Best 22LR Ammo (2026): 8 Loads for Plinking, Match and Small Game

The best .22 LR ammo is the one your gun shoots reliably, at a price that lets you shoot a lot of it. That second part is the whole appeal of rimfire: at a dime a round or less, you can spend an afternoon plinking for the cost of a box of centerfire. The first part is the catch. .22 LR is famously picky, and a load that runs perfectly in one rifle can jam in the next.

So we compared the .22 LR loads people are searching for right now and picked eight from one store, Ammunition Depot, so every price is apples to apples: the high-velocity all-rounder, four bulk plinking packs, a bulk jug, a match load made by Eley and a defensive hollow point for .22 pistols. Every price, pack size and rating below was checked on the product page on October 5, 2026, and we did the cost-per-round math. This is a research guide built from those listings and owner reviews, not a hands-on test.

How we chose

Nobody at OSS America fired these loads for this guide. We started with search demand: over the last 30 days in the U.S., the top related searches for "22lr ammo" were "cci 22lr", "best 22lr ammo", Federal, Winchester and Aguila, and "fastest 22lr ammo" was a breakout rising search. Then we went through Ammunition Depot's 22 LR category, which listed 23 in-stock products on October 5, 2026.

Some popular names weren't available that day. We searched for CCI Stinger, CCI Standard Velocity, CCI Clean-22, Federal AutoMatch, Aguila, SK and Lapua, and none showed up in stock. We also skipped one listing whose title and specs didn't match. From what was in stock, we chose loads that cover the real use cases and recorded every pack size and price, computed the cost per round for the smallest pack and the best-value pack, and read the owner reviews, including the critical ones. Velocity and energy figures are the numbers printed on each listing; we didn't chronograph anything. Our Is Ammunition Depot legit? review covers the store itself.

All eight at a glance

Prices are the current prices on each Ammunition Depot product page on October 5, 2026, before tax and shipping. Ammo prices change daily. Best-value pack = the pack with the lowest price per round that day. Cost per round = price ÷ rounds, computed by OSS America. Velocities are as listed by the retailer; owner ratings are Ammunition Depot's on-site reviews the same day.

How to read the chart: the bulk plinking packs cluster between about 6.5 and 11 cents a round, and buying bigger saves only about a penny a round on most of them. The exception is Winchester USA's 2,000-round bundle, which knocked the price from 9.1¢ to 6.5¢ a round. Premium all-rounders like Mini-Mag cost a few cents more, match ammo about double, and the defensive Uppercut about three times as much as bulk.

The 8 best 22 LR loads, ranked

#1

CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR 40 Grain High-Velocity RN

Best 22 LR ammo overall

Ammunition Depot: about $14 for 100 · about $625 for a 5,000-round case (12.5¢ a round)

When people type "CCI 22LR" into Google, this is usually the box they mean. Mini-Mag is CCI's 40-grain copper-plated round nose in its familiar 100-round plastic box, listed at 1,235 fps. Ammunition Depot's listing points to premium brass, CCI priming and a clean-burning powder meant to keep fouling down. It's a little hotter than most bulk ammo, which helps fussy semi-autos cycle.

The owner record backs that up. It had 47 reviews averaging 5 out of 5 when we checked, 96% of them five stars. One August 2026 reviewer said a Volquartsen Black Mamba "eats this like it was made for it" and that 14-year-old stored Mini-Mags still shot like new; another recommends it for guns that "need a little extra to cycle." The one honest gripe from that same reviewer: the price keeps going up and availability comes and goes.

On October 5, 2026, a 100-round box was $13.99 (14.0¢ a round) and a 5,000-round case was $627.49 (12.5¢ a round). That's 3 to 5 cents a round more than bulk packs, and for a lot of shooters it's worth it.

Bullet	40 gr copper-plated round nose
Case	Brass
Velocity	1,235 fps (listed)
Packs	100-round box, 5,000-round case
Maker SKU	0030
Owner rating	5/5 from 47 reviews

Pros

• + Long, near-perfect owner record (96% five-star)
• + High velocity helps finicky semi-autos cycle
• + Works for targets and small game
• + 100-round boxes are easy to carry and store

Cons

• − 3 to 5 cents a round more than bulk plinking packs
• − Only two pack sizes: 100 or 5,000
• − Owners note price creep and spotty availability

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#2

Federal Champion Value Pack 22 LR 36 Grain Lead Hollow Point

Best value for most shooters

Ammunition Depot: about $32 for 325 · about $295 for 3,250 (9.1¢ a round)

Federal is the second brand people search for, and this value pack is a big reason why. It's Federal Champion's 36-grain lead hollow point in a 325-round box, listed at 1,260 fps and 125 ft-lb. Ammunition Depot's listing highlights reliable priming and new brass.

