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.22 / 5.6 mm Calibers Comparison

.22 /  5.6 mm Calibers Comparison

The 5.6mm (.22 caliber) family encompasses a wide variety of cartridges, most of which are designed for different purposes, from small-game hunting to competitive shooting and military applications. The .22 caliber refers to the diameter of the bullet, and within this caliber family, there are several popular cartridges, including rimfire and centerfire types. Below is a comprehensive review of the top 10 5.6mm/.22 caliber cartridges, highlighting their characteristics and typical applications.


.223 Remington: The .223 Remington is a centerfire cartridge with a bullet diameter of 5.7mm (.224 inches). It typically fires bullets between 40 to 77 grains at velocities ranging from 2,700 to 3,700 fps, depending on the load. Application: Widely used in military (as 5.56x45mm NATO) and civilian settings, the .223 Remington is favored for varmint hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense. It’s renowned for its accuracy and versatility across different platforms.


5.56x45mm NATO: The military counterpart of the .223 Remington, the 5.56 NATO is designed to withstand higher pressures. Its projectiles typically range from 55 to 77 grains with similar velocities to the .223. Application: Commonly used by military forces around the world, it’s also popular in civilian AR-15 rifles. It’s effective for tactical applications, self-defense, and competitive shooting.


.22 Hornet: The .22 Hornet is a centerfire rifle cartridge that typically fires bullets between 35 and 55 grains at velocities ranging from 2,500 to 3,100 fps. Application: Known for its accuracy and flat trajectory, the .22 Hornet is used in small-game hunting and varmint control. It’s also considered a good round for beginners in centerfire rifle shooting due to its moderate recoil.


.22-250 Remington: The .22-250 Remington is a high-velocity, centerfire cartridge that can propel bullets between 40 and 65 grains at velocities up to 4,000 fps. Application: It’s a popular choice for long-range varmint hunting, thanks to its extremely flat trajectory and high speed, making it effective for taking down small to medium game at long distances.


.224 Valkyrie: The .224 Valkyrie is a relatively new cartridge designed for long-range shooting. It typically fires bullets weighing 60-90 grains at velocities around 2,700 to 3,000 fps. Application: Designed for precision and long-range competition shooting, the .224 Valkyrie excels in maintaining supersonic speeds at extended ranges, making it a favorite for tactical and competitive marksmen.


5.45x39mm: Millitary cartridge, often compared to the 5.56 NATO, fires bullets weighing 53 to 60 grains at velocities between 2,800 and 3,000 fps. Application: Used primarily in the AK-74 rifle, the 5.45x39mm is designed for military use but is also popular in civilian AK-platform rifles for tactical shooting and training.


.222 Remington: The .222 Remington is a centerfire cartridge that fires bullets weighing 40 to 55 grains at velocities between 2,700 and 3,500 fps. Application: Known for its accuracy, it is used in benchrest and varmint hunting. It was once popular for small-game hunting but has been somewhat overshadowed by the .223 Remington.

Comparison Table .22 / 5.6mm Calibers

The following table compares the key characteristics of all 6 mm rifle calibers including rifle calibers with a diameter between .22 and .224 Inch. The rank shows the popularity of the rifle caliber in our community.

