As the .22 ARC travels downrange, a heavy 88-grain bullet retains its speed exceptionally well, dropping to roughly 1,495 fps at 1,000 yards. At the muzzle, velocities measure roughly 3,300 fps for 62-grain varmint loads and 2,820 fps for heavy 88-grain match projectiles. The charts below detail these velocity measurements across extreme distances and varying barrel lengths.
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.22 ARC Velocity Chart at 100 to 1,000 Yards
| Distance (yards) | Distance (meters) | Ammunition / Bullet Weight | Barrel Length (inches) | Estimated Velocity (fps) | Velocity Loss from Muzzle (fps) |
| Muzzle (0) | 0.0 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 2,820 fps (Published) | 0 fps |
| 100 yards | 91.4 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 2,665 fps (G1 Calculation) | 155 fps |
| 200 yards | 182.9 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 2,515 fps (G1 Calculation) | 305 fps |
| 300 yards | 274.3 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 2,370 fps (G1 Calculation) | 450 fps |
| 400 yards | 365.8 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 2,230 fps (G1 Calculation) | 590 fps |
| 500 yards | 457.2 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 2,095 fps (G1 Calculation) | 725 fps |
| 600 yards | 548.6 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 1,965 fps (G1 Calculation) | 855 fps |
| 700 yards | 640.1 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 1,840 fps (G1 Calculation) | 980 fps |
| 800 yards | 731.5 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 1,720 fps (G1 Calculation) | 1,100 fps |
| 900 yards | 823.0 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 1,605 fps (G1 Calculation) | 1,215 fps |
| 1,000 yards | 914.4 m | 88-gr Hornady ELD Match (BC: ~0.545) | 24.0 | 1,495 fps (G1 Calculation) | 1,325 fps |
.22 ARC Muzzle Velocity Chart
| Ammunition Type | Bullet Weight (grains) | Barrel Length (inches) | Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) |
| 62-grain Polymer Tip Hornady ELD-VT [Manufacturer Spec] | 62 | 24.0 (Standard Rifle) | 3,300 (Advertised) | 1,499 |
| 62-grain Polymer Tip Hornady ELD-VT [Independent Estimate] | 62 | 18.0 (Carbine) | 3,150 (Estimated) | 1,366 |
| 75-grain Match Hornady ELD Match [Manufacturer Spec] | 75 | 24.0 (Standard Rifle) | 3,075 (Advertised) | 1,574 |
| 75-grain Match Hornady ELD Match [Independent Estimate] | 75 | 18.0 (Carbine) | 2,930 (Estimated) | 1,430 |
| 88-grain Match Hornady ELD Match [Manufacturer Spec] | 88 | 24.0 (Standard Rifle) | 2,820 (Advertised) | 1,554 |
| 88-grain Match Hornady ELD Match [Independent Estimate] | 88 | 18.0 (Carbine) | 2,680 (Estimated) | 1,403 |
Factors Affecting Velocity
- AR-15 Platform Constraints: The .22 Advanced Rifle Cartridge (ARC) was engineered to deliver bolt action precision out of a standard AR-15 platform. By utilizing a short, fat case based on the 6.5 Grendel / 6mm ARC family, it leaves enough room in an AR-15 magazine to seat extremely long, heavy .224 caliber bullets outside the powder column.
- Ballistic Coefficient (BC): The core advantage of the .22 ARC is its ability to push high BC bullets. Standard .223 Remington rifles struggle to fit or stabilize bullets heavier than 77 grains. The .22 ARC easily handles 88-grain bullets with a G1 BC of 0.545, allowing it to cut through the wind and retain velocity far better than traditional .22 caliber cartridges.
- Twist Rate: To stabilize these unusually long and heavy .22 caliber bullets, the .22 ARC requires a fast twist barrel, typically 1:7. This ensures the 88-grain projectiles remain gyroscopically stable at extended ranges.
- Barrel Length: While test barrels are typically 24 inches to show maximum ballistic potential, the cartridge was explicitly designed for gas operated rifles. Dropping to an 18-inch barrel costs roughly 140 to 150 fps, but the highly aerodynamic bullets ensure the cartridge remains incredibly effective at long range even from a shorter carbine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the .22 ARC compare to the .223 Remington?
While both fit in an AR-15, the .22 ARC uses a wider case that holds more powder and allows for much heavier bullets. The .223 Remington excels with 55 to 77-grain bullets, but the .22 ARC is optimized for 62 to 88-grain high BC bullets. This translates to significantly less wind drift and more retained energy past 500 yards for the .22 ARC.
At what distance does a .22 ARC go subsonic?
Thanks to the extreme aerodynamic efficiency of the heavy bullets, the .22 ARC stays supersonic for a very long time. An 88-grain ELD Match bullet fired at 2,820 fps will remain supersonic (above roughly 1,125 fps) out to approximately 1,250 yards at standard sea level conditions.
Can I convert a standard 5.56 AR-15 to .22 ARC?
Yes. Because the overall cartridge length is the same, you only need to swap the barrel, the bolt (it requires a 6.5 Grendel style bolt face), and the magazine. The standard AR-15 upper receiver, lower receiver, and buffer system will all work perfectly.
Is a 16-inch barrel too short for the .22 ARC?
No. A 16-inch barrel will push an 88-grain bullet at roughly 2,620 fps. While slower than a 24-inch bolt action, the incredibly high BC of the bullet means a 16-inch .22 ARC will still easily outrun and outperform a 20-inch 5.56 NATO rifle at long range.