Two of the latest advancements in the .22 caliber are the 22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge (ARC) and 22 GT. Both high-velocity rifle cartridges are flat shooting, but which one is better for you?
In this 22 ARC vs. 22 GT comparison article, we’ll pit the rounds against one another in terms of real-world performance, including recoil, trajectory, and suitability for hunting and defense. By the end of it, you’ll have all the information you need to decide which cartridge is better for you.
Differences Between 22 ARC and 22 GT
The 22 GT and 22 ARC were created for similar purposes. It comes as no surprise that they are also similar in design. Let’s examine how their subtle differences bear on performance.
Cartridge Specifications
The 22 ARC is often mistakenly thought to be based on the 6mm ARC, but its parent case is actually the 6.5 Grendel. It utilizes a 0.224” diameter bullet and has a case with a neck diameter of 0.221”, base diameter of 0.441”, and length of 1.525”. The overall length is 2.260”, with a case capacity of 34.6 grains H2O and maximum pressure of 52,000 psi.
The 22 GT is based on the 6mm GT, and loosely modeled after the 308 Winchester (it shares the same base diameter). It also utilizes a 0.224” diameter bullet, has a case with a neck diameter of 0.249”, base diameter of 0.473”, and length of 1.724”. It is slightly longer than the 22 ARC, with an overall length of 2.320” to 2.563” (depending on the bullet and how it is seated). The 22 GT has a case capacity of 39.9 grains H2O and maximum pressure of 61,400 psi.
Now, let’s see how these specifications help determine the shooting performance of each cartridge.
Recoil: 22 ARC vs. 22 GT
I always like to start by comparing recoil because it’s one of the first things a new shooter asks: “How hard does it kick?” A cartridge with more recoil moves the muzzle farther off the target with each shot, thus slowing accurate follow-up shots. Strong recoil can also cause the shooter to flinch, further worsening their marksmanship. Ultimately, the less recoil you experience, the more accurately you can fire.
Both rounds have virtually non-existent recoil, but we’ll dive deeper to give you a better idea for each. This comparison is based on free recoil energy, because it is objective (unlike “felt recoil”). It’s determined by four variables: projectile weight, propellant weight, muzzle velocity, and firearm weight.
When a 62 grain 22 ARC bullet is fired from an 8-pound rifle at 3,300 fps muzzle velocity, it generates about 2.5 ft-lbs of recoil energy.
When an 80 grain 22 GT bullet is fired from an 8-pound rifle at 3,364 fps muzzle velocity, it generates about 6 ft-lbs of recoil energy.
While neither cartridge is a shoulder thumper, the 22 ARC has less recoil. Most shooters will struggle to notice much difference.
The 22 ARC wins this section with a lower recoil.
Trajectory
A bullet’s trajectory is its path to the target. It is most often measured in inches of bullet drop, or minutes of angle (MOA). Although we often talk about “flat-shooting guns,” a bullet’s trajectory is rarely a flat line. Instead, it frequently resembles an arch: rising, plateauing, and dropping.
When fired at targets within 100 yards, most rifle cartridges exhibit virtually zero bullet drop. As distance increases, bullet drop becomes more pronounced. This is partly because a bullet’s velocity steadily slows throughout its trajectory. A bullet requires more time to cover 100-200 yards than 0-100. As a result, gravity has more time to exert its influence on a bullet as it covers farther distances.
When a 22 ARC 62 grain ELD-VT bullet is sighted in at 200 yards, it will drop -5.6” at 300 yards, -16.4” at 400 yards, and -33.5” at 500 yards. The 22 ARC is a flat-shooting cartridge.
When a 22 GT 88 grain ELD-M bullet is sighted in at 200 yards, it will drop -7.2” at 300 yards, -21.6” at 400 yards, and -45.1” at 500 yards. The 22 GT has a flat trajectory, but not as flat as the 22 ARC’s.
The 22 ARC’s flatter trajectory wins this section.
Continue reading 22 ARC vs. 22 GT: The Latest Improvements to .22 Caliber Cartridges on Ammo.com
