The Second Golden Era of .22LR: Long-Range Rimfire Resurgence: Eley Ultra Extreme Long Range Generation 2
We are living in what I consider the second golden era of the .22LR cartridge. The explosion of precision rimfire disciplines like PRS Rimfire and NRL22 has transformed the .22 Long Rifle from a backyard plinking round into a precision tool capable of impressive long-range performance. As rifle manufacturers began producing chassis-based, precision .22s to meet demand, it was only natural that ammunition companies would follow suit—pushing boundaries to deliver match-grade ammo to a broader audience.
A Look Back: The First Golden Era
I’m fortunate to have lived through what many consider the first golden age of .22LR. Back when Federal’s Gold Medal UltraMatch UM1 earned its place on the podium, even winning Olympic gold, right here in the United States. That was an era when rimfire match ammo meant prestige, consistency, and world-class performance.
Between these golden eras, .22LR evolved into America’s funnest and most versatile cartridge—used for everything from teaching kids, to small game, to casual 50-yard club matches. For a long time, Lapua and Eley reigned supreme, controlling the match-grade rimfire ammo market with surgical precision and consistency.