.22 ARC

01 / At a glance

The basics

Origin

United States

Introduced

2024

Ignition

Centerfire

Case form

Rimless, bottleneck

Diameter

5.7 mm

Case length

38.7 mm

Rounded values to help you identify the cartridge, not manufacturing drawings. See the cited standard for exact dimensions and tolerances.

A short history

Hornady designed the .22 ARC in 2023, announced it in October 2023 and began selling ammunition in 2024. The case is a 6.5 Grendel case necked down to .224 inch, with a case length of 1.525 inches (38.7 mm) and an overall length of 2.26 inches (57.4 mm). The maximum SAAMI pressure is 52,000 psi, and Hornady lists a twist rate of 1 in 7 inches.

The Grendel case was a sensible parent. It was made to fit an AR-15 magazine and bolt face, and it has a shape that feeds well and holds a good charge of powder. Necking it to .224 puts a long, slim bullet on top of that charge. The overall length of 2.26 inches is about the same as a 5.56 cartridge, but the case is shorter and wider at the head, so the rifle needs a bolt, a barrel and magazines made for the cartridge.

It is the smaller sibling of the .22 Creedmoor, another Hornady .224 cartridge that is built on a bigger case for bolt-action rifles. Both aim at the same idea: a .22 caliber bullet that is longer and has a higher ballistic coefficient than the usual .223 bullets, with the speed to take advantage of it.

Why people shoot it

The first reason is the platform. The AR-15 is the most common rifle in the United States, with a large supply of parts, magazines, optics and accessories. A cartridge that works in that platform and shoots flatter than a .223 is an easy sell, because the shooter changes the barrel, the bolt and the magazines rather than the whole rifle.

The second reason is the bullet. An 80 grain ELD-X leaves a 24 inch test barrel at 3,010 ft/s, and a 62 grain bullet leaves at 3,300 ft/s. The 80 grain bullet is long and has a high ballistic coefficient, so it keeps its speed and resists wind far better than the standard 55 or 62 grain bullet in a .223 Remington. The drift for a 10 mph crosswind in this guide is about 11 inches at 400 yards and 17 at 500.

The third reason is recoil. The cartridge kicks little, like the .223, so a shooter can stay on target and see the hit. That is a benefit for hunters, and for target shooters who spot their own shots.

Specifications at a glance

Values are rounded for reference. Exact dimensions and tolerances are in the SAAMI standard. The velocities are Hornady figures from a 24 inch test barrel.

Strengths and limits

The .22 ARC is a flat-shooting small-bore cartridge for the AR-15. These are the trade-offs to understand.

Honest advice: if your shots stay inside 300 yards and you shoot cheap practice ammunition, a .223 Remington is easier on the wallet and has far more choices. The .22 ARC makes sense for shooters who want more wind performance and energy at 400 yards and beyond from an AR-15.

Not a 5.56

The .22 ARC looks like a small AR-15 cartridge, but it is not a 5.56 or a .223. The case is shorter and has a wider head, so a .22 ARC round will not fit a 5.56 rifle safely, and the reverse is true as well. Always read the barrel marking and the headstamp.

Ballistics

The table and charts below show one factory load, an 80 grain ELD-X Precision Hunter bullet at 3,010 ft/s from a 24 inch test barrel, with the rifle zeroed at 100 yards. It is a hunting bullet with a high ballistic coefficient.

Reading the numbers

With a 100 yard zero the bullet falls about 3 inches at 200 yards, 11 at 300, 25 at 400 and 45 at 500. A 10 mph crosswind moves it about 6 inches at 300 yards, 11 at 400 and 17 at 500. Velocity drops from 3,010 ft/s at the muzzle to about 2,110 ft/s at 500 yards, and energy from about 1,610 to about 790 foot-pounds.

These figures come from a 24 inch test barrel, and an AR-15 often has a shorter one, so a real rifle may be slower. Check the barrel length and the load before you trust a drop table, and shoot the rifle yourself to confirm.

Recoil and shooter comfort

Recoil is light. In an AR-15 of 6 to 8 pounds, the .22 ARC kicks little more than a .223 Remington, and the gas action of a semi-automatic softens it further. Most shooters, including young and new ones, shoot it well.

The report is sharp from a short barrel. Use good hearing protection, and consider both plugs and muffs. A muzzle device can reduce recoil and flash while raising the noise for people nearby.

How to choose ammunition

Hornady makes the factory ammunition. Match the bullet to the job, and test the load in your own rifle.

