22 Long Ammo For Sale

The .22 Long was introduced in 1871, and was expected to be a natural progression from the .22 CB to the .22 Short and beyond. To improve the performance of the .22 Short, the case was lengthened and the powder charge boosted, while retaining the 29 grain bullet of the .22 Short. It is currently the second oldest surviving rimfire cartridge on the market.

22 Long vs. 22 Long Rifle

It’s common for people to ask about the difference between these .22 rimfire rounds. While the length is the only real difference, it also affects the speed – meaning as the round gets longer, it also gets faster. All have their roots in what is now known as the .22 Short, but this round was packed with 25 percent more black powder than the Short.

Some people think that the .22 Long combines the bullet of the .22 Short, with the casing of the .22 Long Rifle. This is not true, as the .22 Long predates the .22 LR by about 16 years. The classic 1871 Great Western Gun Works catalog lists the round as being for a standard seven-shot revolver, while Remington and Stevens catalogs from only a few years later list the round as being for rifles. In fact, it can be used in both pistols and rifles, but never in semi-automatic weapons of any kind.

For 15 years, the .22 Long was the most powerful .22 rimfire cartridge. It was later supplanted by the .22 Long Rifle, which fired a heavier bullet and was propelled by a more powerful charge, quickly making the .22 Long an “orphan." The .22 Long was louder than the .22 Short, yet less powerful than the .22 LR. So what was the .22 Long offering to shooters? Perhaps it was meant to be a compromise – a “best of both worlds” cartridge. Unfortunately, according to shooting icon Jack O’Connor, the .22 Long was a “pretty useless contraption.”

With a speed of about 1,040 feet per second and a muzzle energy of about 67 foot pounds – the .22 Long pales in comparison to the .22 LR, which in some cases has triple the foot pounds. While this may paint a discouraging picture, the .22 Long has been popular enough for Winchester and CCI to continue producing ammunition in sufficient amounts, also making it relatively easy to find.

For more options, check out our Winchester 22LR ammo page, or if you're interested in saving up, visit our bulk .22 ammo page.

22 Long Ballistics: Chart of Average 22 Long Ballistics

Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.

Written by

Sam Jacobs