.22 LR Caliber Guide

The .22 Long Rifle is the most shot cartridge in the world – and it has been for over a century. More .22 LR ammunition is manufactured annually than any other caliber by a significant margin, more rifles are chambered for it than any other cartridge, and more American shooters have fired their first rounds through a .22 than through anything else. Introduced in 1887 by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company, the .22 LR has outlasted hundreds of competitors, survived two world wars, watched precision cartridges come and go, and remains today exactly what it has always been: the most accessible, most affordable, most versatile rimfire cartridge ever designed. At $0.06–$0.15 per round for standard velocity bulk ammo and $0.25–$0.60 per round for premium match loads, it is the cartridge that makes high-volume practice sustainable for every shooter at every budget level. Whether you’re teaching a child to shoot, training fundamentals, hunting small game, running rimfire competitions, or simply enjoying an afternoon at a tin can range, the .22 LR does it all with a consistency that defines the word proven. This guide covers the complete picture: ballistics, ammunition selection across every use case, platform options, and what the .22 LR does better than any other cartridge on earth.

What Is the .22 LR?

The .22 Long Rifle is a rimfire cartridge – meaning the primer compound is distributed around the inside of the cartridge rim rather than housed in a central primer cup. This design simplifies manufacturing dramatically, makes the cartridge inexpensive to produce, and is the primary reason the .22 LR can be sold for pennies per round while centerfire cartridges cost multiples more. The trade-off is that rimfire cartridges cannot be reloaded – the firing pin strike crushes the rim to ignite the primer, permanently deforming the case.

The standard .22 LR case measures .613″ in length with a .226″ bullet diameter, firing bullets typically ranging from 29gr to 60gr depending on the load. Standard velocity loads push 40gr lead round nose bullets to approximately 1,070–1,100 fps from a rifle barrel, while high-velocity loads push similar weights to 1,200–1,260 fps. Subsonic loads are designed to stay below 1,100 fps – the speed of sound – to minimize the supersonic crack that causes the slight accuracy degradation when a bullet transitions from supersonic to subsonic flight. Hyper-velocity loads push lightweight 30–33gr bullets to 1,400–1,500 fps, trading consistency for raw velocity.

The .22 LR operates at approximately 24,000 PSI – far below the 52,000–65,000 PSI range of common centerfire cartridges. This low pressure, combined with the small bullet diameter and modest powder charge, produces the cartridge’s defining characteristics: negligible recoil, minimal noise (relative to centerfire rifles), low bore wear, and the ability to build lighter, simpler action designs than any centerfire platform requires.

Ballistics: The Numbers That Matter

The .22 LR is not a long-range cartridge by any definition used in this guide series – its effective ceiling is 150 yards for most applications, and serious precision rimfire competition rarely exceeds 300 yards even with purpose-built match equipment. Understanding what the cartridge delivers within its effective range is what matters.

Several important realities about .22 LR ballistics deserve direct acknowledgment. First, velocity figures vary significantly between pistol and rifle barrel lengths – a 16″ rifle barrel produces roughly 150–200 fps more than a 4″ pistol barrel with the same load. All numbers above reflect standard 18–20″ rifle barrels. Second, the .22 LR’s low velocity means wind drift is substantial at 100+ yards – a 10 mph crosswind moves a 40gr bullet approximately 3–4 inches at 100 yards, which is enough to matter in precision competition. Third, the supersonic-to-subsonic transition zone around 1,100 fps is real and affects accuracy: bullets that start supersonic and go subsonic during flight experience a turbulence transition that destabilizes them momentarily. Standard velocity loads (1,050–1,100 fps) that stay subsonic throughout their flight are often more accurate at 100 yards than high-velocity loads that start supersonic and transition during flight.

Energy figures at 100 yards – 75–92 ft-lbs depending on load – are sufficient for small game (squirrels, rabbits, rats) with proper shot placement but insufficient for anything larger than a coyote at close range. The .22 LR’s terminal performance is a function of careful shot placement, not raw power.

.22 LR vs. Other Rimfire Cartridges

.22 LR vs. .17 HMR

The .17 HMR fires a 17gr bullet at 2,550 fps – dramatically faster than any .22 LR load, with a substantially flatter trajectory and significantly better wind resistance. At 200 yards, the .17 HMR drops 4 inches less and drifts 4–5 inches less in a 10 mph wind. For dedicated varmint hunters who regularly shoot past 100 yards at squirrels, prairie dogs, and similar targets, the .17 HMR’s performance advantage is real and worth the higher per-round cost ($0.25–$0.40 vs. $0.06–$0.15). The .22 LR wins on cost, ammo availability, platform versatility, and subsonic/suppressed performance. For most shooters who want one rimfire that does everything, the .22 LR’s combination of affordability and versatility is unmatched. Full picture in our .17 HMR Caliber Guide.

