like the .22 LR there are pros and cons to this cartridge, and it might be a good fit for your shooting needs.

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One place the .22 WMR excels in comparison to the .22 LR is in its basic performance. Using a V-Max 30 grain bullet, this cartridge can move down range at 2200 feet per second. This puts this particular cartridge right at 900 feet per second faster than your average .22 LR round. Note that the bullet weight of the .22 WMR is actually lighter than the round used in the .22 LR test. By adding the extra speed this cartridge can more accurately shoot further distances. When looking at the bullet trajectory chart, you can see the .22 WMR stays steady course until around 150 yards. At 150 yards your bullet will be 6 inches low, which is a fairly easy correction to account for. Also, at 125 yards the bullet is still producing 114 ft. lbs of energy. This factor gives it significantly more energy than the .22 LR rounds that were tested. Generally speaking, the .22 WMR bullet will always carry more energy downrange than a .22 LR. If you are looking for a gun capable of taking small game, and varmits, out to 150 yards, the .22 WMR might be a good choice.

Unfortunately, the .22 WMR also has a few downfalls. First off, due to the light point weight, this cartridge can still have difficulties in the wind. For example, if you reference the chart you’ll see the 30 grain V-Max has more wind drift at 150 yards than any of the heavier .22 LR bullets did. In fact the bullet will drift nearly 14” with just a 10 mph wind. This certainly can be a factor if you hunt or shoot in areas that generally see constant winds. Also, due to the increased energy produced by the bullet on impact, it can be a little excessive if dining on cottontails is in your plans. Overall thought, the .22 WMR is a handy little varmit rimfire that gives more range than a .22 LR.

.17 HMR

Last on the list of these rimfire cartridges is the .17 HMR. Compared to the other rimfires on this list, the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) is the youngest by a long shot. Designed in 2002 by the folks at Hornady, the .17 HMR has caught on quick and is fast becoming one of the most popular small caliber guns in America. Interestingly enough, the .17 had existed prior to Hornady’s release in 2002, but it existed as a centerfire cartridge, rather than a rimfire. By changing the cartridge Hornady was hoping to create a rimfire cartridge that could outperform the .22 WMR. What they ended up making was a darn fine cartridge that has some real strengths.

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The first major advantage of the .17 HMR is its flat trajectory. If you look at the data for the 17 HMR CCI 20 grain cartridge you can see when zeroed at 50 yards, the bullet hits only .6 inches low at 100 yards. Also, at 150 yards the shot is only 4 inches low. Compare this to the 6 inches bullet drop of the .22 WMR, and you can tell the difference is noticeable. Another area where the .17 HMR shines is in the wind drift department. With the same 10 mph wind impacting the bullet, the 20 grain .17 will only drift about 8” at 150 yards. While that is still significant, it is drastically less than the other two cartridges on this list. In terms of kinetic energy upon impact, the .17 outperforms the .22 WMR, but only slightly. Using the same two cartridges we have been using for example, the .17 will have 116 ft. lbs of energy at 150 yards and the .22 WMR will have 114 ft. lbs. Also, at shorter distances the .22 WMR will outperform the .17 HMR in this same department.

The major downside shooters recognize of the .17 HMR is the significant increase in the cost of ammunition. Interestingly, at Foundry35 you can pick up 50 rounds for just over $10 at the moment. This actually is slightly cheaper than the .22 WMR at the moment which runs for just over $11. Also, like the .22 WMR, the .17 HMR can tend to create excessive damage on small game. If you are going meat hunting, it might be a tad too much.

In the end the .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR all have their pros and cons. All can be great little rimfire rifles given the right circumstances and are locked away in gun cabinets across America. If you are looking to make a purchase, take a look at the ballistic data and see what best suits your needs. Whatever gun you choose, you are likely going to enjoy it for a very long time.

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