Ammo Reports Team
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Target practice, plinking, small game hunting |
| Bullet Type | Lead Flat Nose (LFN) |
| Bullet Weight | 29 gr |
| Case Material | Brass |
| Primer Type | Rimfire |
| Packaging | 50 rounds per box |
| Typical Price | $10.89/box · $0.22/round |
| Closest Competitors | CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr LRN · Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr CPHP · Winchester Super-X 40 gr LFN |
Official Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Muzzle Velocity (fps) | — | Not published |
| Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs) | — | Not published |
| Bullet Weight | 29 gr | Manufacturer |
| Bullet Type | Lead Flat Nose | Manufacturer |
| BC G1 | — | Not published |
| BC G7 | — | Not published |
| Manufacturer SKU | — | Not published |
| UPC | — | Not published |
| Reloadable | No | Rimfire — not reloadable |
Note: Federal has not published muzzle velocity or muzzle energy for this specific load in available product documentation. The 29-grain flat nose bullet weight is lighter than the more common 36–40 gr .22 LR offerings, which typically produces higher muzzle velocity, but no verified figure is available to report here. Ballistic estimates in the table below are calculated from a reasonable velocity assumption for a 29 gr subsonic/standard-velocity .22 LR flat nose and must be treated as approximations only. Community-submitted chronograph data will improve accuracy over time.
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 (estimated for a 29 gr standard-velocity .22 LR flat nose from a rifle-length barrel). All values marked with ~ are calculated, not manufacturer-published.
| Yards | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) | Trajectory (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ~1,070 | ~74 | -1.5 |
| 25 | ~1,022 | ~67 | +0.4 |
| 50 | ~978 | ~62 | 0.0 ← zero |
| 75 | ~937 | ~57 | -1.8 |
| 100 | ~899 | ~52 | -5.5 |
| 125 | ~863 | ~48 | -11.4 |
| 150 | ~829 | ~44 | -19.7 |
| 175 | ~797 | ~41 | -30.7 |
| 200 | ~767 | ~38 | -44.7 |
| 225 | ~738 | ~35 | -62.1 |
| 250 | ~711 | ~33 | -83.3 |
Key takeaway: The 29-grain flat nose bullet is notably lighter than the standard .22 LR 36–40 gr offerings, which means it starts faster but sheds velocity more quickly due to a lower ballistic coefficient. At 50 yards — the practical zero for most rimfire applications — trajectory is flat and manageable. Beyond 100 yards, drop becomes significant and holds become necessary for any precision work. This load is best treated as a 50–75 yard proposition for consistent results.
The 29-Grain Flat Nose Design
The flat nose profile on this Federal load serves a specific purpose that separates it from the round-nose and hollow-point .22 LR loads that dominate the market. A flat-meplat bullet creates a wider initial wound channel on soft tissue and punches a cleaner, more defined hole in paper or cardboard targets — useful for judging shot placement at a glance. Because the nose does not deform or expand like a hollow point, terminal performance is consistent and predictable across a range of impact velocities, which matters when shooting at distances where velocity has already dropped. The 29-grain weight is on the lighter end of the .22 LR spectrum, a deliberate design choice that trades retained energy downrange for a flatter initial trajectory at close range. This combination makes the load particularly well-suited to small pest control at short distances and informal target work where clean hole presentation is valued.
Best Uses
Good fit:
- Informal target shooting and plinking at 25–75 yards
- Paper punching where clean, well-defined bullet holes aid in scoring
- Small pest control (squirrels, rabbits) at close range where consistent terminal performance is preferred over expansion
- Training and practice sessions where a lower per-round cost matters
- Shooters who prefer a lighter bullet for reduced felt recoil in semi-automatic .22 LR pistols and rifles
Not the right tool for:
- Long-range rimfire precision work beyond 100 yards — drop and wind drift become significant
- Situations requiring maximum energy transfer, where a hollow-point load would be more appropriate
- Subsonic suppressor use, where heavier 40 gr subsonic loads are better matched
- Hunting applications requiring deep penetration on larger small game such as raccoon or groundhog
- Semi-automatic platforms with tight chambers that may not feed flat-nose profiles as reliably as round-nose designs — verify feeding before relying on this load
Reliability Notes
No structured submissions yet.
Based on manufacturer claims and open-source product descriptions, this load is presented as delivering consistent performance shot after shot with reliable ignition. Federal’s rimfire production is generally noted in open-source shooting community discussions for tight quality control on priming compound application, which is the most common failure point in .22 LR ammunition. The flat nose profile has been noted in open sources to occasionally present feeding challenges in some semi-automatic actions designed around round-nose geometry — this is not unique to Federal’s product but is a characteristic of the bullet shape class. No structured chronograph or cycling data has been submitted for this specific load at the time of publication.
