How do PRS Rimfire, NRL22 and NRL22X differ?
PRS Rimfire, NRL22 and NRL22X are names of different competition systems. They are not interchangeable. PRS Rimfire adapts elements of precision rifle competition to rimfire rifles. NRL22 has its own rules and organisation. NRL22X is another event format within this field.
PRS Rimfire, NRL22 and NRL22X are names of different competition systems. They are not interchangeable. PRS Rimfire adapts elements of precision rifle competition to rimfire rifles. NRL22 has its own rules and organisation. NRL22X is another event format within this field.
They share the principle of combining several sporting tasks into a score. Distances, tasks, equipment divisions, age groups and season rankings may differ. Even similarly named divisions such as “Open” or “Base” need not have the same limits everywhere.
Rimfire is a sporting category in its own right. A smallbore competition can be demanding even though the absolute distances are shorter than in centrefire formats. The specific event announcement and applicable rules always determine participation. Check the season: it need not exactly match the calendar year. Weitschuss therefore distinguishes the event name from the rule version.
.22 l.r. — Dimensions, energy and range
Dimensions in millimetres; angles as stated in the original. Open the drawing to enlarge it.
Drawing: Malis / Antigoni / Wikimedia Commons · Public Domain · unchanged.
- Case length
- 15.57 mm
- Bullet diameter
- 5.66–5.73 mm
- Overall cartridge length
- 25.40 mm
- Muzzle energy E₀
- 178 J (source example)
- Range context
- No sufficiently qualified range figure was taken from the reviewed sources.
Source dimensions in inches converted to millimetres and rounded.
What the dimensions mean
Case length measures the case without the bullet; overall length measures the complete cartridge. Bullet diameter is distinct from bore calibre. Sources may give nominal or maximum dimensions, so rounded figures can differ slightly. This overview is not a dimensioned standard drawing and does not establish interchangeability.
Understanding energy
E₀ is kinetic energy at the muzzle. It depends on bullet mass and velocity. These figures refer to selected examples from the sources, not every load of this calibre. Bullet design, barrel length and test conditions affect the result. A range of examples is neither a complete market comparison nor guaranteed minimum and maximum performance.
Understanding range
A sporting application distance describes a use case. Supersonic range is the distance over which a particular bullet remains faster than sound under specified conditions. Both differ from maximum flight distance. The cartridge name alone cannot provide a reliable range limit without load and condition details. These distances are neither hunting recommendations nor safety distances.
Data sources: Wikipedia · Source check 2026-10-04