What is rimfire

Elderly shooters sometimes prefer to use a rimfire handgun because of the reduced recoil. Rimfire rounds may not pack the punch of a centerfire round, but because of their smaller size, you usually have more rounds available to you as compared to a centerfire firearm of similar size and function. As a competitive shooter, I compete in both rimfire and centerfire divisions within Steel Challenge. Having both rimfire pistol and rifle divisions available makes Steel Challenge a unique competitive shooting sport and a nice entry point into the sport.

Rimfire vs. Centerfire Ammo. By John Holbrook. Feb, 06, Feb. Centerfire Ammo Primer strikes: rimfire ammo contains its primer in its rim while centerfire ammo contains its primer in the center of the cartridge. What is Centerfire Ammo? What is Rimfire Ammo? These Armscor. Why Use Rimfire Ammo? Why Use Centerfire? Next, check out the rimfire cartridge. Firing pin strikes the rim which ignites the primer and propellant thus firing the bullet.

But when it comes to centerfire… there are two major options. Now, that you know the differences between Centerfire and Rimfire cartridges… Which one is actually the superior ammunition?

Rimfire cartridges are much cheaper than centerfire ammunition. And the reason for this is manufacturing cost. It is much more cost effective to create a thin-walled cartridge with a flattened bottom. With lower costs to the manufacturer, the savings are then passed along to the consumer—you.

Rimfire makes for great ammunition for beginning marksmen. Because of the lower costs and less materials needed to produce, rimfire ammunition is limited to lower calibers. A smaller size firearm is great for training beginning shooters due to the lower recoil experienced when firing. As stated before, the construction is limited to smaller firearms. Those with larger caliber firearms are not able to take advantage of the savings given when purchasing ammunition.

Those into reloading their own ammunition will find themselves out of luck with rimfire cartridges. But this is easily offset by the low cost of purchasing rimfire ammo. There is always a greater chance of malfunction when it comes to firing small caliber ammunition.

This is due to the manufacturing process —more specifically during the attachment of the primer to the cartridge base. Every now and then, the base distribution is not always perfect. Expect a dud or two when purchasing a box. Due to the lightweight nature of most rimfire ammo, they are not recommend for distance shooting.

The longer the distance the bullet has to travel… the more effect outside factors will play into accuracy. Whereas rimfire can only support smaller calibers, centerfire ammunition can be fitted into all sizes.

Making it perfect for every situation from big game hunting to home defense. Capable of Magnum Loading - A magnum load is fired at a higher pressure to generate higher velocity at the muzzle compared to what the original cartridge was designed for. Magnum loads are very popular for self-defense applications as well as dangerous or large game hunting.

Reliability - Centerfire ammunition is known for its extremely high levels of reliability with modern firearm design. The amount of primer compound in standard and magnum primers is such that it is extremely rare for a centerfire cartridge to be a dud. Higher Cost - By comparison, centerfire ammo is always going to be more expensive than rimfire ammo.

Although centerfire cartridge cases can be reloaded, you still cannot achieve the price point per round that a rimfire cartridge affords you. More Felt Recoil - For training purposes, especially for children, having a firearm that is comfortable to shoot is a must.

Centerfire cartridges are inherently going to have more felt recoil due to higher pressures. Not Ideal For Small Game Hunting — Generally speaking, centerfire ammo is not the best choice when it comes to small game hunting if you want to have anything left to harvest. The best round for you is going to depend greatly on the application that you intend to use the cartridge for. Are you new to shooting or looking to train your child in the art of accuracy and precision?

Then a rimfire rifle or handgun is going to be your best bet. Perhaps you just want to go to your local shooting range to have a good time and not feel like every time you pull the trigger you hear the cash register sound? Then rimfire is your winner again.

On the other hand, perhaps you are looking for something to defend your home, life, and liberty with? Maybe you love going big game hunting or the vermin on your property are larger than 10 pounds? Then centerfire is where you need to be. I can say from my own personal experience, there will always be a spot in my gun safe for the trusty.

Table of Contents. Final Thoughts on Rimfire vs Centerfire. Written by.