Published: December 2025 | Last updated: April 2026
The 22 GT was developed in the early 2020s by George Gardner of GA Precision and Tom Jacobs of Vapor Trail Bullets, formed by necking down the 6mm GT case to accept .224-inch bullets. The 6mm GT itself is George Gardner’s refinement of the 6mm Dasher – a short-fat case with a rebated rim, 30-degree shoulder, and dimensions optimized for the most efficient powder burn with minimal extreme spread in precision bolt-action rifles. Those efficiency characteristics carry directly into the 22 GT.
The result is a cartridge that produces velocities competitive with the 22 Creedmoor while delivering barrel life of approximately 3,500-4,500 rounds – roughly double that of the 22 Creedmoor. Extreme spread (ES) and standard deviation (SD) figures from the 22 GT are consistently reported among the lowest of any high-performance .22-caliber bolt-action cartridge. In precision rifle competition where a 1-inch group at 1,000 yards requires not just velocity and BC but shot-to-shot consistency, the GT case geometry provides a meaningful accuracy advantage that raw velocity cannot replicate.
The 22 GT occupies a distinct position in the .22-caliber precision market. Unlike the AR-15-compatible 22 ARC and 224 Valkyrie, the 22 GT is a bolt-action-only cartridge requiring custom or semi-custom rifles from gunsmiths using the GT reamer specification. Factory ammunition does not exist in any meaningful variety. This is a handloader’s cartridge for serious precision rifle competitors and long-range varmint hunters willing to invest in custom equipment for maximum performance.
For reloading data, see the 22 GT complete guide and 22 GT ballistics.
Core Ballistic Parameters
| Load | MV | BC (G7) | Muzzle Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 gr Hornady ELD-M | 3,450 FPS | 0.210 | 1,980 ft-lbs |
| 80 gr Hornady ELD-X | 3,364 FPS | 0.242 | 2,010 ft-lbs |
| 88 gr Hornady ELD-M | 3,300 FPS | 0.271 | 2,128 ft-lbs |
| 90 gr Sierra TMK | 3,250 FPS | 0.282 | 2,112 ft-lbs |
All data below uses a 200-yard zero, 1.5-inch sight height, 59°F, sea level, 24-inch barrel.
Bullet Drop (200-Yard Zero)
| Range (yards) | 75 gr ELD-M | 80 gr ELD-X | 88 gr ELD-M | 90 gr TMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | -1.5 | -1.5 | -1.5 | -1.5 |
| 100 | +1.4 | +1.2 | +1.1 | +1.0 |
| 200 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 300 | -6.0 | -5.2 | -4.8 | -4.6 |
| 400 | -17.0 | -14.8 | -13.5 | -13.0 |
| 500 | -33.5 | -29.0 | -26.2 | -25.2 |
| 600 | -56.5 | -48.5 | -43.8 | -42.0 |
| 700 | -87.0 | -74.5 | -67.0 | -64.0 |
| 800 | -126.0 | -107.5 | -96.5 | -92.0 |
| 900 | -174.0 | -148.0 | -132.5 | -126.5 |
| 1,000 | -232.0 | -197.0 | -176.0 | -168.0 |
Drop in inches. Positive values = above line of sight.
The 22 GT’s velocity advantage over the 224 Valkyrie is visible directly in the trajectory. The 22 GT 90-grain TMK drops 25.2 inches at 500 yards; the Valkyrie 90-grain TMK drops approximately 34 inches from the same zero. That 9-inch difference at 500 yards means simpler holdovers and more margin for range estimation errors in field conditions. At 700 yards the gap grows to approximately 22 inches – the 22 GT is a full vital zone shallower in arc than the Valkyrie at that distance.