.22 LR vs. .22 WMR (.22 Magnum)

The .22 WMR fires 40–50gr bullets at 1,800–2,000 fps, delivering substantially more energy and range than the .22 LR. At 100 yards, the .22 WMR carries roughly 200–250 ft-lbs vs. 75–92 ft-lbs for the .22 LR – a meaningful step up for hunting medium small game like rabbits and squirrels at longer ranges. The trade-offs are higher ammo cost ($0.25–$0.50/round vs. $0.06–$0.15), less platform variety, and considerably louder report. The .22 WMR occupies an interesting middle ground but has never achieved the .22 LR’s ubiquity because the performance gap rarely justifies the cost increase for most rimfire uses.

.22 LR vs. .22 Short / .22 Long

These older rimfire cartridges predate the .22 LR and are historically interesting but practically irrelevant today. The .22 Short fires a 29gr bullet at 830–1,100 fps and is found mainly in older gallery-style rifles and some Olympic target pistols. The .22 Long is essentially obsolete. Neither offers meaningful advantages over the .22 LR for any common application.

Factory Ammunition: What to Buy

The .22 LR ammunition market is uniquely broad and layered – from $3-per-50 bulk packs at Walmart to $15-per-50 precision match loads used by Olympic competitors. Understanding what you need and why saves money without sacrificing performance.

Bulk Plinking and Practice Ammo

For practice, training, and casual shooting where 1–1.5 MOA accuracy is acceptable, bulk ammo is the right choice. Federal AutoMatch (40gr LRN) and Federal Champion (40gr LRN) are the most reliable bulk options – consistent enough to avoid feeding issues in most semi-auto platforms and widely available. CCI Mini-Mag (40gr CPHP, 1,235 fps) is the premium choice among high-velocity bulk loads – more consistent than most competitors and reliable in virtually every semi-auto rifle and pistol made. Avoid the cheapest no-name bulk ammo in semi-auto platforms where reliability matters – brands like Remington Golden Bullet, while affordable, have a documented reputation for misfires and inconsistent velocity that is frustrating in competition and training contexts.

Standard Velocity Target Ammo

For bolt-action target rifles, single-shot platforms, and any application where accuracy past 50 yards matters, standard velocity ammo is the right category. These loads are designed to stay subsonic throughout flight, eliminating the accuracy-degrading velocity transition zone. CCI Standard Velocity (40gr LRN, 1,070 fps) is the benchmark – used by countless recreational precision rimfire shooters and consistently accurate at 50–100 yards. Eley Sport and Lapua Center-X step up in consistency and are popular among club-level competition shooters who need better accuracy than CCI Standard delivers without paying for elite match pricing.

Premium Match Ammo

At the top end, .22 LR match ammo is extraordinarily consistent – velocity spreads of 10–15 fps or less, bullet weight sorting to fractions of a grain, and case dimensions held to tolerances that most centerfire match brass doesn’t achieve. Eley Tenex ($12–$16/50 rounds) is the benchmark for Olympic and world-class rimfire competition. Lapua Midas+ and Lapua X-ACT ($10–$14/50 rounds) are the primary competitors. SK Rifle Match ($6–$8/50 rounds) offers exceptional accuracy at a fraction of Tenex pricing and is the go-to choice for serious club and regional competitors who want match performance without the full match price. CCI Green Tag ($7–$9/50 rounds) has a loyal following among American precision rimfire shooters.

The critical caveat about premium match ammo: barrel-to-ammo matching matters in precision rimfire in a way it does not for most centerfire applications. A rifle that shoots Lapua Midas+ into 0.3 MOA may shoot Eley Tenex into 0.5 MOA or vice versa. Serious precision rimfire shooters test multiple premium lots in their specific rifle before committing to a competition supply. What works brilliantly in one rifle may be mediocre in another of the same model.

Hunting Ammo

For small game, the priority shifts from precision to reliable expansion or controlled fragmentation at the modest velocities the .22 LR produces. CCI Velocitor (40gr GDHP, 1,435 fps) is the high-velocity hunting standard – the hollow point design expands reliably at these velocities on squirrels, rabbits, and rats. Federal Premium (40gr Sierra GameKing HP) is excellent for minimizing meat damage on small table game. Aguila Supermaximum (30gr HP, 1,750 fps) is the most aggressive small game option, producing dramatic fragmentation at extreme velocity – appropriate for pest control, less ideal for table game where meat preservation matters.