It's a good middle ground: a box costs $32.49 (10.0¢ a round), there's a 1,950-round range bundle at $190.49 and a 3,250-round case at $295.99, or 9.1¢ a round, as of October 5, 2026. Owners rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 18 reviews. One March 2026 buyer said about 1,000 rounds through a Walther P22, a pistol with a reputation for being picky, went without a single misfire.

The bullet is bare lead, so expect a bit more fouling than plated loads. For a 10/22 or a rimfire pistol, it's an easy default.

Bullet	36 gr lead hollow point
Case	Brass (new)
Velocity / energy	1,260 fps / 125 ft-lb (listed)
Packs	325-round box, 1,950-round bundle, 3,250-round case
Maker SKU	749
Owner rating	4.9/5 from 18 reviews

Pros

• + About a dime a round by the box, 9 cents by the case
• + Three pack sizes to fit your budget
• + Strong owner reviews, including from Walther P22 owners
• + Hollow point doubles for pests and small game

Cons

• − Bare lead bullet: dirtier than copper-plated loads
• − Smaller review base than CCI
• − Range bundle saves little over the box

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#3

Winchester USA 22 LR 36 Grain Copper Plated HP

Cheapest per round

Ammunition Depot: about $45 for 500 · about $130 for a 2,000-round bundle (6.5¢ a round, limit one)

If you just want the lowest price per trigger pull, this was it on October 5, 2026. Winchester USA's 36-grain copper-plated hollow point comes in a 500-round "Target Pack" and is listed at 1,280 fps, tied for the fastest load in this guide. Copper plating keeps lead off your hands and out of the action better than bare lead.

The price math is the story. A 500-round pack was $45.49 (9.1¢ a round). The 2,000-round range bundle was $129.89, marked down from $134.99 and capped at one per order, which works out to 6.5¢ a round. Oddly, that was cheaper per round than the 5,000-round case at $410.49 (8.2¢). If you need more than 2,000, check whether the bundle is still available before you jump to the case.

Reviews are few (8, averaging 4.8) but positive. A September 2026 buyer called it the best price on plated .22 he could find, and an earlier reviewer ran about 250 rounds through a Ruger 10/22 and an M&P 22 without trouble.

Bullet	36 gr copper-plated hollow point
Case	Brass
Velocity	1,280 fps (listed)
Packs	500-round pack, 2,000-round bundle (limit 1), 5,000-round case
Maker SKU	USA22LR500
Owner rating	4.8/5 from 8 reviews

Pros

• + Lowest cost per round in this guide (2,000-round bundle)
• + Copper-plated: cleaner than bare lead
• + 1,280 fps listed, among the fastest here
• + Made in the USA, per the listing

Cons

• − Best price is limited to one bundle per order
• − Only 8 owner reviews on the listing
• − 36-gr hollow points can be less accurate than 40-gr loads in some rifles

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#4

Federal Champion Training 22LR 40 Grain Range Pack (800rds)

Best bulk 40-grain round nose

Ammunition Depot: about $89 for 800 · about $325 for 3,200 (10.1¢ a round)

Some rifles and pistols simply shoot 40-grain round nose better than light hollow points, and many shooters prefer it for steel and paper. Federal Champion Training's 800-round range pack is a 40-grain lead round nose listed at 1,200 fps and 128 ft-lb.

On October 5, 2026, the 800-round pack was $89.49 (11.2¢ a round) and a case of four was $323.99 (10.1¢). It rated 4.7 out of 5 across 10 reviews, mostly short "good ammo, good price" notes. The one useful warning came from an owner whose finicky Sig .22 semi-auto didn't run well with it. That's a reminder that .22 LR reliability depends heavily on the gun, so buy one box before you buy a case.

Bullet	40 gr lead round nose
Case	Brass
Velocity / energy	1,200 fps / 128 ft-lb (listed)
Packs	800-round pack, 3,200-round case
Maker SKU	729B800
Owner rating	4.7/5 from 10 reviews

Pros

• + Heavier 40-gr bullet many guns group better with
• + About a dime a round
• + One pack covers a lot of range days

Cons

• − Bare lead round nose: dirtier than plated loads
• − An owner reported problems in a finicky Sig .22
• − Slower than the 36-gr hollow points

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#5

Winchester Wildcat .22 LR 40 Gr Copper Plated DynaPoint Jug

Best bulk storage pack

Ammunition Depot: about $135 for a 1,500-round jug (9.0¢ a round)

This one is as much about the container as the ammo. Winchester packs 1,500 rounds of its Wildcat 40-grain copper-plated DynaPoint into a translucent, resealable jug with a pour spout and a carry handle. If you load a lot of magazines, or want plinking ammo you can store and see at a glance, it's handy.