The 22 GT also compares favorably to the 22 Creedmoor with equivalent loads. The 22 GT 90-grain TMK at 3,250 FPS produces very similar trajectory to the 22 Creedmoor 90-grain SMK at 3,210 FPS – the 40 FPS velocity difference produces less than 3 inches of drop difference at 1,000 yards. For practical purposes, the two cartridges are ballistically identical at hunting and competition distances. The 22 GT’s advantages over the 22 Creedmoor are found in barrel life and extreme spread, not trajectory.
The load selection decision inside the 22 GT is interesting: the 75-grain ELD-M starts fastest at 3,450 FPS but by 700 yards the 90-grain TMK has pulled ahead in both retained velocity and trajectory due to its higher BC. For competition stages past 600 yards, the 88 or 90-grain loads are the appropriate choice. For stages inside 500 yards where initial velocity provides a trajectory advantage, the 75-grain ELD-M is competitive.
Wind Drift – 10 MPH Full-Value Crosswind
| Range (yards) | 75 gr ELD-M | 80 gr ELD-X | 88 gr ELD-M | 90 gr TMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 200 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| 300 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 5.8 |
| 400 | 14.2 | 12.0 | 10.5 | 10.1 |
| 500 | 22.2 | 18.8 | 16.2 | 15.6 |
| 600 | 32.2 | 27.2 | 23.5 | 22.5 |
| 700 | 44.5 | 37.5 | 32.2 | 30.8 |
| 800 | 59.0 | 49.5 | 42.5 | 40.5 |
| 900 | 75.5 | 63.2 | 54.2 | 51.8 |
| 1,000 | 94.0 | 78.5 | 67.2 | 64.0 |
Drift in inches. Half-value crosswind = divide by 2.
The 90-grain TMK drifts 64 inches at 1,000 yards – better than the 224 Valkyrie 90-grain TMK at approximately 91.5 inches, reflecting the GT’s 550 FPS starting velocity advantage reducing time-of-flight in the wind. The GT’s 88-grain ELD-M at 67.2 inches rivals the 6.5 Creedmoor 140-grain ELD-M at approximately 65-70 inches – a genuine competitive achievement for a .224-inch bore.
The 75-grain ELD-M’s 94-inch drift at 1,000 yards is dramatically higher than the 90-grain TMK’s 64 inches, illustrating how the BC gap (G7: 0.210 vs 0.282) compounds over distance even though the 75-grain starts 200 FPS faster. For any competition stage or hunting application past 600 yards, the 88 or 90-grain loads are mandatory for competitive wind performance.
At 400 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind, the 90-grain TMK drifts 10.1 inches. A 3 MPH wind estimation error moves the bullet 3 inches – within the vital zone of a coyote for broadside shots but with minimal margin. The 22 GT is a precise cartridge that rewards accurate wind reading; it does not overcome poor technique.
Velocity Retention
| Range (yards) | 75 gr ELD-M | 80 gr ELD-X | 88 gr ELD-M | 90 gr TMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 3,450 | 3,364 | 3,300 | 3,250 |
| 200 | 2,869 | 2,876 | 2,856 | 2,832 |
| 400 | 2,355 | 2,449 | 2,465 | 2,456 |
| 600 | 1,898 | 2,067 | 2,117 | 2,117 |
| 800 | 1,499 | 1,730 | 1,806 | 1,816 |
| 1,000 | 1,164 | 1,438 | 1,533 | 1,550 |
| 1,100 | 1,005 | 1,305 | 1,400 | 1,420 |
| 1,200 | 879 | 1,183 | 1,275 | 1,298 |
Velocity in FPS. Supersonic threshold approximately 1,340 FPS at sea level.
The velocity crossover is the defining dynamic of this table. The 75-grain ELD-M starts 200 FPS faster than the 90-grain TMK at the muzzle, yet by 400 yards the TMK has already overtaken it in retained velocity – 2,456 FPS versus 2,355 FPS for the lighter bullet. By 1,000 yards the TMK retains 1,550 FPS while the ELD-M has dropped to 1,164 FPS and gone transonic.
