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 Short
A short-cased .22 rimfire with a distinct specification. Its small cartridge dimensions should not be confused with the velocity class of a .22 LR load.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 0.660–0.695 in
16.764–17.653 mm - Case length · max
- 0.421 in
10.693 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
- 4 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 27–29 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.22 Short is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 22 Short. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
A cartridge being shorter does not by itself establish that a particular repeating firearm will feed or function with it.
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 Short dates to 1857 and Smith & Wesson’s first production revolver, the Model No. 1. That small, seven-shot, tip-up revolver placed a self-contained metallic rimfire cartridge at the center of the company’s early success. It belongs to the period when American handguns were moving from separately loaded percussion components toward complete cartridges.
The Short therefore predates both the .22 Long and the .22 Long Rifle. Its modest size suited compact arms, and it remained in sporting and target use after larger rimfires appeared. Smith & Wesson still identifies the cartridge as a continuing part of its original Model No. 1 legacy. The name Short is a later comparative description within that expanding family: in 1857 it was a new cartridge in its own right. Its long survival illustrates how a small, low-recoil cartridge can retain a role even after newer designs become much more common.
Historical sources: Smith & Wesson: history of the .22 and Model No. 1 ↗
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.
The expanded factory selection spans 27–29 grains. Exact products and source conditions appear in the table.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
The table also distinguishes ordinary factory loads. Published test conditions and product-specific notes accompany each addition; no velocity curve is inferred from one muzzle specification.
From the factory catalog
27 grains
1,105 fps
Copper-plated hollow point
29 grains
1,080 fps
Copper-plated round nose
Compare all 4 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI27 | 29 gr 1.88 g | Copper-plated round nose | 1,080 fps 329 m/s | Not stated here; see source | CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗ |
| CCI28 | 27 gr 1.75 g | Copper-plated hollow point | 1,105 fps 337 m/s | Not stated here; see source | CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗ |
| CCI26 | 29 gr 1.88 g | CB Short lead round nose | 710 fps 216 m/s | Not stated here; see source | CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗ |
| Magtech22F | 29 gr 1.88 g | Standard velocity · lead round nose | 1,050 fps 320 m/s | 24 in | Magtech · PDF p. 11 ↗ |
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 Short: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 29 gr CCI Copper-plated round nose | CCI | 0: 1,080; 50: 946; 100: 857 |
| 27 gr CCI Copper-plated hollow point | CCI | 0: 1,105; 50: 961; 100: 868 |
| 29 gr CCI CB Short lead round nose | CCI | 0: 710; 50: 656; 100: 607 |
| 29 gr Magtech Standard velocity · lead round nose | Magtech | 0: 1,050 |
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 Short?
A short-cased .22 rimfire with a distinct specification. Its small cartridge dimensions should not be confused with the velocity class of a .22 LR load.
What diameter does .22 Short 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?
A cartridge being shorter does not by itself establish that a particular repeating firearm will feed or function with it.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from 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. 19 ↗
- CCI: Who Are You Calling Short? ↗
- CCI · PDF p. 26 ↗
- Smith & Wesson: history of the .22 and Model No. 1 ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
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.