Caliber
Rank
Avg. Energy (E0)
Diameter
Avg. Bullet Weight (gr)
Case Capacity (GoW)
Average Charge
Average Velocity (V0)
Case Length (l3)
Max. C.O.L
Suitable Bullets
.218 Bee
839 Joule
0.224
52
18
11.2gr | 0.72g
2324fps | 709m/s
1.35" | 34.2mm
1.68" | 42.7mm
209
.219 Zipper
1243 Joule
0.224
53
34
23.4gr | 1.52g
2842fps | 866m/s
1.93" | 49.1mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
260
.22 ARC
1728 Joule
0.224
61
34
26.6gr | 1.72g
2997fps | 914m/s
1.53" | 38.7mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
121
.22 Ackley Hornet
703 Joule
0.224
51
15.6
9gr | 0.58g
2169fps | 661m/s
1.4" | 35.6mm
1.72" | 43.7mm
215
.22 BR Rem.
1665 Joule
0.224
55
36
29.1gr | 1.89g
3198fps | 975m/s
1.55" | 39.4mm
2.2" | 55.9mm
283
.22 Creedmoor
2202 Joule
0.224
55
50
40.2gr | 2.61g
3529fps | 1076m/s
1.92" | 48.8mm
2.6" | 66mm
300
.22 Hornet
766 Joule
0.222
48
14.5
8.6gr | 0.56g
2327fps | 710m/s
1.4" | 35.6mm
1.72" | 43.7mm
19
.22 Nosler
1674 Joule
0.224
54
35
26.9gr | 1.74g
3150fps | 960m/s
1.75" | 44.3mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
246
.22 PPC USA
1663 Joule
0.223
54
32
25.4gr | 1.64g
3125fps | 953m/s
1.51" | 38.4mm
2.11" | 53.5mm
286
.22-250 Rem.
1933 Joule
0.224
54
43.49
33.4gr | 2.16g
3423fps | 1044m/s
1.91" | 48.6mm
2.35" | 59.7mm
542
.220 Swift
2134 Joule
0.224
55
47
36.8gr | 2.38g
3589fps | 1094m/s
2.21" | 56mm
2.68" | 68.1mm
282
.221 Rem. Fireball
1062 Joule
0.224
52
22
14.4gr | 0.94g
2630fps | 802m/s
1.4" | 35.5mm
1.83" | 46.5mm
234
.222 Rem.
1393 Joule
0.224
53
27.9
19.9gr | 1.29g
2947fps | 899m/s
1.7" | 43.2mm
2.13" | 54.1mm
271
.222 Rem. Mag.
1453 Joule
0.224
54
30.5
22.7gr | 1.47g
3015fps | 919m/s
1.85" | 47mm
2.28" | 57.9mm
271
.223 Ackley Improved
1507 Joule
0.224
54
32.4
24.8gr | 1.61g
3015fps | 919m/s
1.76" | 44.7mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
268
.223 Rem.
1443 Joule
0.224
55
28.8
21.3gr | 1.38g
2959fps | 902m/s
1.76" | 44.7mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
294
.223 Rem. (5.56 x 45 NATO)
1493 Joule
0.224
54
28.8
21.5gr | 1.39g
2961fps | 903m/s
1.76" | 44.7mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
278
.223 WSSM
2203 Joule
0.224
55
53.7
43.1gr | 2.79g
3587fps | 1094m/s
1.66" | 42.2mm
2.36" | 59.9mm
276
.224 Valkyrie
1660 Joule
0.224
55
32.8
25.8gr | 1.67g
3110fps | 948m/s
1.6" | 40.6mm
2.26" | 57.4mm
282
.224 Weath. Mag.
1758 Joule
0.224
54
38
29.6gr | 1.92g
3330fps | 1015m/s
1.92" | 48.8mm
2.33" | 59.2mm
273
.225 Win.
1700 Joule
0.224
55
40
31.9gr | 2.07g
3249fps | 991m/s
1.93" | 49mm
2.5" | 63.5mm
284
5.6 x 35 R Vierling
658 Joule
0.22
45
12.5
7.1gr | 0.46g
2204fps | 672m/s
1.4" | 35.5mm
1.71" | 43.5mm
1
5.6 x 50 Mag.
1550 Joule
0.224
54
34
25.5gr | 1.65g
3018fps | 920m/s
1.97" | 50mm
2.41" | 61.3mm
274
5.6 x 50 R Mag.
1492 Joule
0.224
54
34
25.1gr | 1.63g
3068fps | 935m/s
1.97" | 50mm
2.4" | 61mm
276
5.6 x 57
2084 Joule
0.224
54
49
38.6gr | 2.5g
3532fps | 1077m/s
2.23" | 56.7mm
2.72" | 69mm
278
5.6 x 57 R
2052 Joule
0.224
55
49
39.2gr | 2.54g
3577fps | 1091m/s
2.23" | 56.7mm
2.72" | 69mm
280
5.6 x 70 R
1257 Joule
0.224
55
39
25.7gr | 1.66g
2771fps | 845m/s
2.76" | 70.1mm
3.43" | 87mm
279
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