Review of the CCI Velocitor .22 LR Ammunition

The CCI Velocitor is an interesting .22 Long Rifle ammunition. The CCI Velocitor uses a standard 40 grain bullet, but reports to offer a surprisingly high 1435 feet per second, or about 200 feet per second above the standard .22 LR loading. Keep in mind that most hyper velocity ammunition achieves their increase in speed in a much lighter bullet, while the CCI Velocitor uses the standard 40 grain bullet. The 40 grain bullet used by the CCI Velocitor is a plated lead bullet with a small hollow point. The standard weight hollow point bullet suggests that this would be a great choice for hunting, particularly larger animals such as raccoons, coyotes, and ground hogs.

I gave the CCI Velocitor a try in two guns: a Marlin Model 60 semi-automatic rifle and a H&R Revolver. Neither gun is particularly picky about what it shoots in regards to functioning, but the revolver likes the slower loads over the hyper velocity choices. I was interested to see if the full sized 40 grain bullet would shoot better in it than the normal hyper velocity loads with smaller bullets. Given that the shorter barrel of the pistol does not generate as high a velocity as a rifle, I would certainly prefer to use a more powerful loading in the revolver for hunting squirrels.

Shooting the rifle at 50 yards turned in some good groups. While the old gun prefers some other ammunition over the CCI Velocitor accuracy was certainly acceptable for hunting. Groups were around the one inch range, which is good enough to hit a squirrel's head. With this good of accuracy, the CCI Velocitor would seem a good choice for me and my Marlin if I choose to use it for larger animals. Accuracy for hunting with the revolver was iffy at best, admittedly the H&R Revolver is not exactly a tack driver, but is fun to shoot. The revolver did shoot the CCI Velocitor better than many hyper velocity loads, but on average groups pushed two inches at 25 yards. As an aside, I did not notice the CCI Velocitor being noticeably louder than other .22 LR ammo in the revolver, which is quite loud with all ammo.

At least in my test rifle, the CCI Velocitor shot well. Given the higher velocity and bullet design it should make a fine loading for small game hunters and varmint hunters who choose to use a rimfire. In my area the CCI Velocitor runs about $5 for a box of 50. The costs will keep it from being a good choice for general plinking, but the cost is acceptable for hunting ammunition.