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CCI 22 LR 40 Grain Subsonic Lead Hollow Point

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CCI 22 LR 40 Grain Subsonic Lead Hollow Point (Box)

At a Glance

Official Specs

Note — Muzzle Energy: The product listing states "NA ft-lbs" for muzzle energy. This is a data gap in the retailer listing, not a calculated or confirmed figure. A physics-based estimate from 1,050 fps and a 40 gr projectile yields approximately 98 ft-lbs; however, this is a calculated value and is not attributed to CCI. See the Ballistics Table section for the calculated estimate labeled accordingly.

Note — BC: CCI does not publish ballistic coefficient data for this subsonic rimfire load. No G1 or G7 value is available from any verified source. The ballistics table below uses a commonly applied estimated BC for a standard 40 gr lead .22 LR bullet; all values are labeled as calculated estimates.

Note — UPC: Not confirmed in the available product data. Do not rely on retailer-assigned UPCs without manufacturer verification.

CCI 22 LR 40 Grain Subsonic Lead Hollow Point (Box)

$13.99

$14.99

in stock

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. Estimated BC G1 ≈ 0.130 (typical for 40 gr lead .22 LR — not manufacturer-published).

Key takeaway: At 1,050 fps, this load stays comfortably below the speed of sound (~1,125 fps at sea level), which is the defining characteristic of a subsonic round. The trajectory drop becomes significant past 100 yards — nearly 5.5 inches low — making this load most practical inside that distance for field use. For suppressed shooting, the subsonic velocity eliminates the supersonic crack entirely, leaving only the mechanical action noise. Energy delivery at 50–75 yards is adequate for small game such as squirrels and rabbits when shot placement is precise.

The Subsonic Design Philosophy

Subsonic .22 LR loads occupy a specific niche that standard high-velocity ammunition cannot fill. When a bullet travels faster than the speed of sound, it generates a sharp ballistic crack independent of the firearm’s report — a crack no suppressor can eliminate. By holding velocity to 1,050 fps, CCI’s load stays below that threshold under most atmospheric conditions, making it one of the most effective pairings with a rimfire suppressor available in factory form.

The lead hollow point bullet in this load serves a dual purpose. In hunting applications, the hollow point cavity is designed to initiate expansion on impact, increasing the wound channel relative to a solid lead round nose at the same velocity. In suppressed recreational shooting, the same bullet construction delivers a slightly more consistent terminal result than a round nose without requiring a velocity increase that would break the sound barrier.

CCI has produced subsonic .22 LR ammunition under the SKU 0056 designation for decades, and it remains one of the reference-standard loads in this segment. The 40 gr bullet weight is the industry standard for subsonic .22 LR, balancing sectional density, retained velocity at short range, and reliable feeding across a wide range of semi-automatic and bolt-action rimfire platforms.

Best Uses

Good fit:

• Suppressed rimfire shooting where eliminating supersonic crack is the primary goal
• Small game hunting (squirrel, rabbit) at ranges inside 75 yards with precise shot placement
• Pest control in noise-sensitive environments — rural residential areas, barns, outbuildings
• Bolt-action and single-shot rimfire rifles where reliable cycling at lower velocities is not a concern
• Training and practice where reduced report is desirable without switching calibers
• Hunting in jurisdictions where hollow point projectiles are required or preferred for ethical harvest

Not the right tool for:

• Semi-automatic pistols or rifles with aggressive recoil-operated actions — subsonic loads may cause cycling failures in some platforms
• Long-range rimfire target shooting beyond 100 yards where trajectory drop becomes difficult to manage
• Situations requiring maximum terminal energy — this load produces approximately 98 ft-lbs, less than standard-velocity loads at close range
• Hunting larger varmints (groundhog, raccoon) where more energy and expansion reliability is needed
• Any application where lead projectiles are restricted or prohibited (certain public lands, California)

Reliability Notes

No structured submissions yet.

Based on manufacturer claims and open-source information: CCI describes this load as offering reliable performance in standard rimfire chambers. Open-source user reports across rimfire forums consistently note that subsonic .22 LR loads — including this one — can cause failures to cycle in semi-automatic platforms not specifically tuned for subsonic ammunition, particularly pistols and some semi-auto rifles with stronger recoil springs. This is a physics constraint of the operating system, not a defect in the ammunition. In bolt-action rifles and manually operated platforms, this concern does not apply. CCI’s rimfire priming has a long-standing reputation for consistent ignition, which is particularly relevant for subsonic loads where the powder charge is smaller and primer reliability matters more. These notes reflect manufacturer claims and open-source observations, not structured test data.

Competitors

All BC values in this table are estimates based on bullet geometry. None are manufacturer-published for these specific loads. Verify current pricing independently — values shown reflect general market ranges and are subject to change.

Price Reality

• Typical retail price for a 100-round box runs $12.99–$15.99, with $13.99 representing a fair mid-market price
• Per-round cost at $13.99 is $0.14/round, which is standard for subsonic .22 LR hollow point ammunition
• Federal Champion Subsonic HP typically runs $0.12–$0.14/round — essentially equivalent; the two loads are price-competitive at most outlets
• Remington Subsonic HP is similarly priced at $0.12–$0.14/round, offering no meaningful price advantage in most markets
• SK Subsonic and Lapua-tier loads run $0.18–$0.28/round — a significant premium justified only by tighter accuracy tolerances for competition use
• A price above $18.00 per 100-round box ($0.18/round) for this CCI load should be considered above market; above $20.00 is overpriced under normal supply conditions
• Case pricing (when available in bulk formats) typically reduces per-round cost to $0.11–$0.13/round; CCI does not consistently offer this SKU in bulk case format through all channels

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

Where to Buy

CCI 22 LR 40 Grain Subsonic Lead Hollow Point (Box)

The CCI 22 LR 40 Grain Subsonic Lead Hollow Point is perfect for quiet shooting, offering reliable performance with a muzzle velocity of 1050 fps. Packaged in a convenient 100-round box, it's an excellent choice for small game hunting and target practice.

$13.99 at Ammunitiondepot.com

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

FAQ

Does the CCI 22 LR Subsonic 40 gr LHP reliably cycle semi-automatic firearms?This is the most important operational question for this load. At 1,050 fps, the bolt velocity generated on firing is lower than with standard or high-velocity .22 LR loads, and many semi-automatic actions — particularly pistols and some rifles — require a minimum energy threshold to fully cycle. Platforms with adjustable gas systems or lighter recoil springs (such as some dedicated rimfire target rifles) tend to handle subsonic loads more reliably. Bolt-action, lever-action, and pump-action rimfire firearms are unaffected by this consideration. Testing function in your specific firearm before field use is strongly recommended.

How does the hollow point cavity perform at subsonic velocities?Terminal expansion from a lead hollow point at subsonic velocities is less reliable than at higher velocities. At 1,050 fps, the hollow point cavity may partially expand, fully expand, or fail to expand depending on the medium struck, range, and specific tissue density. For small game hunting, this load is most effective at close range — inside 50 yards — where retained velocity and impact energy are highest. Hunters should not assume consistent expansion equivalent to higher-velocity hollow point loads. The hollow point design still produces a more effective wound channel than a round nose at equivalent velocity even when expansion is incomplete.

Is this load suitable for use with a .22 LR suppressor?Yes — this is one of the primary intended applications for subsonic .22 LR ammunition. Because the muzzle velocity of 1,050 fps stays below the speed of sound (~1,125 fps at standard conditions), there is no supersonic ballistic crack. When paired with a quality rimfire suppressor, the dominant sound becomes the mechanical action of the firearm rather than the report or bullet flight. Note that at high altitude or in very warm temperatures, the speed of sound changes slightly, but 1,050 fps provides adequate margin under most realistic shooting conditions in North America.

How does this CCI load compare to the Aguila SSS 60 gr subsonic?These two loads occupy the same subsonic .22 LR category but differ significantly in terminal design. The Aguila SSS uses a 60 gr solid lead bullet at approximately 950 fps, producing deeper penetration with no expansion — a profile better suited to situations requiring penetration through light cover or where expansion is not the priority. The CCI 40 gr LHP is designed to expand on impact, making it the more appropriate choice for small game hunting where rapid energy transfer is desired. The Aguila SSS also has a longer overall cartridge length that can cause feeding issues in some semi-automatic platforms. The two loads are not interchangeable in terms of terminal behavior.

What barrel length does CCI use to measure the 1,050 fps muzzle velocity for this load?CCI does not publish the test barrel length for SKU 0056 in the available product data. This is a meaningful gap: rimfire muzzle velocity is highly sensitive to barrel length, and a 16" rifle barrel will produce measurably higher velocity than a 4" pistol barrel with the same ammunition. The 1,050 fps figure should be treated as a general reference, likely measured from a standard test barrel in the 18"–24" range. Shooters using short-barreled pistols or carbines may see lower actual velocities, potentially as much as 50–100 fps below the stated figure, which can further affect cycling reliability in semi-automatic platforms.

CCI 22 LR 40 Grain Subsonic Lead Hollow Point (Box)

$13.99

$14.99

in stock