Anyone that’s been shooting for a while knows that bullets are not just bullets.
Honestly, if that sentence made you angry, perhaps it should be. Referring to a cartridge as a “bullet” (even implicitly, as has just been done there) is a rookie mistake. The bullet is loaded into the cartridge; the cartridge is the whole self-contained unit consisting of a casing, primer, propellent, and the aforementioned projectile.
But that’s just the point. There’s a whole lot of fine nuance in the firearm industry, and one of them has to do with the distinctions between different .22LR ammo.
No, we’re not talking about copper plating or hollow point bullets. We’re talking about performance with respect to velocity.
Let’s take a closer look at the four main categories of .22LR ammo, according to velocity, which will impact suitability. Make sure you’re familiar with these before you go and buy a whole load of .22LR bulk ammo!
Subsonic Ammo: <1,100 FPS
Technically, subsonic ammo is anything that’s below 1,126 FPS, but to keep things simple, most ammunition manufacturers label any rimfire ammo that generates less than 1,100 FPS, subsonic.
These bullets do not break the sound barrier, which achieves two key things: it keeps them quiet, and believe it or not, it improves accuracy.
This makes subsonic rounds great for high-volume training (especially when you don’t have hearing protection) and for target shooting, due to the increased accuracy (at close ranges.)
Just be aware of two things: these rounds produce much lower stopping power, so unless you’re using them to dispatch trapped small game at close ranges, skip them for larger targets.
The other is that they often don’t generate sufficient chamber pressure to cycle semi-autos, so you might get jams. Revolvers and repeaters are good to go, though.
Standard Velocity: Around 1,050-1080 FPS
Technically, these are also subsonic, but they’re on the higher end of the subsonic spectrum (many subsonic .22LR rounds only achieve ~700 to 800 FPS) so they’re more suitable for target shooting and hunting small game. Basically, just look for “standard velocity” stamped on the box.
High Velocity: 1,200-1310 FPS
Once you get above 1,200 FPS, you’re trending towards high velocity .22LR ammo. These are faster and more powerful than subsonic and standard velocity ammo, making them suitable for slightly extended rimfire plinking, competition, and of course, small game hunting.
Hyper Velocity: 1,400 to 1,800 FPS
Among the most specialized (and powerful) of .22LR ammo are hyper velocity rounds, which can deliver muzzle velocities as high as 1,800 FPS.
These specialty .22LR cartridges are very fast, very powerful (for rimfire ammo, at least) and are usually reserved for hunting, Among those that carry .22 caliber handguns, they are also used for defensive applications.
Stock Up on .22LR Bulk Ammo
Now that you know what to look for in .22LR before you buy, buy smart. Check out the .22LR bulk ammo deals over at Bucking Horse Outpost. They carry a wide selection of options at competitive prices in their bulk ammo catalog, along with police trade-in specials.
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