You don’t generally associate the venerable .22 LR round with long range or precision bullet design but that’s exactly what Norma is promising with their new Xtreme LR-22 load. While it’s still a lead bullet it uses a special “rocket tail” design to improve aerodynamics that help it maintain velocities and remain stable at longer ranges. How long you ask? Well, they’re saying out beyond 500 yards! That seems crazy for a .22 LR to me but I’m betting they can back that up. Bullet weight is a relatively heavy 43 grains and velocity is listed at 1165 fps. MSRP for a box of 50 is $24.39; not inexpensive, but this is specialty precision ammo, not plinking fodder. Check out the details from Norma below:

 

 

Norma’s rimfire cartridges are made for perfect performance in every category. With our new Xtreme LR-22, we take rimfire long-range precision to a new level. The patented bullet design features an elongated bullet tip for improved aerodynamics and a world’s first rocket tail. The streamlined base causes less negative pressure at the tail, which is the main reason for the deceleration of a projectile. As a result, the projectile maintains speed over longer distances and produces an unmatched accuracy round after round. In combination with higher velocity, the bullet has a flat and stable trajectory, which makes it the perfect choice for long range target shooting. In addition, the increased weight of the bullet also leads to a lower crosswind sensitivity. Due to these improved flight characteristics, the cartridge sets a new standard of precision at distances beyond 500+ yards. 

 

Features: 

  • New patented bullet design with elongated tip and rocket tail makes Xtreme LR-22 perfect for long-range shooting. 
  • Streamlined base for stable and flat trajectory. 
  • High velocity cartridge for shooting beyond 500+ yards. 
  • Consistent speed and grouping. 
  • New bullet design with better flight characteristics for improved long range precision. 
  • Ideal for shooting distances beyond 500+ yards. 

Norma Xtreme .22LR

31 COMMENTS

  1. This brings to mind an incident from my youth. Kid brother bartered for a cheap Japanese made .22LR rifle. We shot up a couple boxes of ammo, then “upgraded” to the latest, hottest, fastest .22LR ammo available. Brother fired 5 shots, and the 6th blew the bolt out of the rifle. Fortunately, no injuries, but I’m sure the shock shortened both our lives by a year or two.

    Be sure your weapon can withstand the increased pressure before you load up.

    • And what is the energy left? Is this strictly a paper puncher or good for antifa…um, I mean varmints?

    • I once shot a prairie dog at about 400 yards in South Dakota.
      Half a box of ammo or so later I managed to shoot him again.
      I think he picked up the bullets and carried them into his den.

    • Probably about 20 ft.
      Just guessing, but to hit my target at 475 yards using a Mk3 Ruger with 10inch barrel I had to aim at the top of a pecan tree, I figured the tree was about 22 ft high.

  2. Hey TTAG, how about a head to head comparison between the Norma long range ammo and the Lapua long range ammo?

      • Doug, would you please plan for an announcement (if for some reason you haven’t already, and I missed it) of the new TTAG staff? A person going by the name of “Justin” recently began using a TTAG-style Gravatar shortly after I questioned a comment he posted without one, and now you’re posting out of the blue with the appearance that you might be part of the new management and/or oversight.

        We knew Jeremy, Dan, etc. We don’t know who’s behind the wheel now. It would help us connect with the new TTAG better if we knew who’s working the levers behind the curtain.

        Thx

      • Doug, I would do it for ya, but I have to pass a background check, submit finger prints, a pee and poop test and write a 1,000 word essay just to buy a box of ammo.

  3. My hunting buddy and I routinely shoot prairie dogs up to 300 yds with .22LR. Unlike our 22-250 and 220 Swift cartridges there is no “red mist”. When hit, they usually sit there for a second or two then tumble off their mounds.

    I will try a couple of boxes of the Norma next summer for grins and giggles.

  4. Sorry, still stuck on the old $1.50 for a box of 50. Talk to me when the prices are reasonable.

  5. I fail to understand how the cavity in the base with the internal conical projection increases down range performance. As a general rule, a concave base actually increases aerodynamic drag. This is why freefall bombs have round noses but tapered, conical tails.

    How about including information on the drag coefficient and ballistic coefficient?

    How about a ballistics chart listing downrange retained velocity and energy as well as bullet drop and windage?

    • “As a general rule, a concave base actually increases aerodynamic drag. This is why freefall bombs have round noses but tapered, conical tails.”

      And the spinners of pusher propeller aircraft are shaped like a ‘Hershey’s Kiss’…

  6. If you are shooting competitively would you shoot plinking ammo or match grade ammo?
    When shooting NRA High Power Rifle, you do not see guys running AR15s shooting 5.56 green tip ammo at the 600yrd line.
    Most the guys I shot against were using handloads, compressed charges, with VDL bullets that could not fit into a magazine if they were serious shooters.

  7. Yeah they compete out to 600 here with 22s. They use subsonic loads, elevated shims on scopes etc.

    • Only 100m for .22 rimfire at my range. We use manually marked targets and low velocity and steep trajectory are a hazard to the markers. The bullets hit the paper faced plastic targets and bounce off.

      .17 and .22 magnum are allowed for longer ranges.

  8. Strange Norma did not make it a hollow point. If would have been a runaway winner. I would have bought some.

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