A rimfire cartridge like the 22 LR is excellent for weekend plinkers, target shooters, and small game hunters. It has low cost per round and is easy to source.

However, this rimfire cartridge can be problematic in pistols due to its heeled bullet. Heed bullets will collect grit more readily than a smooth bullet and may cause misfires in small semi-automatic pistols.

The.22 LR Cartridge

A rimfire cartridge has a protruding rim that contains the primer. Rimfire cartridges have lower power charges and projectiles than centerfire cartridges, which utilize a replaceable priming compound for larger, higher-powered charges and heavier projectiles.

The.22 LR has been in use since the black powder days and remains popular today. It is the ideal caliber for teaching new shooters proper technique, as it doesn’t intimidate them with heavy recoil like a larger rifle can.

Modern military and law enforcement agencies have also used the.22 LR, including the CIA’s predecessor, the Office of Strategic Services, who issued High Standard HDM pistols to their agents for riot control and as secondary self-defense weapons. U-2 pilots were armed with suppressed rimfire pistols as well, in case they needed to escape their hijackers.

In rifles, the rimfire cartridge typically uses a 40-grain bullet and achieves a velocity of 1,200 feet per second. It can be used for target shooting, varmint hunting and even small game hunting at shorter ranges.

The.22 LR Ammunition

There are a wide variety of rifles and handguns chambered for the.22 LR. From a simple trapline thumper to a highly-customized target pistol, most handgun manufacturers offer several semi-automatic rifles and revolvers for the rimfire cartridge. The round is well-suited for recreational and competitive shooting, as well as for small game hunting and home defense against varmints and pests.

The rimfire round's light recoil allows shooters of all ages to practice and develop their skills without becoming fatigued. It also makes it easier to carry a full load of ammo for training and self-defense.

The rimfire cartridge comes in a wide variety of brands, bullet weights and velocities. However, it is important to use only what is stamped for your firearm; firing anything else may cause irreparable damage. As an inexpensive round, it's an excellent choice for those looking to get into shooting or who want a back-up gun in case their primary firearm is out of ammunition. For more details please visit 22 lr pistol

The.22 LR Pistol

The rimfire’s low cost and portability make it an excellent choice for marksmanship training. Its light recoil and soft report allow even the smallest frame shooter to develop the fundamentals of marksmanship with ease.

The round’s popularity has also led to its use in some military and law-enforcement applications. For example, OSS and SOE agents carried Stevens 22-410 combination pistol/rifle survival weapons with full metal jacket ammunition during World War II. And in the modern era, U-2 pilots carried suppressed High Standard.22 LRs to meet the FBI’s 12" of penetration in ballistic gelatin requirement.

Federal’s Punch rimfire cartridge is designed specifically to meet this penetration requirement in short-barreled handguns, and uses a nickel-plated segmented hollow point bullet that breaks into four pieces upon impact. This design provides for immediate expansion and continued penetration. The rimfire pistols chambered for this cartridge are also small and lightweight, making them easy to carry and conceal in the same places where people might expect to be confronted with a violent crime.

The.22 LR Revolver

Despite being a diminutive cartridge, the 22 LR is not without its uses. The round is a staple for marksmanship training and has been used in the Olympic sport of Biathlon, a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

The rimfire cartridge can also be a useful self-defense handgun for its ability to penetrate and disable at close range. The two most recent rimfire rounds introduced for this purpose take different design approaches-the Federal Punch uses a flat-nose bullet designed for maximum penetration while the Winchester Silvertip has a plated segmented hollow point that creates an initial wound canal before expanding to stop the threat.

There are a multitude of revolvers chambered for the 22 LR, including the iconic Colt Single Action Army and a variety of modern double-action models from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, and others. Additionally, semi-auto manufacturers like Walther, Marlin, and Browning offer lever-action rifles for those seeking a more Old West experience.