The 22 Creedmoor and 22 ARC might share the same caliber, but they have significant differences that make one better suited to your specific needs than the other. After reading this 22 Creedmoor vs. 22 ARC comparison, you’ll know which one you should buy based on recoil, trajectory, stopping power, and six other factors.
Let’s begin with the pros and cons of each cartridge, then dive into how they differ across various shooting scenarios and applications.
• You only fire factory ammo
• Maximizing velocity is most important to you
• You’d rather use a standard bolt face/action
• Reloaders
• Shooters willing to sacrifice a little velocity for more consistent accuracy
• High-volume shooters
While both cartridges have manageable recoil, the 22 ARC feels like a gentle nudge on the shoulder from a friend while the 22 Creedmoor is more like a solid thud from someone who isn’t all that fond of you.
The 22 ARC generates ~2.5 ft-lbs of recoil energy when it fires a 62 grain bullet at 3,300 fps muzzle velocity from an 8-pound rifle. The 22 ARC is a round you can fire all day at the range without getting a sore shoulder. Its low recoil also makes it an excellent round for introducing new shooters to the sport. Ultimate Reloader agrees: “What I love about the 22 ARC is how gentle it is.”
The 22 Creedmoor, on the other hand, generates ~8.5 ft-lbs of recoil energy when it fires a 55 grain bullet at 3,850 fps muzzle velocity from an 8.5-pound rifle. That higher velocity comes at the cost of additional recoil.
The 22 ARC recoils against the shooter’s shoulder much less. That said, the 22 Creedmoor isn’t what I’d classify as a “shoulder bruiser,” either.
When both cartridges are loaded with 80 grain ELD Match bullets and zeroed at 200 yards, the 22 Creedmoor exhibits a much flatter trajectory. This is due to its larger case, larger propellant charge, and higher chamber pressure.
At 300 yards, there’s only a 4″ difference in drop. The 22 ARC has -13″ bullet drop; the 22 Creedmoor, only -9″. At 400 yards, the gap widens. The 22 ARC has bullet drop of -29″; the 22 Creedmoor, -20″. At 500 yards, the 22 ARC drops -53″; the 22 Creedmoor, -33″.
If you need a flat-shooting .22 caliber cartridge, the 22 Creedmoor is the better option.
While accuracy ultimately depends on the shooter’s capabilities, the 22 ARC is often more accurate at close range (within 300 yards) due to its low recoil. The 22 Creedmoor tends to be more accurate at extended ranges (500-1,000 yards) because of its flatter trajectory.
This section is a tie. If you’re shooting within 300 yards, the 22 ARC is the better option. If you’re shooting farther, then the 22 Creedmoor takes the lead.
This section is a tie. Since both of these rifle cartridges fire the same .224″ diameter bullets, their ballistic coefficients (BCs) are the same (so long as you’re comparing the same bullets).
Since the 22 Creedmoor pushes the same bullets to much higher velocities, it also generates more striking energy. That translates to increased stopping power at any distance. However, as we’ll soon see in the hunting section, the 22 Creedmoor doesn’t exhibit the necessary stopping power for big game hunting.
The 22 Creedmoor has more stopping power than the 22 ARC – no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
The 22 ARC is designed for use on the AR-15 platform. It only requires a specialized bolt and magazine. The 22 Creedmoor requires the heavier AR-10 platform, or a bolt-action rifle.
The winner of this section depends on whether you prefer the AR-15 or AR-10 platform. When you need a lighter rifle, choose the 22 ARC.
Since it offers more stopping power, the 22 Creedmoor is often the better choice for hunting. It’s capable of taking deer-sized game out to ~400 yards.
The 22 ARC is loved by predator hunters because it works well with a semi-auto platform and can also be used to harvest medium game like pronghorn and deer at ranges out to 300 yards.
Neither cartridge offers the stopping power needed for ethical big game hunting. A much larger bullet is always better for big game than the narrow .224″ alternative.
For most hunting applications, the 22 Creedmoor is the better option.
Despite both cartridges being relatively new and having few ammo options, the 22 ARC is much cheaper to fire than the 22 Creedmoor. Most 22 ARC ammo costs nearly half as much as comparable 22 Creedmoor ammo. Rifles chambered for 22 Creedmoor also cost more because they must be built to withstand the additional recoil and pressure.
If you’re on a tight budget, the 22 ARC is the better option.
Read the full comparison here: https://ammo.com/comparison/22-arc-vs-22-creedmoor
