The short version: more than a mile
People often think of the .22 LR as a backyard cartridge. It's quiet compared with a centerfire, it barely recoils, and kids learn on it. None of that changes how far its bullet can go.
Two references put numbers on it:
- A hunter education study guide used for state courses says a .22 can travel more than 1½ miles.
- Wikipedia's .22 Long Rifle reference says a .22 LR bullet can travel 2,000 yards, which is a little over a mile.
The figures differ because maximum range depends on the load, the launch angle, the bullet shape and the air. But both point the same way. A .22 LR bullet that misses its target can keep going for well over a mile.
Maximum range vs effective range
Hunter education courses draw a clear line between two ideas.
Maximum projectile range is the furthest a bullet can travel and still injure people or animals or damage property. It's the number that matters for safety.
Effective range is the distance where you can reliably hit and cleanly take game. Hunter education puts it plainly: effective range is always shorter than maximum range.
For the .22 LR, Wikipedia gives about 150 yards as an outer effective figure, noting that practical ranges tend to be shorter. Most small-game hunters keep shots much closer than that. Our small-game hunting guide covers realistic distances.
So a .22 has an effective range measured in tens of yards and a maximum range measured in miles. That gap is why backstops matter.
What changes how far a .22 goes
Launch angle
Maximum range comes from firing at an upward angle. A rifle aimed level at a target near the ground will usually send a miss into the ground within a few hundred yards. Aim upward, at a squirrel in a tree, a can on a fence post on a rise, or anything against the sky, and a miss has nothing to stop it.
That's why a target against open sky is never a safe shot, however tempting.
Speed and bullet weight
Faster loads start with more energy, but light, fast bullets also lose speed quickly. CCI's own Stinger data shows its 32-grain hyper-velocity bullet slowing from 1,640 fps at the muzzle to 1,066 fps at 100 yards. Heavier bullets hold their speed better. Either way, the bullet will still be dangerous at distances far beyond your target.
Ricochet
This is the one that catches people out. Wikipedia's .22 LR reference notes that a .22 bullet can ricochet off water at a low angle, and that unjacketed lead bullets can skip off hard objects at glancing angles. A ricochet can change direction and carry far outside the area you thought was safe.
Common ricochet risks:
- Water, including ponds, puddles and creeks
- Flat rock, concrete and frozen ground
- Steel targets set too close or at the wrong angle
- Tree trunks and branches
Building a safe backstop
Hunter education material says to check for a backstop before every shot, that it must be able to stop the bullet, and that it shouldn't let the bullet ricochet. Its rule is simple: if you can't see what lies beyond the target, don't take the shot.
What works
- An earth berm or hillside. Thick, loose, rock-free earth is the classic backstop. It should rise well above the target so high shots are caught.
- Placed directly behind the target. The target should sit low against the backstop, not out in front of it with open space above.
- Free of rocks and debris. Sift out stones near the impact area if you build your own berm.
What doesn't
- A wooden fence, a single tree or a sheet of plywood. A .22 bullet can pass through them.
- A pond or a field of snow, both of which can cause ricochets.
- An open field with houses, roads, livestock or trails anywhere downrange within a mile or more.
A safe shooting setup, step by step
- Know what's beyond. Walk or look over the area behind your backstop. Know where houses, roads, trails and livestock are.
- Shoot toward the backstop only. Set targets low against it. Don't shoot at anything above the top of the berm.
- Never shoot at the sky or at water. No exceptions.
- Keep the muzzle pointed safely. This is the first of the NRA's basic gun safety rules, and SAAMI's too.
- Use eye and ear protection for shooters and spectators. A .22 is quiet next to a centerfire rifle, but it's still loud.
- Keep the rifle unloaded until you're ready to shoot, and unload it when you're done.
- Store it properly. Keep firearms locked away from children and unauthorized people, with ammunition stored separately where possible.
If you're teaching young shooters, our safety-first starter plan for kids sets out a step-by-step approach.
Does the type of .22 ammo matter?
Not to the core safety answer. Subsonic, standard-velocity, high-velocity and hyper-velocity .22 LR loads can all travel far enough to be dangerous well beyond any target. Lower-speed loads like CCI's Standard Velocity 40-grain are popular for practice because they're quiet and accurate, not because they're "safe" to shoot without a backstop.
The magnum rimfires, .22 WMR and .17 HMR, carry even more energy and need the same precautions or more.
Common myths
"It's only a .22." The size of the cartridge doesn't change how far the bullet can travel. The references above put it at over a mile.
"Subsonic is safe for the backyard." Quieter isn't safer. A subsonic bullet is still a lead bullet moving fast enough to injure.
"I'll just shoot into the ground." Shooting at flat, hard or frozen ground at a shallow angle is one of the classic ricochet setups. A proper earth backstop, with the bullet striking it close to head-on, is what you want.
Where to shoot
If you don't have land with a proper backstop, a public or club range is the easier answer. Ranges have berms and rules designed for exactly this problem. Local rules on where you can discharge a firearm vary a great deal by city, county and state. As of October 2026, check your local ordinances before shooting on private land, even your own.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can a .22 LR bullet travel over a mile? | Yes. Hunter ed says over 1½ miles; Wikipedia says 2,000 yards |
| Is it still dangerous at 400 yards? | Yes. About 500 fps at 400 yards, per Wikipedia |
| Typical effective range | Up to about 150 yards at most; usually much less |
| Main ricochet risks | Water, rock, concrete, frozen ground, steel at bad angles |
| Best backstop | Thick, rock-free earth berm or hillside directly behind the target |
| Shooting at the sky or a skyline | Never |
For target stands, paper and steel, Ammunition Depot has a targets section. Whatever you shoot at, the backstop matters more than the target.
Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.
Frequently asked questions
How far will a .22 bullet travel if shot straight up?
A bullet fired straight up falls back down, and where it lands depends on wind and how close to vertical it was fired. Shooting into the air is never safe. Maximum distance comes from firing at an upward angle, not straight up.
Is a .22 still dangerous at 400 yards?
Yes. Wikipedia's .22 LR reference says a bullet that has flown 400 yards is still moving at about 500 fps, and notes a .22 LR bullet can easily kill or injure a person.
What is the effective range of a .22 LR?
Effective range, meaning the distance you can hit and humanely take small game, is much shorter than maximum range. Wikipedia gives about 150 yards as an outer effective figure and notes practical ranges tend to be less.
What makes a good backstop for .22?
A thick earth berm or hillside with no rocks, set directly behind the target and tall enough to catch shots that go high. Avoid water, flat rock, concrete and hard ground, which can cause ricochets.
Sources and further reading
Related reading
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