.22 Long Rifle is the world's most popular cartridge, offering unmatched versatility, minimal recoil, and economical ammunition for plinking, training, small game hunting, and competition shooting. Saint Barbs Bullets stocks CCI, Federal, Winchester, Eley, Aguila, and Lapua .22 LR ammunition including high-velocity loads like CCI Mini-Mag and Federal Champion for reliable cycling in semi-automatic firearms, standard velocity for precision accuracy, subsonic for suppressed shooting, and match-grade ammunition from Eley Tenex and SK Rifle Match for competitive shooting.
Bullet weight options include 36-40 grain for high-velocity loads achieving 1,200-1,400 fps, 40 grain for standard velocity at 1,070-1,150 fps, and subsonic loads operating below 1,100 fps for extremely quiet suppressed shooting. Bullet types include lead round nose for plinking, copper-plated hollow point for hunting, and match-grade lead wadcutter for competition. Bulk ammunition available in 500, 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000-round cases with free shipping on qualifying orders.
High-Velocity .22 LR Ammunition
CCI Mini-Mag: Gold standard for reliability in semi-automatic firearms. 36gr copper-plated hollow point at 1,260 fps ensures reliable cycling in all .22 LR firearms. Clean-burning powders and dependable CCI primers. Excellent for plinking, training, and small game hunting. Available in 100-round boxes and bulk packs.
Federal Champion: Economical high-velocity ammunition offering similar performance to CCI Mini-Mag. 36gr copper-plated hollow point at 1,260 fps. Reliable cycling in semi-automatic firearms with consistent accuracy. Available in 525-round bulk packs for excellent value.
Winchester Super-X: High-velocity hunting ammunition. 37gr copper-plated hollow point at 1,280 fps delivers excellent expansion on squirrels, rabbits, and small game. Reliable cycling and consistent accuracy.
Aguila Super Extra: Mexican-manufactured high-velocity ammunition offering excellent value. 40gr lead round nose at 1,255 fps. Reliable performance at competitive prices. Available in bulk cases.
Standard Velocity .22 LR
CCI Standard Velocity: Operating at 1,070 fps, standard velocity offers excellent accuracy with reduced noise. 40gr lead round nose is a favorite among precision shooters. Often delivers better accuracy than high-velocity in bolt-action rifles. Subsonic velocity eliminates supersonic crack for quieter shooting.
Eley Target: British-manufactured standard velocity ammunition for precision shooting. 40gr lead round nose at 1,085 fps. Excellent accuracy at mid-tier pricing. Popular for informal target shooting and small game hunting.
Subsonic .22 LR Ammunition
CCI Quiet: Extremely quiet ammunition for backyard plinking. 40gr lead round nose at 710 fps produces minimal noise even without suppression. May not cycle semi-automatic firearms reliably. Ideal for pest control and training new shooters.
CCI Subsonic: 40gr lead hollow point at 1,050 fps offers better cycling reliability than CCI Quiet while remaining subsonic. Excellent for suppressed shooting and small game hunting. Reliable in most semi-automatic firearms.
Aguila Subsonic Sniper: Heavy 60gr lead round nose at 950 fps. Subsonic velocity with increased energy for small game hunting. Excellent accuracy in bolt-action rifles. May not cycle semi-automatic firearms.
Match-Grade .22 LR Ammunition
Eley Tenex: Olympic standard for precision rimfire competition. Each lot is tested at factory with velocity and accuracy data provided. 40gr lead flat nose at 1,085 fps. Manufactured to extremely tight tolerances. Essential for Olympic-level competition but unnecessary for recreational shooting.
SK Rifle Match: German-manufactured match ammunition offering Eley-level performance at lower cost. Popular in NRL22 competition. 40gr lead flat nose at 1,070 fps. Excellent accuracy at mid-tier pricing.
Lapua Center-X: Finnish-manufactured match ammunition providing excellent accuracy at competitive prices. 40gr lead round nose at 1,070 fps. Popular for precision rifle competition and benchrest shooting.
CCI Green Tag: American-manufactured match ammunition for competitive shooting. 40gr lead round nose at 1,070 fps. Excellent accuracy at lower cost than European match ammunition.
Bulk .22 LR Ammunition
High-volume shooters save with bulk purchases. Federal Champion 525-round packs provide excellent value for plinking and training. Winchester M-22 1,000-round packs offer reliable performance at economical prices. CCI Blazer 1,400-round cases deliver consistent accuracy. Aguila 5,000-round cases provide maximum savings for high-volume shooters. Bulk purchases reduce cost per round by 20-40% while ensuring adequate supply.
FAQ
Q: What's the most accurate .22 LR ammunition?
A: Match-grade ammunition (Eley Tenex, SK Rifle Match, Lapua Center-X) delivers best accuracy, but performance varies by rifle. Test multiple brands in your specific firearm. Many precision rifles shoot CCI Standard Velocity exceptionally well at fraction of match ammunition cost. Lot-to-lot variation exists even in match ammunition.
Q: Can I use high-velocity .22 LR in any .22 rifle?
A: Yes, all .22 LR firearms can safely fire high-velocity, standard velocity, and subsonic ammunition. However, semi-automatic firearms may not cycle reliably with subsonic loads due to insufficient energy to operate the action. Bolt-action rifles work with all velocities.
Q: Why does my rifle prefer certain ammunition?
A: .22 LR rifles have individual preferences due to barrel dimensions, chamber specifications, and rifling twist rates. Test multiple brands and velocities to find what your rifle shoots most accurately. Purchase bulk quantities once you identify your rifle's preference.
Q: Is match ammunition worth the cost?
A: For competitive shooting where sub-MOA accuracy is required, match ammunition is essential. For plinking, training, and small game hunting, standard high-velocity or standard velocity ammunition is adequate. Match ammunition costs 3-5x more than bulk ammunition.
Q: How long does .22 LR ammunition last?
A: Properly stored .22 LR ammunition (cool, dry conditions) remains viable for decades. Rimfire primers are more sensitive to moisture than centerfire, so avoid damp storage. Ammunition stored in sealed containers in climate-controlled environments can last 50+ years.
