Ammo Reports Team
At a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Target practice, plinking |
| Bullet Type | Lead Round Nose (LRN), unjacketed |
| Bullet Weight | 40 grain |
| Case Material | Brass (rimfire) |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $14.99/box · $0.30/round |
| Closest Competitors | Federal Gold Medal Target 22 LR 40 gr LRN, Remington Target 22 LR 40 gr LRN, Aguila Super Extra 22 LR 40 gr LRN |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | — | Not published |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | — | Not published |
| Bullet Weight | 40 gr | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Type | Lead Round Nose (LRN) | Manufacturer |
| BC G1 | — | Not published |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | — | Not published |
| UPC | — | Not published |
| Reloadable | No | Rimfire — not reloadable |
Note: CCI does not publish muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, or ballistic coefficient data for this specific Pistol Match load in available product listings. This is unusual relative to CCI’s broader lineup, where velocity data is typically provided. The ballistics table below uses an estimated muzzle velocity consistent with standard-velocity 40 gr 22 LR loads (~1,070 fps from a pistol-length barrel) and is clearly labeled as calculated. Community-submitted chronograph data will be incorporated as it becomes available.
Ballistics Table
Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.
Assumed muzzle velocity: ~1,070 fps (standard-velocity 40 gr 22 LR, pistol barrel). Zeroed at 50 yards. Sight height: 1.5" above bore. BC G1 estimated at 0.138 (typical unjacketed LRN .22 projectile).
| Yards | ~Velocity (fps) | ~Energy (ft-lbs) | ~Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~1,070 | ~102 | -1.5 |
| 25 | ~1,030 | ~94 | +0.5 |
| 50 | ~993 | ~88 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 75 | ~958 | ~82 | -1.9 |
| 100 | ~924 | ~76 | -5.9 |
| 125 | ~892 | ~71 | -12.2 |
| 150 | ~862 | ~66 | -21.0 |
| 175 | ~833 | ~62 | -32.6 |
| 200 | ~806 | ~58 | -47.3 |
| 225 | ~779 | ~54 | -65.4 |
| 250 | ~754 | ~51 | -87.3 |
Key takeaway: At a 50-yard zero, this load stays within roughly 2 inches of point of aim out to 75 yards, making it well-suited to typical pistol-range distances of 25 and 50 yards. Beyond 100 yards, drop becomes significant — over 5 inches — which is expected behavior for a standard-velocity lead round nose at these energy levels. For the plinking and close-range target work this load is designed for, the trajectory is entirely practical. Shooters using this at 25-yard indoor ranges will find it essentially flat within that window.
Why This Load Exists
The CCI Pistol Match occupies a specific niche in the 22 LR market: an affordable, unjacketed target load intended for handgun use at standard pistol distances. The designation "Pistol Match" is meaningful — it signals that the load is velocity-tuned for reliable cycling and consistent ignition in semi-automatic pistols, where standard-velocity ammunition tends to produce cleaner feeding and less felt recoil than high-velocity alternatives.
The choice of an unjacketed lead round nose bullet is deliberate and cost-driven. Without a copper or brass jacket to machine and apply, manufacturing cost drops, and that saving passes to the buyer. The trade-off is that bare lead produces more barrel fouling over extended strings of fire compared to copper-washed or copper-plated projectiles. For the target shooter firing 50–100 rounds per session, this is a minor consideration. For someone running several hundred rounds in a single range day, it becomes a more relevant maintenance factor.
CCI’s broader rimfire lineup spans everything from the performance-oriented Stinger to subsonic specialty loads, and the Pistol Match sits near the budget-accessible end of that range without sacrificing the brand’s reputation for consistent priming — an area where CCI has historically distinguished itself from lower-tier competitors.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- 25-yard and 50-yard pistol target practice sessions
- Informal plinking at paper, cardboard, or reactive targets
- High-volume practice where per-round cost matters more than maximum precision
- Shooters transitioning from centerfire pistols who want low-recoil repetition training
- Steel target use where reduced ricochet and splash-back risk is a priority (the soft lead deforms on impact rather than fragmenting unpredictably)
- Introductory shooting instruction where cost and mild report are both advantages
Not the right tool for:
- Small game or pest control — this load is not positioned or optimized for hunting applications
- Suppressor-optimized setups that specifically require subsonic velocities with confirmed data
- Precision benchrest or formal bullseye competition where match-grade consistency and published lot data are expected
- Rifles where extended strings of bare-lead fouling become a cleaning burden
- Situations requiring documented ballistic data for liability or competition record-keeping
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source user reports, the following notes are relevant — these are not structured data and have not been independently verified by this database:
- CCI’s rimfire priming consistency is frequently cited as a strength of the brand across its product line; misfires appear to be uncommon based on open-source discussion, though no failure-rate data is available for this specific load.
- The unjacketed LRN construction has been noted in open sources to produce more barrel fouling than copper-plated alternatives when fired in volume; this is a mechanical characteristic of bare-lead projectiles, not a defect.