Subsonic and Suppressed Ammo

The .22 LR is the most popular suppressor-host cartridge in existence, and the subsonic load category exists almost entirely for suppressed use. CCI Quiet (40gr LRN, 710 fps) is the quietest factory .22 LR load available – suppressed, it is genuinely hearing-safe without any protection in most barrel configurations, producing a report roughly equivalent to a staple gun. CCI Subsonic HP (40gr HP, 1,050 fps) stays below the speed of sound while still cycling most semi-auto actions reliably – the balance point between suppressed quietness and semi-auto functionality. Aguila SSS (60gr truncated cone, 950 fps) is an unusual option that provides additional mass for better terminal performance in suppressed applications, though the longer projectile requires a 1:9 or faster twist rate to stabilize properly.

Best Applications for the .22 LR

Learning to Shoot and Fundamental Skills Development

The .22 LR is the universal platform for teaching new shooters, and the reasons are straightforward and compelling. Recoil is negligible – a child can fire a .22 LR rifle comfortably from the first round without flinching or developing bad habits in anticipation of recoil. Report is mild enough that hearing damage is not an immediate concern at shorter sessions, though ear protection remains advisable for extended range time. Cost per round is low enough that a new shooter can fire 200–300 rounds in a single session without meaningful financial burden – volume that builds genuine muscle memory and confidence that 20-round centerfire sessions cannot match. Every fundamental of marksmanship – sight alignment, trigger control, follow-through, breath control – transfers directly from .22 LR to any centerfire platform. Experienced shooters who add a .22 LR rifle to their practice routine often find their centerfire accuracy improves faster than additional centerfire practice alone would explain, precisely because the absence of recoil feedback isolates trigger technique clearly. Our Best Rifles for New Shooters guide covers recommended starter platforms in detail.

Small Game Hunting

The .22 LR is the defining small game cartridge in the United States – more squirrels, rabbits, and tree rats have been taken with it than with any other cartridge in history. Inside 75 yards with proper shot placement, it is cleanly lethal on squirrels, rabbits, grouse, and similar game. The key is head or neck shots on larger small game (rabbits and squirrels) to avoid meat damage from body shots and ensure clean kills – a 40gr bullet at 1,100 fps does not provide the energy margin to reliably kill cleanly on body shots past 50 yards. For rats, pigeons, and pest control applications where shot placement discipline is less critical, body shots at close range are effective. The cartridge’s quiet report relative to centerfire rifles is a practical advantage when hunting near residential areas or in situations where repeated shots would be disruptive. See our Small Game Hunting Rifles guide for full platform and technique coverage.

Rimfire Precision Competition

The .22 LR supports a broader competition ecosystem than most shooters realize. NRL22 (National Rifle League 22) is the fastest-growing precision rimfire competition format in the country, using field-position shooting at steel targets from 25 to 100 yards that directly mirrors PRS bolt-gun competition. CMP Rimfire Sporter and Precision Rimfire divisions run formal position shooting matches at 50 and 100 yards. USPSA Rimfire divisions run pistol-format competition with .22 pistols. Steel Challenge allows .22 LR divisions across its speed steel formats. Entry-level competition rifles like the Ruger Precision Rimfire ($400–$500) and Savage Mark II FV-SR ($300–$350) have made precision rimfire competition accessible to shooters on tight budgets who want the PRS experience without centerfire expenses. Our USPSA Rimfire PCC Competition Guide covers the competition side in detail.

Suppressed Shooting

The .22 LR is the most popular suppressor-host cartridge in the country, and the combination works so well that it has introduced thousands of shooters to suppressor ownership who never considered it for centerfire rifles. A quality .22 LR suppressor – the SilencerCo Sparrow, Dead Air Mask, or Gemtech GM-22 – reduces a subsonic .22 LR to hearing-safe levels that make backyard or remote outdoor shooting genuinely quiet. The rimfire suppressor market is also the most affordable entry point into the NFA process: quality .22 LR cans run $250–$500 vs. $700–$1,500 for centerfire suppressors, and the same basic legal process applies. The hearing-safe report of a suppressed subsonic .22 LR bolt gun is one of the most pleasant shooting experiences available and a practical tool for pest control, quiet training, and introducing new shooters to the fundamentals without any noise intimidation. Our Suppressor Buyer’s Guide covers the purchase process and suppressor selection in full.

