Lindcott Armory Rifle · SAAMI
.22 Nosler
Nosler's AR-15 optimized .22 centerfire — a rebated-rim cartridge that uses the standard AR-15 bolt while fitting a larger case body than .223 Remington.
- Caliber
- 0.224″ · 5.69 mm
- Introduced
- 2017
- Case
- Rebated
- Parent
- 6.8mm Remington SPC
- Primary use
- Hunting, Target
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2017
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Nosler
- Manufacturer
- Nosler / Hornady
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Specialty
- Case capacity
- 35 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:8
- Primer
- Small Rifle
- Case type
- Rebated
- Max pressure
- 55,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 400 yd
- Max range
- 800 yd
- Recoil
- 7–10 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady Black 75 gr, 2,950 fps, BC 0.200 G7 · 100 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 2949 | 1448 | -1.5″ | — |
| 100 yd | 2719 | 1231 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 200 yd | 2496 | 1037 | -3.1″ | -1.5 |
| 300 yd | 2284 | 868 | -11.9″ | -3.8 |
| 400 yd | 2082 | 722 | -27.4″ | -6.5 |
| 500 yd | 1889 | 594 | -50.9″ | -9.7 |
| 600 yd | 1704 | 483 | -84.2″ | -13.4 |
| 700 yd | 1527 | 388 | -129.5″ | -17.7 |
| 800 yd | 1359 | 307 | -189.9″ | -22.7 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open .22 Nosler ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
SAAMI · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.69 | 0.224 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 6.48 | 0.255 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 10.16 | 0.400 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 30° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 10.69 | 0.421 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 9.60 | 0.378 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.14 | 0.045 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 6.22 | 0.245 | ≈ |
| Case length | 44.70 | 1.760 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 57.40 | 2.260 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .22 Nosler is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 20 active loads across 11 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 20 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady | Precision Hunter ELD-X | 80 | ELD-X | 3,350 | 1,993 | 0.199 G7 |
| Hornady | Match ELD-M | 73 | ELD-M | 3,150 | 1,608 | 0.188 G7 |
| Nosler | Match Grade OTM | 77 | OTM | 3,100 | 1,643 | 0.189 G7 |
| Hornady | Black | 75 | ELD-M | 2,950 | 1,449 | 0.200 G7 |
| Nosler | Varmint Ballistic Tip | 55 | Ballistic Tip Varmint | 3,400 | 1,412 | — |
| Doubletap | Lead-Free | 55 | Solid Copper HP | 3,350 | 1,370 | — |
| Barnes | VOR-TX | 55 | Tipped Triple-Shock | 3,320 | 1,346 | — |
| Sierra | GameChanger | 55 | Tipped GameKing | 3,300 | 1,330 | — |
| Nosler | Trophy Grade Varmint | 55 | BT | 3,300 | 1,330 | — |
| Armscor | FMJ | 55 | FMJ | 3,300 | 1,330 | — |
| PPU | SP | 55 | Soft Point | 3,280 | 1,314 | — |
| Berger | Match | 62 | Hollow Point BT | 3,150 | 1,366 | — |
| Barnes | VOR-TX | 62 | TSX FB | 3,100 | 1,323 | — |
| Black Hills | Match | 62 | Sierra GameKing | 3,050 | 1,280 | — |
| Federal | Fusion | 62 | Fusion SP | 3,000 | 1,239 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
5 reloading powders listed for .22 Nosler, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .22 Nosler
1 model in the database chamber .22 Nosler. Browse all →
Lineage
ⓘ Case body/taper & mags = 6.8 SPC, rim rebated to .378 + necked to .224. Nosler claims 'no parent'; physically a rebated, necked-down 6.8 SPC
Connected reference
History
Introduced in 2017, the .22 Nosler was designed specifically for AR-15 shooters wanting more velocity than .223/5.56 without changing bolt or lower receiver. The rebated rim matches the AR-15 bolt face; only a barrel change is required to convert a standard AR-15. With a 55-grain bullet at 3,350 fps, the .22 Nosler outperforms 5.56 NATO by approximately 300 fps, delivering noticeably flatter trajectory for varminting and competition. The .224 Valkyrie (Federal, 2018) and .22 ARC (Hornady, 2024) entered the same space shortly after, creating a competitive .22-caliber AR-15 market. Nosler and Hornady produce factory ammunition.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .22 Nosler use?
- .22 Nosler typically uses a 1:8 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .22 Nosler?
- .22 Nosler uses a 0.224″ (5.69 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .22 Nosler still in production?
- .22 Nosler is active; typical availability is specialty.
- What is .22 Nosler used for?
- .22 Nosler is primarily used for hunting, target.
- What is .22 Nosler based on?
- .22 Nosler is derived from the 6.8mm SPC case.
- What are the best powders for .22 Nosler?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .22 Nosler include Benchmark, H335, 2015, LT-30, among 5 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 20 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →