October 25, 2023
By Colton Heward
Innovation in the gun and ammunition space over the past decade has been exponential, continually pushing the limits of precision and lethality. Hornady’s newly released .22 ARC cartridge is no different, providing predator hunters and target shooters a superior .22 caliber cartridge designed to deliver greater down range velocity, wind deflection, and energy transfer at extended distances than the hailed Godfather of predator cartridges, the .22-250 Remington.
The .22 ARC cartridge was meticulously designed with the same chamber geometry as the proven 6mm ARC, 6.5 Creedmoor, and PRC family of cartridges. Following the legacy of the 6mm ARC, “the .22 ARC is purpose built to fit, feed and function in the AR-15 platform but is equally at home in a bolt-action rifle,” said Seth Swerczek, Marketing Communication Manager at Hornady. Prior to launch, more than two dozen rifle manufacturers have jumped on board to build and offer both AR-15 and bolt-action rifles chambered in .22 ARC. Given Hornady’s successful track record of cartridge launches, there will be many more to follow.
In conjunction with the .22 ARC launch, Hornady also announced their new ELD-VT bullet, a dual-purpose projectile designed to excel in both the varmint and competition world. The ELD-VT “incorporates a unique hybrid design of a long-range, high B.C match bullet with a slightly lighter for caliber varmint bullet design,” said Swerczek. Hornady engineers moved the center of gravity rearward in the ELD-VT bullet via a unique lead layout, creating a large air cavity in front of the lead. Doing so aids in bullet stability and instigates dramatic and instantaneous fragmentation upon impact, precisely what the die-hard predator hunter needs to optimize terminal performance and minimize fur damage.
Hornady’s new V-Match line of ammunition will feature a 62-grain ELD-VT offering for the .22 ARC, spitting the sleek projectile a whopping 3,300 FPS. The 62-grain ELD-VT bullet in the platform offers superior wind deflection, maintained velocity and downrange energy when compared to the .22-250. Not to mention that this performance can come from an AR-15 platform. For the long-range varmint hunter, this combination is absolutely deadly.
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Hornady also launched two other ammunition offerings for the .22 ARC. These include an 88-grain ELD Match, firing 2,820 FPS and a 75-grain ELD Match—loaded in the company’s BLACK line—featuring a muzzle velocity of 3,075 FPS.
The .22 ARC is an extremely capable cartridge designed to excel across a multitude of hunting and shooting endeavors. Swerczek summed up the cartridge best when he said, “Its fast, its flat, its accurate, there is no recoil. It is fun in a box.” For the die-hard long-range varmint hunter, the days of not being able to kill coyotes hung up at 400+ yards are over.