Pest Control and Homestead Use

On farms, ranches, and rural properties, the .22 LR is the working tool for managing rodent populations, dispatching wounded animals, and handling the day-to-day pest control that is part of rural life. Its low noise relative to centerfire rifles minimizes livestock disturbance, the ammo cost makes liberal use practical, and the light report means neighbors at moderate distances are not disturbed by routine pest control activity. A suppressed .22 LR semi-auto – the Ruger 10/22 being the canonical choice – is the most practical pest control tool available for properties where volume shooting at close-range targets is a regular activity. The combination of low cost per shot, minimal noise, and reliable function makes it functionally irreplaceable for this role.

Youth and Introduction Hunting

The .22 LR is the cartridge that starts most American hunters on their path. Its gentle recoil and mild report make it manageable for youth shooters who lack the physical conditioning for centerfire rifles, while its terminal performance on squirrels and rabbits provides genuine hunting effectiveness at the distances youth hunters encounter. The classic American progression – .22 LR squirrel hunting at 10–12, moving to a deer rifle at 14–16 – has introduced generations of hunters to the field in a manner that builds confidence, marksmanship, and ethical hunting practices before moving to more powerful cartridges. Our Youth Hunting Rifles Guide covers the full youth hunting platform landscape.

Rifles Chambered in .22 LR

The .22 LR has more rifles chambered for it than any other cartridge by a wide margin – from $150 single-shot youth guns to $3,000+ Olympic-grade target rifles. The key categories matter.

Semi-auto general purpose:

The Ruger 10/22 ($300–$350) is the most popular .22 LR rifle in history and deservedly so – reliable with virtually any ammo, an enormous aftermarket for customization (stocks, triggers, barrels, chassis), and a proven track record across decades. The Marlin 795 ($200–$250) is a budget alternative with solid reliability. The Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 ($500–$600) brings AR-15 ergonomics to .22 LR for shooters who want platform consistency with a centerfire AR. See our AR Rimfire Platform Guide for full coverage of AR-format .22 LR rifles.

Bolt-action for accuracy:

The Ruger Precision Rimfire ($400–$500) is the NRL22 competition standard – adjustable chassis, threaded barrel, and a crisp trigger that trains directly toward centerfire precision rifles. The CZ 457 ($450–$600) is the premium bolt-action choice for shooters who want a traditional design with exceptional factory accuracy. Savage Mark II FV-SR ($300–$350) delivers solid accuracy with a threaded barrel at budget pricing. The Anschutz 1710 ($1,000–$1,200) and Anschutz 64 series ($700–$900) are the serious competition and premium accuracy options, built to tolerances that approach the mechanical accuracy limits of the .22 LR cartridge itself.

Lever-action:

The Henry Lever Action .22 ($400–$450) and Marlin 39A are classics – tube-fed, smooth-cycling, and enjoyable to shoot. These are not precision platforms but are among the most fun .22 LR rifles to run at casual range sessions.

Precision rimfire competition:

At the serious competition level, the Vudoo Gun Works V-22 ($1,800–$2,200) and Zermatt Arms RimX ($1,500–$2,000) are the benchmarks – custom-grade bolt-action actions designed specifically for precision rimfire that outperform factory alternatives at the top of the competitive level. These pair with aftermarket stocks from MDT, KRG, and Manners to produce platforms that are genuinely capable of 0.2–0.3 MOA groups at 100 yards with the right ammo.

Suppressor Considerations for .22 LR

The .22 LR suppressor market is the most accessible entry point into NFA ownership and deserves specific attention. Key considerations:

Rimfire suppressors are harder on baffles than centerfire: .22 LR ammo uses lead bullets and produces more carbon fouling per shot than jacketed centerfire bullets. Most .22 LR suppressors require periodic disassembly and cleaning – some as often as every 500 rounds with lead ammo. Choose a suppressor with a user-serviceable design (SilencerCo Sparrow 22, Dead Air Mask HD, Gemtech GM-22) rather than a sealed design that cannot be opened. Sealed rimfire cans clog with lead fouling over time and can become permanently damaged.

Threading matters: Most modern .22 LR barrels thread at 1/2×28, which is the standard for both rimfire and .223 centerfire suppressors. Verify your rifle’s thread pitch before purchasing a suppressor. Some older or budget rifles have non-standard threads or unthreaded barrels that require an adapter or re-threading.

Subsonic ammo in semi-auto: Not all semi-auto .22 LR rifles cycle reliably with subsonic ammo. The Ruger 10/22 is notably ammo-sensitive in this regard – it generally cycles reliably with high-velocity loads but may short-stroke with quiet subsonic loads. Test your specific rifle with your preferred suppressed ammo before assuming reliable function. Bolt-action rifles have no cycling issues with any .22 LR load. See our Suppressor Buyer’s Guide for the full suppressor selection framework.

Who Should Own a .22 LR?

Every shooter should own at least one .22 LR rifle. That is not marketing language – it reflects 130 years of practical experience across the shooting community. The cartridge does things no centerfire alternative can replicate at its price point: it makes 500-round practice sessions financially sustainable, it introduces new shooters without intimidation, it provides genuinely useful small game capability, and in suppressed configuration it offers the most pleasant shooting experience available in any rifle format.

The .22 LR is your primary cartridge if you are learning to shoot and building fundamentals, you hunt small game as your primary rifle activity, you compete in NRL22 or USPSA rimfire formats, or your shooting is primarily about enjoyment rather than terminal performance requirements.

Add a .22 LR alongside your centerfire rifles if you want to maintain marksmanship without burning through expensive ammo between hunting seasons, you’re introducing a family member to shooting, you want a suppressed platform for pest control or quiet practice, or you want to experience precision rimfire competition without committing to full PRS centerfire costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the effective range of the .22 LR for hunting?

A: For small game – squirrels, rabbits, and similar – the practical effective range with quality ammo and a skilled shooter is 75–100 yards with head shots and 50–75 yards for body shots on anything requiring clean kills. Past 100 yards, wind drift becomes significant (3–4 inches in a 10 mph wind), bullet energy drops below 70 ft-lbs, and the case for ethical small game hunting weakens. The .22 LR is a close-range cartridge, and its effectiveness depends on disciplined shot placement within that envelope.

Q: Why does my .22 LR shoot some ammo better than others?

A: Rimfire rifles are notoriously ammo-sensitive – more so than virtually any centerfire platform. The reasons are multiple: rimfire chambers are cut to looser tolerances than centerfire chambers, bullet diameter varies between manufacturers (some .22 LR bullets measure .222″, others .224″), and the lack of a consistent primer location means ignition varies slightly between brands. Testing multiple ammunition types in your specific rifle is not optional for precision use – it is necessary. What shoots 0.3 MOA in one rifle may shoot 1.0 MOA in another of the same model and lot.

Q: Is .22 LR ammo available everywhere?

A: In normal supply conditions, yes – .22 LR is available at Walmart, hardware stores, sporting goods chains, and most gun shops nationwide. However, the COVID-era ammo shortage of 2020–2022 demonstrated that .22 LR can be remarkably difficult to find during shortage events, despite being the most-manufactured cartridge in the world. The demand for .22 LR is so large that even small disruptions in supply chain can empty shelves quickly. Maintaining a reserve stock of 500–1,000 rounds is practical for regular shooters.

Q: Can the .22 LR be used for self-defense?

A: Technically capable but not recommended as a primary defensive cartridge. A .22 LR to the face or head is undeniably lethal, and many defensive incidents have ended with .22 LR involvement. The practical problems are reliability – rimfire ignition is inherently less consistent than centerfire, and defensive situations demand 100% reliability – and terminal performance, which depends heavily on precise shot placement that stress situations make difficult. If a .22 LR is the only firearm available, it is better than nothing. It should not be the first choice for home defense when any centerfire option is accessible. Our Home Defense Rifle Guide covers the full defensive rifle landscape.

Q: What twist rate does the .22 LR need?

A: Most .22 LR rifles use a 1:16 twist rate, which stabilizes standard 40gr bullets reliably. The Aguila SSS 60gr truncated cone bullet requires a faster 1:9 twist to stabilize – most standard .22 LR rifles will not shoot it accurately, and some will keyhole it. If you plan to use the Aguila SSS regularly, verify your rifle’s twist rate or choose a bolt-action known to handle it (several CZ 457 and Anschutz models are confirmed compatible).

Q: How often do I need to clean a .22 LR rifle?

A: Less often than most shooters think for accuracy maintenance, but more often than centerfire rifles for function maintenance. Lead fouling accumulates in the bore with standard lead-bullet .22 LR ammo but does not degrade accuracy as quickly as copper fouling in centerfire barrels – many .22 LR rifles actually shoot their best after 50–100 rounds of fouling. However, carbon and lead buildup in the action, particularly in semi-auto rifles, causes feeding issues if neglected. A practical schedule: wipe down and lightly oil the action every 500–1,000 rounds, clean the bore every 1,000–2,000 rounds or when accuracy degrades, and deep clean a suppressor every 500 rounds with lead ammo.