FAQ
About .22 Rimfire Ammunition

 

Q. Is .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum interchangeable like .38 Special and .357 Magnum?

A. NO, the two cartridge are totally different and cannot be interchanged with one another.

The World of .22 Rimfire

Q. I have two .22 Rifles and one shoots tight groups with a given brand of ammo, but other gun doesn't shoot the same ammo well at all. I can't get under 3" groups at 100 yards, while the other will shoot the same ammo at 1" and under. What's up?

A. Each rimfire gun is different and can be very selective on what ammo it shoots the best. As you have discovers, you can have two identical guns, right out of the box, and each will shoot a brand or type differently. The best way to select the ammo that shoots best out of your gun is to get a number of different types and brand and go to the range one afternoon and see which one your gun shoots the best. You look of course on how it "groups" and also the functioning, if it is an auto-loader. Just remember that all .22 guns are individuals in a sense, each having their own personality.

Q. How accurate can .22 rimfire be?

A. A high grade match firearm, like an ANSCHUTZ match rifle, with the proper ammo (that the gun has "picked") can place bullets in the same hole up to 50 meters (about 55 yards)

Q. I have heard that shooting .22 shot shells will harms my barrel?

A. Not true, .22 shot shells use #11 or #12 size LEAD pellets, and lead will not scratch the bore.

Q. What is Subsonic .22 ammunition?

A. Ammunition that is just below the speed of sound. You know that "High Pitch Crack" you heard when shooting high velocity 22, well that crack is from the bullet breaking the speed of sound. You are hearing the sonic boom for the bullet. Bullets traveling under the speed of sound do not produce the "High Pitch Crack", thus they are quieter. Also, most of your MATCH GRADE ammo is subsonic because when the bullet breaks the sound barrier, it can effect the path of the bullet, just slightly, but enough make an otherwise 10 ring shot a 9 or 8.

Q. I was told that .22 ammo is one the of the safest cartridges because the bullet doesn't travel very far.

A. Not true. .22 rimfire ammo can travel and KILL someone up to a MILE or MORE (.22 Magnums over 2 miles). Always have a back stop and know what is beyond your back stop. And never shoot at a body of water at a low angle, the bullet will bounce right off of it.