Best 22 LR Ammo for Competition: High-Precision Match Loads

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "Best 22 LR Ammo for Competition: Shootin’ Straight With 22 LR"
(https://ammo.com/best/best-22lr-ammo-for-competition)

Some rimfire ammo is unreliable, inaccurate, or inconsistent. The best 22 LR ammo for competition, of course, is just the opposite.

Choosing a consistent, straight-shooting round is a must if you want to win your shooting matches. I compiled a list of the best ammo for your next match, whether you’re firing a 22 LR pistol or rifle.

Let’s get started with the top six picks!

My Top 22 LR Competition Ammo Picks

Lapua Center-X 40 Grain LRN – Best 22 LR Match Ammo Overall

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Specs:

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
• Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,073 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 102 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Lapua Center-X 40 grain LRN is the best 22 LR competition ammo overall. Lapua is known for long-range shooting performance, accuracy, and reliability, and is trusted by many top competitors. These rounds are no exception. They can be used across a variety of shooting disciplines and are loved by 22 LR enthusiasts worldwide.

You can count on Lapua Center-X 40 grain LRN to fire and be accurate under pressure. Many top NRL22 competitors trust it. When keeping your groups tight matters, these rounds should be at the top of your ammo list.

Unfortunately, these rounds are not readily available. They are also a bit costly (albeit not the most expensive). You most likely can’t stroll up to your local ammo shop and grab a few boxes off the shelf, and if you do, don’t expect them to be cheap. Some shooters claim it’s too greasy and creates cycling issues in their semi-auto pistols, but they’re in the minority.

If you only trust proven brands, grab some Lapua Center-X 40 grain LRN.

Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range 40 Grain LRN – Best 22 LR Competition Rifle Ammo

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Specs:

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
• Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,063 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 100 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range is an excellent choice for your 22 LR rifle. It’s designed for long-range shooting, and very accurate, consistent, and reliable in a rifle platform.

I appreciate how versatile these rounds are for shooting competitions. According to the manufacturer, this round has “been developed to meet the demands of disciplines such as Precision Rimfire Series .22LR, Rimfire Benchrest, Field Target Shooting, Steel Challenge, NRL22, and NRL22X leagues.”

Eley ammunition is the “Choice of Champions.” Many top rimfire shooters choose Eley, but it comes at a high price. Eley isn’t cheap plinking ammo, so your practice sessions will get expensive. However, you can offset the cost by winning shooting matches.

Even though it’s more expensive, Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range is the ideal option for your 22 LR rifle. It’s accurate, it fires when you pull the trigger, and it’s designed for 22 LR shooting competitions.

CCI Pistol Match 40 Grain LRN – Best 22 LR Competition Pistol Ammo

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Specs:

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
• Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,070 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 102 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

CCI Pistol Match 40 grain LRN is the best ammo you can buy for your next pistol match. It’s manufactured by a trusted brand, and it’s accurate, reliable, and designed to perform best in a pistol.

I’ve always had an excellent time with CCI ammo because it’s ultra-reliable. I can’t think of too many times when I’ve experienced a malfunction while firing CCI.

The biggest drawback to CCI is how costly it is compared to 22 LR plinking ammo. It’s forgivable, because CCI’s match-grade rounds are loaded with precision components and to tighter tolerances than cheap plinking ammo.

I wouldn’t hesitate to stock up on CCI Pistol Match. Grab some today!

SK Long Range Match 40 Grain LRN – Honorable Mention

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Specs:

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
• Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,106 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 109 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Many top professional and recreational long-range shooters claim SK Long Range Match 40 grain LRN ammo allows them to place tighter groups than other top match-grade brands. I love that it’s reasonably priced, making it ideal for novice competition shooters.

SK purpose-built these rimfire rounds to be accurate at 100 yards and beyond, as well as feed reliably through competitive target rifles. They perform well for PRC, tactical rimfire, long-range silhouette, and many other rimfire shooting disciplines.

If you’re looking to get started competing, hit the range with some SK Long Range Match 22 LR ammo. It’s reasonably priced and one of the best entry-level rounds available.

Eley Match 40 Grain LFN – Honorable Mention

Eley Match 22 LR Ammo - 500 Rounds of 40 Grain LFN Ammunition

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Shop 22 LR Ammo

Specs:

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Lead Flat Nose (LFN)
• Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,085 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 105 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Since Eley is the “Choice of Champions,” I had to add another option from them. These rounds are accurate, reliable, and designed for competition. While I have some semi-autos that don’t cycle LFN bullets as well as they do LRNs, that hasn’t been the case with this ammo.

