"A .22 mag is both too large and too long to fit into a .22LR chamber."
My question is: I have .22WMR ammo. Since the diameter is the same but the round is shorter can I still fire it in a .22mag rifle, or, can you fire it in a .22LR rifle? While waiting for some answers I pulled one of each round from a box and noticed that the .22WRF is shorter. Can it still be fired in a .22mag semi-auto rifle? It is appearing from yours and other posters that it can be used in my Marlin .22mag. I just spent $30 for three boxes and can't take the back even though the salesperson said they were .22mag.
Anyway, I appreciate all the help.
I think your error is you think they are the same diameter. Both the case and bullet for the .22 mag are larger than a .22 LR.
If you measure the case for a .22WRF and a .22Mag also known as a .22MRF, there probably isn’t any difference tho I think the WRF may be something like a thousandth of an inch larger. It doesn’t really matter as the difference if any is too small to matter. On the other hand a .22LR is about 3 thousandths of an inch smaller in diameter than the magnum. That is enough difference to matter especially since the mag is much longer too.
A .22 long Rifle will fit loosely into either a WRF or WMR chamber and might even fire. If it does the case will split and probably throw powder back in your face.
On the other hand neither a WRF or WMR will not fit into a .22 LR chamber at all.