Last updated June 27th 2026
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How we tested: Every pick here was run through our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun. If we haven't shot it, we don't recommend it.
Quick Verdict
The 22 ARC and .223 Remington both fire .224-inch bullets from an AR-15, but they aim at different jobs. Choose the 22 ARC for long-range varmint, predator, and precision shooting, where its heavy, high-BC bullets and extra velocity stretch your effective range. Choose the .223 Remington for cheap, plentiful plinking, training, defense, and close-range varmints, where its ubiquity and capacity rule.
Hornady built the 22 ARC in 2024 to do something the .223 never could: fire heavy, high-ballistic-coefficient .224 bullets fast from a standard AR-15. The .223, in production since the 1960s, remains the most popular centerfire rifle cartridge in America for good reason. This isn’t really a fight, it’s two tools for two different tasks that happen to share a bore.
22 ARC vs .223 Remington: Specs at a Glance
| Spec | 22 ARC | .223 Remington |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 2024 | 1962 (civilian 1964) |
| Bullet diameter | .224″ | .224″ |
| Parent case | 6mm ARC / 6.5 Grendel | .222 Remington family |
| Common bullet weights | 62-88 gr | 55-77 gr |
| Typical loads | 62 gr at 3,300 fps / 88 gr at 2,820 fps | 55 gr at 3,240 fps / 77 gr at 2,750 fps |
| Standard twist | 1:7 | 1:8 to 1:9 |
| AR-15 magazine | 6.5 Grendel pattern, ~25 rd | Standard, 30 rd |
| Recoil | Very low | Minimal |
| Ammo cost | Higher, growing | Cheapest, everywhere |
Why the 22 ARC Was Created
The .223 Remington’s limitation has always been its small case. It does brilliantly with light 55 to 77-grain bullets, but it can’t push the long, heavy, high-BC bullets that modern long-range shooting favors, and its case simply lacks the powder capacity to drive them fast.
The 22 ARC solves that by necking a fatter 6mm ARC and 6.5 Grendel case down to .224. That larger case holds more powder, and a fast 1:7 twist stabilizes heavy 88-grain bullets, so the 22 ARC fires the heavy, wind-bucking projectiles the .223 can’t, all from a standard AR-15. It’s the long-range .22 the AR platform never had.
22 ARC Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fires heavy, high-BC .224 bullets the .223 can’t stabilize or drive
- Far better wind resistance and long-range performance than the .223
- More energy and effective range on coyotes and varmints
- Runs in a standard AR-15 with a 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazine
- Also bolt-action friendly for precision work
Cons
- Ammo is newer, pricier, and harder to find than .223
- Lower magazine capacity than the .223’s 30 rounds
.223 Remington Pros & Cons
Pros
- The cheapest, most available centerfire rifle ammo in the world
- Standard 30-round AR-15 magazines and the deepest parts ecosystem
- Minimal recoil and proven reliability for plinking, training, and defense
- Excellent on close to medium-range varmints
- An enormous selection of rifles at every price
Cons
- Small case can’t drive heavy high-BC bullets for long range
- Loses to the 22 ARC badly on wind and downrange energy
Velocity and Energy
With light bullets the two are close at the muzzle, the 22 ARC pushing a 62-grain bullet around 3,300 fps and the .223 a 55-grain near 3,240 fps. The real separation comes with heavy bullets: the 22 ARC drives an 88-grain bullet at about 2,820 fps for roughly 1,550 foot-pounds, while the .223 tops out around a 77-grain at 2,750 fps.
That heavy-bullet capability is the whole point. The 22 ARC’s 88-grain bullet carries far more energy downrange than anything the .223 can launch, so while their muzzle numbers look similar with light loads, the 22 ARC pulls steadily ahead at distance. For energy where it counts, on a coyote at 400 yards, the 22 ARC wins clearly.
Trajectory and Wind: The Decisive Difference
This is where the 22 ARC dominates. Its heavy, high-BC 88-grain bullets resist wind and hold velocity dramatically better than the light bullets the .223 is limited to. At 400, 600, and beyond, the 22 ARC drops less, drifts less, and hits harder, turning a .22-caliber AR into a genuine long-range tool.
The .223 is perfectly flat and accurate inside 300 yards, which covers most plinking and close varmint work. But push past that, especially in wind, and it falls behind quickly. If your shooting happens at distance, the 22 ARC’s wind performance is a decisive, repeatable advantage.
Recoil and Shootability
Both cartridges recoil very little, which is one of the joys of a .224-caliber AR. The .223 has minimal recoil that makes it ideal for new shooters and high-volume plinking, and the 22 ARC, while shooting heavier bullets, still kicks very lightly thanks to the gas-operated AR platform.
Neither will punish you, and both let you spot your own hits. This isn’t a deciding factor between the two; it’s just a shared strength of the .224 AR family. Choose based on range and ammo, not recoil.
Magazines and Capacity
The .223 wins on capacity and simplicity. It runs in standard AR-15 magazines, including ubiquitous, cheap 30-rounders, with no special parts. For a defensive or high-volume role, that capacity and availability are real advantages.
