22lr ammo

22LR ammo — the .22 Long Rifle — is the most-shot cartridge on earth, and for good reason: it’s cheap, quiet, nearly recoilless, and endlessly useful for plinking, small-game hunting, and training new shooters. A brick of .22 LR delivers hundreds of rounds of trigger time for the price of a box of centerfire, which is why almost every shooter owns a rifle or pistol that fires it. This page covers the velocity tiers, what each is for, and how to buy in bulk.

Tatted Tacticals stocks .22 LR from CCI, Federal, Winchester, Aguila, and Lapua — target, high-velocity, hyper-velocity, and subsonic loads, in boxes, bricks, and bulk buckets. Browse brand lineups from CCI, Federal, and Winchester.

Velocity Tiers: Standard, High-Velocity, and Hyper

The biggest difference between .22 LR loads is velocity, which determines noise, accuracy, and use.

Match and subsonic loads are the most accurate and the quietest, especially through a suppressor; high-velocity is the all-around plinking and squirrel-rabbit choice; hyper-velocity loads like the CCI Stinger trade some accuracy for flat-shooting energy on varmints. Our .22 LR ballistic data compares the popular loads.

Uses: Plinking, Small Game, and Training

The .22 LR is the ultimate trainer — low recoil and noise let new shooters learn fundamentals without flinching, and it makes cheap practice for everyone. It’s a proven small-game cartridge for squirrel, rabbit, and pest control, and a backpack staple. For more reach and power on larger varmints, the .22 WMR and .17 HMR step up from rimfire.

Buying .22 LR in Bulk

Because it’s so inexpensive per round, .22 LR is the cartridge people buy by the brick and bucket — bulk is the whole point. Rimfire ammo can’t be reloaded, so stocking up when prices are good is the move. After past shortages, .22 LR is widely available again. Federal law sets the minimum age for rimfire rifle ammunition at 18; per ATF guidance, confirm federal rules and review our ammunition shipping rules and state restrictions before ordering. Standards follow SAAMI specifications.

.22 LR Ammo — Frequently Asked Questions

Are all .22 rounds rimfire?

The .22 LR and its rimfire relatives (.22 Short, .22 WMR, .17 HMR) are rimfire, meaning the primer is in the rim of the case rather than a central primer. But “22-caliber” centerfire rounds like .22-250 and .223 are not rimfire. When people say “.22,” they almost always mean the rimfire .22 LR.

Why is .22 ammo sometimes unreliable?

Rimfire priming is less consistent than centerfire, so .22 LR can produce occasional misfires or duds, especially with bargain bulk ammo or in a dirty firearm. Quality ammo from CCI, Federal, or Lapua and a clean gun dramatically improve reliability. For most plinking the occasional dud is a minor trade for the low cost.

Will a .22 stop an attacker?

The .22 LR is a small, low-energy cartridge not generally recommended as a primary defensive round, since it lacks the stopping power of dedicated defense calibers. That said, shot placement matters and it is better than nothing. Most experts suggest a centerfire handgun caliber for self-defense and reserve the .22 for training, plinking, and small game.

Does Walmart still sell .22 LR ammo?

Availability varies by store, but .22 LR is a mainstream cartridge stocked by most ammunition retailers. Buying online gives you the full range of target, high-velocity, and subsonic loads in bulk bricks and buckets, often at better per-round pricing than a limited local shelf.

Can you buy .22 LR ammo online?

Yes. In most U.S. states you can buy .22 LR online and have it shipped to your door. The minimum age for rifle ammunition is 18, and some states and municipalities add restrictions or shipping limits, so confirm your state and local laws before ordering.