Answer

I tried to look it up on Wikipedia for you, but their WRF page re-directs to the 5mm rimfire page, which is completely incorrect, so other than to say the cartridge list shows them being dimensionally similar, I would like to know myself what is different besides the name?

 

Here is article with a bit of history on the 22-WRF, I know that it is considered safe to fire the 22-WRF in a 22mag rifle but not the other way around.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_7_48/ai_87413411/pg_1

 

http://www.chuckhawks.com/history_rimfire_ammo.htm

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_7_48/ai_87413411

Did a google and these popped up, hope it helps.

 

I bought a really old Marlin Ballard rifle with the original heavy 24" octagonal barrel that had been relined in the 22 Winchester rimfire and it shoots really well. It had more power than the standard 22lr high velocity ammo but nothing like the 22 magnum. When I bought the rifle, winchester had just come out with a special edition of 22 WRF ammo and I bought 4 or 5 of the 250 round boxes. The bullets were copper wash plated, not outside lubed. Later CCI came out with their version of the 22 WRF and it seems like really good ammo but I believe the bullets may actually be jacketed not copper washed. The 22 WRF ammo isn't cheap but I find it is accurate, at least in my ballard, and being a single shot I don't tend to waste ammo.

 

Chief Says : WRF , WRM , CCI TNT = All the same animal to me !

 

I love the WRF in my 22mag revolvers, shoots great and less noise! I will say this though, in a 22mag rifle they dont always feed right!

 

Quick answer: the 22WRF is a much older cartridge intended to surpass the blackpowder 22lr ballistics of the time. 22WRM is a more recent, 0.1" longer, higher capacity version of the WRF case, loaded to higher pressures, thus becoming the 22 Mag.

 

I meant WMR now what?

 

WMR is the magnum(or 22 mag)(longer and more powerful). I have some of the WRF(shorter and less powerful) here, saving for a convertible revolver someday.Its just a little shorter and not as powerful, kinda like the s-l-lr-stinger in the regular 22. Same basic projectiles and priming though.

 

WMR is the magnum(or 22 mag)(longer and more powerful). I have some of the WRF(shorter and less powerful) here, saving for a convertible revolver someday.Its just a little shorter and not as powerful, kinda like the s-l-lr-stinger in the regular 22. Same basic projectiles and priming though.
[/QUOT
That wasn’t the question. Question was Can WRF be shot in a 22 magnum we all know WMR is a magnum, WRF When I was growing up was called a 22 special I personally won’t see them in my magnum, but some people are saying it’s OK

 

Greg,
Seeing your responce that you meant WMR, not WRF, brings an interesting fact to mind.

First, .22 WMR and .22 Mag are one and the same. From what I have read it seems S&W coined the term .22 Mag for the WMR in the late 1950's due to an agreement back in the 19th century between the founders of Winchester and Smith and Wesson, that neither companies would step on each others marketing/product toes.

Hence, in the late 1950's while development of the .22WMR was going on at Winchester, S&W was developing the Model 48 revolver chambered for the WMR cartridge. Due to this agreement between companies, S&W would not put WMR in their specifications or on the gun but instead called it the .22 Magnum or .22 Mag...

I'm writing this from what I remember having had an early '60s .22 WMR Mossberg, possibly others can confirm this information or provide corrections...

 

In the "old days" the WFR was a 45 grain lead bullet that was shorter than the 22 mag but could be shot out of a single six 22 mag cylinder. It was better than a Long Rifle but could not keep up with the mag in performance. Basically it got replaced as the 22 mag got more popular. Nowdays the 22 mag bullets cost less than the WFR so there is really no reason to buy them unless your gun will not shoot the mag.

Jeff