- Some users in open-source forums report reliable feeding in common 22 LR semi-automatic pistols at standard-velocity power levels; however, pistols with very light recoil springs or those tuned for high-velocity loads may experience occasional cycling inconsistency — this is barrel and platform dependent, not a universal finding.
- No recall notices or safety advisories for this load were identified at time of publication.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Gold Medal Target 22 LR | 40 gr | LRN | ~0.138 | ~1,080 fps | ~$12–$16 | Direct match-grade competitor; published velocity available |
| Remington Target 22 LR | 40 gr | LRN | ~0.138 | ~1,150 fps | ~$8–$12 | Budget alternative; higher advertised velocity |
| Aguila Super Extra 22 LR | 40 gr | LRN | ~0.138 | ~1,130 fps | ~$8–$11 | Budget alternative; widely available |
| CCI Standard Velocity 22 LR | 40 gr | LRN | ~0.138 | 1,070 fps | ~$10–$13 | Same manufacturer; published velocity; may offer better per-round value |
| Lapua Center-X 22 LR | 40 gr | LRN | ~0.162 | 1,073 fps | ~$18–$24 | Premium alternative; lot-tested for competition; higher BC |
| SK Standard Plus 22 LR | 40 gr | LRN | ~0.140 | 1,073 fps | ~$15–$20 | Premium-to-mid alternative; match-oriented production tolerances |
Note: The CCI Standard Velocity load is worth direct comparison — it uses the same bullet weight and construction from the same manufacturer, often at a lower price point, and includes published velocity data that the Pistol Match listing currently lacks. Buyers focused on documented specs may find the Standard Velocity a more transparent option within the same brand family.
Price Reality
- Typical retail range: $12.99–$16.99 per 50-round box; case pricing (typically 500 rounds, 10 boxes) generally runs $110–$140 when available
- Per-round cost at $14.99: approximately $0.30/round
- vs. Remington Target 22 LR: Remington’s comparable load often retails at $0.18–$0.24/round — meaningfully cheaper for high-volume shooters
- vs. Federal Gold Medal Target: Federal’s match load runs approximately $0.25–$0.32/round, making it a near-direct price competitor with stronger published data
- vs. Lapua Center-X: Lapua commands $0.36–$0.48/round — a premium that reflects lot-tested match production, not general plinking use
- Fair price benchmark: At $0.30/round, this load is priced at the upper edge of what the standard-velocity unjacketed LRN 22 LR market typically supports. Paying more than $17.00 for a 50-round box of this specific load without a documented shortage situation would represent an above-market price.
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
CCI Pistol Match 22 LR 40 Grain LRN (Box)
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Does the "Pistol Match" designation mean this load meets any formal match specification?The name Pistol Match is a CCI marketing designation, not a reference to compliance with a specific governing body’s match standard such as those set by the NRA or ISSF. It indicates the load is intended and tuned for pistol use at target distances, rather than certifying it against a published performance threshold. Shooters entering sanctioned bullseye pistol competition should verify whether their specific event rules require ammunition with published lot data or velocity certification before relying on this load for scored competition.
Why does this load lack published muzzle velocity data when other CCI 22 LR loads include it?This is a genuine data gap. CCI publishes velocity figures for most of its rimfire lineup, including the Standard Velocity and Mini-Mag lines, but available product listings for the Pistol Match do not include that figure. This may reflect the load’s positioning as a general-practice round rather than a precision product, or it may simply be an omission in the retail product sheet. If confirmed velocity data becomes available from CCI directly, this page will be updated accordingly.
How does bare lead fouling from this LRN bullet compare to copper-plated alternatives?Unjacketed lead projectiles deposit lead residue in the barrel’s rifling more readily than copper-plated or full-metal-jacket bullets. In practical terms, a shooter firing 50–100 rounds will notice minimal difference in accuracy or function. At 200–300 rounds or more in a single session, lead fouling accumulates enough to warrant more thorough cleaning before the next use. Copper-plated 22 LR loads — such as CCI’s own Mini-Mag — reduce this fouling rate, though they typically cost more per round.
Is this load appropriate for use on steel targets?Yes, and this is one of the more practical applications for an unjacketed LRN at pistol velocities. Soft lead deforms significantly on contact with a steel plate rather than fragmenting into high-energy particles, which reduces splash-back and lateral ricochet compared to harder-jacketed projectiles at similar velocities. Standard steel target safety distances still apply — most manufacturers recommend a minimum of 10 yards for pistol-caliber rimfire — but the LRN construction is genuinely better suited to steel use than jacketed or harder-alloy bullets at close range.
How does this load compare directly to the CCI Standard Velocity 22 LR?Both loads use a 40 grain lead round nose projectile from the same manufacturer and are positioned as standard-velocity offerings. The key difference is that the CCI Standard Velocity carries a published muzzle velocity of 1,070 fps and is often available at a lower per-round price. For a shooter whose primary goal is affordable, reliable 22 LR practice ammunition from CCI, the Standard Velocity merits direct comparison before purchasing the Pistol Match — particularly if documented ballistic data matters for the intended application.
