Which .22 LR Product Lines Are Most Common?
Current observed prices are in the 30-day price summary at the top of this page, recomputed from tracked retailer listings. The table below lists common product lines by type, grain, and use.
| Product Line | Type | Grain | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Blazer | LRN | 40gr | Range / Plinking |
| Federal AutoMatch | LRN | 40gr | Semi-Auto |
| Federal Champion | LRN | 40gr | Range / Plinking |
| Aguila Super Extra | CPRN | 40gr | Range / Plinking |
| CCI Mini-Mag | CPHP | 36gr | All-Purpose |
| CCI Standard Velocity | LRN | 40gr | Precision / Suppressed |
| SK Standard Plus | LRN | 40gr | Match |
| Eley Tenex | LFN | 40gr | Competition Match |
What .22 LR Ammo Types Are Available?
- .22 LR Standard / Plinking — Bulk and range ammo for high-volume shooting
- .22 LR Hollow Point — Small game, varmint, and pest control
- Bulk .22 LR (500+ rounds) — Brick and case quantity deals
- .22 LR Subsonic — Suppressor-optimized loads, significantly quieter
How Much Does .22 LR Ammo Cost Per Round in 2026?
The .22 LR is the most affordable cartridge to shoot by a wide margin, making it the default choice for high-volume training, introducing new shooters, and recreational plinking. Bulk .22 LR is typically the lowest-cost ammunition per round of any common caliber; current per-round figures are in the observed 30-day price summary at the top of this page.
The market segments cleanly into three tiers. Bulk plinking ammo (Blazer, Federal Champion, Aguila Super Extra) is the lowest-cost tier and is adequate for semi-auto pistols and rifles at typical plinking distances. High-velocity and hunting ammo (CCI Mini-Mag, CCI Velocitor, Federal Game-Shok) costs more per round and offers better reliability in semi-autos plus expanding bullets for small game. Match and precision ammo (SK Standard Plus, Eley Tenex, Lapua Center-X) is the most expensive tier and is manufactured to tighter tolerances for competitive benchrest, smallbore, and precision rifle.
Reliability matters with .22 LR: Unlike centerfire ammunition, rimfire ignition is inherently less reliable. Cheap bulk ammo will occasionally produce failures to fire (duds). CCI-manufactured ammo (Mini-Mag, Standard Velocity, Blazer) is widely regarded for consistent ignition. For uses beyond plinking — pest control, small game, competition — ammunition with tighter quality control costs a little more per round and typically produces fewer duds.
Bulk .22 LR — Bricks and Case Deals
The .22 LR market is heavily oriented toward bulk packaging. Bricks of 500 rounds are the standard bulk unit, with cases of 5,000 rounds typically carrying the lowest per-round cost. A 5,000-round case is enough for months of regular range sessions.
.22 LR Semi-Auto Reliability — Which Ammo Feeds Best
Semi-automatic .22 LR pistols and rifles are more ammunition-sensitive than bolt-actions. Bullet velocity, bullet nose profile, and overall cartridge length all affect feeding reliability. Federal AutoMatch is specifically designed for semi-auto platforms. CCI Mini-Mag is a widely used reference load for semi-auto reliability across .22 LR platforms. When a semi-auto fails to cycle bulk ammo, testing a higher-velocity load such as Mini-Mag helps separate an ammunition problem from a gun problem.
.22 LR Market Trends
CCI — part of The Kinetic Group — is a domestic manufacturer, with Aguila (Mexico) and SK/Eley (Germany/UK) providing the main import competition.
.22 LR Guides & Buying Advice
- .22 LR plinking & target loads compared — Top picks by category for range shooting
- Cheapest calibers to shoot — How .22 LR compares on cost per round
- What does grain mean in ammunition? — Bullet weight basics for new shooters
Related Calibers — 9mm, .380 ACP, 5.56 NATO
- 9mm — The natural step up for handgun training and self-defense
- .380 ACP — Compact carry option, also low recoil
- 5.56 NATO — Step up to rifle caliber for AR-platform shooting
- .17 HMR — Higher velocity rimfire varmint round. More expensive, longer effective range.
- .22 WMR — More powerful rimfire for varmints and small game. Noticeably more expensive per round.
.22 LR Ammo Brands — CCI, Federal, Winchester & More
- CCI — Mini-Mag, Stinger, Standard Velocity, Blazer.
- Federal — AutoMatch and Champion.
- Winchester — Super-X, Wildcat, and 333-round bulk packs.
- Remington — Thunderbolt and Golden Bullet. Budget bulk options.
- Hornady — Varmint Express.
Where to Buy .22 LR Ammo Online
- Lucky Gunner
- Palmetto State Armory — Frequent bulk deals on .22 LR bricks
- Target Sports USA — Free shipping on case quantities for members
- MidwayUSA — Wide selection from bulk to match-grade
- Sportsman's Warehouse — Online and in-store pickup options