Competitors
| Load | Weight | Bullet | BC G1 | Adv. Velocity | Price/box | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr LRN | 40 gr | Lead Round Nose | ~0.138 | 1,070 fps | ~$7.99 | Budget alternative; heavier bullet, more energy retention |
| Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr CPHP | 36 gr | Copper-Plated HP | ~0.125 | 1,280 fps | ~$8.49 | Higher velocity; hollow point for better expansion |
| Winchester Super-X 40 gr LFN | 40 gr | Lead Flat Nose | ~0.138 | 1,300 fps | ~$9.49 | Same flat nose profile; heavier bullet at higher velocity |
| Federal Champion 40 gr LRN | 40 gr | Lead Round Nose | ~0.138 | 1,240 fps | ~$7.49 | Same manufacturer; budget tier; round nose feeds more reliably |
| Aguila Super Extra 38 gr CPHP | 38 gr | Copper-Plated HP | ~0.130 | 1,280 fps | ~$6.99 | Budget alternative; expanding bullet option |
| SK Standard Plus 40 gr LRN | 40 gr | Lead Round Nose | ~0.140 | 1,073 fps | ~$14.99 | Premium alternative; match-grade consistency; tighter velocity spread |
Price Reality
- At $10.89 per box of 50 rounds, this load sits in the mid-tier of the .22 LR market
- Per-round cost works out to $0.218 per round
- Budget alternatives like Federal Champion or Aguila Super Extra come in at $0.14–$0.16 per round — roughly 25–35% less per shot
- Premium match-grade options such as SK Standard Plus run $0.28–$0.35 per round, making this Federal load a reasonable middle ground
- A fair price benchmark for this load is $9.50–$11.50 per box; anything above $13.00 for a single box of 50 should be considered overpriced given current market conditions
- Case pricing (if available) typically reduces per-round cost by 10–15% and is worth seeking for high-volume practice use
Prices change. Check the Where to Buy block for current listings.
Where to Buy
Federal Premium 22 LR 29 Gr Flat Nose (Box)
Affiliate links. These do not influence ratings, data, or any editorial content on this page.
FAQ
Why does this load use a 29-grain bullet when most .22 LR ammunition is 36–40 grains?
The 29-grain flat nose is a lighter-than-standard bullet choice that Federal has positioned for applications where a clean, consistent hole and moderate recoil are priorities. Lighter bullets in .22 LR typically leave the muzzle at higher velocity, producing a somewhat flatter trajectory at close range. The trade-off is that a lighter bullet carries less sectional density and sheds velocity faster, reducing its effectiveness beyond 75–100 yards. This weight class is less common in the .22 LR market, which makes this load a somewhat specialized choice rather than a general-purpose option.
How does the flat nose bullet compare to a hollow point for small game hunting?
A hollow-point bullet is designed to expand on impact, creating a larger wound channel and transferring energy more rapidly — generally preferred for clean, humane kills on small game. The flat nose does not expand but creates a wider initial crush cavity than a round nose due to its meplat geometry. At the velocities typical of a 29 gr .22 LR load, hollow-point expansion can be inconsistent, so the flat nose offers more predictable terminal behavior. For squirrel or rabbit at close range, either design can work effectively with precise shot placement; the flat nose is not a significant disadvantage at distances under 50 yards.
Will this ammunition feed reliably in semi-automatic .22 LR rifles and pistols?
Flat nose bullets can occasionally present feeding issues in semi-automatic actions that were designed and optimized around the more common round-nose profile. The squared-off nose can catch on feed ramp angles that a round nose slides past easily. This is not a universal problem — many semi-automatic .22 LR platforms handle flat-nose ammunition without issue — but it is worth running a small test batch before committing to this load for a semi-auto application. Bolt-action and single-shot rifles are generally unaffected by bullet nose geometry.
Is this load appropriate for use in a suppressor?
Suppressor use with .22 LR typically favors subsonic ammunition — loads with muzzle velocity below approximately 1,100 fps — to avoid the supersonic crack that negates much of the sound reduction benefit. Without a published muzzle velocity for this load, it is not possible to confirm whether it is subsonic or transonic at the muzzle. Given the 29-grain bullet weight, it is plausible that this load exits the muzzle above 1,100 fps, which would produce a sonic crack when suppressed. Shooters intending suppressor use should seek a confirmed subsonic load — typically a 40 gr bullet rated at 1,050 fps or below — for best results.
How does this Federal load compare to the Winchester Super-X 40 gr Flat Nose?
Both loads share the flat nose bullet profile, which gives them similar target-punching characteristics and comparable feeding behavior. The primary difference is bullet weight: Winchester’s 40-grain offering carries significantly more mass and, at its advertised 1,300 fps, delivers approximately 150 ft-lbs of muzzle energy compared to the estimated 74 ft-lbs of this 29 gr Federal load. For small game hunting, the Winchester load provides a meaningful energy advantage. For casual target practice where recoil and cost are priorities, the lighter Federal load may be preferred. Neither load is a match-grade product, so precision benchrest shooters would be better served by dedicated match ammunition from either manufacturer.