The 75-grain ELD-M goes transonic around 1,000-1,025 yards. The 80-grain ELD-X holds supersonic to approximately 1,100 yards. The 88-grain ELD-M and 90-grain TMK both stay supersonic past 1,200 yards with meaningful margins – 1,275 and 1,298 FPS respectively, well above the transonic threshold. This supersonic ceiling past 1,200 yards enables the 22 GT to compete in ELR competition stages that the lighter loads cannot reliably reach.
For hunting applications, 1,800 FPS is the reliable expansion threshold for hunting bullets. The ELD-X stays above 1,800 FPS to approximately 800-825 yards in the 22 GT. The 88-grain ELD-M stays above that threshold past 875 yards – but the ELD-M is not a designed hunting bullet.
Energy Retention
| Range (yards) | 75 gr ELD-M | 80 gr ELD-X | 88 gr ELD-M | 90 gr TMK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muzzle | 1,980 | 2,010 | 2,128 | 2,112 |
| 200 | 1,369 | 1,471 | 1,595 | 1,600 |
| 300 | 1,151 | 1,277 | 1,404 | 1,414 |
| 400 | 922 | 1,064 | 1,186 | 1,205 |
| 500 | 722 | 873 | 994 | 1,015 |
| 600 | 599 | 758 | 876 | 897 |
| 800 | 374 | 531 | 638 | 659 |
| 1,000 | 225 | 367 | 460 | 480 |
Energy in ft-lbs.
All four loads hold above 1,000 ft-lbs past 300 yards. The 88-grain ELD-M and 90-grain TMK hold above that threshold to approximately 385-400 yards – the practical coyote hunting ceiling for body shots. Past 400 yards, energy is adequate for smaller predators with quality expanding bullets and precise shot placement, but below the threshold for reliable ethical coyote kills on body shots.
The 22 GT’s muzzle energy of 1,980-2,128 ft-lbs is higher than the 224 Valkyrie at 1,457-1,559 ft-lbs with equivalent loads – reflecting the GT’s velocity advantage. This energy gap translates to approximately 50-60 extra yards of coyote-adequate energy at the hunting threshold.
Terminal Performance Profiles
Hornady ELD-M 75 gr
Construction: Match bullet with Heat Shield tip and thin precision-formed jacket. Not designed for controlled terminal expansion – designed for maximum accuracy at velocity. The 22 GT pushes this bullet to 3,450 FPS, producing extreme close-range fragmentation from the thin jacket.
Terminal behavior: At 3,450 FPS the 75-grain ELD-M fragments violently on contact. At 300 yards where velocity drops to approximately 2,570 FPS, fragmentation remains reliable and dramatic on varmints. At 500 yards (approximately 2,260 FPS), fragmentation is adequate for coyote-sized game from broadside shots. The thin jacket makes this bullet unsuitable for any hunting application past the point where reliable expansion cannot be guaranteed – approximately 450-475 yards.
Application: Varmint and competition use inside 600 yards. For PRS stages inside 500 yards where initial velocity provides trajectory advantage, the 75-grain ELD-M’s flat trajectory and mild recoil are competitive. For varmint shooters who want the flattest possible drop inside 400 yards, this is the 22 GT load.
More details: Hornady ELD-M bullet profile
Hornady ELD-X 80 gr
Construction: Polymer tip with Heat Shield, bonded core. The bonding is critical at 22 GT’s 3,364 FPS – at this velocity standard cup-and-core bullets can fail through premature core-jacket separation on close-range impacts, producing penetration failure before the bullet reaches the vitals.
Terminal behavior: Expands to 0.42-0.50 inches with 90-95% weight retention. At 3,364 FPS the bonded core prevents separation – the bullet mushrooms rapidly but maintains integrity through the tissue. Penetration in coyote-sized tissue: 12-16 inches. At 500 yards where impact velocity drops to approximately 2,067 FPS, expansion is more controlled with reliable penetration. Expansion remains reliable to approximately 1,600 FPS – past 800 yards in the 22 GT.