For hunting, choose a bullet made to expand reliably at the speeds the cartridge produces. For practice and target work, a match bullet shoots with less variation. Try more than one load, since a rifle often prefers one.

Check the headstamp and the rifle

Do not put .22 ARC ammunition in a 5.56 or .223 rifle, or the reverse. A cartridge that chambers in the wrong rifle can be dangerous. Always read the barrel marking and the headstamp.

Cost

Factory ammunition costs more than .223 Remington, and stores stock fewer choices. Plan your practice with that in mind.

How to choose a rifle

The right rifle depends on how you plan to use it. These are the points that matter most.

• Chambering and parts. Buy a rifle, or an upper, made for the .22 ARC. The barrel, bolt and magazines must all be made for it.
• Barrel length. A 16 inch barrel is common. Longer barrels give more velocity, and the published numbers use 24 inches.
• Twist rate. Hornady lists 1 in 7 inches, which suits the long, heavy bullets the cartridge is made for.
• Weight. A lighter rifle is easier to carry. A heavier barrel stays steadier in long strings.
• Trigger. A clean, crisp trigger improves accuracy at long range.
• Optic. A good variable-power scope with reliable adjustments suits the cartridge. A low-power scope or a red dot suits short range.
• Magazines. Use magazines made for the cartridge, and test them for reliable feeding.

Makers who have offered AR-15 style rifles in the chambering include several large and small manufacturers. Not every model is still in production, so check current catalogs.

Zeroing and range practice

A 100 yard zero is a sensible default for an AR-15 style rifle, and an optic with a ballistic reticle helps beyond that. With an 80 grain ELD-X the bullet drops about 3 inches at 200 yards and about 11 at 300, so you can hold on a deer-size target out to about 250 yards with only a small hold-over.

Zero at 100 yards on paper first, then confirm at 200. Shoot at 300, 400 and 500 to learn your own drops, and write them on a card. The numbers in this guide are estimates from a model, and your barrel, load and air density will move them. A barrel shorter than 24 inches loses velocity, so use your own chronograph data if you have it.

Shoot from field positions as well as a bench. Practice at the distances you actually plan to take, and practice judging the wind.

Practical uses

Varmints and predators

This is a natural use. The flat trajectory and low recoil are well suited to prairie dogs, coyotes and similar animals out to 400 yards or so.

Deer and hogs, where the law allows

Some hunters use the .22 ARC on deer and hogs at moderate range with a bullet made for it. Check the rules, since many places set a minimum caliber or energy, and keep shots within the range where you can place the bullet well.

Target shooting

Match bullets with a high BC let an AR-15 shooter reach 500 yards and beyond with low recoil. The 88 grain bullet needs a fast twist, and it suits long-range targets.

Not for large game

It does not carry the energy or the penetration for elk or larger animals. Use a larger cartridge for that.

.22 ARC vs similar cartridges

The table compares the .22 ARC with the cartridges it is usually weighed against. Figures are rounded and use SAAMI pressures, except where noted.

Against the .223 Remington and the 5.56, the .22 ARC is faster and flatter with long, high-BC bullets, and the older cartridges are cheaper with far more rifles and ammunition. Against the 6.5 Grendel, it shares the case and shoots a lighter bullet at higher speed with less recoil. Against the .22 Creedmoor, it is smaller and made for a semi-automatic rifle, and the .22 Creedmoor is faster.

Care and storage

Clean the bore after a day of shooting, and follow the barrel maker's advice on copper and carbon. Keep the bolt and the gas system clean, since a semi-automatic rifle needs it to cycle. Inspect the magazines, the action and the scope mounts for tightness. Store the rifle unloaded and locked, with the ammunition separate and away from children.

Safety and common mistakes

• Do not confuse the .22 ARC with the 5.56 or the .223. Read the barrel marking and the headstamp.
• Treat every rifle as loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target.
• Know your target and what lies beyond it. A .22 bullet at this speed can travel a mile or more.
• Wear eye and ear protection. A short barrel has a sharp report.
• Check the bore for obstructions before you load.
• Use magazines made for the cartridge, and keep them in good condition.
• If you reload, use only published data from a current manual and start low. This page does not contain loading data.
• Store firearms and ammunition locked and apart, away from children.

Sources

Sources reviewed · 29 October 2026

1. Wikipedia · .22 ARC ↗
2. Hornady .22 ARC 80 gr ELD-X Precision Hunter ↗