5 Best 22 ARC Rifles for 2026 (Varmint & Long-Range Tested)

Last updated June 26th 2026

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Best 22 ARC Rifles in 2026 at a Glance

Why the 22 ARC Is a Big Deal

The 22 ARC is one of the most interesting cartridges Hornady has released in years. Introduced in 2024, it does something the .22-caliber world never quite had: it fires heavy, high-BC .224 bullets at high velocity from a standard AR-15, as well as from compact bolt rifles. That’s a genuinely new capability, not just another varmint round.

Built on the 6mm ARC and 6.5 Grendel case family, the 22 ARC runs a fast twist that stabilizes long 88-grain match bullets, giving it a flat trajectory and great wind resistance with almost no recoil. Load it with light 62-grain bullets and it’s a blistering varmint and predator round; load it heavy and it reaches way out for targets and coyotes. From an AR-15, that versatility is rare.

Because the cartridge is brand new, the rifle market is still young but growing fast. Ruger leads on the bolt side, CMMG and Aero on the AR side, and Howa and Seekins round out the bolt options. I’ve sorted through what’s actually available to rank the best 22 ARC rifles for 2026. For how it compares, see our best 6.5 Grendel rifles and best AR-15 rifles guides.

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1. Ruger American Gen II – Best Overall 22 ARC Rifle

• Caliber: 22 ARC
• Platform: Bolt-action, Standard / Predator / Ranch
• Barrel: 16.1″, 20″, or 22″, threaded
• Capacity: 5+1 AICS-pattern magazine
• Street Price: $529-$619

Value	Accuracy	Trigger	Features	Fit & Finish
5/5	4/5	4/5	5/5	3/5

Ruger jumped on the 22 ARC early, and the American Gen II is the rifle that put the cartridge in reach of regular shooters. It brings Ruger’s value formula to the hot new round, and it’s the bolt gun most 22 ARC buyers should start with.

The Gen II comes in Standard, Predator, and Ranch flavors with 16.1, 20, and 22-inch threaded barrels, so you can match it to varmints, predators, or a suppressed setup. The adjustable Marksman trigger is genuinely good, the spiral-fluted barrel is accurate, and the AICS-pattern magazine is a step up from the old budget designs. The compact 16.1-inch Ranch with a can is a fantastic coyote rig.

The light barrel heats quickly if you dump rounds at prairie dogs, and the stock is hollow. Neither hurts the accuracy that matters. We cover the platform in depth in our Ruger American Rifle Gen II review, and for the money, it’s the easiest 22 ARC recommendation.

Best For: The shooter who wants the most affordable, configurable bolt-action way into the 22 ARC.

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2. Howa 1500 – Best Bolt Value 22 ARC Rifle

• Caliber: 22 ARC
• Barrel: 20-24″, threaded
• Trigger: HACT two-stage
• Safety: Three-position
• Street Price: $649-$899

Value	Accuracy	Trigger	Features	Fit & Finish
4/5	5/5	5/5	4/5	4/5

The Howa 1500 is the bolt gun for the shooter who wants a better trigger and action than the budget price suggests. Howa has quietly built a reputation for accurate, well-made rifles, and the 22 ARC version carries all of those strengths.

The standout is the HACT two-stage trigger, which breaks cleaner than most factory triggers in this price range and helps you wring the accuracy out of the cartridge. Add a solid two-lug action, a proper three-position safety, and Howa’s accuracy track record, and you have a serious varmint and target rifle. The threaded barrel takes a brake or a can.

It costs a little more than the Ruger and Howa’s US accessory network is smaller, but the trigger and action are a real step up. For a hunter who values how a rifle shoots over the lowest price, the Howa is the value-accuracy pick.

Best For: The shooter who wants a premium trigger and action in a value 22 ARC bolt gun.

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3. Seekins Havak – Best Precision 22 ARC Rifle

• Caliber: 22 ARC
• Barrel: 24″ match-grade, threaded, fast twist
• Capacity: 5+1 flush detachable mag
• Stock: Carbon-fiber composite
• Street Price: $1,499-$1,799

Value	Accuracy	Capacity	Features	Fit & Finish
3/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	5/5

For the shooter who wants to push the 22 ARC to its limits, the Seekins Havak is the precision pick. Seekins builds these to a near-custom standard, and that quality lets the cartridge’s high-BC 88-grain bullets do their best work at distance.

The match-grade barrel and refined action deliver the kind of accuracy that turns the 22 ARC into a genuine long-range target and coyote rifle, and the five-round flush detachable magazine is a practical touch. The carbon stock and excellent machining make it feel special in the hands.

It’s a premium price for a .22-caliber rifle, and it’s more gun than a casual prairie-dog shooter needs. But for the precision-minded shooter who wants to wring every yard out of the 22 ARC, the Havak is the one.

Best For: The precision shooter who wants custom-grade accuracy and long-range performance from the 22 ARC.

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4. CMMG Resolute – Best Complete AR 22 ARC

• Caliber: 22 ARC
• Platform: AR-15, direct gas impingement
• Barrel: 16-22″, threaded
• Capacity: 25-round 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazine
• Street Price: $1,199-$1,499

Value	Accuracy	Capacity	Features	Fit & Finish
3/5	5/5	5/5	5/5	4/5

The 22 ARC was designed to run in an AR-15, and the CMMG Resolute is the easiest way to get a complete, ready-to-shoot one. CMMG is a respected AR builder, and its 22 ARC rifle puts the cartridge’s high-BC bullets behind semi-auto fire and 25-round magazines.

That semi-auto capability is the whole appeal for predator and varmint hunters who want fast follow-up shots on a moving coyote or a prairie-dog town. You get familiar AR ergonomics, easy optics mounting, an M-LOK handguard, and a threaded muzzle for a suppressor. It feeds from 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazines, which are widely available.

The catch is that a complete factory rifle costs more than building your own, and it’s bigger than a compact bolt gun. But for a shooter who wants a turnkey 22 ARC AR without sourcing parts, the Resolute is the move.

Best For: The shooter who wants a complete, turnkey 22 ARC AR-15 for fast varmint and predator work.

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5. Aero Precision – Best 22 ARC AR Build

• Caliber: 22 ARC
• Platform: AR-15 (complete uppers and components)
• Barrel: 18-22″ options
• Capacity: 25-round 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazine
• Street Price: $700-$1,100 as a build

Value	Accuracy	Capacity	Features	Fit & Finish
5/5	4/5	5/5	4/5	4/5

If you already build ARs, the Aero Precision route is the cheapest and most flexible way into the 22 ARC. Aero makes quality 22 ARC barrels, complete uppers, and receivers, so you can drop a 22 ARC upper on a lower you already own or build exactly the rifle you want.

The appeal is control and cost. You pick the barrel length, the handguard, the trigger, and the optic, and you skip paying for a complete factory rifle. A 22 ARC upper on an existing AR-15 lower is the most affordable way to shoot the cartridge in a semi-auto, and it feeds from common 6.5 Grendel-pattern magazines.

The trade is that it’s a build, not a turnkey rifle, so you need some know-how or a gunsmith to put it together and confirm it runs. But for the AR tinkerer, Aero is the value way to get into the 22 ARC. See our best AR-15 rifles guide for the platform basics.

Best For: The AR builder who wants the cheapest, most flexible way into the 22 ARC.

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How I Tested the 22 ARC Rifles

I evaluated these rifles the way a varmint and predator shooter uses them. The ones I had hands on got a 100-yard zero with Hornady factory 22 ARC loads, three-shot and five-shot groups from a bipod and rear bag to check accuracy and barrel heat, and longer-range work to confirm the heavy 88-grain bullets held their groups.

I leaned on Hornady’s published ballistic data and the SAAMI cartridge spec for velocity claims, and cross-checked every rifle’s barrel, twist, capacity, and trigger against the manufacturer’s current product page. Because the 22 ARC is so new, I’ve been clear about which rifles I’ve run versus those I’ve assessed from manufacturer specs and early field reports rather than guessing.

22 ARC Ballistics: Velocity, Twist, and Range

The 22 ARC’s party trick is heavy .224 bullets at speed. Hornady’s light 62-grain ELD-VT varmint load runs around 3,300 fps from a 24-inch barrel, while the heavy 88-grain ELD Match leaves the muzzle near 2,820 fps. That heavy 88-grain bullet has a high ballistic coefficient that holds velocity and bucks wind like nothing else in .22 caliber.

The key is the fast twist. The 22 ARC uses a 1:7 twist to stabilize those long, heavy bullets, which is what separates it from older .22 cartridges built for light, short bullets. That’s why a 22 ARC reaches so much farther and fights wind so much better than a .223 Remington, all from the same AR-15 platform.

Recoil is almost nonexistent. As a .22-caliber cartridge in an AR or a bolt gun, the 22 ARC barely moves, which makes it a joy for high-volume varmint shooting and easy to spot your own hits. Zero the heavy load a touch high at 100 yards and it stays useful on coyotes well past 400.

22 ARC vs Other .22-Caliber Cartridges

The 22 ARC competes with a deep field of .22 and AR cartridges. Here’s how it lines up so you can see where it fits.

Cartridge	Platform	Strength	Best Use
.223 Remington	AR-15	Cheap, ubiquitous	Plinking, close varmints, defense
.22-250	Bolt	Blazing speed	Varmints, flat short-range
22 ARC	AR-15 & bolt	Heavy high-BC .22 bullets	Long-range varmint, predator, target
6mm ARC	AR-15 & bolt	More energy, deer-legal	Predator and deer where legal
6.5 Grendel	AR-15	More bullet weight	Deer and predator from an AR

The 22 ARC’s niche is clear: it’s the long-range .22 that runs in an AR-15. It beats the .223 on wind and distance with its heavy bullets, matches the .22-250’s reach with far less recoil and barrel wear, and gives up energy to the 6mm ARC and 6.5 Grendel in exchange for a flatter, softer-shooting varmint and predator round. If you want a do-it-all AR varmint cartridge, it’s the new benchmark.

22 ARC Ammo and Availability

As a brand-new Hornady cartridge, the 22 ARC’s ammo comes mainly from Hornady right now, with the 62-grain ELD-VT for varmints, the 75-grain ELD-Match, and the 88-grain ELD Match for long range. Selection is narrower than a .223 or a 6.5 Grendel, and you won’t find it at every small-town shop yet, so it’s smart to order ahead and keep a stock of your rifle’s preferred load.

The good news for tinkerers is that the 22 ARC headstamps and brass are available for handloaders, and it uses common .224 bullets, so component support is strong if you roll your own. As the cartridge catches on, expect factory options to widen the way they did for the 6mm ARC.

How to Choose a 22 ARC Rifle

Bolt-Action or AR-15

This is the first decision. A bolt gun like the Ruger, Howa, or Seekins is the most accurate and affordable way to shoot the 22 ARC, ideal for precise varmint and target work. An AR like the CMMG or an Aero build gives you semi-auto speed and big magazines for fast predator and prairie-dog work. Pick the platform that matches how you hunt.

Barrel Length and Suppressors

The 22 ARC loses some velocity in short barrels, so a 20 to 24-inch barrel gets the most out of the heavy bullets. That said, the cartridge was designed to run suppressed, and a 16 to 20-inch threaded barrel with a can makes a fantastic, quiet coyote rig. Decide whether you prioritize maximum velocity or a handy suppressed package.

Light Bullets or Heavy

The 22 ARC is really two cartridges in one. The light 62-grain load is a blistering, explosive varmint round for close to medium range, while the heavy 88-grain load is the long-range, wind-bucking option for targets and coyotes at distance. Every factory rifle’s fast twist handles both, so choose your load for the job, not the rifle.

Glass

The 22 ARC’s flat trajectory and long reach reward good glass. A quality 4-16x or higher scope with clear optics and repeatable turrets lets you stretch it out; see our best rifle scopes guide. For high-volume varmint work, a second-focal-plane scope with a simple reticle keeps things fast and easy.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not stocking up on ammo. The 22 ARC is new and not on every shelf. Order ahead and keep a supply of your rifle’s best load, especially before a varmint trip.
• Expecting deer-cartridge energy. The 22 ARC is a varmint, predator, and target round, not a big-game cartridge. For deer from an AR, step up to a 6mm ARC or 6.5 Grendel where legal.
• Running too short a barrel for the heavy load. The 88-grain bullet wants barrel length to hit its velocity. If long range is the goal, go 20 inches or more rather than a stubby 16.
• Burning the barrel on fast strings. Light varmint barrels heat up and walk. Let it cool between strings at the prairie-dog town to keep your groups tight.

The Bottom Line

For most shooters, the Ruger American Gen II is the best 22 ARC rifle: affordable, accurate, threaded, and offered in three handy configurations. If you want a better trigger and action, the Howa 1500 is the value-accuracy pick. For precision and long range, the Seekins Havak. If you want a semi-auto, the complete CMMG Resolute or a cheaper Aero Precision build are the AR routes. The rifle market is still young, but the 22 ARC has quickly become the most interesting .22 you can run in an AR-15, so pick the platform that fits your shooting and stock up on ammo.

FAQ: 22 ARC Rifles