Home » Rimfire » 22 LR » CCI Stinger 22 LR 32 Grain HVHP

CCI Stinger 22 LR 32 Grain HVHP

0

Ammo Reports Team 0 22 LR

SaveSavedRemoved 0

CCI Stinger 22 LR 32 Grain HVHP

At a Glance

Official Specs

Note — BC values: CCI does not publish ballistic coefficient data for the Stinger line. No reliable third-party BC figure has been independently verified for this specific 32 gr HVHP projectile. The ballistics table below uses an estimated G1 BC of approximately 0.095, which is a reasonable working value for a short, lightweight 22 LR hollow point at hyper velocity. All trajectory figures should be treated as calculated estimates.

Note — Muzzle Energy: The 191 ft-lbs figure is calculated from the manufacturer-stated 1,640 fps muzzle velocity and 32 gr bullet weight using the standard kinetic energy formula (KE = mv²/450,437). CCI lists 191 ft-lbs on their product page, which is consistent with this calculation. No inconsistency detected.

Note — Test Barrel: CCI states muzzle velocity was measured from a 24" test barrel. Velocities from typical pistols and rifles with shorter barrels will be lower.

CCI Stinger 22 LR 32 Grain HVHP (Box)

Ballistics Table

Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature, altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzle velocity for comparison.Zeroed at 50 yards. Sight height 1.5" above bore. G1 BC ≈ 0.095. Muzzle velocity: 1,640 fps (24" test barrel).

Key takeaway: The CCI Stinger launches faster than virtually any other standard 22 LR load, but that velocity advantage erodes quickly — by 100 yards, the bullet has shed nearly 30% of its muzzle speed. The relatively low ballistic coefficient of the lightweight 32 gr hollow point means it decelerates faster than heavier 22 LR bullets, making this load most effective inside 75 yards for varmint work. At 50 yards, energy retention is still sufficient for reliable hollow point expansion on small targets. Beyond 100 yards, the trajectory drop becomes significant enough that precise range estimation is essential.

The Stinger’s Elongated Case: Why It Matters

The CCI Stinger is not simply a faster version of a standard 22 LR load. It uses a slightly longer case than standard 22 LR ammunition — approximately 0.715" compared to the standard 0.613" — which allows a larger powder charge to push the lighter 32 gr bullet to hyper velocity. This extended case length means the Stinger headspaces differently than standard 22 LR, and while it functions reliably in the vast majority of 22 LR chambers, a small number of semi-automatic rifles and pistols with tight chambers have reported feeding or extraction issues. The load was introduced in 1977 and is widely credited as the first commercially successful hyper velocity 22 LR cartridge, establishing a product category that several competitors later entered. Shooters using older or custom-fitted firearms should verify function before relying on this load in the field.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Close-range varmint hunting (squirrels, prairie dogs, rats) inside 75 yards where rapid energy transfer and hollow point expansion are priorities
• Pest control on farms or rural properties where a fast, expanding round reduces the risk of over-penetration
• Small game hunting (rabbits, squirrels) where quick, humane kills are the goal
• Bolt-action and lever-action 22 LR rifles where the extended case length is unlikely to cause feeding issues
• Situations where maximum 22 LR velocity from a standard-length firearm is specifically needed

Not the right tool for:

• Target shooting or competition — the lighter bullet weight and higher cost per round offer no accuracy advantage over standard velocity match ammunition
• Semi-automatic pistols or rifles with tight chambers, where the longer Stinger case can cause feeding or extraction failures
• Hunting beyond 100 yards, where the low BC of the 32 gr bullet produces significant drop and reduced terminal energy
• Shooters seeking subsonic or suppressed-fire performance — this load is loud and supersonic
• Any application requiring reliable cycling in firearms not specifically verified to function with Stinger-length cases

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

Based on manufacturer claims and open-source information: CCI states the Stinger is designed for reliable ignition across a wide temperature range, consistent with their standard rimfire priming technology. The copper-plated hollow point is designed to expand reliably at the velocities this load generates, though expansion performance in small game is velocity-dependent and will vary with barrel length. Open-source forum reports (not verified structured data) suggest that a minority of semi-automatic 22 LR firearms — particularly certain tube-fed autoloaders — may experience increased failure-to-feed or failure-to-extract rates with Stinger ammunition due to the extended case length. Bolt-action and single-shot platforms are consistently reported to function without issue. All notes above come from manufacturer claims or open sources, not structured test data.