Hunting application: The primary and only hunting-appropriate bullet for the 22 GT for any game larger than small varmints. Coyotes and bobcats inside 700 yards with broadside body shots. Pronghorn inside 375 yards on broadside lung shots where energy exceeds 1,000 ft-lbs. At the 22 GT’s velocities, the ELD-X is the only standard production bullet that handles both close-range 3,364 FPS impacts and extended-range 1,800 FPS impacts reliably. This is not a cartridge for which many hunting bullet options exist – the ELD-X is the answer for all hunting applications.
More details: Hornady ELD-X bullet profile
Hornady ELD-M 88 gr
Construction: Match bullet with Heat Shield, optimized for the highest BC achievable in 88-grain .224-inch format. G7 BC of 0.271 is competitive with all 22-caliber production options below the 90-grain class.
Terminal behavior: At 22 GT’s 3,300 FPS, the 88-grain ELD-M produces violent fragmentation at close range. At 600 yards (approximately 2,117 FPS), jacket failure is still reliable and produces effective tissue disruption on coyotes. Past 750 yards where velocity drops below 1,900 FPS, terminal performance becomes variable. Used by hunters who accept the inconsistency in exchange for the ELD-M’s superior BC and accuracy.
Competition application: The most common 22 GT competition load for stages between 600 and 1,000 yards. The 88-grain ELD-M’s G7 BC of 0.271 produces 67.2 inches of drift at 1,000 yards in a 10 MPH crosswind – competitive with precision 6mm loads and significantly better than any lighter .22-caliber option. Stays supersonic past 1,200 yards. In quality 22 GT barrels with proper twist, sub-0.3 MOA groups at 100 yards are achievable.
More details: Hornady ELD-M bullet profile
Sierra Tipped MatchKing 90 gr
Construction: Acetyl polymer tip over a hollow point boat-tail match bullet. Sierra’s modern update to the classic MatchKing, with the polymer tip maintaining BC integrity through flight and initiating more consistent expansion than the open-tip design. Highest G7 BC of the four loads (0.282).
Terminal behavior: More consistent terminal performance than the standard MatchKing due to the polymer tip initiating more uniform expansion on impact. At 22 GT’s 3,250 FPS, violent fragmentation at close range. At 700 yards (approximately 1,965 FPS), terminal effect remains adequate for coyote-sized predators on body shots. The TMK produces somewhat more reliable terminal performance than the ELD-M due to the tip, though still not at the level of designed hunting bullets.
Competition application: Maximum BC, minimum wind drift, longest supersonic range. The 90-grain TMK at 64 inches of drift at 1,000 yards is the wind-performance ceiling for the 22 GT. Stays supersonic past 1,200 yards with 1,298 FPS at that distance. For ELR competition stages past 1,000 yards or NRL Hunter matches where extreme-range capability is tested, the 90-grain TMK extracts the most from the 22 GT’s case design. The combination of the GT case’s low ES and the TMK’s highest BC produces what many precision rifle competitors consider the most accurate extreme-range .22-caliber load available.
More details: Sierra Tipped MatchKing bullet profile
Berger LRHT 85.5 gr
Construction: Long Range Hybrid Target with hybrid ogive – secant section for maximum BC, tangent section for forgiving seating depth tolerance. Designed for benchrest and precision rifle competition.
Terminal behavior: Fragments reliably at 22 GT velocities inside 700 yards. The hybrid ogive’s thin jacket produces violent fragmentation on coyotes at high-velocity impact. At extended range below 2,000 FPS, fragmentation becomes less consistent but still adequate for predator work.
Competition application: The preferred alternative to the Sierra TMK for competitors who find better accuracy with the Berger’s hybrid profile in their specific chambers. Some precision rifle barrels group better with the Berger’s tangent ogive section, particularly when loading to magazine-length with jump to the lands rather than loading to the lands directly. The LRHT’s BC is competitive with the TMK, and in barrels that prefer Berger’s ogive geometry, it can produce tighter groups.
