Best .22 WMR Ammo for Varmints and Small Game

The cartridge with a range, not a number

When Winchester introduced the .22 Magnum in 1959, the original load was a 40-grain bullet. Today you can buy .22 WMR in 30, 40 and 50 grains, along with tipped, hollow-point, soft-point and full-metal-jacket designs.

That spread is the cartridge's real advantage over the .17 HMR, which is locked into tiny bullets. With a .22 WMR you can choose a fast, light, tipped bullet for prairie dogs, a 40-grain hollow point for foxes at moderate range, or a soft point for rabbits you plan to cook. The trick is matching the bullet to the job.

Below are the loads worth trying first, grouped by what they do. Speeds and ballistics come from the makers' own pages. Accuracy doesn't. Every barrel has favorites, so try a few before you buy a case.

Best all-rounder: CCI Maxi-Mag 40 gr JHP

If you buy one box of .22 WMR, this is a sensible first choice. CCI lists the Maxi-Mag 40-grain jacketed hollow point at 1,875 fps and 312 ft-lbs at the muzzle, falling to 1,319 fps and 155 ft-lbs at 100 yards. Its listed BC is .114. CCI calls it one of the fastest .22 WMR cartridges on the market.

A 40-grain hollow point is the middle of the road: heavy enough to push deeper than a light varmint bullet, fast enough to expand. It suits ground squirrels, woodchucks and similar pests at sensible ranges.

Skip it if: you mostly shoot small game for the table. A fast hollow point can cost you meat.

Best for flat shots on small varmints: CCI VNT or Hornady V-Max 30 gr

Lighter bullets mean more speed. CCI lists its 30-grain VNT, a Speer bullet with a very thin jacket and polymer tip, at 2,200 fps with a BC of .116. CCI's table puts it at 1,571 fps and 164 ft-lbs at 100 yards. Hornady's 30-grain V-Max is also listed at 2,200 fps from a 24-inch test barrel, with 1,454 fps at 100 yards and 1,026 fps at 200.

That extra speed flattens the path, which helps when you're shooting small varmints at unknown ranges. The tipped bullet is built to break up quickly.

The trade-off: 30-grain bullets lose speed fast. Compare the energy at 100 yards: CCI's 30-grain VNT and the 40-grain Maxi-Mag end up close, and the 30-grain bullet drifts more in wind for its weight. Light, fast loads are best on small animals, not larger pests.

Best hollow point for close, small targets: CCI Maxi-Mag TNT 30 gr

CCI's Maxi-Mag TNT uses a 30-grain TNT jacketed hollow point at 2,200 fps. Its listed BC is lower, .088, and CCI's table shows it falling to 1,405 fps and 131 ft-lbs at 100 yards. CCI pitches it for explosive expansion on varmints.

That low BC makes it a short-to-mid-range load. Inside 100 yards on small varmints, it's a strong choice. Past that, the tipped bullets hold up better.

Best for small game you plan to eat: CCI Gamepoint 40 gr

The Gamepoint line uses a jacketed soft point with a dimpled tip. CCI says it expands like a big-game bullet but keeps meat and hide damage to a minimum. Ammunition Depot's listing shows the 40-grain .22 WMR version at 1,875 fps.

For rabbits and similar small game where a .22 WMR is legal and sensible, this is a better fit than a fast varmint bullet. Shot placement still matters most.

Heavier bullets for more penetration

Some loads go heavier than 40 grains. Federal offers a 50-grain jacketed hollow point in its Game-Shok line, and Ammunition Depot also lists Winchester's 45-grain DynaPoint. Heavier bullets start slower but tend to penetrate deeper. They're worth testing if you shoot foxes or larger pests at close range, where legal. Check the maker's spec sheet for each load's speed and the barrel length it was measured in.

Best practice load: 40 gr FMJ

You don't need premium varmint bullets to learn your rifle or practice on steel at a safe distance. A 40-grain FMJ is the usual practice choice. Winchester's Super-X 40-grain FMJ is one widely sold example.

A practice load won't always land in the same place as your hunting load, so confirm your zero with the hunting ammo before you go out.

Quick comparison

How to test .22 WMR loads in your rifle

.22 Magnum rifles can be just as picky as .22 LR rifles. Two bolt guns of the same model can prefer different loads. Here's a simple way to sort it out without buying a case of the wrong thing.

1. Pick three loads from different categories, for example a 40-grain JHP, a 30-grain tipped bullet and a soft point.
2. Shoot from a solid rest at 100 yards in calm weather. Shoot several five-shot groups of each.
3. Check point of impact, not just group size. Light and heavy bullets often land in different places. If you switch loads for hunting, re-zero.
4. Note cycling if you shoot a semi-auto. A load that groups well but doesn't feed reliably is not a hunting load.
5. Buy the winner by the lot if you can. Consistency within one lot is usually better than between lots.

If you're choosing between a .22 WMR and a .17 HMR in the first place, ammo variety is one of the .22 Mag's biggest advantages. Our .22 WMR vs .22 LR comparison covers the other side of that choice.

Rifles, handguns and barrel length

The makers' figures come from rifle-length test barrels. Hornady, for example, measures its .22 WMR loads in a 24-inch barrel. In a short revolver or pistol, you'll get less speed. That's not a reason to avoid .22 WMR in a handgun, but it is a reason not to expect rifle ballistics from one. If you're choosing a gun, our guide to guns chambered in .22 Magnum covers revolvers, pistols, lever guns and bolt rifles.

Semi-auto .22 WMR rifles can be sensitive to ammunition. If you own one, check the maker's guidance and test a box of any new load for reliable cycling before you rely on it.

Safety, storage and the law

A .22 WMR bullet carries a long way. Pick shots with a solid earth backstop, avoid shooting at water or rocks at shallow angles, and know what's beyond your target. Store rifles unloaded and out of reach of children and unauthorized people, with ammo stored separately where possible.

Rules for using rimfires on small game, furbearers and predators vary by state. As of October 2026, check your state wildlife agency's regulations for legal calibers, seasons and hours before you hunt.

Browse the full range on Ammunition Depot's 22 WMR ammo page and check current price.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

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