The listing gives 1,255 fps and about 140 ft-lb, and describes the DynaPoint bullet as designed for controlled expansion, so it can pull small-game duty too. On October 5, 2026 one jug was $134.49 (9.0¢ a round) and a case of three was $364.99 (8.1¢). There were no owner reviews on this listing yet, so we're going on the listing and price only.

Bullet	40 gr copper-plated DynaPoint
Case	Brass
Velocity / energy	1,255 fps / 140 ft-lb (listed)
Packs	1,500-round jug, 3-jug case (4,500)
Maker SKU	WW22LRJUG
Owner rating	No reviews on the listing yet

Pros

• + Resealable jug is easy to store and pour from
• + Copper-plated 40-gr bullet
• + Under 9 cents a round, about 8 by the case

Cons

• − No owner reviews on the listing yet
• − Loose rounds, not boxes of 50 or 100
• − Winchester USA was cheaper per round that day

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#6

Wolf Match Extra .22 LR 40 Gr Solid

Best match / standard-velocity ammo

Ammunition Depot: about $10 for 50 (21.0¢ a round) · about $945 for 5,000

Searchers asking about "SK or Lapua match" ammo will find neither in stock at Ammunition Depot right now. What was in stock is Wolf Match Extra, which the listing says is made by Eley in England, using Vihtavuori powder and a 40-grain lead round nose at a standard (subsonic-range) 1,050 fps. Standard-velocity ammo is what many rimfire competitors and precision shooters use, because it stays below the speed of sound and tends to be more consistent.

On October 5, 2026, a 50-round box was $10.49 (21.0¢ a round) and a 5,000-round case was $945.99, marked down from $999.99. That's twice the price of bulk ammo, but cheap for match-grade rimfire. There were no owner reviews on this listing, and every bolt gun has its favorite load, so buy a few boxes and shoot groups before committing to a case.

Bullet	40 gr lead round nose (solid)
Case	Brass
Velocity / energy	1,050 fps / 98 ft-lb (listed)
Maker	Eley Limited, England (per listing)
Packs	50-round box, 5,000-round case
Maker SKU	22XTRA
Owner rating	No reviews on the listing yet

Pros

• + Eley-made, per the listing
• + Standard velocity: quieter and consistent
• + Affordable for match-grade rimfire

Cons

• − About twice the price per round of bulk ammo
• − No owner reviews on the listing yet
• − May not cycle some semi-autos built for high-velocity ammo

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#7

Browning BPR Performance 22LR 36 Grain Copper Plated HP (400rds)

Good value, mixed reliability reports

Ammunition Depot: about $40 for 400 · about $145 for 1,600 (9.0¢ a round)

Browning's BPR (Browning Performance Rimfire) is a 36-grain copper-plated hollow point in a 400-round box, listed at 1,280 fps and made in the USA. On October 5, 2026 it was on sale: $39.99 for 400 (regular $54.99) and $143.49 for 1,600 (regular $199.99), or 9.0¢ a round.

Owners rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 17 reviews, and most call it clean-shooting plinking ammo. The most detailed review is a caution, though: a Steel Challenge shooter said it ran better than his previous brand but still gave him about one failure to fire per 10-round magazine, plus some stovepipes. There's also one 1-star review. Good for casual plinking; for competition, test it in your gun first.

Bullet	36 gr copper-plated hollow point
Case	Brass
Velocity	1,280 fps (listed)
Packs	400-round box, 1,600-round case
Maker SKU	B194122401
Owner rating	4.6/5 from 17 reviews

Pros

• + Sale price: 9 cents a round by the case
• + Copper-plated and listed at 1,280 fps
• + Owners call it clean

Cons

• − One detailed review reports misfires and stovepipes in competition
• − Lower five-star share (76%) than CCI or Federal
• − Sale prices may not last

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

#8

CCI Uppercut 22 LR 32 Gr JHP

Best for .22 pistols and pests

Ammunition Depot: about $15 for 50 (31.0¢ a round)

CCI Uppercut is a 32-grain jacketed hollow point in nickel-plated cases, and the box says it's designed for semi-auto pistols. Ammunition Depot lists its suggested uses as self-defense and varmint, at 950 fps from the listing.

Let's be straight about .22 LR for defense: it's the least powerful common handgun cartridge, rimfire ignition is less reliable than centerfire, and most self-defense instructors would point you to 9mm or larger if you can handle it. If a .22 pistol is what you can shoot well, for reasons like hand strength or recoil sensitivity, a purpose-built jacketed hollow point like this makes more sense than bulk plinking ammo. The same goes for pest control around the property.

On October 5, 2026 a 50-round box was $15.49 (31.0¢ a round). There were no owner reviews on the listing yet. Run at least a few hundred rounds of it through your pistol to confirm reliability before trusting it.