More details: Berger LRHT bullet profile
Practical Range Recommendations
Varmints – any load to 500 yards in calm conditions. The 22 GT’s velocity advantage over the 224 Valkyrie and 22 ARC produces approximately 9-15 fewer inches of drop at 500 yards with equivalent loads, extending reliable varmint range in conditions where trajectory management matters.
Coyotes – ELD-X 80-grain inside 600 yards with broadside body shots; to 700 yards with head shots or under 5 MPH wind. Energy at 600 yards (approximately 758 ft-lbs) is adequate for coyotes with quality expanding bullets. The ELD-X is the only hunting-appropriate bullet for this application.
Long-range competition – 88-grain ELD-M or 90-grain TMK for stages past 700 yards where BC dominates over starting velocity. For stages inside 600 yards, the 80-grain ELD-X or 75-grain ELD-M provide starting velocity advantages that partially compensate for lower BC. The 22 GT’s low ES/SD from the GT case geometry is a consistent competition advantage regardless of bullet selection.
Platform and access – the 22 GT requires a bolt-action rifle with a GT-specific reamer, typically available from custom gunsmiths and precision rifle builders. Factory rifles in 22 GT do not exist; factory ammunition is essentially unavailable. This is a custom, handloader-only cartridge. Component bullets are standard Hornady and Sierra production items widely available; GT brass comes from Hornady.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose the 22 GT over the 22 Creedmoor? Two primary reasons: barrel life and extreme spread. The 22 GT produces approximately 3,500-4,500 rounds of accurate barrel life versus the 22 Creedmoor’s 1,500-2,000. For a competition shooter firing 600-800 rounds per season, that difference is 2-3 seasons of additional barrel life. The GT case’s short-fat geometry also produces exceptionally low extreme spreads – typically 8-12 FPS ES in optimized loads versus 12-18 FPS for the 22 Creedmoor. At 1,000 yards, a 10 FPS ES difference translates to approximately 2-3 inches of vertical spread. Ballistic performance between the two is nearly identical.
Is any factory ammunition available? No meaningful factory ammunition exists for the 22 GT. This is a handloader’s cartridge by design. Hornady produces the parent 6mm GT brass which forms to 22 GT; some small custom ammunition producers may load it. Anyone considering the 22 GT should be committed to handloading.
What barrel length is optimal? 24-26 inches. The 22 GT case is designed for longer barrels that allow complete powder combustion from the efficient case design. A 22-inch barrel loses approximately 50-75 FPS versus 24 inches. For competition rifles, 26 inches is common; for hunting builds where weight matters, 24 inches is the practical minimum.
What makes the GT case produce lower extreme spreads than the Creedmoor? The GT case’s short, fat geometry with a relatively large case head-to-neck ratio creates more uniform ignition and more consistent powder column compression. The case fills more completely with the optimal charge weight, leaving less gas space variation shot to shot. These geometry principles are shared by other efficient competition cases like the 6mm Dasher and 6mm BR.
Is the 22 GT replacing the 22 Creedmoor in competition? In custom precision rifle circles, the 22 GT has gained significant adoption among shooters prioritizing barrel life and consistency. The 22 Creedmoor retains its position where factory Hornady ammunition simplifies logistics. Neither has displaced the other; they serve slightly different segments of the .22-caliber long-range market.
Editorial note: This article was originally published in December 2025 and revised in April 2026. The revision added velocity retention table extended to 1,200 yards with supersonic ceiling analysis, added energy table with practical hunting range analysis confirming 375-400 yard coyote ceiling, expanded all five bullet profiles with specific construction, terminal behavior, and competition versus hunting distinction, added the custom-only platform and no-factory-ammunition note, and added FAQ.
