Velocity classes
Standard-velocity, high-velocity, and subsonic are load descriptions. Their numerical limits and test conditions belong to the exact product. A rifle catalog velocity should not be assumed for a handgun.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · RIMFIRE
.22 Long
An older .22 rimfire designation with its own bullet and case specifications. It remains a separate entry from both .22 Short and .22 Long Rifle.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 0.853–0.888 in
21.666–22.555 mm - Case length · max
- 0.613 in
15.570 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.225 in
5.715 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.278 in
7.061 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Rimfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.2250 in / 5.715 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 2 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 29 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.22 Long is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 22 Long. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
Long does not mean Long Rifle. Verify the complete barrel marking and the firearm maker's listed ammunition.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .22 Long appeared in 1871, between the .22 Short of 1857 and the .22 Long Rifle of 1887. It combined a longer case with the light 29-grain bullet associated with the Short. In the black-powder era, the additional case space offered a way to improve performance while retaining a small rimfire cartridge suitable for inexpensive sporting arms.
Its name can now be misleading because the later Long Rifle became vastly more familiar. Historically, however, the Long was its own intermediate step in the development of the .22 rimfire family. The Long Rifle paired the longer case with a heavier bullet and ultimately won the larger sporting and target-shooting market. The Long survived as a more specialized offering for older firearms and particular low-report loads. Understanding that sequence makes the three names less arbitrary: they record separate nineteenth-century attempts to balance case capacity, bullet weight and practical performance.
Historical sources: American Hunter: historical study of the .22 Long ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Bullet design
Round-nose, hollow-point, and polymer-tipped bullets have different intended roles. A tip or hollow cavity is not a reliable substitute for the maker’s product description.
Specialty products
Target and reduced-noise products may trade velocity or bullet shape for a particular use. Verify reliable operation and the firearm maker’s ammunition restrictions rather than assuming every rimfire product behaves alike.
In the cited .22 Long examples, bullet weights are 29 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
29 grains
1,215 fps
Copper-plated round nose
Compare all 2 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI29 | 29 gr 1.88 g | Copper-plated round nose | 1,215 fps 370 m/s | Not stated here; see source | CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗ |
| CCI38 | 29 gr 1.88 g | CB Long lead round nose | 710 fps 216 m/s | Not stated here; see source | CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.22 Long: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 29 gr CCI Copper-plated round nose | CCI | 0: 1215; 50: 1019; 100: 908 |
| 29 gr CCI CB Long lead round nose | CCI | 0: 710; 50: 656; 100: 607 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .22 Long?
An older .22 rimfire designation with its own bullet and case specifications. It remains a separate entry from both .22 Short and .22 Long Rifle.
What diameter does .22 Long use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.2250 inches (5.715 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
Long does not mean Long Rifle. Verify the complete barrel marking and the firearm maker's listed ammunition.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 20 ↗
- CCI: Who Are You Calling Short? ↗
- CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗
- American Hunter: historical study of the .22 Long ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.