Bullet	32 gr jacketed hollow point
Case	Nickel-plated brass
Velocity	950 fps (listed)
Suggested use	Self-defense / personal protection, varmint (listing)
Packs	50-round box, 5,000-round case
Maker SKU	960CC
Owner rating	No reviews on the listing yet

Pros

• + Jacketed hollow point built for pistols
• + Nickel-plated cases
• + Sold in 50-round boxes

Cons

• − .22 LR is a weak defensive cartridge; 9mm is the usual advice
• − Most expensive per round here
• − No owner reviews on the listing yet

Check price at Ammunition Depot →

Which should you buy?

• You want one .22 load that works in almost anything: CCI Mini-Mag 40 gr.
• You want the lowest price per round: the Winchester USA 2,000-round bundle, while it lasts.
• You want cheap, proven ammo in a box you can grab and go: Federal Champion 36 gr value pack.
• Your gun groups better with 40-grain round nose: Federal Champion 40 gr range pack or the Winchester Wildcat jug.
• You shoot a bolt gun for groups or compete: Wolf Match Extra, standard velocity and made by Eley.
• You keep a .22 pistol for protection or pests: CCI Uppercut 32 gr JHP, and test it in your gun.

What to look for in 22 LR ammo

High velocity vs standard velocity

Most bulk .22 LR is "high velocity," roughly 1,200 to 1,300 fps on the listings here. It's what most semi-auto rifles and pistols are designed to cycle with. Standard-velocity loads run slower, around 1,050 to 1,070 fps on the match listings here, and stay below the speed of sound, which tends to make them quieter and more consistent for precision. The trade-off: some semi-autos won't cycle them.

Round nose vs hollow point, plated vs bare lead

40-grain round nose bullets are the classic target load and often group better in rifles. Lighter 36-grain hollow points are faster and open up on pests and small game. Copper-plated bullets leave less lead fouling in the action and on your hands than bare lead.

Test before you buy a case

.22 LR is the one caliber where "it depends on the gun" is literally true. Buy a box or two of a few candidates, shoot them through the gun you'll use, and then buy the case of whatever runs and groups best. Watch for failures to fire (rimfire priming is less forgiving than centerfire), and never look down the barrel after a misfire; keep it pointed downrange and wait before clearing it.

"What's the fastest 22LR ammo?"

It's a breakout search right now. Among what Ammunition Depot had in stock on October 5, 2026, the fastest listed loads were the 36-grain hollow points at 1,280 fps (Winchester USA, Browning BPR). Hyper-velocity loads like CCI Stinger weren't in stock there that day. Faster isn't automatically better or more accurate.

Buying ammo online

Ammunition Depot ships to your door in most states, but age rules and some state and local restrictions apply. Their non-firearm return window was 7 days from delivery with a 20% restocking fee (unless damaged in transit) when we checked, and opened sealed cans can't be returned. See our Ammunition Depot review for details. Putting an optic on your rimfire? Our best red dot sights and best rifle scopes guides cover options at every budget.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best 22LR ammo overall?

For most guns, CCI Mini-Mag 40-grain. It's listed at 1,235 fps, cycles most semi-autos, and had 47 owner reviews averaging 5 out of 5 at Ammunition Depot. On October 5, 2026 it was $13.99 for 100.

What is the cheapest 22LR ammo per round?

On October 5, 2026 at Ammunition Depot, Winchester USA 36-grain copper-plated hollow point in the 2,000-round range bundle: $129.89, or 6.5¢ a round (limit one per order). Most other bulk packs ran about 8 to 11 cents a round.

Is CCI or Federal 22LR better?

Both have strong owner records. CCI Mini-Mag costs more (about 12.5 to 14 cents a round here) and is the go-to for finicky semi-autos; Federal Champion is cheaper (about 9 to 10 cents a round) and owners report it running well even in picky pistols like the Walther P22. Try both in your gun.

What 22LR ammo is most accurate?

Standard-velocity match ammo usually groups best in bolt-action and target rifles. Wolf Match Extra, which the listing says is made by Eley in England, was the in-stock match option at Ammunition Depot on October 5, 2026. Every barrel has preferences, so test a few boxes.

What is the fastest 22LR ammo?

Among loads in stock at Ammunition Depot on October 5, 2026, the 36-grain hollow points from Winchester USA and Browning BPR were listed fastest at 1,280 fps. Hyper-velocity loads such as CCI Stinger were not in stock there that day.

Is 22LR good for self-defense?

It's the weakest common handgun cartridge and rimfire priming is less reliable than centerfire, so most instructors recommend 9mm or larger when possible. If a .22 pistol is what you can shoot well, use a purpose-built hollow point like CCI Uppercut and test it thoroughly in your gun.

The bottom line

Start with CCI Mini-Mag if you want a .22 load that just works, then stock up on Federal Champion or the Winchester USA bundle for cheap plinking once you've confirmed your gun likes it. Add Wolf Match Extra if you're chasing tiny groups. Rimfire prices change constantly, so compare cost per round on the day you buy.

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