Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammunition: Which Is Best for You?

General Information

Centerfire and rimfire are two different categories of primer ignition systems for ammo, so it is important to understand the specifics of how they differ when you are searching for a new firearm to add to your collection. How does a Kel Tec CP33 chambered in 22LR differ from a Glock 19 chambered in 9mm? And most importantly, which is better to take to the range if you are just going plinking? Here are some of the differences, along with the pros and cons of rimfire and centerfire cartridges.

Round Appearance

The easiest way to tell the rounds apart is to look at the back of the round. If there is a circular primer in the middle of the back of the round, it is a centerfire cartridge. If there is no primer that you can see, it is likely a rimfire cartridge.

Ignition Systems

The firing pin strikes the rim on rimfire cartridges, hence the name. However, centerfire sees the pin hitting the primer in the center of the cartridge. Primers in centerfire cartridges are much smaller, while the primer on a rimfire is typically much larger.

Cartridge Size

Walls on a centerfire cartridge must be thin enough to be crushed by a firing pin, igniting the primer. This means they tend to be smaller, such as 22LR. This also means they require less powder, as the same powder you might use for a 9mm rimfire would blow the 22LR apart.

Cost

Loading your 9mm revolver will be more costly than loading your 22LR Henry Lever Action. It is much less expensive to manufacture thin brass with a larger primer than to manufacture centerfire ammo. A box of 1,000 rounds of 22LR will cost far less than a box of 50 rounds of 9mm ammo. For this reason, it is not uncommon for shooters to stock up on rimfire cartridges, as they can be plentiful and cheap.

Reloading

It is nearly impossible for most rimfire cartridges to be reloaded. The primer is in the bottom of the case, unlike centerfire rounds, and cannot be removed easily. Meanwhile, removing a used primer on a centerfire cartridge is easy. Centerfire rounds also have thicker brass walls, which can better withstand deformation while firing. Picking up the rounds you shot from your Kahr PM9 at the end of a range session for reuse is common, while used rimfire casings are not good for much at all.

Which Is Better for the Range?

Thanks to the cost, if you are just plinking at the range and having fun shooting, you will probably want to bring a rimfire cartridge, like 22LR. It is much cheaper to have a fun day with rimfire than with centerfire. Bring the centerfire cartridges if you are focusing on hunting or practicing for a specific competition, or you need to fire a particular gun.

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