6 Best 22LR Ammo Loads for Teaching Kids to Shoot With Accuracy

Picture this: you’re at the range with your kid, their new 22 rifle resting on the sandbag. They line up the sights, squeeze the trigger, and… the shot lands way off from where they were aiming. They try again, doing everything the same, but this time the bullet hits a totally different spot. Frustration sets in, and a fun afternoon starts to feel like a chore. This is where choosing the right ammunition becomes one of the most important, yet overlooked, parts of teaching a new shooter.

Disclosure: This site earns commissions from listed merchants at no cost to you. Thank you!

Why Consistent Ammo Matters for Young Shooters

When someone is learning a new skill, the key is to eliminate as many confusing variables as possible. In shooting, inconsistent ammunition is a major variable. If one round flies an inch high and the next an inch low at 25 yards, a young shooter will think they are the problem, not the ammo. This can quickly lead to discouragement.

The goal is to build confidence through success. When a new shooter learns proper sight alignment, breath control, and trigger squeeze, they deserve a reward—a hole appearing right where the sights were aimed. Consistent, reliable ammunition makes this possible. It creates a direct link between their actions and the result, reinforcing good habits and making the learning process fun and empowering.

This doesn’t mean you need to buy Olympic-grade ammo that costs a dollar a round. It simply means finding a dependable, predictable load that groups well in their specific firearm. A predictable rifle is a rifle a kid can learn with, and that’s the entire point of the exercise.

CCI Standard Velocity: The Reliable All-Rounder

If you could only choose one 22LR load for training, CCI Standard Velocity (SV) would be it. It’s the undisputed benchmark for affordable, high-quality, and incredibly consistent rimfire ammunition. Countless youth shooting programs and seasoned competitors alike use this as their go-to practice round for a reason.

Its 40-grain lead round nose bullet travels at about 1070 feet per second (fps), keeping it well below the speed of sound. This subsonic speed is crucial for accuracy, as it prevents the bullet from passing through the turbulent transonic barrier, which can disrupt its flight path. The result is a quieter report and, more importantly, a more predictable trajectory from shot to shot.

CCI SV is famous for its reliability across an enormous range of firearms. Whether your kid is starting on a single-shot Crickett, a bolt-action Savage Rascal, or a semi-automatic Ruger 10/22, this ammo is likely to function flawlessly and produce excellent groups. It’s the perfect starting point for finding what your firearm shoots best.

Federal AutoMatch: Bulk Value for Semi-Autos

You’ve got a semi-automatic like a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22, and the plan is to spend the afternoon plinking at steel targets and soda cans. You’re going to burn through a lot of ammo, and you need something that runs reliably without breaking the bank. This is the exact scenario where Federal AutoMatch shines.

Designed specifically for the demands of semi-automatic actions, AutoMatch is loaded to a slightly higher velocity to ensure there’s enough energy to cycle the bolt reliably. It comes in bulk boxes of 325 rounds, bringing the cost-per-round down significantly, which is a huge plus for high-volume shooting sessions.

The tradeoff for this value and function is that it may not produce the tiny, one-hole groups you’d get from a true target load. However, its consistency is more than adequate for learning firearm manipulation, practicing sight acquisition, and getting the satisfaction of hearing steel "ring" over and over. For semi-auto plinking and training, it’s one of the best values on the market.

Aguila Super Extra SV: Affordable Performance

Don’t overlook the ammo with the eagle on the box. Aguila’s Super Extra Standard Velocity has earned a stellar reputation for delivering performance that often punches well above its price point. It’s another fantastic option for a do-it-all training round that won’t empty your wallet.

Much like CCI’s offering, this is a 40-grain lead round nose at a subsonic velocity, making it a direct competitor. What’s interesting is that some rifles, especially those with high-quality European barrels from manufacturers like CZ or Anschutz, show a distinct accuracy preference for Aguila. It’s always worth grabbing a box to test alongside the CCI SV to see which your kid’s rifle prefers.

A key feature contributing to its reliability is the use of Eley priming technology. This "Eley Prime" process is known for its consistency, leading to fewer duds and more dependable ignition. For a new shooter, a "click" when they expect a "bang" can be confusing, and Aguila’s reliability helps minimize that.

