Remington Thunderbolt 22 LR 40 gr LRN

It functions in most semi-auto .22 LR platforms, but it is not the most reliable option available. Lead round nose bullets without copper plating produce more fouling than plated alternatives, and budget rimfire loads carry higher misfire rates than premium production. For semi-auto use — especially in pistols that are more feeding-sensitive than rifles — CCI Mini-Mag or Federal Champion are more commonly recommended for consistent cycling. The Thunderbolt is fine for bolt-action and single-shot rifles where a misfire simply requires re-cocking.

The ballistics table above shows the trajectory reality: at 100 yards the bullet is 9 inches below the line of sight (zeroed at 50 yards), and at 150 yards it is nearly 28 inches low. For informal plinking at steel targets or paper, 25–75 yards is the practical sweet spot where holdover is manageable without significant Kentucky windage. Beyond 100 yards the .22 LR at this velocity becomes a challenging proposition for consistent hits on small targets.

Two factors: velocity and ballistic coefficient. The Thunderbolt leaves the muzzle at 1,255 fps vs 2,550–2,650 fps for .17 HMR loads. Lower velocity means more time in the air covering the same distance, and gravity acts on the bullet for that entire time — resulting in more drop. Additionally, .22 LR round-nose bullets have lower BCs (~0.138) than the polymer-tipped .17 HMR bullets (~0.185 for V-Max), meaning they lose velocity faster. The combination produces dramatically steeper trajectories than any .17 HMR load.

For dedicated plinkers and range regulars, the case format typically saves $0.01–0.02/round over box pricing — roughly $50–100 on a full case. The tradeoff is storage space and commitment to a single lot. Given Thunderbolt’s lot-to-lot consistency reputation, buying a case means accepting whatever quality that specific production run delivers. If you find a lot that shoots well in your rifle, the case is good value; if the lot has quality issues, you have 5,000 rounds of them.

Both are budget LRN .22 LR at similar price points. Federal Champion generally receives higher consistency ratings in online community discussions — fewer misfires, tighter velocity spreads. Thunderbolt is more widely available in big-box retail (Walmart, sporting goods stores) and often slightly cheaper per round. For plinking where an occasional misfire is a minor inconvenience, either works. For training where reliability matters more, Federal Champion edges ahead. Community submission data on both pages will eventually provide velocity spread comparisons.