They are two of the most popular rifle cartridges in the country, both packing bullets around .223 inches.
That’s where the similarities end.
The .22 Long Rifle is a staple for small-game hunting, affordable plinking, and varmint control. It’s often the first cartridge shot by someone learning to use a firearm. The .223 Remington, on the other hand, is the most popular cartridge for AR-style semiautomatic rifles. With a heritage in the military, it’s used for elite competition, high-volume target shooting, and numerous hunting adventures.
Comparing the two may seem silly, but considering that these are the two most popular rifle cartridges in the county, it’s worth the effort. Whether you are selecting your first rifle or adding one of these cartridges to an already-full gun safe, this article will help you make the right choice.
.22 LR versus .223 Specs
| .22 Long Rifle | .223 Remington | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 1887 | 1962 |
| Primer | Rimfire | Centerfire |
| Bullet Diameter | .223 inches | .224 inches |
| Neck Diameter | .226 inches | .253 inches |
| Base Diameter | .226 inches | .376 inches |
| Case Length | .613 inches | 1.76 inches |
| Overall Length | 1 inch | 2.26 inches |
| Bullet Weights | Roughly 20 to 40 grains | Roughly 35 to 80 Grains (55 standard) |
| Typical Firearm | Wide variety. Bolt, lever, semi-auto rifles. Revolvers and pistols also. | AR-style modern sporting rifles. |
Physical Differences
The numbers above show a clear difference between the cartridges. The main difference, of course, is in the casing. The case width and length are much larger on the .223 Remington; you can guess what kind of impact this has on performance.
There is also a difference in primers. 22 LR ammunition is a rimfire cartridge, while the .223 is centerfire. This impacts performance, and also means that spent .22 LR cartridges cannot be reloaded. (Fortunately, as we will see, they are not terribly expensive!)
Market Availability and Pricing
Both of these cartridges are, for the most part, readily available at a well-stocked outdoors store or your favorite online ammo market. Pricing, however, is different. While the .223 Remington is a budget-friendly centerfire round, the .22 LR is the most affordable cartridge in broad use today. As of writing this article, the lowest-priced .22 LR on our site was about 25% of the cost of .223 Remington ammo.
So what are you paying for when you purchase a box of .22 LR or .223 Remington rounds? To find out, let’s examine some of their performance statistics…
.22 LR versus .223 Rem: Ballistics
If you know anything about ammunition, or simply understand the concepts of propellants and physics, you can likely guess the results for cartridge performance…
Velocity
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | 100-yard Velocity (fps) | |
|---|---|---|
| .22 LR - Winchester 40-grain Power-Point | 1,280 | 1,001 |
| .223 - Winchester 60-grain Power-Point | 3,020 | 2,656 |
| .22 LR - Federal 38-grain American Eagle | 1,260 | 1,010 |
| .223 - Winchester 50-grain American Eagle | 3,325 | 2,839 |
| .22 LR - Hornady 30-grain V-Max | 2,200 | 1,421 |
| .223 - Hornady 55-grain V-Max | 3,240 | 2,854 |
These results should come as no surprise. The rimfire .22 LR, which is known as a light, small cartridge, is far outmatched by the .223 Remington, which has a reputation for high velocities from relatively light bullets. (Light, that is, for a centerfire rifle.)
In this comparison, it’s not even close, as the .223 Remington is 1,000 to 2,000 feet per second faster in muzzle velocity and maintains this advantage far down range.
Energy
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | 100-yard Energy (ft-lbs) | |
|---|---|---|
| .22 LR - Winchester 40-grain Power-Point | 145 | 89 |
| .223 - Winchester 60-grain Power-Point | 1,296 | 1,003 |
| .22 LR - Federal 38-grain American Eagle | 134 | 104 |
| .223 - Winchester 50-grain American Eagle | 1,227 | 895 |
| .22 LR - Hornady 30-grain V-Max | 322 | 134 |
| .223 - Hornady 55-grain V-Max | 1,282 | 995 |
Heavier bullets. Faster speeds.
You don’t have to look at the stats to know the .223 Remington is the more powerful cartridge. It was, after all, designed for military purposes.
So if there was any thought that the .22 LR comes close to the .223 Remington, put those ideas to rest. With nearly nine times the power in some cases, the .223 Remington far outpaces the most popular rimfire cartridge in the country.
Trajectory and Distance
One might assume that with slightly lighter bullets, just maybe the .22 Long Rifle will have comparable trajectories and distance capabilities. It may not hit with nearly as much force, but for distance target shooting, perhaps it compares.
Trajectories can be hard to compare, unfortunately, as manufacturers rarely offer consistent stats. This is especially true for rimfire compared to centerfire rounds.
But even if you’re not personally testing the rounds, there is a clue in manufacturers’ stats. For .22 LR, most manufacturers offer stats out to 100 or 150 yards, rarely as far as 200 or more. They know that this is the max distance for the cartridge. The .223 Remington, however, usually has stats as far as 500 yards.
Federal has stats on both the .22 LR and the .223 Remington when zeroed to 100 yards. (Another hint: this is the “long range” for .22 LR and “average range” for .223 Remington.) In this case, the .22 LR drops 11.2 inches at 150 yards. Under the same conditions, the .223 Remington drops 2.8 inches at 200 yards. Longer distance, and still less drop.
Recoil
When a cartridge has clear disadvantages in velocity and energy, it almost always has an advantage in recoil. The .22 LR is easily the lighter cartridge, which is why it’s the common choice for teaching youth and inexperienced shooters the safe use of a firearm. Thanks to almost non-existent recoil, it’s an accessible, un-intimidating entry point for new shooters.
Final Verdict
Although the .223 Remington has more speed, more power, and better distance capabilities, there are plenty of reasons to choose the .22 Long Rifle for your first (or second, or twentieth) rifle.
If your primary goal is affordable plinking, you simply can’t beat the .22 Long Rifle. You could spend an entire day at the range and spend less than $100 on ammunition with a .22 LR. You may not be shooting at 200 yards, but you’ll still appreciate the money you’ve saved. The .22 Long Rifle is also an excellent varmint round and small-game cartridge, which is why it’s found in thousands (probably millions) of homes across the United States.
However, if you want something more powerful and more versatile, something that works for medium-sized game as well as long-distance target shooting, the .223 Remington won’t disappoint.
