Firearms Terminology

[SportingShooter 0]

Thanks for your help. I am trying to understand rifles as I am new to this.

Shotguns just seem so much easier!

 

So to clarify.

 

Can I use for example a .22WMR round in the same gun as a .22Hornet?

 

Scuba,

 

A .22LR, .22WMR and all .22 centrefire rounds have the same sized bullets, .224 of an inch.

 

However, they all come loaded in different casings with different ignition systems,

 

The .22LR fits specifically in a rifle that is made for it, no other round should be fired from that rifle, the same as a .22WMR, the rifle is chambered just for that round.

 

Those two are both rimfire rifles, meaning the hammer strikes the edge of the case, compresses an ignition compound, causes a spark and lights the rest of the powder.

 

Then you move on to centrefires where you have again, rifles chambered for each individual calibre, but the ignition system involves a priming cap, much like a cap gun, which sits in the centre of the base of the shell. That gets hit by the firing pin and again compresses and ignites what is inside. Rimfire and centrefire rifles and calibres are not interchangable, they're all made for individual shells.

 

AR177 - that question has come up before and on previous occasions it has meant only a .22LR can be bought, however it should be listed as a .22LR but licensing departments are not the best at understanding the difference. Legally, a .22WMR is a .22 rimfire cartridge and so could theoretically be bought with that, but most often ends up meaning .22LR.

 

Clarify with your department

[scubadog 6]

SportingShooter, thank you.

 

Exactly what I needed.

[AR177 588]

Cheers sport

[foxshooter69 6]

I have a question then, if 22LR and 22 WMR are both rimfire....

 

my licence say .22 RF .. so can i have a .22WMR ? or does it have to state WMR ?

I had .22rf on my license, bought a .22WMR one RFD in south wales would sell me ammo and another wouldn't.