Best 22 LR Ammo: Plinking, New Shooters, Hunting, and More!

The 22 Long Rifle (22 LR) is the most popular cartridge on earth. Why? Primarily because it is inexpensive, has virtually no recoil, and is an excellent option for training new shooters.

Whether you want to plink, hunt small game, or compete in a match, there’s an ideal 22 LR cartridge for you. But with so many varieties of 22 LR on the market, how do you know which is best for your firearm and your plans for it?

Why, by relying on Ammo.com, of course. Here are my top six choices for all your shooting needs..

Best 22 LR Ammo Selections

How I Tested This 22 LR Ammo

Like many shooters, I was introduced to firearms with a 22 LR. I grew up chasing rabbits and squirrels with a Ruger 10/22, and target shooting with my grandpa’s 22 pistols. Today, I enjoy teaching my daughter how to shoot with these firearms.

I’ve fired and tested countless brands of ammo throughout the years. I’ve had the best luck with the ammo on this list in the field and at the range.

These selections aren’t based on a single test with a single gun. It took years with various firearms to determine which rounds made this list.

Best 22LR Ammo Overall - CCI Mini-Mag 36 Grain CPHP

CCI 22 LR Ammo - 5000 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP Ammunition

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$479.99

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Why I Chose It

CCI Mini-Mag 36 grain CPHP is one of the most reliable and consistent rimfire products on the market.

Clearing duds out of your Ruger 10/22 or Walther P22? Not fun. That’s what makes CCI's extremely high-quality Idaho-made goodness so great. It lets you spend more time doing what matters most in life (i.e. shootin').

I’ve found CCI Mini-Mag to be very high-quality ammo that fires almost every time I pull the trigger. It’s reasonably accurate in multiple types of firearms, making it the best 22 LR ammo overall.

Whether I’m firing my Magnum Research SwitchBolt, Ruger 10/22 or Ruger Mark IV, I trust these rounds to fire, cycle, and hit where I’m aiming. ( They are slightly more expensive than other 22 LR options, though.)

I enjoy firing CCI Mini-Mag at the range with a 22 pistol. I’ve also taken out a few rascally rabbits and squirrels with the hollow point bullets using my 22 rifle. I love using the same rounds at the range and while hunting.

Whether I’m heading to the range or the woods, I would never hesitate to purchase a CCI Mini-Mag 36 grain CPHP. You shouldn’t either!

Best Budget-Friendly 22 LR Ammo - Remington 22 Thunderbolt 40 Grain LRN

Remington 22 LR Ammo - 500 Rounds of 40 Grain LRN Ammunition

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$34.99

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Why I Chose It

Given Remington 22 Thunderbolt's reputation for being finicky in certain firearms, this one might come as some surprise. Remington 22 Thunderbolt ammo is the least expensive on our list, however, making it the best option if you’re trying to plink on a budget.

Before you go ahead and stack Remington 22 Thunderbolt to the rafters, I recommend running a box or two through your firearms just to see how they like it. I’ve had mixed results with it cycling over the years, and don’t want you getting stuck with ammo you can’t count on.

These rounds have helped me harvest small game after I forgot to buy more hunting ammo. They’re plenty capable of taking down a cottontail or squirrel.

Most Accurate 22 LR Ammo - Eley Target 40 Grain LRN

Eley 22 LR Ammo - 500 Rounds of 40 Grain LRN Ammunition

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Why I Chose It

Acclaimed for its rimfire ammo and pellet gun projectiles, Eley is a preferred brand among elite competitive marksmen.

In my experience, Eley Target 40 grain LRN is the most accurate 22 LR ammo at 100 yards, where it produces impressively tight and consistent groups. Eley isn’t cheap. Exceptional accuracy never is..

Best 22 LR Ammo for Hunting - Winchester Super-X 40 Grain CPHP

Winchester Super-X 22 LR Ammo - 100 Rounds of 40 Grain CPRN Ammunition

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$12.99

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Why I Chose It

For years, Winchester Super-X has stayed one of my favorite lines of hunting ammunition. It owes its consistency and proven results on squirrel, rabbit, and other small game to its simple yet effective hollow point; 40 grains, which is dead average for the 22 LR.

I recommend choosing a more powerful cartridge, such as 22 Magnum (22 WMR), for home defense and coyotes. With that in mind, Winchester Super-X has the highest muzzle velocity and muzzle energy on this list. With proper shot placement, any yote this ammo slaps will be deader than disco..

For more options, check out our Winchester 22 LR ammo page!

Best 22 LR Ammo for Semi-Auto Pistol and Rifle - Federal AutoMatch 40 Grain LRN

Federal AutoMatch 22 LR Ammo - 3250 Rounds of 40 Grain LRN Ammunition

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Why I Chose It

Federal AutoMatch ammo is specifically designed to facilitate semi-automatic fire. Its low-residue performance and optimized chamber pressure, make Federal AutoMatch 40 grain LRN an excellent choice for shooters who want consistent semi-auto performance at a reasonable price point.

