Rifleman Q & A: What About the 5 mm Remington Rimfire Magnum?

by
posted on July 14, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
perfaps.jpg

Q: Why didn’t the 5 mm Remington Rimfire Magnum catch on like the .17 HMR has in recent years? Does anyone still chamber this cartridge, and is it even available in a factory load today?

A: The answer as to why the 5 mm did not survive in the market is somewhat subjective, and a number of knowledgeable people disagree on the details. Most would agree that the 5 mm RRM was a good idea; it was essentially Remington’s effort to provide a more effective option to the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. Unfortunately, the 5 mm was offered only with a hollow-point bullet and was quite destructive on edible game. A non-expanding bullet might have altered the perception.

At the time of its production, Remington was the only source for rifles and ammunition, although Thompson/Center did offer Contender barrels for a while. The only current ammunition maker is Aguila, but the production is limited. According to the company, “Aguila still manufactures this very popular 5 mm ammunition.” It appears that distribution has been delayed due to rimfire demand, so patience is the only option.

—John W. Treakle

Latest

Proof Research
Proof Research

The PROOF Research PXT: A New Approach to Barrel Rifling

PROOF Research has introduced PROOF eXponential Twist (PXT)—an advancement in rifling that improves durability, accuracy and shootability—to the commercial market.

Review: Springfield Armory Model 2020 Heatseeker

Back when American Rifleman reviewed Springfield's Model 2020 Waypoint, we noted that we ...couldn’t help but wonder if a tactical-version Model 2020 rifle might be a logical future offshoot of the Waypoint hunting rifle." With the Model 2020 Heatseeker, that version is finally here.

Marlin Goes Mad: The Marlin Mad Pig Customs Model 1894

Marlin’s latest Model 1894 lever-action rifle, a collaboration with Mad Pig Customs that is a far cry from traditional, delivers “modern, factory‑installed features previously found only on custom builds.”

The Jewish Community Is Embracing Our 2A Freedom

In this episode of the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast, we interview Gayle Pearlstein, COO and co-founder of Lox & Loaded, a Jewish-owned and -operated gun club that now—after being launched only a year ago—has 50 chapters around the United States.

I Have This Old Gun: The Southerner Derringer

People carrying small firearms for personal protection is not a new concept, and in the middle of the 19th century, many pocket pistols were designed with self-defense in mind. One such gun, the Brown Manufacturing Southerner Derringer, was among the earliest cartridge-firing self-defense guns.

Affordable & Feature-Rich: The Springfield Armory Echelon Alpha 4.0C

Springfield Armory entered the world of modular, striker-fired handguns in 2023 with its Echelon line of pistols, and for 2026, Springfield is introducing an entry-level Echelon model with the Alpha 4.0C.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.