Eley is known for high-quality ammo, so these rounds are just as expensive as the other options on this list. Be prepared to spend more than you would for 22 LR plinking ammo.

If you’re using a bolt-action rifle, these could be the rounds that help you place higher than ever in a match. They’re well worth testing out.

Federal Gold Medal HV Match 40 Grain LRN – Honorable Mention

Federal Gold Metal High Velocity Match 22 LR Ammo - 50 Rounds of 40 Grain LRN Ammunition

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Shop 22 LR Ammo

Specs:

• Case: Brass
• Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
• Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,200 fps
• Muzzle Energy: 128 ft-lbs

Pros and Cons

Why I Chose It

Federal is one of the leading ammunition brands, having spent decades building a reputation for high quality. Federal Gold Medal HV Match is one of the flattest-shooting 22 LR cartridges. It makes being accurate easier in large part because you won’t have to make as many adjustments at varying distances.

In my experience, Federal 22 LR ammo is very reliable. It cycles through bolt-action and semi-auto firearms alike without fail. I’ve used it in 22 LR rifles and pistols with minimal issues.

One might think that with all these benefits, it’s crazy expensive, but it’s not! While it is more expensive than plinking ammo, it’s still very budget-friendly.

My biggest frustration with this ammo is the packaging’s similarity to Federal Gold Medal Target (which has a lower muzzle velocity of 1,080 fps). Be sure you’re purchasing Gold Medal HV Match if you want the flattest-shooting 22 LR, or Gold Medal Target if you want the slightly less expensive option.

Why Is 22 LR Competition Ammo Better Than Standard 22 LR Rounds?

There are a couple of reasons why match-grade ammo is better than regular 22 LR ammo. The first is the use of higher-quality components in manufacturing the rounds. The other is the tighter tolerances companies impose to achieve better performance. Naturally, both features increase the price of competition ammo.

Propellant

The propellant manufacturers load in match-grade ammo is often of higher quality. It generates more consistent chamber pressure, exhibits less vulnerability to temperature fluctuations, and burns at the even rate which best promotes accuracy.

Bullets

Bullet design is a critical factor in how well ammunition performs. While most 22 LR competition ammo utilizes LRN bullets (similar to regular 22 LR ammo), competition-grade bullets are manufactured to tighter tolerances and held to higher standards. Even a minor imperfection precludes a bullet from being loaded in a match round.

Cases

Cases used for competition shooting are of higher quality and manufactured with a higher degree of precision. Some ammunition manufacturers apply lubricants to their cases to ensure smoother cycling. For example, Eley uses beeswax tallow or paraffin wax.

How to Choose the Best 22 LR Match Ammo

The perfect 22 LR competition ammo is a matter of personal preference. It depends on your firearm, match type, and budget.

Firearm Selection

Choosing between ammo designed for a pistol or a rifle matters, as either type of firearm tends not to like certain brands or bullet types. Your Henry lever action might perform best with Federal Gold Medal Match HV, whereas your Ruger 10/22 might jam every third shot with the same ammo. It’s wise to test out lots of different ammo to determine which allows you to perform best.

Match Type

Another consideration is the league and type of shooting match you plan to enter. Some might have ammo restrictions. Others might have firearm restrictions. Before you stock up on what you consider to be the best 22 LR ammo for competitions, make sure you’ll actually be able to use it at your match.

Budget

Luckily, 22 LR ammo isn’t all that expensive. Even match-grade ammo is cheap compared to other cartridges. However, if you’re firing thousands of rounds, you can still burn through a lot of money shooting 22 LR competition ammo. That’s why it’s important to pick a good load for your budget. For practice sessions between matches, consider stocking up on bulk 22 LR ammo to keep training costs down while saving your premium match loads for competition day.

Parting Shots: Best 22 LR Ammo for Competition

After conducting extensive research, speaking with other ammo experts, and testing these rounds, I still believe that Lapua Center-X is the best 22 LR ammo for competition. It’s accurate, reliable, smooth-cycling in most firearms. It’s more expensive than most other 22 LR loads, but it’s still reasonably priced for what it is: excellent.

For shooters looking beyond competition-specific loads, check out our comprehensive guide to the best 22 LR ammo covering hunting, plinking, and self-defense options. After checking our guide, make sure to stock up on 22 LR ammo at Ammo.com!

Written by

Wes Littlefield