https://www.budsgunshop.com/blog.php/post/essential-guide-to-22-ammoRobert Sadowski March 10, 2023
“Versatile” is a good way to describe the 22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge. The 22 Long Rifle (also known as 22 LR) is the most common ammunition in use today. The round is available in a variety of bullet types for hunting and competitive shooting as well as high-volume plinking and personal defense. The 22 Long Rifle is inexpensive, which adds to the popularity of this ammunition. There are 22 Long Rifle loads for nearly all shooting situations.
Just What Is 22 Rimfire?
In a rimfire cartridge, the primer charge is placed around the rim of the cartridge case, as opposed to a centerfire cartridge, which uses a primer placed in the center of the cartridge case base. When the firing pin hits the rim of the cartridge on a rimfire cartridge, the primer ignites the powder in the case to send the bullet down the bore of the gun. A 22 rimfire offers less noise and recoil than a centerfire cartridge, which makes the 22 Long Rifle a good round for novice shooters. Experienced shooters like the 22 Long Rifle for the same reasons.
What’s the Difference Between a 22 Short, a 22 Long, and a 22 Long Rifle?
The 22 Long Rifle evolved from the 22 Long, which in turn was based on the 22 Short. The difference between the 22 Long Rifle, 22 Long, and 22 Short is case length. The 22 Long and 22 Short have a shorter case; hence, the velocity and energy are less when compared to a 22 Long Rifle. When most shooters refer to 22 rimfire ammo, they are referring to 22 Long Rifle ammo.
Are There Different Types of 22 Ammo?
A wide variety of 22 ammo is available with different bullet weights and different bullet types. The bullet weight of 22 ammo ranges from 20 to 60 grains, though the most common weight is between 36 and 42 grains. Bullet types are solid round nose, solid flat nose, and hollowpoint (versions of which are both round and flat-nosed). A 40-grain bullet could be considered a standard weight for solid-point bullets. Hollowpoints typically weigh less than 40 grains. These bullets are made of lead, and some may have a very thin copper coating. All 22 rimfire ammo uses a dry lubricant on the outside of the bullet.
Are There Grades of 22 Ammo?
Like soda pop, 22 ammo comes in a wide variety of grades, ranging from cheap off-brand stuff to high-end match-grade packages. Less-expensive 22 ammo can be bought in bulk—literally buckets of it. However, this cheaper product runs dirty, meaning you will have to clean your 22 rimfire rifle or pistol more often in order to prevent misfires and jams. Cheap ammo is best reserved for high-volume plinking and training. Inexpensive 22 ammo is also good to acclimate shooters to the feel of the firearm. As they gain experience, they can move up the 22 rimfire food chain with more specialized cartridges for competition, self-defense, and hunting.
Higher-quality 22 ammunition is referred to as match-grade ammo. Match-grade 22 ammo is used in competition and hunting when consistent performance is required. With 22 rimfire target ammunition, there are numerous choices for small-bore handgun and rifle shooters—in fact, almost too many choices. From weekend bull’s-eye shooters to Olympic athletes, 22 Long Rifle target match-grade ammo sets the standard in consistency and performance. Some competition 22 ammo uses a flat-nose projectile designed to cut through the air as it pulls the center of pressure forward to aerodynamically stabilize the projectile, thus increasing downrange accuracy.
There is a wide variety of 22 rimfire hunting rounds. Some 22 rimfire hunting cartridges use either a hollowpoint or segmented bullet that zips along at muzzle velocities in the range of 1,330 fps (feet per second) to 1,260 fps. Most 22 hunting ammo cartridges use a bullet weight in the range of 32 to 38 grains. Some of the lightweight bullets have a velocity close to 1,600 fps. These hunting rounds need more velocity because they often need to travel longer distances across an open field to dispatch a woodchuck or prairie dog.
Is the 22 Long Rifle Good for Self-Defense?
In my opinion, the 22 Long Rifle is not adequate for self-defense, but that doesn’t mean it is not used in self-defense situations. The main advantage of 22 Long Rifle for self-defense is the lack of recoil. Some shooters are afraid of recoil, and the 22 Long Rifle virtually eliminates felt recoil. There are two approaches to a 22 Long Rifle self-defense cartridge—a solid point or hollowpoint. You should look for a round that has a muzzle velocity of more than 1,000 fps out of a short-barrel pistol. Most factory velocity data are from an 18-inch rifle barrel, so be sure to read the fine print on the box. Ideally, you want penetration from the bullet. A solid point will penetrate. Some 22 Long Rifle bullets for self-defense are designed with a bullet that has petals that fold back upon on the base on impact with the target, aiding penetration. If you choose to use a 22 Long Rifle for self-defense, make sure you use ammo specifically designed for self-defense.
Specialized Ammo
Specialized 22 ammo is used for specific situations. For example, 22 shot cartridges are loaded with #12 shot, which creates a pattern the size of a paper plate at 8 feet. These rounds are good for killing venomous snakes as well as rats and other small pests. In essence, this round acts like a mini shotgun. Subsonic 22 Long Rifle ammo offers reduced noise levels when shooting with a suppressor. Most 22 Long Rifle subsonic ammo uses a 40- to 45-grain round-nose bullet with a muzzle velocity from 970 to 1,000 fps. Keep in mind that rimfire firearms will like one brand of 22 ammo over another. The nice thing about 22 LR ammo: It doesn’t cost a lot to determine the best load for your gun. Purchase different loads from different manufacturers and test the accuracy of each in your firearm. That’s the thing with 22 LR ammo—there are so many different cartridges from which to choose. That’s why many consider it to be the most versatile ammo of all.
Conclusion
Ammo configured in 22 rimfire is very popular with shooters of all stripes, as it comes in a variety of forms for use in competition, hunting, and general plinking. But you do need to match the ammo you buy to your use.
FAQs
Q: What is the range on a 22 Long Rifle?
A: A 22 Long Rifle has an effective range to 150 yards, though practical ranges are much less.
Q: Is there really a difference between a 22 Long and a 22 Long Rifle?
A: The 22 Long is available in both standard- and high-velocity versions, but it is still 15 fps slower than the 22 Long Rifle high-velocity bullet. The 22 Long has a muzzle velocity of about 1,038 fps. The 22 Long Rifle has a muzzle velocity that ranges from 1,080 to 1,640 fps.
Q: How many rounds are in a brick of 22 Long Rifle?
A: There are 500 rounds—50 rounds in 10 boxes. The boxes are packaged in a larger box about the size of a standard construction brick.
Q: What is a 22 CB Short?
A: The 22 CB Short is a 22 rimfire cartridge loaded with the 29-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity is 710 fps. It has a noise report like a .177 pellet rifle and is very accurate at short distances.
Q: The report of a 22 doesn’t appear to be as loud as that of a centerfire rifle. Do I still need to wear hearing protection when plinking with a 22?
A: Absolutely. Always wear eye and hearing protection when shooting any type of firearm. Though the report of a 22 is significantly quieter than, say, a rifle chambered in 270 Winchester, it is still far louder than normal conversation. Shooting with unprotected ears is simply a recipe for eventual deafness.
