Different applications for each round.
There are 22 caliber centerfire cartridges such as the .22 Hornet and others, but ordinary 22 cartridges (short, long, long rifle) are rimfire.
They will fire the standard .22 short,.22long,and .22 long rifle cartridges.
Short action.
22 caliber rimfire cartridges shorter and less powerful than the 22 long rifle. They used to be quite popular and inexpensive, but are now becoming hard to find and cost as much as the long rifle shells.
'22LR' refers to .22 caliber "Long Rifle" cartridges. These are rimfire cartridges used in many handguns and small sport & target rifles.
Short or long action is immaterial, it is the caliber (and energy) of the cartridge that counts. Short action rifles use shorter cartridges, such as the.308 Winchester- an adequate cartridge for elk if the right bullet is used. Long actions use longer cartridges, such as the 30-06- also adequate.
They are different lengths (and energies) of .22 rimfire cartridges. They are the most commonly sold cartridge in the world.
The 223 is considered a Short Action rifle.
Firearms that use rimfire cartridges, such as the .22 Short or Long rifle, small caliber handguns such as the .25 and .32, rifles that use pistol cartridges, etc. These are cartridges that would not generally be suitable for hunting deer and larger animals, usually grouped as "big game".
It means the firearm can fire .22 Short, .22 Long, or .22 Long Rifle cartridges.
A .22 revolver takes CARTRIDGES. Which .22 cartridge will depend on what caliber the revolver was made for. A .22 LR can shoot Long Rifle or Short cartridges, and a .22 WMR uses .22 magnum cartridges. They do not interchange. There are a few .22 revolvers that have 2 cylinders, and can shoot either cartridge.
What caliber is it? The length of the rifle cartridge determines if it is a long or short action.