About .22 Magnum
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over
.22 Magnum today. The
.22 Magnum is one of the most popular and effective rimfire calibers in the United States. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of the cartridge while delving into traits, features, use cases, and more. Without further ado, let’s get into a discussion about
.22 Magnum.
Other Names for .22 Magnum
While the loading is most often referred to as
.22 Magnum or
.22 Mag for short, there are a variety of other names and designations for this round one should be aware of. The official designation of the cartridge is
.22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum, often abbreviated as
.22 WMR. The caliber is also referred to as
.22 Win Mag,
.22 WMRF, and
.22 MRF. Some manufacturers who produce
.22 Magnum ammo may mark their ammunition boxes with one of these names. Simply put, if you see ammunition with one of these names, it is going to be compatible with a
.22 Magnum chambered firearm.
Purchase .22 Magnum Ammo
What is .22 Magnum?
The
.22 Magnum cartridge was introduced in 1959 by Winchester. The full designation of the cartridge is .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, distinguishing itself clearly from other rimfire calibers. The first rifle to accommodate the
.22 Magnum was the Marlin Levermatic rifle which was introduced the same year as the cartridge. Winchester themselves would not produce a rifle for the caliber until 1960 in the form of the Model 61 slide rifle. After the introduction of these initial rifles, Smith & Wesson and Ruger produced revolvers that accommodated the caliber as well. The cartridge saw a great deal of support shortly after its introduction.
The
.22 Magnum is clearly distinct from other popular rimfire calibers. The
.22 Short, .22 Long, and
.22 Long Rifle cartridges are all dwarfed by the significantly longer
.22 Magnum. Additionally, the
.22 Magnum features a thicker casing, preventing it from being loaded into firearms not rated for the loading. The
.22 Magnum is notable for being able to produce high velocities despite being a rimfire loading. For example, a 40 grain standard-faire
.22 Magnum loading is capable of achieving velocities around 1,875 FPS when fired from a rifle. Lighter projectiles weighing 30 grains can lead to velocities of around 2,300 FPS in some cases, an impressive value for a rimfire cartridge.
As a rimfire loading, the cartridge features a smallbore projectile and narrow casing. The cartridge produces more recoil and impulse than the smaller
.22 Long Rifle. This is due to the magnum nature of the round and the fact it has more velocity and produces and delivers more energy than smaller calibers. The high velocity and impulse of the round makes it well-suited for semi-automatic firearms, specifically those of the blowback variety.
.22 Magnum loadings will generally have no issue cycling slides and bolts on autoloading firearms.
Is .22 Magnum Good for Hunting?
When it comes to hunting, the
.22 Magnum is well-suited to dispatching small game and varmints. A variety of small game animals such as groundhogs, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, and coyotes are easily taken with
.22 Magnum ammo. Many companies such as
CCI produce
ammunition purpose-built for dispatching small game, providing hunters with an effective and efficient loading. As with all types of hunting, one should ensure that they are using proper equipment,
ammunition, and practices to ensure an ethical and optimal hunt.
How Available is .22 Magnum Ammunition?
At this point in time,
.22 Magnum ammunition can be found from a variety of sources and is well-supported in the industry. It may not be as plentiful as
.22 Long Rifle ammo, but it is certainly available and obtainable. Standard loadings and specialty offerings are produced by a number of companies across the globe.
Fiocchi,
CCI,
Winchester,
Federal, and
Aguila are among the producers of
.22 Magnum ammunition. These companies produce general purpose loadings well-suited for plinking and specialty loadings for match, hunting, and even self-defense use.
The cartridge is hardly obscure, meaning that one will likely to encounter
.22 Magnum loadings at most places where ammunition is sold. Furthermore, one will find that the availability of ammunition opens up if they shop for ammunition online. If you buy ammo online, you are not limited by what you can find locally on shelves. This can come in handy if looking for a specific type of
.22 Magnum offering, such as a lead-free loading. Simply put, one will have no issue finding
.22 Magnum ammunition if they are looking to stock up.
How Available are Firearms in .22 Magnum?
When it comes to firearms on the market that will accommodate
.22 Magnum ammunition, one will find that there is a wide range of firearms available. These firearms are commonly found in the form of revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, manual action rifles, and semi-automatic rifles. When it comes to revolvers, both single action and double action offerings are available. Manual action offerings of rifles come in the form of single shot, bolt action, and lever action firearms. Companies such as Ruger, Bergara, Henry Repeating Arms, and Smith & Wesson are among the producers of
.22 Magnum firearms. Beyond modern production offerings, one will also encounter old production and vintage firearms chambered in
.22 Magnum. Simply put, one will have no issue tracking down a firearm chambered in
.22 Magnum if they are after one.
Purchase .22 Magnum Ammo
Is .22 Magnum Interchangeable with Other Calibers?
The
.22 Magnum cartridge is not directly interchangeable with any other calibers. The dimensions of the cartridge ensure that it cannot be chambered in an incompatible firearm. Some specific firearms, such as Ruger’s Single-Six revolvers will be able to accommodate both
.22 Long Rifle and
.22 Magnum ammunition. These firearms feature .22 bores and accommodate specific cylinders for
.22 Long Rifle and
.22 Magnum use. These types of revolvers are referred to as “convertible” models and allow for one to take advantage of two calibers in one firearm.
Conclusion
All in all, the
.22 Magnum cartridge has persisted in common use with a variety of shooters for nearly 70 years now. The cartridge is employed for a variety of use cases ranging from hunting to recreational shooting and plinking, adding to the reputation of the round. We here at True Shot Ammo have a range of
.22 Magnum ammo for sale from a variety of manufacturers. These loadings encompass general-purpose use cases and specialized offerings which cater to a wide range of shooters. Whether you are after
.22 Magnum ammunition need to
buy ammo of a different type, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
View more posts about ammunition:
