For a long time now we have had access to chronographs, first the Gun Club's Oehler with sky screens 10' apart, and later a compact Shooting Chrony self-contained unit. This has allowed us to do a fair amount of chronograph testing. A good part of that testing involved rimfire cartridges, as both Jim and I are rimfire fans.

Please remember that these tests were conducted over a period of years using two different chronographs. The various guns were tested at different times, using different lots of ammunition, even when the same brand and load of ammunition is identified.

Some of the results of that testing are presented below, divided into calibers (.22 LR HV, .22 LR Std. Vel., and .22 WMR). The test guns are identified above the chronograph results achieved by that pistol.

Listings are by: Brand, Bullet weight and type - Average instrumental velocity at 10' from muzzle, Extreme velocity spread (ES).

.22 Long Rifle High Velocity and Hyper Velocity

Test Pistol: Colt New Frontier Convertible Revolver, 4 3/8" barrel.

• CCI Stinger, 32 grain HP - 1243 fps Avg, 69 fps ES.
• CCI Mini-Mag, 36 grain HP - 1032 fps Avg, 110 fps ES.
• CCI Mini-Mag, 40 grain RN - 1039 fps Avg, 67 fps ES.
• Federal Spitfire, 29 grain HP - 1208 fps Avg, 39 fps ES.
• Federal Classic, 40 grain RN - 1000 fps Avg, 77 fps ES.
• Remington Yellow Jacket, 33 grain TCHP - 1245 fps Avg, 64 fps ES.
• Remington Viper, 36 grain TCSP - 1128 fps Avg, 92 fps ES.
• Remington Golden Bullet, 40 grain RN - 994 fps Avg, 88 fps ES.
• Winchester Expeditor, 29 grain HP - 1136 fps Avg, 138 fps ES.
• Winchester Super-X, 40 grain RN - 1029 fps Avg, 50 fps ES.

Test Pistol: Colt Diamondback Revolver, 6" barrel.

• CCI Stinger, 32 grain HP - 1312 fps Avg, 232 fps ES.
• CCI Mini-Mag, 40 grain RN - 1012 fps Avg, 59 fps ES.
• Federal Lightning, 40 grain LRN - 1111 fps Avg, 57 fps ES.
• Remington Yellow Jacket, 33 grain TCHP - 1291 fps Avg, 61 fps ES.
• Remington Golden Bullet, 40 grain RN - 1049 fps Avg, 57 fps ES.

Test Pistol: Ruger Target Auto, 5 1/2" bull barrel.

• CCI Stinger, 32 grain HP - 1334 fps Avg, 66 fps ES.
• CCI Stinger, 36 grain HP - 1143 fps Avg, 43 fps ES.
• Remington Yellow Jacket, 33 grain TCHP - 1224 fps Avg, 80 fps ES.
• Remington Golden Bullet, 40 grain RN - 1026 fps Avg, 26 fps ES.
• Winchester Expeditor, 29 grain HP - 1190 fps Avg, 33 fps ES.

Test Pistol: Ruger Govt. Target Auto, 6 7/8" barrel.

• CCI Mini-Mag, 40 grain RN - 1123 fps Avg, 65 fps ES.
• Remington Golden Bullet, 40 grain RN - 1120 fps Avg, 111 fps ES.
• Winchester Super-X, 40 grain RN - 1090 fps Avg, 58 fps ES.

.22 Long Rifle Standard Velocity and Target

Test Pistol: Colt New Frontier Convertible, 4 3/8" barrel.

• Peters, 40 grain LRN - 793 fps Avg, 337 fps ES.
• Winchester T-22, 40 grain LRN - 989 fps Avg, 28 fps ES.

Test Pistol: Colt Diamondback Revolver, 6" barrel.

• Remington Target, 40 grain LRN - 930 fps Avg, 246 fps ES.

Test Pistol: Ruger Govt. (Slab-Side) Target Auto, 6 7/8" barrel.

• Peters, 40 grain LRN - 1068 fps Avg, 33 fps ES.

.22 Winchester Magnum (WMR)

Test Pistol: Colt New Frontier Convertible, 4 3/8" barrel.

• CCI Maxi-Mag, 40 grain JHP - 1379 fps Avg, 121 fps ES.
• Federal Game-Shok JHP - 999 fps Avg, 48 fps ES.

Test Pistol: Ruger Super Single Six Convertible, 6 1/2" barrel.

• CCI Maxi-Mag, 40 grain JHP - 1400 fps Avg, 129 fps ES.
• Winchester Super-X, 40 grain JHP - 1392 fps Avg, 122 fps ES.