I’ve been very impressed with Federal AutoMatch while firing my Ruger 10/22. It’s reliable, and produces solid groups.

Federal AutoMatch is also a good round for 22 pistols like the Ruger Mark IV. It’s not ideal for hunting, however, as LRN bullets aren’t capable of terminal expansion.

Best Subsonic 22 LR Ammo - Federal American Eagle Suppressor 45 Grain CPRN

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Why I Chose It

True to its name, Federal American Eagle Suppressor ammo is specifically designed for suppressed firearms. Federal developed these rounds to exhibit a full, clean powder burn while maintaining subsonic velocities using heavier-for-caliber bullets.

This ammo does not require a suppressor for effective use. We advise always wearing hearing protection around firearms. With that said, it is widely understood that hearing protection isn’t strictly required while firing subsonic 22 LR through a suppressor.

Best of the Rest

Armscor 40 grain LRN – Armscor is often recognized for their affordable Rock Island Armory 1911s. Thir 22 LR ammo is also excellent, as it is clean shooting, reliable, and inexpensive. Armscor is a great option if you’re looking to purchase 22 LR ammo for plinking, training younger shooters, or target shooting.

Lapua Center-X 40 grain LRN – If you are looking for some of the most accurate 22 LR on the market, look no further than these tack-drivers by Lapua. The only real issue is availability and cost. Lapua ammo is hard to find, and it's priced high even relative to the other premium match loads.

Norma TAC-22 40 grain LRN – Norma has a long history of producing extremely consistent, purpose-driven ammo. Their TAC-22 line of 22 LR rimfire ammo is no exception. Specifically designed for semi-automatic fire, TAC-22 is an excellent option for putting holes through cans and even small game.

CCI Blazer 40 grain LRN – Blazer is often associated with great value and respectable performance. This holds true for their 22 LR ammo, as it is reasonably priced and performs well enough. Some shooters report this ammo can be picky with firearms (especially semi-autos). If it works in your guns, then you don't have to consider those shooters' experience.

How to Choose the Best 22 LR Ammunition

With so many different options available, selecting the best ammunition for your favorite 22 LR firearm can be a daunting task. The ideal ammo for your firearm would also be the least expensive, as as it would lwt you spend more time at the range. However, this might not be the best idea for other activities like small game hunting, target shooting, or competitions.

In this buyer’s guide, we are going to explain the different types of 22 LR ammunition and what you should be looking for when you’re ready to buy some 22 LR!

What Are You Planning to Shoot?

Knowing what type of 22 LR ammo to buy primarily depends on your intended target.

Are you planning on spending an afternoon plinking with your Marlin Model 60? Or perhaps you intend to elimate pests with EXTREME prejudice. Or maybe you’re headed to your local steel competition, and need ammo accurate enough to showcase your Apollo-like marksmanship. Whoever you are, there's an ideal round for your plans.

Plinking

"Plinking" means shooting just for the fun of it. Rimfire ammo, which is cheap, serves this purpose exceptionally well.

Plinking ammo is typically loaded with inexpensive solid point all-lead bullets: no hollow point nose cavity, no copper plating. Lead round nose (LRN) bullets are perfect for casual shooting!

Hunting

Small game hunting is one activity where the 22 LR really shines, as it has more than enough power to take down small pests like crows, squirrels, and rabbits. For these small game animals, stronger cartridges like the 17 HMR or 22 WMR simply aren’t needed (but are still very cool).

You would ideally have a hollow point bullet for hunting, as it will expand to increase the likelihood of a faster, cleaner kill. Copper-plated hollow points (CPHP) are the most common type of 22 LR hunting bullet. However, some shooters will still use LRN or copper-plated round nose (CPRN) ammo for this purpose.

New Shooter Training

The 22 LR is an excellent round to train new shooters with, as it has virtually no recoil and costs so very little. It's also not scarily loud. This allows a younger shooter to focus more on the fundamentals of marksmanship.

For this type of training, you’ll typically want the cheapest bullets you can find which means you should focus on bulk 22LR ammo.

Competition

There are multiple rimfire competitions available to participate in if you want to get into the competitive aspect of the sport. You’ll want ammo that is extremely reliable and accurate for these types of competitions, which means you’ll need to focus on match-grade offerings.

As most competitions are timed events, you’ll want to run a few boxes of your preferred match ammo through your gun to ensure that it is reliable.

Now that you have a better understanding of what you can use 22 LR for and what type of ammo you should be looking for, let’s get back to our Top 22 Long Rifle Ammunition Picks by Clicking HERE.

Final Shots – Best 22 LR Ammo

Finding the best 22 LR ammo for your needs is critical to success in the field. It doesn’t matter if you’re a weekend plinker, a competitive shooter, or waging a one-man war on squirrels kind. Investing in the right ammo for the task at hand can only improve your experience!

It also doesn’t matter which type of 22 LR you prefer. You’ll find it at Ammo.com, where multiple varieties of 22 LR ammo are always in stock and ready to ship!

Written by

Chris Dwulet