Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Lead free 22lr ammo for hunting?

I am looking for some reviews on lead free 22lr ammo for small game and varmints. Any brands or loads that have better terminal performance and accuracy?

No experience, but reviews I’ve read seem to indicate that expansion is pretty iffy, calling for headshots, IMO. Most are tin, IIRC.

Can’t recall the last time I saw any for sale, either.

Would be interested in your results, if and when.

I tried some of the CCI quite a few years ago in my 9422, but they were woefully inaccurate from it. It prefers longer bullets, though.

If you have something that shoots 29 grainers well, they might be ok. I never did shoot any game with them, since the accuracy was so poor, so no terminal performance experience.

I haven't had any trouble all my adult life using low vel target ammo for small game, including a bunch of backyard groundhogs the last couple years. Doesn't matter much what you shoot critters with as long as you put them in the brain pan. Even a quiet .22 in the chest of a squirrel spells death. Don't over think this.

I have shot CCI SV from my CZ 452 since I have owned it. Looks like I will be working in CA for a while… going to have to find lead free loads and options for everything. I will be fine with Barnes and Hammer bullets from my rifles. I am used to shooting non toxics from my shotguns but the rimfires had me a bit stumped. I guess I probably am overthinking it. Find the one that is accurate in my rifle and carry on like normal.

CCI .22LR Copper shoots more like a pattern. Winchester Copper is the best I've used, but is still a far cry short of a Power Point for killing stuff.

Mebbe get a .223, some Barnes 40gr for the Hornet and load it with Blue Dot to mimic .22lr.