CCI Uppercut 22 LR 32 Gr JHP

The core distinction is the skived jacket mouth on the Uppercut, which features pre-cut segments designed to initiate petal expansion more consistently at the lower impact velocities typical of .22 LR. Standard hollow points — including CCI’s own Mini-Mag HP — rely on hydraulic pressure alone to open the cavity, which can fail at sub-1,000 fps impact velocities or after passing through light barriers. The Uppercut was engineered specifically to address this failure mode. Buyers who have experienced inconsistent expansion from conventional .22 LR JHP loads will find the design rationale of the Uppercut directly relevant to that problem.

Inside 75 yards, the Uppercut is a reasonable choice for small game where a clean, expanding projectile is preferred over a lead round-nose. The 32 gr JHP carries approximately 54 ft-lbs of energy at 50 yards, which is adequate for squirrel and rabbit-sized animals when shots are well-placed. Beyond 75–100 yards, the velocity drop reduces the likelihood of reliable expansion, and a heavier standard-velocity load may actually deliver more consistent terminal performance at those distances. Hunters should also verify that jacketed ammunition is compatible with their specific rimfire firearm before using it in the field.

Both loads are purpose-built for terminal performance in rimfire self-defense contexts, and both occupy a similar price tier. The Federal Punch uses a nickel-plated lead hollow point at 29 gr and a higher stated muzzle velocity of approximately 1,070 fps, while the Uppercut offers 32 gr at 950 fps with its skived jacket design. Neither load has been independently verified through structured ballistic gel testing in the data reviewed for this page. The choice between them is largely a matter of platform compatibility and whether the shooter prioritizes slightly higher velocity (Punch) or the specific mechanical expansion assist of the Uppercut’s jacket construction.

CCI markets the Uppercut as semi-auto compatible, and the jacketed construction is generally more consistent in feeding than lead hollow points, which can deform slightly under magazine spring pressure. However, .22 LR semi-automatic reliability is highly platform-dependent — some pistols are tuned for standard-velocity loads, others for high-velocity, and the 950 fps rating of the Uppercut places it in the lower end of the velocity range that some semi-auto actions require for reliable cycling. Shooters should test a box through their specific firearm before relying on it for any application where function is critical.

The product data reviewed for this page does not specify the test barrel length used to derive the 950 fps muzzle velocity figure. This is a meaningful gap, because .22 LR velocity is highly sensitive to barrel length — a 16" rifle barrel can produce 150–250 fps more than a 4" pistol barrel with the same load. Buyers using the Uppercut in a short-barreled pistol should expect meaningfully lower velocity than the stated figure, which may further reduce the likelihood of consistent hollow point expansion. Until CCI publishes barrel-length-specific data, this specification should be treated as a reference point rather than a guaranteed performance figure across all platforms.