No Comments Nothing ruins a range day faster than when your ammo doesn’t run like it should, which is why we’ve put in the range time to find the best .22LR ammo for pistols.
It can be frustrating trying to find ammo that runs well in your gun. Many .22LR pistols have a reputation for being picky with ammo. Some pistols eat any ammo you feed them, while others suffer from constant malfunctions.
Today we’re looking at the best .22LR ammo for pistols so you can make the most out of your range time!
Best .22LR Ammo for Pistols: Top Picks
Our top .22LR pistol ammo choices are:
- CCI Mini-Mag 36gr. CPHP
- Eley Tenex Pistol 40gr. LRN
- CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN
- Aguila Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN
- Federal AutoMatch Target 40gr. LRN
Each of these five rounds have a reputation for their reliability in .22LR pistols. I’ve spent many range days shooting all of the rounds on our list to find .22LR ammo that runs reliably.
Many shooters love to geek-out on ballistics, so I also grabbed some independent velocity data for each of these rounds too. Using a TaurusTX 22 with a 4.6″ barrel, I chronographed 5 rounds from each of our .22LR pistol ammo picks.
Keep reading to see why these choices made our list and for our velocity findings!
CCI Mini-Mag 36gr. CPHP and Mini-Mag 40gr. CPRN
Average Pistol Muzzle Velocity (36gr. CPHP): 1123 fps
The CCI Mini-Mag has a reputation for its reliability. When I worked at a gun range, anytime a shooter had trouble with their .22LR ammo, we’d recommend the Mini-Mags and it often solved the issue.
There are two different versions of the Mini-Mags, both offering exceptional reliability. The first version of Mini-Mags use a 36gr. copper plated hollow point bullet. The other version of Mini-Mags use a 40gr. copper-plated round nose bullet. The copper plating on both rounds help to reduce barrel fouling and lead exposure. Mini-Mags are considered high-velocity, with a muzzle velocity over 1200fps. This aids in reliably cycling semi-autos.
CCI is a part of The Kinetic Group, a company made up of many other brands like Speer, Federal, and Remington. CCI loads its ammo at their Lewiston, Idaho plant.
Eley Tenex Pistol 40gr. LRN
Average Pistol Muzzle Velocity: 895 fps
Some US shooters may not be familiar with Eley – but they should be. Eley produces top-quality ammo in Great Britain, primarily focusing on .22LR ammo. The company is known for the quality and reliability of their ammo, which is why it’s even used by Olympians.
Eley considers their Tenex line of ammo as their most consistently accurate. The Eley Tenex Pistol round uses a 40gr. lead round nose bullet that aids in smooth feeding in semi-autos. This is as opposed to the standard Eley Tenex .22LR which uses a flat nose projectile, and therefore has more flight stability for longer range shooting.
CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN
Buy Now:
- CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN – 50 Rounds
- CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN – 100 Rounds
- CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN – 500 Rounds
Average Pistol Muzzle Velocity: 934 fps
Another reliable .22LR round for pistols from CCI is the CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN. This load from CCI has a slower velocity than the Mini-Mags, but still offers excellent performance and accuracy out of pistols.
The CCI Standard Velocity rounds use a 40gr. lead round nose bullet that travels at subsonic speeds. Because it is a subsonic round, it is a great choice for use in suppressors.
Aguila Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN
Average Pistol Muzzle Velocity: 882 fps
A shooter-favorite .22LR for pistols is the Aguila Standard Velocity. Originally named the Aguila Super Extra, the round uses a 40gr. lead solid point that travels at around 1130fps out of the muzzle. Rimfire shooters love the Aguila Standard Velocity for its reliability and similar performance to the CCI Standard Velocity rounds. Some shooters note that the Aguila is a bit waxier than other rounds, so it’s worth testing out in your gun before buying in bulk.
Aguila is one of the largest rimfire ammo manufacturers in the world. Originally based out of Mexico, Aguila now has facilities loading ammo in both Mexico and Texas.
Federal Automatch Target 40gr. LRN
Average Pistol Muzzle Velocity: 1026 fps
Our final pick is an affordable round that runs well in semi-auto pistols. The Federal AutoMatch 40gr. LRN is comes in convenient, bulk boxes holding 325 loose rounds that are perfect for high-volume shooters. Because the rounds aren’t packaged in trays like our other picks, the rounds are more budget-friendly. Federal optimized AutoMatch for use in semi-autos, using 40gr. lead round nose bullets that offer smooth feeding and reliability.
Federal manufactures its ammo right here in the USA and is trusted by casual shooters, competition shooters, and hunters alike.
.22LR Pistol Ammo Reliability
Real quick, we need to talk about .22LR reliability. Many shooters consider .22LR less reliable than centerfire cartridges. The truth is, .22LR is more prone to ignition failures than centerfire rounds because of the way rimfire rounds are primed versus centerfire cartridges. Because the .22LR is rimmed, it also is known to have trouble feeding in magazine-fed semi-autos.
By using higher quality ammo, you can usually avoid many of these issues. .22LR ammo packaged in trays rather than bulk boxes also tend to be more reliable. You also need a .22LR round that produces enough gas pressure to properly cycle a semi-autos action. Copper-plated round nose is generally more reliable.
You will also experience fewer malfunctions using a modern, quality firearm, like those on our list of best .22LR pistols.
Best .22LR Ammo for Pistols: Final Thoughts
When you head to the range for a day of plinking, the last thing you want is to have ammo issues. Finding ammo that works well in your pistol may take some trial and error, but by trying out picks for .22LR ammo for pistols, you’ll be off to the right start.
Don’t forget — when you buy your .22LR ammo in bulk, you’ll save even more money per round. Here at Target Barn, we’ll keep you loaded up with the best .22LR ammo at awesome prices!
