A rimfire shotshell is a strange little thing: a .22 case with a capsule or crimped nose full of tiny No. 12 lead pellets instead of a bullet. Fired from a rifle or revolver, it throws a small, fast-spreading cloud of shot. That makes it handy for a rat in the feed room or a snake in the woodpile, where a solid bullet is the wrong tool and a full-size shotgun is too much gun.
It also makes it one of the most misunderstood loads on the shelf. People buy a box expecting a .22 shotgun for squirrels and quickly find out it is nothing of the kind. This guide is built from the makers' and retailers' published specifications, not our own field use, and it is honest about the limits.
How rimfire shotshells work
Every load here uses No. 12 shot, which is very fine lead dust-sized pellets. The payload is tiny compared with any shotgun shell, measured in grains rather than ounces, and velocity is modest. The pellets lose speed and spread out very quickly.
Two design details matter:
- Rifling spreads the pattern. When shot travels down a rifled barrel, the twist spins the shot column and throws pellets outward as soon as they leave the muzzle. That gives a wide, thin pattern almost immediately. Smoothbore rimfire "garden guns" exist precisely to keep the pattern tighter.
- They rarely cycle semi-autos. CCI's own listing for its .22 LR shotshell says it is "not designed to cycle semi-automatic firearms." Plan on single-loading or using a manual action: bolt, lever, pump, single shot or revolver.
The picks
CCI Shotshell .22 WMR, 52 gr No. 12
.22 WMR · 52-grain No. 12 payload · about 1,000 fps listed · 20 per box
Best for: anyone with a .22 Magnum revolver or rifle who wants the most payload a rimfire shell carries. The magnum case holds about two-thirds more shot than the .22 LR version.
Skip if: your gun is a .22 LR. You cannot fire .22 WMR in a .22 LR chamber, ever.
Check current price at Ammunition Depot →CCI Shotshell .22 LR, 31 gr No. 12
.22 LR · 31-grain No. 12 payload · about 1,000 fps listed · 20 per box
Best for: mice, rats and snakes at very short distance from a manual-action .22 LR. The retailer listing describes it as suited to close range, "under 15 feet." Take that number seriously.
Skip if: you need it to feed from a semi-auto magazine. CCI says it is not designed to cycle them.
Check current price at Ammunition Depot →Federal Game-Shok .22 LR, No. 12 shot
.22 LR · listed as 25 grains, No. 12 shot · 50 per box
Best for: barn and outbuilding pest work where you want more shells per box. The listing does not state a velocity, so treat it as a lighter payload than the CCI.
Skip if: you want the heaviest .22 LR payload you can find.
Check current price at Ammunition Depot →Winchester Super-X .22 LR No. 12 shot
.22 LR · No. 12 lead shot · star crimp · 1,255 fps listed · 50 per box
Best for: shooters who prefer a crimped-case shell over a capsule design. The listing describes it as designed for pest control and varmint work.
Skip if: the box at the counter does not say "12 shot." When we checked this listing, its on-page heading read "40 Gr RN" while the specifications said #12 shot. Confirm the box before you buy.
Check current price at Ammunition Depot →Side-by-side
| Load | Cartridge | Payload | Listed velocity | Per box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCI Shotshell | .22 WMR | 52 gr No. 12 | about 1,000 fps | 20 |
| CCI Shotshell | .22 LR | 31 gr No. 12 | about 1,000 fps | 20 |
| Federal Game-Shok | .22 LR | 25 gr No. 12 (as listed) | not listed | 50 |
| Winchester Super-X | .22 LR | No. 12 shot | 1,255 fps | 50 |
Figures are as listed by the retailer at the time we checked. Check the box and the current listing before you rely on them.
Range: measured in feet, not yards
This is the part most buyers get wrong. A rimfire shotshell is a close-quarters tool. The pellets are tiny, the payload is small, and from a rifled barrel the pattern spreads quickly. The CCI .22 WMR listing notes the shot "loses velocity fairly quickly," which is part of why it suits confined spaces.
The useful range is a few paces. Past that, the pattern is too thin and the pellets too slow to be humane on anything but the smallest pests. Do not use rimfire shotshells for birds, squirrels or rabbits; that is shotgun work, and you will wound more than you kill. For small game with a .22, use a bullet and follow our small-game hunting guide.
How to check your own gun's pattern
- Set a large sheet of cardboard against a safe backstop.
- Fire one shell at the short distance you expect to use it, and another a few steps farther back.
- Look at how quickly the pattern thins out. The distance where it stays dense is your real limit.
Which guns run them
- Revolvers: often the most convenient choice. A .22 WMR or .22 LR revolver can carry a shotshell in the first chamber and bullets in the rest. Our Wrangler vs Rough Rider comparison and guide to guns in .22 Magnum cover popular options.
- Bolt, lever, pump and single shot rifles: work fine, since you cycle the action by hand. Tube magazines can be fussy about capsule noses, so single-load if in doubt and follow your owner's manual.
- Semi-autos: expect to hand-cycle. The shells usually do not produce enough recoil to work the action.
- Suppressors: check your suppressor maker's guidance before firing shot through it.
Safety, ricochet and the law
Two other cautions. First, many snakes are harmless or protected, and some states restrict killing certain species. If you are not sure what you are looking at, back away and call a local wildlife agency or a removal service. Second, firing a gun near homes or in town may be prohibited by local ordinance, even with shotshells. Check before you shoot.
Want to keep a few on hand without buying several boxes? Browse the .22 LR ammo category and the .22 Magnum ammo category to see what is currently listed.
The bottom line
If your gun is a .22 WMR, the CCI 52-grain shotshell is the most capable rimfire option. In .22 LR, the CCI 31-grain shell is the common default, with Federal and Winchester No. 12 loads as alternatives. Every one of them is a few-paces pest tool, best fired from a manual action or revolver, with careful attention to what is behind and around the target.
Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer information, retailer listings and published reporting. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the effective range of a .22 shotshell?
Very short. A retailer listing for CCI's .22 LR shotshell describes it as suited to close range, under 15 feet. Beyond a few paces, the pattern from a rifled barrel gets thin and the pellets slow down fast.
Will .22 shotshells cycle a semi-auto?
Usually not. CCI says its .22 LR shotshell is not designed to cycle semi-automatic firearms. Expect to work the action by hand.
Is the .22 WMR shotshell better than the .22 LR shotshell?
It carries more shot: a 52-grain No. 12 payload versus a 31-grain payload in CCI's .22 LR version, at a similar listed velocity. Use only the cartridge your gun is chambered for.
Can I hunt squirrels or birds with .22 shotshells?
They are not suited to it. The payload is tiny and the effective range is a few paces. Use a shotgun for birds and a .22 bullet for squirrels, within your state's rules.
Are .22 shotshells safe to fire indoors or near hard surfaces?
Fine lead shot ricochets readily off hard surfaces. Wear eye protection, never fire at concrete, stone or steel, and check local ordinances on discharging a firearm.
Sources and further reading
- Ammunition Depot: CCI 22 LR Shotshell 31 gr No. 12 listing
- Ammunition Depot: CCI Shotshell 22 Mag 52 gr No. 12 listing
- Ammunition Depot: Federal Game-Shok 22 LR No. 12 shot listing
- Ammunition Depot: Winchester Super-X 22 LR No. 12 shot listing
This independent educational article does not replace manufacturer instructions or legal guidance. Re-check sources before relying on time-sensitive details.
Related reading
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