The 22 ARC, because of its fatter case, feeds from 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazines that typically hold around 25 rounds and cost more. They’re widely available, but it’s an extra consideration and a small capacity hit. For a long-range varmint or precision gun, where you’re not running mag dumps, it’s a minor trade.
Ammo Cost and Availability
The .223 Remington is the runaway winner here. It’s the cheapest, most available centerfire rifle cartridge in the world, sold everywhere in bulk for plinking and in match grade for precision. Nothing the 22 ARC offers can match the .223 for sheer affordability and availability.
The 22 ARC, as a 2024 Hornady cartridge, comes mainly from Hornady right now and costs considerably more, though selection is growing and brass is available for handloaders. If you want to shoot a lot for a little, the .223 is unbeatable; if you want long-range performance and accept the cost, the 22 ARC delivers.
Best Uses for Each
The .223 is the everyman AR cartridge: plinking, training, home defense, and close to medium-range varmints, all done cheaply with huge capacity. If you want one affordable, do-everything AR, the .223 is the obvious choice and always will be.
The 22 ARC is the specialist: long-range varmint and predator hunting, target shooting at distance, and wringing maximum reach out of a .224-caliber AR. See our best 22 ARC rifles guide for the top picks. Many shooters keep a .223 for volume and a 22 ARC for reach, which is the most honest answer of all.
Live 22 ARC Rifles on Sale
Live .223 Remington Rifles on Sale
How I Compared These Cartridges
I based this comparison on each cartridge’s published factory ballistics from Hornady and the major ammo makers, cross-referenced against the SAAMI specs. I focused on what actually separates them: velocity and energy with both light and heavy bullets, downrange trajectory and the all-important wind performance, twist rate and bullet capability, magazine and capacity differences, and ammo cost and availability.
The central thread is the heavy high-BC bullet, because that single capability explains why the 22 ARC reaches so much farther while the .223 stays the cheap, high-capacity all-rounder. I’ve kept the comparison honest about where the .223’s value and ubiquity still win for most shooters.
Bottom Line: Which Should You Buy?
Buy the 22 ARC if you want long-range performance from a .224-caliber AR. Its heavy, high-BC bullets, superior wind resistance, and greater downrange energy make it the clear choice for long-range varmint, predator, and precision shooting where the .223 runs out of steam.
Buy the .223 Remington if you want cheap, plentiful, do-everything shooting. Its unbeatable ammo cost and availability, 30-round magazines, minimal recoil, and massive ecosystem make it the smartest choice for plinking, training, defense, and close varmints, which is most of what AR owners actually do.
For most people, the .223 remains the default AR cartridge, and the 22 ARC is the specialist upgrade for those who shoot at distance. If you can have both, a .223 for volume and a 22 ARC upper for reach is the ideal setup. For more on the platform, see our best AR-15 rifles guide.
FAQ: 22 ARC vs .223 Remington
Is the 22 ARC better than the .223 Remington?
For long-range varmint, predator, and precision shooting, yes, the 22 ARC is better, with heavy high-BC bullets, far superior wind resistance, and more downrange energy. For cheap, high-volume plinking, training, defense, and close varmints, the .223 Remington is better thanks to its unbeatable ammo cost, availability, and 30-round magazines.
What is the advantage of the 22 ARC over the .223?
The 22 ARC's big advantage is heavy, high-BC bullets. Its larger case and fast 1:7 twist let it fire 88-grain bullets the .223 cannot stabilize or drive, giving it dramatically better wind resistance, a flatter long-range trajectory, and more energy at distance, all from a standard AR-15.
Does the 22 ARC use the same magazines as the .223?
No. The .223 uses standard AR-15 magazines, including 30-rounders, while the 22 ARC feeds from 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazines that typically hold about 25 rounds because of its fatter case. The 22 ARC only needs a barrel, bolt, and Grendel-pattern mags to run in an AR-15.
Is the 22 ARC good for coyotes?
Yes, the 22 ARC is an excellent coyote and predator cartridge, especially at longer range. Its heavy high-BC bullets carry more energy and buck wind far better than the .223, extending your effective range on coyotes well past where the .223 starts to struggle.
Is the .223 enough for varmints?
Absolutely. The .223 Remington is a superb close to medium-range varmint cartridge, flat and accurate inside 300 yards and cheap enough to shoot all day. Its only real limit is long-range and windy conditions, where the heavier-bulleted 22 ARC pulls ahead.
Can you convert a .223 AR-15 to 22 ARC?
Yes, you can run the 22 ARC in an AR-15 lower by swapping to a 22 ARC barrel and bolt and using 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazines. It is a straightforward upper-build or upper-swap, which is part of the cartridge's appeal for shooters who already own an AR.
Which is cheaper to shoot, 22 ARC or .223?
The .223 Remington is far cheaper, being the most available and affordable centerfire rifle cartridge in the world, sold in bulk everywhere. The 22 ARC is newer and costs considerably more, so the .223 is the clear choice for high-volume, budget-conscious shooting.
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