While some rimfire ammo is unreliable, inaccurate, or inconsistent, the best 22 LR ammo for competition is the opposite.
Choosing a consistent, straight-shooting round is a must for shooting matches. We compiled a list of the best ammo for your next match, whether you’re shooting a 22 LR pistol or rifle.
Let’s get started with our top five picks!
My Top 22 LR Competition Ammo Picks
| Use Case | Ammo | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Federal Gold Medal HV Match 40 Grain LRN | Jump To Details → |
| Best for Rifle | Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range 40 Grain LRN | Jump To Details → |
| Best for Pistol | CCI Pistol Match 40 Grain LRN | Jump To Details → |
| Honorable Mention | Lapua Center-X 40 Grain LRN | Jump To Details → |
| Honorable Mention | Eley Match 40 Grain LFN | Jump To Details → |
Federal Gold Medal HV Match 40 Grain LRN - Best 22 LR Match Ammo Overall
Specs
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Case: Brass
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Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
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Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
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Muzzle Velocity: 1,200 fps
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Muzzle Energy: 128 ft-lbs
Pros
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Trusted brand
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Flat shooting
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Reliable
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Accurate
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Relatively inexpensive
Cons
- Two similar options make choosing the right one a little confusing
Why I Chose It
Federal is one of the leading ammunition brands. It’s built a reputation for producing high-quality ammo for decades. I’ve used Federal 22 LR for small game hunting and target shooting for years.
Federal Gold Medal HV Match is one of the flattest-shooting factory-loaded 22 LR cartridges It makes being accurate much easier, in large part because you won’t have to make as many adjustments at varying distances. If I were to enter a competition this weekend, this is the first ammo I would purchase.
In my experience, Federal 22 LR ammo is very reliable. It fires when I pull the trigger and cycles through semi-auto firearms. 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; however, it is not. While it is more expensive than plinking ammo, it’s still very budget-friendly.
My biggest frustration with this ammo is its packaging’s similarity to Federal Gold Medal Target (which has a lower muzzle velocity at 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.
Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range 40 Grain LRN - Best 22 LR Competition Rifle Ammo
Specs
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Case: Brass
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Bullet Type: Lead Round Nose (LRN)
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Bullet Weight: 40 Grain
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Muzzle Velocity: 1,063 fps
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Muzzle Energy: 100 ft-lbs
Pros
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“Brand of Champions”
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Designed for long-distance shooting
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Excellent choice for various shooting disciplines
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Accurate
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Reliable
Cons
- Expensive
Why I Chose It
Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range is an excellent choice for your 22 LR rifle because it’s designed for long-range shooting, 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,” 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 because it’s accurate, it fires when you pull the trigger, and it’s designed for shooting competitions.
Continue reading Best 22 LR Ammo for Competition: Straight, Consistent Shooting Factory Loads on Ammo.com