Small-Bore Firearm

A rimfire rifle is a term used for a small-caliber firearm that fires the .22 LR (Long Rifle) cartridge. This round is the most widely used rimfire caliber in the world thanks to its low recoil, high accuracy, minimal cost, and long tradition in sport shooting. Rimfire rifles exist as bolt-action, semi-automatic, and single-shot models and are used in sport, recreational shooting, and basic firearms training.

Which caliber does a rimfire rifle use?

The standard and dominant caliber for all modern rimfire rifles is:

.22 LR (Long Rifle) — introduced in 1887, extremely accurate, quiet, and inexpensive.

There are also less common rimfire calibers (.22 Short, .22 WMR), but .22 LR represents over 90% of the market.

Rimfire rifle in sport shooting

Rimfire rifles play a key role in both Olympic and national shooting sports. They are among the most precise shooting disciplines.

50 m prone (ISSF)
50 m 3×20 — kneeling, standing, prone
Biathlon — modern biathlon uses special .22 LR rifles
Benchrest — extreme precision shooting at small targets

Thanks to minimal recoil and high accuracy, a rimfire rifle is ideal for training beginners as well as professionals.

Airsoft vs. rimfire — legal differences

Airsoft guns in the Czech Republic are legally classified as Category D firearms as long as they do not exceed 16 J of muzzle energy:

they are freely sold to persons 18+,
no firearms license is required,
they do not use powder cartridges, only plastic BBs.

Rimfire rifles are live firearms using .22 LR ammunition and fall under Category C (or B depending on the model):

they require a firearms license,
they must be registered,
their possession and use are strictly regulated.

Airsoft guns cannot be used as a direct training substitute for a real rimfire rifle, but they serve as a safe, cheap, and accessible way to practice aiming.

Summary

Rimfire rifle = live firearm chambered in .22 LR.
It is essential in sport and Olympic shooting.
Unlike airsoft, it requires a firearms license and registration.
Airsoft and rimfire rifles share only visual similarities — technically and legally they are completely different worlds.