.22 BR Remington (Hodgdon Pistol Data)

.22 BR Remington (Hodgdon Pistol Data)

Although the designation seems unusual, Hodgdon’s Pistol Data provides load references for smaller, efficient cartridges—including variants of .22 and other high-performance rounds that share ballistic characteristics with cartridges like the .22 BR Remington. The .22 BR, when loosely referenced in such data compilations, benefits from powders and primer recommendations that cross over between pistol and rifle applications where pressures remain safe and controlled.

In Hodgdon’s Pistol Data tables, the .22 BR Remington is treated carefully, with conservative charge weights and emphasis on safety and consistency. Bullet weights in this context are often in the 50- to 60-grain range—the heavier end of small-caliber projectiles—to ensure reliability across varying firearm platforms. Because pistol data tends to err on the side of caution, these loads typically stay well below maximum rifle pressures while still delivering useful velocity and accuracy when adapted to a proper rifle setup.

Use of pistol-grade powders in the .22 BR can help reloaders identify components that maintain ignition consistency in slower-burning charges, a valuable insight when fine-tuning sensitive BR cartridges. The data also serves as a safety cross-check: if a load is safe in Hodgdon’s Pistol Data format, it gives some margin when scaled appropriately in rifle use, provided the load is worked up carefully.

Though Hodgdon’s Pistol Data is not intended for full-power rifle loads, it offers a useful supplemental reference, especially when considering primer and powder compatibility across different cartridge families. As with all handloads, adherence to incremental testing, chronographing, and pressure awareness is essential before adapting these loads into a rifle environment.

Source: Wolfe Publishing & Hodgdon Pistol Data