Eley Target: A First Step Into Precision Ammo

Your young shooter has mastered the fundamentals. They’re making consistent hits, their groups are shrinking, and they’re starting to ask how they can get even more accurate. It’s time to introduce them to the world of precision ammunition with a box of Eley Target.

Eley is a legendary name in rimfire competition, and their orange-boxed Target ammo is the entry point to their lineup. It offers a noticeable step up in consistency from bulk and even standard velocity loads. The manufacturing tolerances are tighter, the powder charges are more uniform, and the proprietary lubricant helps ensure smooth feeding and consistent barrel travel.

This isn’t the ammo for a casual plinking session. You bring this out to demonstrate the true accuracy potential of their rifle. Shooting a five-shot group with Eley Target that’s half the size of their groups with bulk ammo is an "aha!" moment. It teaches them that gear, including ammunition, is part of the accuracy equation and rewards their hard-earned skills.

SK Standard Plus: Top-Tier Training Accuracy

When it’s time to get serious about accuracy, whether for a local competition or just for the pure joy of shooting tiny groups, SK Standard Plus is the answer. Made in the same Lapua factory in Germany as top-tier match ammo, SK is widely considered the gold standard for serious training.

SK Standard Plus is renowned for its incredible lot-to-lot consistency and a distinct, greasy wax coating that aids in both accuracy and function. This is the ammunition you use when you want to be absolutely certain that any missed shot is due to the shooter or the wind, not the round itself. It provides a stable, predictable platform for a young shooter to hone their skills to a razor’s edge.

While more expensive than the other options on this list, it’s significantly more affordable than high-end match ammo like Eley Tenex or Lapua Midas+. It occupies a sweet spot, offering near-match-grade performance at a price that makes dedicated practice feasible. If your kid is in a youth shooting league, this is likely the ammo they’ll be using.

CCI Quiet-22: For a Less Intimidating Report

For some kids, the biggest hurdle isn’t hitting the target—it’s the noise. Even with quality hearing protection, the sharp crack of a standard 22LR round can be intimidating and cause a flinch. This is where a specialized load like CCI Quiet-22 can be a game-changer.

This ammunition is loaded to a very low velocity, around 710 fps, which is about 30% slower than standard velocity rounds. The result is a dramatic reduction in noise; out of a rifle, it’s often no louder than a pellet gun. This allows a new shooter to focus entirely on the fundamentals of aiming and trigger control without the anticipation of a loud bang.

There are two critical tradeoffs to understand. First, CCI Quiet-22 will not have enough energy to cycle the action of most semi-automatic firearms. You will have to operate the charging handle manually for every shot. For this reason, it’s best used in bolt-actions or revolvers. Second, the low velocity creates a more "loopy" trajectory, meaning the bullet drops more significantly at distance. It’s an outstanding tool for initial, close-range (under 25 yards) training to build comfort and confidence.

Matching Ammo Velocity to Your Kid’s Firearm

The single most important lesson in rimfire accuracy is that every firearm has its own unique preference. The "best" ammo isn’t a brand name; it’s the specific load that shoots most consistently and accurately in your kid’s firearm. The only way to find this is to buy a few different boxes and test them.

Here’s a simple breakdown of velocity types and their best uses for training:

• Subsonic / Standard Velocity (under ~1125 fps): This is the sweet spot for accuracy. Loads like CCI SV, Aguila SV, SK Standard Plus, and Eley Target fall here. They are ideal for teaching precision shooting in rifles.
• High Velocity (~1200-1300 fps): These rounds are great for plinking and are sometimes needed to make a picky semi-auto cycle reliably. They tend to be less accurate than standard velocity loads.
• Quiet / Low Velocity (~700-900 fps): The primary use here is noise reduction. Perfect for the first few range trips to build confidence, but be aware of the functional limitations in semi-autos.

Your decision-making process should be simple. Start with CCI Standard Velocity as your baseline. If you need a bulk option for a semi-auto, grab Federal AutoMatch. To see if you can squeeze out more accuracy, test a box of Aguila SV, Eley Target, or SK Standard Plus. And if noise is your primary concern, begin with CCI Quiet-22 in a bolt-action rifle.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t to find the most expensive or technically perfect ammunition. The goal is to find the right tool for the job—and the job is to give a young person a safe, fun, and confidence-building introduction to shooting. By choosing consistent ammo, you’re removing a layer of frustration and setting them up for success. Now stop reading, grab a few different boxes, and go make some memories at the range.