is pushed forward by the recoil spring, it takes with it a cartridge from the magazine, which can be of either the vertical box, rotary, or tubular type. A rifle that operates this way is often called an “automatic”, but this term strictly applies to a rifle type that fires the next shot simply by holding the trigger back. With the self-loading or semiautomatic rifle, loading is automatically accomplished after each shot, but the trigger must be released and pulled for each shot.
Each type of action has some advantages and disadvantages. The bolt-action is the slowest to operate because the shooter’s hand must be removed from the grip, the handle grasped, the bolt turned and pulled back, then pushed forward and closed. With the pump and lever-actions, only a back and forth motion is required. With the autoloader, the trigger must be released and then pulled for the next shot. However, bolt-action rifles are generally more accurate, and as a result most accurate sporting and target rifles have that type action. Some target rifles are extremely accurate autoloaders. Today, the boltaction and semiautomatic rifles are by far the most popular rimfires and there is an extensive selection of rifles of each type. Before making a selection, handle rifles having different types of actions and evaluate them in terms of your anticipated use. You may be surprised to find how far down the list of criteria that rate of fire ranks in terms of importance. If you want a rifle that is a real tack driver, you will probably select a bolt-action or one of the target autoloaders that are becoming more popular.
Except for length, the dimensions of the 22 WRF and the 22 WMR are almost identical.
Calibers
Although there were once rimfire rifles available in several calibers, they are currently all either 17s or 22s. The 17 HMR, the 17 Mach 2, 17 Aguila and as this is written, perhaps even other 17 rimfires are becoming popular. However, the 22 Long Rifle (LR) is by far the most popular rimfire caliber. Both 22 LR firearms and ammunition are less expensive than those in any other caliber. Of course, the choice of caliber should be made based on the use to which the firearm is to be put.
Chapter 9 deals with using rimfire firearms for hunting and pest shooting. In that chapter, several factors regarding the suitability of the various rimfire calibers for specific purposes are briefly discussed. If you plan to do a lot of shooting or want to enjoy shooting for the lowest possible cost, there is no doubt that the 22 LR is the caliber of choice because of the lower cost involved. Also, the 22 LR generally gives better accuracy than the 22 Short except when the latter is fired in special target arms chambered specifically for that round. At one time, rifles chambered for the 22 Short were popular, but the choice of arms chambered specifically for the 22 Short is very limited now. Moreover, the cost of 22 Short ammunition now exceeds that of most 22 LR loads because of the difference in sales volume, and the 22 Short is not available in every corner store that sells only a few of the most popular types.
For many years, the 22 LR has been the choice of squirrel hunters when they are hunting in a location that allows a rifle to be used safely. Most rimfire rifles are capable of fine accuracy when the appropriate ammunition is used. It may take some testing with several types of ammunition to determine which types perform best in your rifle, but it pays dividends when you take a shot at a very small target that you wish to harvest cleanly. In my experience, shots at small game are usually no longer than 50 yards, and the 22 LR has plenty of power to harvest squirrels at that range. Generally, head shots are made in order to minimize meat damage so the target area is not much larger than an inch in diameter. Accuracy of the rifle/ammunition combination and shooting skill are the most important factors.
Rimfire rifles are currently available in several calibers. Shown here (left to right) are the 17 Aguila, 17 Mach 2, 17 Hornady Rimfire Magnum, 22 Long Rifle, and the 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire.
Anschutz sporting rifles have long been known for their accuracy. This model fitted with a Cabela’s 6-20X scope is a real tack driver.
The Remington 504 is a highly regarded entry in the field of rimfire sporters.
Frequently, someone writing either in an advertisement or an article mentions using the 22 WMR or 17 HMR for hunting small game. Either will certainly dispatch small game species, but head shots better be made if you want much left to eat. These high velocity rounds are explosive to small targets, especially at the ranges at which squirrels and rabbits are normally taken. The primary use of these magnum calibers is in taking larger species or taking small species at long range where their higher power and flatter trajectory are advantageous. Rabbits, squirrels, and treed raccoons do not require the use of a magnum rimfire. There is one advantage of the 22 WMR over the 17 HMR for small game hunting. Although the overall case length is shorter, the old cartridge known as the 22 Winchester Rim Fire (WRF) has almost identical head size and body taper as does the 22 WMR. Therefore, it is perfectly safe to fire 22 WRF ammunition in a rifle chambered for the 22 WMR. Because it is a specialty item having low sales volume, the cost of 22 WRF ammunition is about the same as it is for some of the lower cost (not premium) 22 WMR ammunition. The advantage of using the 22 WRF cartridges is that they feature a 45-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of around 1,300 ft/sec so they are similar in power to a 22 LR high velocity round. This can be important when using a rifle chambered for the 22 WMR on edible game. The only factor to consider is whether the slightly shorter 22 WRF round is sufficiently accurate in your 22 WMR to justify its use. In my bolt-action Ruger 77/22M, the CCI 22 WRF gives outstanding accuracy. Five-shot groups average just over 0.6 inches at 50 yards so this gives me the flexibility to use ammunition of lower power in my 22 WMR without sacrificing accuracy. However, I must sight in with the 22 WRF ammunition because the point of impact at 50 yards is 5 or 6 inches lower than where the 22 WMR hits. The 17 HMR offers no such lower-powered option in ammunition.
As will be discussed in Chapter 9, varmint hunting with rimfire rifles is an entirely different matter since recovery of edible meat is not a factor. While you will almost certainly begin with a 22 LR, there are obvious advantages to the use of the 22 WMR and 17 HMR for the varmint hunter. Either will extend the range of a 22 LR by a considerable margin and will permit taking larger species. The 22 WMR is effective to about 125 to 150 yards while the flattershooting 17 HMR is effective to perhaps 150 to 175 yards with best performance of both calibers at or close to the lower end of the ranges mentioned. As we will now discuss, this performance comes at a price when the cost of ammunition is considered. In this regard, the 22 WMR has some advantage because all ammunition for the 17 HMR is of a “premium” type, which costs more than most of the 22 WMR types, which are not designated as premium ammunition. Although the topic will be discussed in detail in Chapter 9, the 22 WMR is better suited to taking larger species while the 17 HMR is better suited to taking smaller species at longer ranges. The logical approach is probably to choose a 22 LR for plinking and small game hunting then add a 17 HMR or 22 WMR if you wish to get more involved with varmint hunting using only rimfire rifles. However, many small bore enthusiasts do serious varmint hunting with rifles chambered for the 22 LR by limiting the ranges at which shots at game are taken and choosing rifles and ammunition that are capable of giving target-grade accuracy.
If the varmints you plan to hunt are small species such as ground squirrels and crows at ranges not to exceed 125 yards or so, the 17 Mach 2 may be the round you choose. With a muzzle velocity of approximately 2,100 ft/sec, the trajectory is quite flat out to about 125 yards making hits easy. Keep in mind that this is not a powerful round so its use should be confined to smaller species of varmints. Outstanding accuracy is reported with most rifles in this caliber so it would also function well for the squirrel hunter who is willing to pass up all but head shots. As this is written,
