The difference between a centerfire and rimfire cartridge is that centerfire cartridges have the primer in the center of the bullet’s base giving it higher velocity, more accuracy, and produces more recoil, and rimfire uses the outer ring of the base reducing recoil making it better for new shooters.
Centerfire cartridges were invented before rimfire around 1808 by Jean Samuel Pauly with his design of a self contained design, and rimfire was invented in 1855 by Louis-Nicolas Flobert with his breech-loading pistol. Something interesting to think about is that no new standard cartridge designs have become mainstream in close to 200 years. This means there is still room for innovation in our industry.
Knowing the above, it sounds like centerfire cartridges are going to be the winner when choosing between them and rimfire. But centerfire cartridges are more expensive than rimfire on average, and sometimes you don’t want that massive kick, like if you’re shooting for fun or practice. There’s pros and cons for both cartridge types, and this guide will help you choose which one meets your needs.
Centerfire | Rimfire | |
Cost | More expensive | Less expensive |
Skill level | Advanced | Beginner |
Hunting small game | Yes, but not recommended | Yes |
Hunting large game | Yes | No |
Sports | Yes | No |
Self defense (1 worst and 10 best) | 8 | 4 |
Recoil | High | Low |
Velocity | Higher | Lower |
Duds per 100 cartridges | 0 to 1 | 2 |
When to Choose Centerfire Over Rimfire
When accuracy matters, centerfire is better than rimfire as it can travel at higher velocities with a flat trajectory, and has a more condensed ballistic entry into the target. This gives centerfire an advantage for hunting, long distance target shooting, and you can choose from multiple primer sizes letting you adjust the propellant and power of each shot.
It is easier and quicker to reload with centerfire than rimfire cartridges, so if you need to get more rounds off for personal defense, centerfire is what you want. The accuracy and ease of loading the next rounds can make a huge difference when seconds matter.
Although centerfire cartridges are more expensive than rimfire, they can be reused through a process called reloading where rimfire cannot, and this may save you some money. But this is a skill that you need to develop over time, and reloading centerfire takes a long time.
When to Use Rimfire Instead of Centerfire
Newer hunters and people to shooting sports will want to choose rimfire cartridges over centerfire as the recoil is lighter so they can get used to shooting and adapt their way in. Rimfire is also cheaper so the person can get more practice in while spending less.
Reloading the centerfire ammo is an advanced technique, tricky, and time consuming, so the money being saved by shooting rimfire is better for people who just want to shoot and get on with their day.
For young hunters on a camping trip with their family, rimfire weighs less than centerfire and the cartridges are smaller. Because you have to carry everything you use on the trip, each ounce and centimeter matters making rimfire a better choice in these situations.
No firearm is quiet, unless it has silencers, but rimfire cartridges tend to be quieter than centerfire so they are better for beginners that have not adjusted to the noise levels or situations where louder noises should be avoided.
Both centerfire and rimfire cartridges have a time and place, and we hope this helps you know when to choose one over the other based on your needs.