How Fast Does A .22 Bullet Travel?

The typical muzzle velocity of a .22 LR bullet is approximately 1,070 feet per second.However, this speed varies significantly depending on the specific ammunition, the bullet weight, the barrel length, and the exact cartridge type being fired. While standard loads hover near the speed of sound, hyper-velocity .22 LR ammunition can exceed 1,600 feet per second. Furthermore, .22 WMR and other larger .22 caliber centerfire cartridges have substantially different velocities, with some pushing projectiles well past 2,200 feet per second.

How Fast Does a .22 Bullet Travel?

Cartridge	Bullet Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Barrel Length	Ammunition / Load	Source
.22 LR	40 gr	1,070 fps	24 inches	CCI Standard Velocity	CCI
.22 Short	29 gr	1,080 fps	22 inches	CCI Short CPRN	CCI
.22 Long	29 gr	1,038 fps	24 inches	Generic 29gr RN	Cartridges of the World
.22 WMR	30 gr	2,200 fps	24 inches	Federal Premium V-Shok TNT	Federal Premium
.22 Hornet	35 gr	3,100 fps	24 inches	Hornady V-Max	Hornady

How Fast Does a .22 LR Bullet Travel?

A standard .22 Long Rifle bullet typically travels at a muzzle velocity of 1,070 feet per second.This represents the baseline for common standard-velocity loads favored for target shooting and small game hunting.High-velocity .22 LR loads, which are extremely popular for general use, generally travel between 1,200 and 1,300 feet per second.

Velocity changes based on bullet weights and how barrel length affects measured velocity. Manufacturers calculate these exact speeds using universal testing barrels in controlled environments, while independent chronograph results often show slight variations in the real world. Because of these variations, no single speed is universal for the .22 LR cartridge.

.22 LR Velocity By Bullet Weight

Bullet mass plays a primary role in how fast a .22 LR projectile leaves the muzzle. When comparing common .22 LR bullet weights, the numerical figures from verified sources show clear differences:

36 grain: Typically used in high-velocity rounds, these lighter bullets reach roughly 1,260 feet per second.
38 grain: Popular in small game loads, averaging a muzzle velocity of 1,260 feet per second.
40 grain:The industry standard weight, traveling at 1,070 feet per second in standard loads and up to 1,235 feet per second in high-velocity loads.
45 grain:Found in specialty suppressor loads, these heavy bullets travel much slower, usually at a subsonic 970 feet per second.

Lighter bullets allow expanding gases to push the projectile out of the barrel faster, while heavier bullets require more energy to move and therefore travel at lower speeds.

.22 LR Velocity By Ammunition Type

Manufacturers categorize .22 LR ammunition by its designed velocity range.

Standard Velocity: Averages 1,070 feet per second. CCI Standard Velocity 40 grain ammunition is a prime example of this consistent target load.
High Velocity: Usually measures between 1,200 and 1,300 feet per second. The CCI Mini-Mag and similar copper-plated rounds fall into this category, generating flatter trajectories.
Hyper Velocity: Pushes the absolute limits of the cartridge, traveling between 1,400 and 1,640 feet per second. The CCI Stinger uses a lightweight 32 grain bullet to achieve an advertised 1,640 feet per second.
Subsonic:Purposefully designed to stay below the speed of sound, these loads travel between 970 and 1,050 feet per second to ensure quiet operation when paired with a suppressor.

.22 Bullet Velocity By Distance

Once a bullet leaves the muzzle, air resistance immediately begins slowing it down. Using standard atmospheric data, here is how velocity drops over distance for two distinct .22 LR loads:

CCI Standard Velocity 40 grain:

Muzzle velocity: 1,070 fps
25-yard velocity: 1,017 fps
50-yard velocity: 974 fps
100-yard velocity: 905 fps
200-yard velocity: 801 fps

CCI Stinger 32 grain:

Muzzle velocity: 1,640 fps
50-yard velocity: 1,292 fps
100-yard velocity: 1,066 fps

The lighter hyper-velocity bullet sheds speed much faster than the heavier standard-velocity bullet due to a lower ballistic coefficient.

Barrel Length And .22 Velocity

Barrel length fundamentally dictates how much time the expanding powder gases have to push the projectile.

4 inches: Commonly found in compact handguns, producing much lower velocities. A round rated for 1,640 fps may only reach 1,100 fps in this length.
6 inches: Standard for target revolvers and pistols, offering a slight velocity bump over pocket handguns.
10 inches: Used in large hunting handguns and short-barreled rifles, providing moderate velocity.
16 inches: The standard carbine length, which often produces the maximum achievable velocity for the .22 LR cartridge.
18 inches: Traditional rifle length, offering optimal sight radius and peak ballistic performance.

With rimfire ammunition, the relatively small powder charge is entirely consumed within the first 16 to 18 inches of the barrel. Rimfire ammunition does not gain velocity indefinitely with longer barrels because the friction of the steel against the bullet eventually overtakes the dwindling gas pressure, causing the bullet to slightly decelerate in ultra-long barrels.

.22 LR vs .22 WMR Velocity

The .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR) is a significantly larger and more powerful cartridge than the .22 LR.

