Lindcott Armory Rimfire · SAAMI
5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum
Remington's forgotten 5mm rimfire magnum — faster than .22 WMR and with a flatter trajectory, but discontinued after only a few years.
- Caliber
- 0.204″ · 5.182 mm
- Introduced
- 1970
- Case
- Rimfire
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1970
- Type
- Rimfire
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Remington Arms
- Manufacturer
- Aguila Ammunition
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 3.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9
- Primer
- Rimfire
- Case type
- Rimfire
- Max pressure
- 33,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 150 yd
- Max range
- 400 yd
- Recoil
- 10–16 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
Wikipedia · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.18 | 0.204 | ~ |
| Neck ⌀ | 5.71 | 0.225 | · |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 6.58 | 0.259 | · |
| Shoulder angle | — | — | |
| Base ⌀ | 6.58 | 0.259 | · |
| Rim ⌀ | 8.26 | 0.325 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.27 | 0.050 | · |
| Neck length | — | — | |
| Case length | 25.91 | 1.020 | · |
| Overall length | 33.02 | 1.300 | · |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum is highlighted below.
Missing a dimension for 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum? Some case measurements aren't in a published SAAMI/CIP drawing yet. Have a factory or reamer print? Send it → — verified hard-to-find data earns a free Lindcott sticker.
Factory loads
In production — 3 active loads across 2 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguila | HP | 30 | HP | 2,300 | 352 | — |
| SK Ammunition | HP 38gr | 38 | HP | 2,100 | 372 | — |
| Aguila | HP 38gr | 38 | HP | 2,100 | 372 | — |
| CCI | HP Reintroduction 30gr | 30 | HP | 2,300 | 352 | — |
| Centurion | HP 38gr | 38 | HP | 2,100 | 372 | — |
| Eley | HP 38gr | 38 | HP | 2,100 | 372 | — |
| Remington | HP Original 38gr | 38 | HP | 2,100 | 372 | — |
| Remington | HP | 38 | HP | 2,100 | 372 | — |
| CCI | HP | 30 | HP | 2,100 | 294 | — |
| Graf | Standard | 38 | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,025 | 89 | — |
| RWS | Classic | 38 | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,025 | 89 | — |
| Norma | Classic | 38 | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,025 | 89 | — |
| Buffalo Arms | Custom | 38 | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,025 | 89 | — |
| Sellier & Bellot | Standard | 38 | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,025 | 89 | — |
| PPU | Standard | 38 | Jacketed Hollow Point | 1,025 | 89 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Connected reference
History
Remington introduced the 5mm RFM in 1970 alongside the Model 591 and 592 bolt-action rifles. On paper it was impressive — a 38-grain bullet at 2,100 fps outpaced the .22 WMR significantly. In practice, Remington's market timing was poor: the rifles were expensive, the cartridge was proprietary, and the early 1970s were not prime years for rimfire innovation. Remington discontinued both the rifles and the ammunition in the mid-1970s, leaving thousands of 591/592 owners with firearms they couldn't feed. For decades the 5mm RFM was considered a dead end. Aguila Ammunition of Mexico began producing the cartridge in the early 2000s, restoring functionality to the surviving rifles and creating a small but dedicated collector and shooter community.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum use?
- 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum typically uses a 1:9 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum?
- 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum uses a 0.204″ (5.182 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum still in production?
- 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum is active; typical availability is specialty.
- What is 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum used for?
- 5mm Remington Rimfire Magnum is primarily used for hunting, target.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 3 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →