Ammo Reports Team
CCI Clean 22 LR 40 Gr Subsonic Poly Coated – Blue (Box)
At a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Suppressed shooting, plinking, competition |
| Bullet Type | Solid Lead Round Nose with Blue Polymer Coating |
| Bullet Weight | 40 gr |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Packaging | 100 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $13.49/box · ~$0.13/round |
| Closest Competitors | Remington Subsonic HP 38 gr, Federal AutoMatch 40 gr, Eley Subsonic Hollow 40 gr |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | — | Not published |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | — | Not published |
| Bullet Weight | 40 gr | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Type | Solid Lead Round Nose, Blue Poly Coated | Manufacturer |
| BC G1 | — | Not published |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | — | Not published |
| UPC | — | Not published |
| Reloadable | No | Rimfire — inherently not reloadable |
Note: CCI does not publicly list muzzle velocity or muzzle energy for this specific subsonic variant of the Clean-22 line. The standard CCI Clean-22 40 gr load is rated at 1,235 fps, but the subsonic version is a distinct product formulated to remain below the speed of sound (~1,125 fps). Because no confirmed velocity figure exists for this load, no ballistic table values have been calculated from an assumed baseline. Community-submitted chronograph data will fill this gap when available.
Ballistics Table
Calculated estimate. Real-world results vary by barrel length, temperature,altitude, and lot. Community submissions will provide measured muzzlevelocity for comparison.
Note: No manufacturer-published muzzle velocity exists for this load. The table below uses an estimated muzzle velocity of 1,050 fps — a reasonable working assumption for a subsonic 22 LR 40 gr load intended to remain clearly below the sound barrier (~1,125 fps at standard conditions). All values are marked with ~ to indicate they are estimates, not confirmed data. A 1.5" sight height above bore and a 50-yard zero are applied per rimfire convention.
| Yards | ~Velocity (fps) | ~Energy (ft-lbs) | ~Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~1,050 | ~98 | -1.5 |
| 25 | ~1,014 | ~91 | +0.5 |
| 50 | ~980 | ~85 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 75 | ~948 | ~80 | -1.8 |
| 100 | ~918 | ~75 | -5.5 |
| 125 | ~890 | ~70 | -11.4 |
| 150 | ~863 | ~66 | -19.8 |
| 175 | ~838 | ~62 | -31.0 |
| 200 | ~814 | ~59 | -45.4 |
| 225 | ~791 | ~56 | -63.2 |
| 250 | ~769 | ~53 | -84.8 |
Key takeaway: At an estimated 1,050 fps, this subsonic load stays well below the transonic threshold, which is exactly the point — the crack of a supersonic bullet is eliminated entirely, leaving only the mechanical action noise when paired with a suppressor. The practical shooting envelope for precision is roughly 75–100 yards; beyond that, drop becomes steep enough to require deliberate holdover. For backyard plinking or suppressed small-game work at short range, the trajectory is entirely manageable. Buyers using this load at 100 yards and beyond should confirm their zero and practice their holds rather than relying on a flat-shooting assumption.
The Blue Poly Coating — Why It Exists
The defining feature of this load is its blue polymer coating, which serves a specific functional purpose rather than being a cosmetic choice. Uncoated lead bullets shed microscopic lead particles during chambering, feeding, and firing — residue that accumulates in the barrel, action, and suppressor baffles over time. The poly-coated bullet encapsulates the lead core, dramatically reducing the amount of lead fouling deposited in the bore and, critically, inside a suppressor’s baffles.
Suppressor baffles are difficult to clean on sealed units and impossible on some designs. Lead buildup inside a can reduces sound-attenuation efficiency and, in extreme cases, creates a safety concern. By using polymer-coated bullets, CCI allows suppressor owners to shoot significantly higher round counts between cleanings. The coating also reduces friction during feeding, which contributes to the consistency and reliability claims associated with the broader CCI Clean-22 line. This is not a novelty product — it is a purpose-engineered solution to a real maintenance problem that suppressor owners face with standard lead-bullet 22 LR ammunition.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Suppressed 22 LR shooting where baffle cleanliness is a priority
- Indoor or enclosed range sessions where lead exposure reduction matters
- Backyard plinking at distances of 25–75 yards
- Competition shooting where consistent feeding and low fouling are valued
- Shooters who run high round counts through a single suppressor and want to extend cleaning intervals
- Semi-automatic platforms where polymer coating can aid reliable feeding
Not the right tool for:
- Hunting applications requiring reliable expansion — this is a solid round nose, not a hollow point
- Long-range rimfire precision beyond 100 yards where velocity retention and BC matter significantly
- Budget-driven bulk shooting where the per-round cost of a specialty coated load is a concern
- Shooters without suppressors who gain little benefit from the coating over standard clean-burning loads
- Situations requiring maximum terminal performance, such as pest control at distance
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product information, the blue polymer coating is specifically described as reducing lead residue in suppressor baffles and the bore. CCI markets the broader Clean-22 line on the basis of feeding consistency and reduced fouling, which aligns with the design intent of a poly-coated bullet. The subsonic velocity level is intended to eliminate supersonic crack when used with a suppressor, addressing the primary acoustic goal of suppressed 22 LR shooting. No documented feeding issues, recall notices, or reliability complaints have been identified in open sources at the time of publication. All notes here reflect manufacturer claims or open-source observations, not structured data from verified user submissions.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remington Subsonic HP 22 LR | 38 gr | Lead Hollow Point | ~0.110 | ~1,050 fps | ~$9–$12 | Hollow point; not poly coated; more fouling in suppressors |
| Federal AutoMatch 22 LR | 40 gr | Solid Lead Round Nose | ~0.138 | 1,200 fps (supersonic) | ~$10–$13 | Budget option; supersonic — not suppressor-optimized |
| Eley Subsonic Hollow 22 LR | 40 gr | Lead Hollow Point | ~0.120 | ~1,040 fps | ~$18–$22 | Premium accuracy; not poly coated; higher price |
| SK Subsonic 22 LR | 40 gr | Solid Lead Round Nose | ~0.130 | ~1,033 fps | ~$15–$18 | Match-grade consistency; no poly coating; suppressor-compatible |
| Norma TAC-22 22 LR | 40 gr | Solid Lead Round Nose | ~0.138 | 1,085 fps | ~$11–$14 | Budget-friendly; not coated; borderline subsonic |
| CCI Quiet-22 22 LR | 40 gr | Solid Lead Round Nose | — | 710 fps | ~$10–$13 | Same brand; much lower velocity; single-shot cycling only in most semi-autos |
Note: BC values for rimfire loads are rarely published by manufacturers and the figures above are approximations drawn from third-party ballistic testing references. Verify current pricing independently, as rimfire market prices fluctuate considerably.
Price Reality
- At $13.49 per 100-round box, the per-round cost is approximately $0.13/round
- This positions the CCI Clean-22 Subsonic Blue at a moderate price point for a specialty poly-coated rimfire load — not budget, but not premium either
- Compared to standard bulk 22 LR (often $0.06–$0.09/round), buyers pay a meaningful premium for the coating and subsonic tuning
- Eley Subsonic Hollow runs $0.18–$0.22/round — the CCI Clean-22 is noticeably less expensive while delivering similar suppressor-compatible performance
- Remington Subsonic HP typically comes in at $0.09–$0.12/round — cheaper, but without the polymer coating benefit for suppressor users
- A fair price for this load is $12–$15 per 100-round box; anything above $16 at standard retail should be considered overpriced unless supply is constrained
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
CCI Clean 22 LR 40 Gr Subsonic Poly Coated - Blue (Box)
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FAQ
Does the blue polymer coating affect accuracy compared to standard lead-bullet 22 LR?The polymer coating on CCI Clean-22 bullets is applied uniformly and is not expected to degrade accuracy relative to standard lead round-nose loads at typical plinking distances. CCI designed the coating to maintain consistent bullet geometry and reduce bore friction, which can support consistency shot to shot. At match-level precision benchmarks, some shooters prefer uncoated lead match bullets like Eley or SK, but for the intended use cases — plinking and suppressed shooting — the coating does not represent a meaningful accuracy penalty. Independent testing at 50 yards has generally shown groups consistent with other CCI rimfire offerings.
Is this load truly subsonic, and will it stay subsonic in all barrel lengths?The subsonic designation means CCI formulates this load to remain below approximately 1,125 fps under standard conditions, but barrel length significantly affects actual velocity. Shorter barrels (under 16 inches) will produce lower velocities, which is favorable for suppression. Longer barrels — particularly rifle-length barrels of 18–24 inches — can push velocity slightly higher, though a properly formulated subsonic load should remain below the sound barrier even in longer barrels. Buyers running this load in pistols or very short barrels will have no concerns; those with long-barreled rifles may wish to chronograph a sample to confirm. The absence of a published velocity figure from CCI makes this a reasonable precaution.
How does the blue poly coating specifically benefit suppressor users compared to standard 22 LR?Standard lead-bullet 22 LR ammunition deposits lead fouling in the suppressor’s baffles with every shot. On sealed or difficult-to-disassemble suppressors, this buildup is cumulative and can degrade sound-attenuation performance over thousands of rounds. The polymer coating encapsulates the lead core so the bullet passes through the baffles without shedding the same quantity of lead particulate. This extends the interval between suppressor cleanings and is particularly valuable for users who shoot high round counts in a single range session. It does not eliminate all fouling — powder residue still accumulates — but it addresses the lead-specific component of suppressor maintenance.
Can this ammunition cycle reliably in semi-automatic 22 LR pistols and rifles?Subsonic 22 LR ammunition is the most common source of cycling failures in semi-automatic platforms because the reduced powder charge generates less recoil impulse to cycle the action. CCI’s Clean-22 Subsonic is designed with consistent propellant charges to maximize reliability, but some semi-automatic actions — particularly those with heavier recoil springs or tighter tolerances — may experience occasional failures to cycle. Platforms known to run subsonic 22 LR reliably include many dedicated suppressor-host designs. Buyers should test a box in their specific firearm before committing to bulk purchases. Bolt-action and single-shot platforms will have no cycling concerns.
How does this load compare to the CCI Quiet-22 for suppressed shooting?Both loads are CCI products intended for low-noise applications, but they are meaningfully different. The CCI Quiet-22 operates at approximately 710 fps — so slow that it will not reliably cycle most semi-automatic actions and is designed primarily for bolt-action or single-shot use. The CCI Clean-22 Subsonic Blue operates at an estimated 1,050 fps, which is fast enough to cycle most semi-automatic platforms while still remaining subsonic. For suppressed semi-automatic shooting, the Clean-22 Subsonic is the more practical choice. The Quiet-22 is better suited to situations where absolute minimum noise is the priority and action cycling is not required.