While the .22 LR pushes a 40 grain bullet at roughly 1,070 to 1,280 feet per second, the .22 WMR utilizes a longer casing with greater powder capacity. This allows the .22 WMR to drive a 30 grain bullet, like the Federal Premium V-Shok TNT, at a blistering 2,200 feet per second. The .22 WMR typically produces more than double the muzzle energy of a standard .22 LR, extending the practical range of the firearm out to 150 yards or more.

.22 Bullet Velocity In FPS And MPH

Converting feet per second to miles per hour and meters per second helps visualize the raw speed of these projectiles:

Standard .22 LR (1,070 fps): 729 miles per hour or 326 meters per second.
High Velocity .22 LR (1,260 fps): 859 miles per hour or 384 meters per second.
Hyper Velocity .22 LR (1,640 fps): 1,118 miles per hour or 500 meters per second.
.22 WMR (2,200 fps): 1,500 miles per hour or 670 meters per second.
.22 Hornet (3,100 fps): 2,113 miles per hour or 944 meters per second.

Velocity And Supersonic Performance

The speed of sound at sea level under standard atmospheric conditions is approximately 1,125 feet per second.

Supersonic .22 LR ammunition breaks this sound barrier, producing a sharp audible crack regardless of whether a suppressor is attached. Subsonic .22 LR ammunition is intentionally loaded to remain below the speed of sound, eliminating the sonic boom entirely. Many precision shooters prefer ammunition designed to remain below the speed of sound from muzzle to target. When a supersonic bullet slows down and crosses back into subsonic speeds, it passes through the transonic zone. This transition destabilizes the bullet and can drastically reduce long-range accuracy.

Factors That Affect .22 Bullet Velocity

Several primary factors influence the final measured speed of any .22 caliber bullet:

Ammunition type: Different lines of ammunition are explicitly manufactured for varying velocity tiers.
Bullet weight: Heavier bullets move slower than lighter ones fired from the same case volume.
Powder charge: Minor differences in chemical propellant volume drastically alter velocity.
Barrel length: Shorter barrels fail to extract maximum velocity from the powder burn.
Barrel condition: Fouling and wear can affect the internal friction applied to the bullet.
Temperature:Cold weather reduces powder burn rates and alters the density of the air, slowing the bullet.
Lot variation: Ammunition manufactured on different days can have slight variations in average velocity.
Firearm design: Bolt action rifles seal chamber gases completely, whereas semi-automatic firearms use a fraction of the gas to cycle the action, occasionally resulting in minor velocity loss.

Manufacturer Data vs Chronograph Testing

Published manufacturer velocity is obtained using tightly controlled universal test barrels in strictly regulated laboratory conditions. These figures represent the ideal maximum performance of the cartridge.

Safety And Practical Considerations

Muzzle velocity alone does not determine overall projectile performance. Understanding a cartridge requires analyzing how velocity, energy, trajectory, range, and wind drift all interact.

A faster bullet shoots with a flatter trajectory and is less susceptible to immediate wind drift, but it may also deliver less energy if the projectile is too light. Regardless of the velocity, safety remains the highest priority. A standard .22 LR bullet is capable of traveling over a mile and retains enough energy to cause severe harm long after it leaves the muzzle. Emphasizing safe firearm handling, identifying a safe backstop, and knowing exactly what is beyond the target are mandatory practices for any rimfire shooter.

FAQs

How fast does a .22 bullet travel?

Depending on the specific cartridge and firearm, a .22 bullet travels anywhere from 1,070 feet per second for a standard .22 LR up to 3,100 feet per second for centerfire cartridges like the .22 Hornet.

How fast does a .22 LR bullet travel?

The typical velocity for a .22 LR bullet out of a rifle barrel ranges from 1,070 feet per second for standard loads up to 1,640 feet per second for hyper-velocity loads.

How fast is a .22 in FPS?

A standard .22 Long Rifle bullet travels at roughly 1,070 FPS.

How fast is a .22 bullet in MPH?

A standard .22 LR bullet traveling at 1,070 feet per second moves at 729 miles per hour.

What is the fastest .22 LR ammunition?

Hyper-velocity rounds like the CCI Stinger currently represent the fastest class of .22 LR ammunition, generating a muzzle velocity of 1,640 feet per second.

How fast is a .22 LR at 100 yards?

A standard 40 grain .22 LR bullet drops from 1,070 feet per second at the muzzle to approximately 905 feet per second at the 100-yard mark.

Is .22 LR subsonic?

Standard velocity .22 LR (around 1,070 fps) is typically subsonic, but high-velocity and hyper-velocity .22 LR loads are supersonic.

How fast is a .22 WMR bullet?

A common .22 WMR bullet weighs 30 grains and travels at an average muzzle velocity of 2,200 feet per second.

Does barrel length affect .22 LR velocity?

Yes. Velocity increases as barrel length increases up to approximately 16 to 18 inches. Beyond that length, internal friction may cause the bullet to lose a small amount of speed.

What is the average velocity of a .22 LR bullet?

Taking into account standard and high-velocity loads, the average velocity of most commercially available .22 LR ammunition falls between 1,070 and 1,260 feet per second.