28-Jul-2026
If you’re new to rifle shooting, or moving up from airguns, the terms “rimfire” and “centrefire” appear everywhere, usually without explanation. The difference sounds technical, but it shapes almost everything about how a rifle is used in the UK: what it costs to feed, what quarry it’s suitable for, how far it shoots and even how loud it is. This guide explains the distinction in plain English and helps you work out which type belongs in your cabinet.
The basic difference: Where the primer sits
Every cartridge needs a primer, the small charge that ignites the powder when the firing pin strikes. The two systems differ simply in where that primer lives.
In a rimfire cartridge, the priming compound is spun into the hollow rim of the case itself. The firing pin crushes the rim against the chamber edge to fire the round. It’s a simple, cheap system, but it means the case must be thin enough to crush, which limits how much pressure the cartridge can safely generate. It also means the case can’t be reloaded.
In a centrefire cartridge, a separate primer sits in a pocket at the centre of the case head. The case walls can therefore be thick and strong, allowing far higher pressures, heavier bullets and much greater velocities. Spent cases can also be reloaded by those who take up home reloading.
That one design difference drives everything else.
What is a rimfire rifle best for?
The rimfire is Britain’s workhorse small rifle. The .22 Long Rifle (.22LR) is the classic example, quiet, almost recoil-free and extremely cheap to shoot, it’s the standard choice for rabbit and rat control, plinking and club target work. The .17 HMR adds a flatter trajectory and more reach for longer shots on small vermin, at the cost of noisier report and pricier ammunition.
Effective range is the key limitation. A .22LR is a sub-100-yard tool in practical terms, and rimfires as a class are suited to small quarry only. Popular UK rimfire platforms include the CZ 457, the Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic and the Tikka T1X, see our CZ 455 vs CZ 457 comparison for a closer look at one of the most popular choices.
What is a centrefire rifle best for?
Centrefire cartridges cover everything beyond small vermin. From the .223 Remington used for fox control, through the .243 Winchester that serves as many UK shooters’ first deer calibre, up to the .308 Winchester and beyond for larger deer species, centrefire rifles deliver the energy that UK deer legislation requires and the flat trajectories that make 200-yard-plus shooting practical.
The trade-offs are cost and blast. Centrefire ammunition costs many times what rimfire does per round, recoil is more noticeable, and sound moderation matters more. Typical UK centrefire platforms range from the Tikka T3X and Remington 700 to premium stalking rifles; our guide to the best .308 rifles in the UK covers the most popular full-bore options in detail.
Cost, noise and practicality compared
For a new shooter, three practical differences stand out. Ammunition cost first: rimfire remains cheap enough to shoot in volume, which is why almost every experienced rifle shooter keeps a .22LR regardless of what else they own; trigger time is simply cheaper. Noise second: a moderated .22LR is remarkably quiet, making it ideal for permission land near housing, while centrefires remain unmistakably loud even moderated. Barrel life third: rimfires last practically forever, whereas hot centrefire calibres wear barrels measurably with heavy use.
Accuracy is excellent in both camps at their respective distances; terms like sub-MOA get used freely in both worlds, but the rimfire achieves it at 50 yards where the centrefire does it at 100 and beyond.
Licensing in brief
Both rimfire and centrefire rifles are Section 1 firearms in the UK, held on a Firearm Certificate with land and quarry conditions, unlike most airguns in England and Wales. Our explainer on Section 1 firearms covers what that classification means in practice. The certificate process is the same for both types; what differs is the justification: rimfires are typically conditioned for vermin, centrefires for fox and deer according to calibre.
Which should you choose?
Match the tool to the job. If your shooting is rabbits, rats and targets inside 100 yards, a rimfire does everything you need at minimal cost. If deer or foxes are the goal, a centrefire is the only appropriate answer, and legally required for deer. Many shooters eventually own one of each, and starting with a rimfire builds marksmanship fundamentals cheaply before stepping up. If you’re weighing a rimfire against staying with airguns, our air rifle vs rimfire comparison walks through that earlier decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rimfire rifle? A rifle chambered for cartridges whose primer is contained in the case rim rather than a separate central primer. The .22LR is the best-known example — inexpensive, quiet and ideal for small vermin and target shooting.
Is rimfire or centrefire more powerful? Centrefire, by a wide margin. Stronger case construction allows much higher pressures, so centrefire rounds deliver greater velocity, energy and effective range.
Can you shoot deer with a rimfire in the UK? No. UK deer legislation sets minimum calibre and energy requirements that rimfire cartridges do not meet. Deer stalking requires an appropriate centrefire calibre.
Do rimfire and centrefire rifles need the same licence? Both are held on a Firearm Certificate in the UK. The application process is the same; the conditions attached will reflect the calibre and intended quarry.
Find your next rifle on Rightgun.uk
Whichever side of the rimfire–centrefire line your shooting falls on, the right rifle is easier to find in a specialist marketplace. Browse hundreds of new and used rifles for sale on Rightgun.uk, from .22LR workhorses to full-bore stalking rifles, all listed by UK sellers within a dedicated shooting and field sports community.
Read next:
