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Hunters and shooters go through millions of rounds of 22 Long Rifle ammunition every year. The 22 LR is used for hunting, competition, and recreational shooting more than any other rifle cartridge. But just as with any other cartridge that might be used for those things, the ammunition matters. The best 22 Long Rifle ammo for target shooting will not be the best 22 Long Rifle ammo for hunting, and in some cases even the most affordable 22 Long Rifle ammo can work for both. Here is some of the very best 22 LR ammo, whether you are stalking the hardwoods for squirrels or punching targets for scores.
Best for Hunting
Best for Competition
Hunting Ammo
A lot of the small game commonly taken with the 22 Long Rifle is taken with head shots. If head shots are your thing—and they are with a lot of hunters who want to save as much meat as possible—all your load needs to be is accurate. However, if you want to be able to shoot small game with body shots and anchor it, or if you want to step up to bigger small game like badgers, bobcats, and coyotes, you need a bullet that will upset on impact to increase tissue damage as well as one that will penetrate deeply. Here are six of the best 22 LR loads for hunting, including one subsonic choice.
CCI Velocitor 40-grain HP
There are a lot of great hunting loads for the 22 LR, ranging from subsonic velocities to as much as 1640 fps. But one of the best 22 LR hunting loads for everything from prairie dogs to coyotes is the CCI 40-grain Velocitor. The Velocitor load works so well because it offers such a great balance of bullet upset and penetration, and because a 40-grain 22 LR bullet at 1435 fps is nothing to sneeze at.
CCI 40-grain MiniMag 40-grain Segmented HP (Varmint)
It’s not surprising that CCI has four of the best 22 LR hunting loads, because for a long time CCI has been the leading rimfire ammunition manufacturer in the world. Even so, most shooters do not know that CCI stands for Cascade Cartridge Incorporated. The downside to the 22 LR is that the bullets are small, and even those that upset do not usually upset very wide. CCI’s 1235 fps MiniMag 40-grain Segmented HP bullet offers an alternative. This bullet breaks into sections on impact and these section reradiate out from the primary bullet path creating their own additional paths of destruction.
Winchester 40-grain Power Point HP
One of the 22 LR loads that has been trusted by hunters for ages is the 40-grain Winchester Power Point load. With a copper-plated hollow point bullet, you can trust it to upset on impact, and with a muzzle velocity of almost 1300 fps, it’s no wonder this load is a favorite with small-game hunters. Additionally, this load tends to shoot with very good precision in almost every 22 rifle ever made.
Federal 40-grain HammerDown HP
In addition to being designed to work great from lever-action 22 rifles, Federal’s HammerDown 22 Long Rifle ammo is loaded in nickel-plated cartridge cases to limit corrosion. The load and bullet have been optimized for feeding, functioning, and performance out of tube-fed lever-action 22 rifles. And what makes it great for hunting is the 40-grain copper-plated hollow point bullet which will upset and penetrate deeply even at a muzzle velocity of 1200 fps.
CCI Stinger 32-grain HP
The CCI Stinger 22 LR load has a legendary reputation, partly because of its blistering 1640 fps muzzle velocity, but also because at those speeds, the 32-grain bullet upsets and creates large wound cavities. The downside to the Stinger load is that penetration is about 60% of what you’ll see with high-velocity 40-grain loads; accuracy is sometimes only so-so, and it is not safe to shoot this load in old rolling-block style rimfire rifles.
CCI Suppressor Max 45-grain Segmented HP
A 22 rimfire rifle with a suppressor is pretty quiet, even with high-velocity loads. But if you want to hunt and just make a whisper when you shoot, then you’ll need subsonic 22 LR ammo to go with your suppressor. CCI answered this need with a 45-grain subsonic-velocity version of their supersonic 40-grain segmented hollow-point load. At only 970 fps, it will not damage as much tissue or penetrate as deep as the 1235 fps MiniMag load, but it will get the job done at close range.
