.22 LR

.22 Long Rifle

History & Design Intent

The .22 Long Rifle was standardized by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company in 1887, marrying the .22 Long case with the heavier 40-grain bullet of the .22 Extra Long. It is a rimfire design — the priming compound is spun into the rim rather than seated in a central primer — which keeps the cartridge cheap to manufacture in enormous volume.

Operational Profile

Low recoil, low report, and trivial cost make .22 LR the universal training and small-game round; a typical 40-grain load leaves the muzzle around 1,050–1,250 fps. It is the most-produced cartridge in the world and the default first round for new shooters, plinkers, and competitive smallbore disciplines.