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Common uses: Plinking, Small Game, Target, Competition
The representative cataloged load on this page — a 40 gr bullet — leaves the muzzle at 1,255 fps with 140 ft-lb of energy. Loads cataloged on this page range from 29 to 45 grains; velocity and energy vary by load.
With a 50-yard zero under standard conditions, the representative load prints about 5.8 inches low at 100 yards and about 45.9 inches low at 200 yards. The trajectory table on this page shows every distance, and the range card builder can re-zero it for your rifle.
24,000 psi, per the SAAMI standard cited in the sources on this page.
There is no single effective range — it depends on the load, the rifle, the shooter, and the job. The trajectory and retained-energy references on this page show how velocity and energy fall off with distance; treat published figures as references to verify, not limits.
| Type | rifle (rimfire) |
| Typical load | 40gr Remington 22 Thunderbolt |
| Muzzle velocity | 1255 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 140 ft-lb |
| Stored G1 ballistic coefficient (source unresolved) | 0.116 |
| Case length | 15.6 mm |
| Overall length | 25.4 mm |
| Listed maximum pressure | 24000 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:16" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1255 | 140 | -1.5 |
| 50 | 1088 | 105 | 0 |
| 100 | 984 | 86 | -5.8 |
| 150 | 910 | 74 | -20.6 |
| 200 | 851 | 64 | -45.9 |
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Published BCs depend on a reference drag model and stated velocity conditions. A source review does not independently measure a BC. Understanding BC sources
Manufacturer item 21238 / 21241 · Sources checked
Remington lists 40 gr lead round nose, 1,255 fps, 140 ft-lb and coefficient .116 for both Thunderbolt packages: 21238 (50 rounds) and 21241 (500 rounds).
Still unresolved: This record does not identify its package SKU. The reviewed pages do not establish a G1/G7 model, test-barrel length or sectional density. The matching core figures do not establish a complete source receipt.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .22 LR is the default choice for plinking, small-game hunting, and entry-level marksmanship, prized for its very low recoil, low noise, and inexpensive ammunition. It is effective on rabbits, squirrels, and similar small game at modest ranges and serves as the standard chambering for rimfire target and competition disciplines, including Olympic smallbore events. Its light 40-grain bullet leaves the muzzle at subsonic-to-transonic speeds and sheds energy quickly, so it is a short-range cartridge poorly suited to larger animals or windy long-distance work. Ubiquity, low cost, and gentle report also make it the near-universal round for teaching new shooters and for high-volume practice.
The .22 Long Rifle was introduced in 1887 by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company, which combined the case of the earlier .22 Long with a heavier 40-grain bullet to create a more capable rimfire round. It descends from the .22 Short of 1857, the first American metallic cartridge, and shares the same .22-caliber rimfire lineage. Over more than a century it became the most widely produced and sold cartridge in the world, chambered in an enormous range of rifles and pistols.
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