How far can a .22 caliber rifle bullet travel?

Answer 1

How Far a .22 Bullet Will TravelMy exterior ballistic calculations peg it at 800 yards more or less at an optimum elevation of 30 degrees. I suspect the reason why you see 1.5 miles on a box of 22LR is because SAAMI doubled the safety range just because you never know. At 500 yards there is very little energy left in the bullet but can still put an eye out. Further more as the bullet passes the 500 yard mark velocity will shed at a much faster rate. Those hyper velocity ammunition you see for sale shed velocity much faster than a standard .22LR (i.e.40grain) because there is not very much momentum in a light bullet. The best advice is to not shoot at something unless you know where your bullet will land.

　

22lr 32 gr., .15 B.C.

www.hornady.com

　

Range (yards)

Muzzle

50

100

200

300

400

500

Velocity (fps)

1640

1433

1258

1031

910

825

754

Energy (ft.-lb.)

191

146

112

76

59

48

40

Trajectory (100 yd. zero)

-1.5

1.4

0.0

-20.6

-72.8

-164.3

-302.6

Come Up in MOA

-1.5

-2.6

0.0

9.8

23.2

39.2

57.8

　

22lr standard Velocity 40 gr., .15 B.C.

www.hornady.com

　

Range (yards)

Muzzle

50

100

200

300

400

500

Velocity (fps)

1070

992

933

842

770

706

650

Energy (ft.-lb.)

102

87

77

63

53

44

38

Trajectory (100 yd. zero)

-1.5

3.7

0.0

-38.2

-124.8

-269.2

-481.7

Come Up in MOA

-1.5

-7.0

0.0

18.2

39.7

64.3

92.0