The Long-Ranger

Modern 22 Long Rifle rounds have proven to be amazingly versatile in many situations. But sometimes, shooters need extra oomph for larger targets at a distance. Just ask YouTube sensation and CCI ambassador 22plinkster. When he hunts or checks traps for critters that are a bit larger than what most folks consider to be small game, he loads up with Velocitor HPs.

“For anything larger than probably a prairie dog, I want to shoot something with a little more energy and velocity,” he says. “Any time I’m hunting raccoons, possums, fox, coyotes, badgers or similar-sized animals, you will need that extra energy. Sometimes coyotes get 20 to 30 pounds, and with Velocitor being 200 fps faster than any other 40-grain offering CCI has, and with around 100 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards, it hits pretty hard. And plus with the hollow-point design, you get quite good expansion with really good penetration.”

By The Numbers

Statistics back that up. Velocitor HP rounds feature a 40-grain copper-washed hollow-point bullet and have a muzzle velocity of about 1,435 fps, producing excellent weight retention, impressive downrange energy and deep penetration.

“It makes a great hyper-velocity round on targets from 100 yards and in,” 22plinkster says. “It’s an accurate choice for medium-size to large size varmints at 100 yards.”

22plinkster says he sights in Velocitors dead-on at 100 yards. That way, he knows the rounds will print about 2 inches high at 50 yards and 1 inch high at 25.

“That will allow me to take a shot at a coyote at 100 yards and hold dead on him instead of trying to do the math if I’d sighted in at 50 yards,” he says.

In situations when he uses Velocitors—that is, varmint hunting with a maximum distance of just farther than 100 yards—22plinkster prefers a 4-14x40 or 4-14x50 scope.

“I don’t need little tiny groups, and I don’t want to have a big 20-power scope that’s weighing the gun down,” he says. “When I’m fox or coyote hunting, I’m usually walking quite a bit, and I want to keep everything as light as I can. But I’m not a fan of 3x9x40 scopes. I want a little bit more magnification.”

And although he’s a fan of the extra capabilities Velocitor HP loads provide, 22plinkster says doesn’t use them in some situations.

“It wouldn’t be my No. 1 choice when squirrel hunting because of the damage it will do to the meat and the animal,” he says. “That’s why use Velocitors on medium- to larger-size varmints.”