Related: Best 22 Rifles, Tested and Reviewed
Competition Ammo
When it comes to formal shooting competitions, terminal performance does not matter. What you want is a 22 LR load that will allow you to consistently drill one-hole groups in the target. Of course, that also requires a good-shooting rifle, and good-shooting rifles are often expensive. So, as you would expect, the best shooting 22 LR ammo for target shooting is going to be expensive too, in some cases costing more than 50 cents per shot. Rimfire rifles can be finicky creatures, so there is no guarantee with ammo when it comes to precision, but all four of these loads have a good track record. Find the one your rifle likes and stick with it.
ELEY Match EPS 40-grain FN
When it comes to shooting itty-bitty groups with 22 LR ammo, ELEY ammunition is considered by many to be the best available. Their 40-grain flat-nose EPS load at 1085 fps features very consistent priming, a cut case mouth for optimum length and projectile sealing, a patented flat-nose for improved bullet stability, and a beeswax lubricant for easy chambering. If this stuff will not shoot good in your rifle, you might need a new rifle. The downside is that it’s expensive, costing more than 40 cents per shot.
Federal Premium Gold Medal Target 40-grain RN
This load has a great reputation for precision, though don’t expect it to shoot with the ELEY EPS load. That said, the Premium Gold Medal load from Federal has two things going for it the ELEY load does not. First, this load has a muzzle velocity of 1200 fps, so it will shoot a bit flatter and stay supersonic longer. (Bullets can lose stability—precision—after slowing below the subsonic threshold.) Second, this ammunition is much less expensive, generally costing less than 20 cents per shot.
CCI Green Tag Precision 40-grain RN
Designed to offer great precision in rifles and pistols, you can expect CCI’s Green Tag 40-grain lead round nose load at 1070 fps to do just that. CCI created this load specifically for nothing but competition shooting, and it has established a great winning reputation. Though not as expensive as the ELEY EPS load, the CCI Green Tag load will get your wallet’s attention because every time you pull the trigger it’s just the same as throwing a quarter at the target.
ELEY Ultra Extreme Long Range 40-grain RN
A great deal of competition shooting with 22 rifles is conducted at close range, but with the increased interest in long-range shooting and the rising popularity of NRL22 and PRS 22 competitions, came the need for a 22 Long Rifle load that would deliver better precision at distance. This 40-grain round-nose load at 1085 fps maintains a consistent 0.112 ballistic coefficient all the way out to 500 yards, features very consistent priming, a cut case mouth for optimum length and projectile sealing, and a bullet profile that is very magazine friendly. But you gotta pay for the precision at the price of about 50 cents per shot.
Related: Best Magnum Rimfire Rifles and Ammo
Informal Competition (Fun) Ammo
Not all competition shooting is for trophies or prizes. Some competitions with 22 rifles are held in backyards and are only for bragging rights. Sure, you can use the high-dollar ammo when you’re plinking with friends and family, but why waste the money? For shooting lollipops and shotgun shell hulls at the range or on the farm, these loads work great and just might shoot lights-out in your 22.
Remington 40-grain 22 Target Lead RN
This 40-grain lead round-nose-bullet load from Remington is a standard velocity—1150 fps—load that has a good reputation for reliability and precision. By rimfire target ammo standards, it is very affordable, tends to function well in most any rimfire rifle, and don’t be surprised if it shoots very well in yours. This load is sold in boxes of 50 and will generally cost you less than 20 cents per shot.
Winchester Super Suppressed 45-grain RN
When it comes to recreational plinking or informal competition, a lot of rimfire shooters like to shoot suppressed. And if you really want to take full advantage of the noise reduction a suppressor can offer, you want subsonic rimfire ammo. Winchester’s Super Suppressed load uses a 45-grain copper-plated round-nose bullet, and the load has been engineered for less barrel and suppressor fouling. You might be surprised how well this load shoots from your rifle, with or without a suppressor.
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