Ask a Question
Our customer service team has published this Q&A information as a free service to the shooting community.
Please note that LuckyGunner.com expressly disclaims any and all liability with regard to how the shooting community
might use this Q&A information. See Terms of Use for more details.
Posted On: 3/12/2022
By: John Stouder
A: Thanks for reaching out John! 22 LR muzzle velocity classifications break down like this:
Subsonic: <1,100 fps
Standard Velocity:1,120–1,135 fps
High Velocity: 1,200–1,310 fps
Hyper Velocity: >1,400 fps
To be certain, a cartridge's grain refers to the weight of its bullet and nothing else (1 grain = 1/437.5 ounces). By firing high velocity 22 LR, you're ensuring your ammo generates sufficient chamber pressure to fully cycle your semi-automatic. In very simple terms, chamber pressure is the product of muzzle velocity and bullet weight. All this means is that you should avoid high velocity ammo if it is also loaded with unusually light bullets (for reference, 40 grains is the average bullet weight for 22 LR). In summary, you would do well to purchase 22 LR with ~40 grain bullets and muzzle velocity in excess of 1,200 fps. You also want higher-quality ammo, as its more heavily standardized dimensions will naturally promote more reliable performance in a semi-auto. But do take care to avoid match ammo, as it is nearly always loaded to subsonic muzzle velocity to promote heightened accuracy (a bullet destabilizes when its velocity transitions from supersonic to subsonic, so match ammo avoids that transition altogether). Finally, note that manufacturers typically record their 22 LR ammo's muzzle velocity with rifle-length test barrels; a cartridge's muzzle velocity out of a pistol-length barrel will necessarily be lower because it gives propellant gasses less time to exert their energy against the bullet. Still, the muzzle velocity classifications detailed above provide good reference for the 22 LR you would buy for your pistol.
I too have a picky older Ruger semi-auto handgun, and it LOVES CCI ammo. That's why I'm most confident recommending the following products:
luckygunner.com/22-lr-40-grain-lrn-cci-clean-22-realtree-400-rounds (target shooting)
luckygunner.com/22-lr-36-grain-cphp-cci-mini-mag-meateater-300-rounds (varmint hunting)
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