Competitors

Price Reality

• Typical retail range: $9.50–$12.00 per 50-round box depending on retailer and market conditions; case pricing (typically 500 rounds/10 boxes) generally ranges from $90–$110 when available
• Per-round cost: approximately $0.19–$0.24 per round at typical retail
• The CCI Stinger carries a modest premium over standard 22 LR bulk ammunition, which runs $0.05–$0.09 per round, reflecting the hyper velocity design and copper-plated hollow point construction
• Compared to the CCI Velocitor (~$0.22/round), pricing is similar; compared to Remington Yellow Jacket (~$0.19/round), the Stinger is marginally more expensive for comparable performance
• A price of $10.49 per box ($0.21/round) represents fair market value for this load — paying above $13.00 per box for a 50-round pack should be considered overpriced under normal supply conditions

Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.

Where to Buy

CCI Stinger 22 LR 32 Grain HVHP (Box)

Achieve unparalleled speed and precision with CCI Stinger 22 LR ammunition. Designed for varmint hunting, this hyper velocity 32 grain round delivers an impressive 1640 fps, ensuring effective performance in every shot.

View Price at Ammunitiondepot.com

Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.

FAQ

Does the CCI Stinger’s longer case cause problems in all semi-automatic 22 LR firearms?Not all semi-automatic 22 LR firearms are affected, but the extended Stinger case is a known compatibility consideration. The case is approximately 0.1" longer than standard 22 LR, which can create feeding or extraction issues in firearms with tight chambers or specific magazine geometries. Most modern semi-automatic rifles function without problems, but some older tube-fed autoloaders and a handful of pistols have reported elevated malfunction rates. The safest approach is to test a single box through your specific firearm before relying on Stinger ammunition for hunting or pest control. Bolt-action, lever-action, and single-shot platforms are almost universally compatible.

How does the CCI Stinger compare to the CCI Velocitor for varmint hunting?These two loads represent different engineering philosophies for 22 LR varmint performance. The Stinger prioritizes maximum velocity with a lighter 32 gr bullet at 1,640 fps, while the Velocitor uses a heavier 40 gr Speer Gold Dot hollow point at 1,435 fps. The Velocitor’s heavier bullet and higher BC retain energy better at distance and the Gold Dot bullet has a well-documented expansion profile. The Stinger’s advantage is raw speed and a flatter trajectory inside 50 yards. For most varmint hunting inside 75 yards, either load is effective; beyond that range, the Velocitor’s better ballistic coefficient gives it a meaningful edge in retained energy.

Is the CCI Stinger suitable for squirrel or rabbit hunting, or is it too destructive?The 32 gr hollow point at hyper velocity does produce more tissue disruption than standard velocity 22 LR loads, which is intentional for varmint applications. For squirrel or rabbit hunting where meat preservation matters, this trade-off is worth considering. Head shots minimize meat damage regardless of load, and many hunters use the Stinger specifically for its reliable expansion and quick kills. Hunters primarily concerned with meat quality for table use may prefer a standard velocity 40 gr round nose load, which produces less hydrostatic disruption. For pest control or non-table-fare small game, the Stinger’s terminal performance is a clear advantage.

Why does the CCI Stinger use a 32 grain bullet instead of the more common 36 or 40 grain weights?The lighter 32 gr bullet is central to achieving the Stinger’s hyper velocity performance. A lighter projectile requires less energy to accelerate to a given velocity, allowing the same powder charge to push it significantly faster than heavier bullets. The trade-off is a lower ballistic coefficient, meaning the bullet decelerates more rapidly after leaving the muzzle. CCI designed the Stinger specifically for short-range varmint and pest applications where the high impact velocity — not long-range ballistic performance — is the primary terminal effect mechanism. The 32 gr weight also contributes to reliable hollow point expansion at the velocities this load generates, even after modest velocity loss at typical hunting distances.

Can the CCI Stinger be used effectively in a 22 LR pistol for small game or pest control?It can be used in compatible pistols, but the velocity reduction from a shorter pistol barrel is significant and should factor into expectations. A pistol barrel of 4–6 inches will typically yield 200–350 fps less than the 24" test barrel velocity of 1,640 fps, bringing muzzle velocity closer to 1,300–1,440 fps depending on the specific firearm. At those velocities, the hollow point may still expand reliably on small targets at close range, but the hyper velocity advantage over standard high-velocity loads is substantially reduced. Pistol shooters should verify both mechanical compatibility with the Stinger’s extended case and confirm that the load cycles reliably before field use.

CCI Stinger 22 LR 32 Grain HVHP (Box)