The Ultimate Guide to Long-Range Rimfire Bullet Drop (And What MOA Rail You Need)

The Ultimate Guide to Long-Range Rimfire Bullet Drop (And What MOA Rail You Need)

From 50 to 400 Yards: The Ultimate Guide to Rimfire Bullet Drop & Why You Need an MOA Rail

Long-range rimfire shooting is one of the fastest-growing disciplines in the shooting sports. Competitions like the NRL22 have pushed shooters and their gear to the limit, and it's not uncommon to see competitors engaging targets at 300, 400, or even 500 yards.

If you’ve ever tried this, you know the challenge. Hitting a small target at 400 yards with a .22LR round isn't just "shooting"—it's an act of applied physics. It feels less like firing a rifle and more like launching a tiny mortar.

The single biggest challenge isn't the wind (though that's a close second); it's gravity. The bullet drop is massive.

Your standard riflescope, mounted on a 0 MOA rail, simply cannot adjust high enough to compensate. You will run out of "up" elevation in your turret long before you get on target.

This is where a canted MOA rail comes in. As a manufacturer of precision rails, we want to break down exactly why your .22LR needs this help and what MOA you should choose for your build.

The Ballistic Battle: Why .22LR is a Different Beast

To understand the solution, we must first respect the problem. A .22LR round is a notoriously poor long-distance projectile, which is exactly what makes it so challenging and fun.

Here are the two main culprits:

  1. Low Muzzle Velocity: A typical 40-grain standard velocity round (like CCI Standard or Eley Target) leaves the muzzle around 1080 feet per second (fps). A high-velocity round might hit 1250 fps.
  2. Poor Ballistic Coefficient (BC): The BC is a number that describes how well a bullet cuts through the air. A high BC means it's very aerodynamic. A .22LR has a very low BC, often around 0.11 to 0.15 G1.

For context, a 6.5 Creedmoor round might have a velocity of 2700 fps and a BC of over 0.60.

This combination of low speed and high drag means the .22LR round slows down fast. And as it slows down, gravity has more time to pull it down to earth.

Even worse, it often drops below the speed of sound (around 1125 fps) somewhere around 100-150 yards. This transonic transition can destabilize the bullet, making long-range consistency the ultimate challenge.

The "Mortar Arc": Just How Much Does a .22LR Drop?

Let's look at the hard data. The numbers below are a common example for a 40-grain standard velocity round (1080 fps) with a 50-yard zero.

Your data will vary based on your ammo, barrel length, and environment, but this is a very realistic baseline.

Yardage Bullet Drop (Inches) Bullet Drop (MOA)
50 0" 0 MOA
100 ~ -5.5" ~ 5.2 MOA
200 ~ -48" ~ 23.0 MOA
300 ~ -140" ~ 44.6 MOA
400 ~ -300" ~ 71.6 MOA

Let's pause and absorb that.
At 200 yards, you have 4 feet of drop.
At 300 yards, you have almost 12 feet of drop.
At 400 yards, you are compensating for 25 feet of drop.

Now you see why we call it a "mortar arc."

The Shooter's Problem: Running Out of "Up"

You see the 400-yard number: 71.6 MOA. You think, "No problem, I'll just dial my turret."

Here’s the catch.

Let's say you have a great rimfire scope with 65 MOA of total internal adjustment. When you zero your rifle at 50 yards, your reticle is probably near the middle of that adjustment range.

This means you have roughly 32.5 MOA of "up" travel and 32.5 MOA of "down" travel.

This is the "Aha!" moment:
  • To shoot at 300 yards, you need 44.6 MOA of adjustment.
  • Your scope only has 32.5 MOA of "up" travel left.
You will physically hit the top of your turret's adjustment range before you can dial the 44.6 MOA you need. You cannot hit the target.

The EGW Solution: How a Canted MOA Rail Saves the Day

This is the problem we solve. An EGW Canted MOA Rail is a simple, robust, and precision-machined solution.

It acts like a small, precisely angled wedge. It mounts to your receiver, and your scope rings mount to it. The rail is built with a specific "cant" or downward slope (e.g., 20 MOA).

Here's how it works:

  1. A 20 MOA rail tilts the front of your scope down by 20 MOA.
  2. Because your scope is now pointing slightly down, you must dial your turret up by 20 MOA just to get back to your 50-yard zero.
  3. You have now "traded" 20 MOA of your down adjustment (which you'll never use) for 20 MOA of up adjustment.

Let's do the math again with a 20 MOA rail:

  • You had 32.5 MOA of "up" travel.
  • You add a 20 MOA rail.
  • You now have 32.5 + 20 = 52.5 MOA of available "up" travel.

Now, when you want to shoot at 300 yards (which needs 44.6 MOA), you have 52.5 MOA to do it. You can dial your turret right to the target with plenty of adjustment to spare.

How Much MOA Do I Need? (EGW's Recommendation)

This is the most common question we get. The answer depends on your goals, your scope's total travel, and your typical shooting distance.

Here are our general recommendations for rimfire:

  • Standard (0-150 yards): A 0 MOA rail is perfectly fine. You don't have enough bullet drop to worry about, and your standard scope has plenty of travel.
  • NRL22 / All-Around (50-250 yards): A 20 MOA rail is the most popular, "do-it-all" choice. It gives you more than enough elevation for 95% of rimfire work and is the standard for competition.
  • Dedicated Long Range (250-350 yards): A 30 MOA rail is an excellent choice. This is for the shooter who knows they'll be stretching the limits and wants to ensure they have the adjustment for 300+ yards, even with a scope that has less internal travel.
  • Extreme Rimfire (350+ yards): Go for a 40 MOA rail. To hit 400 yards (requiring ~72 MOA), you need all the help you get. A 40 MOA rail plus the 30-35 MOA in your scope gives you the 70+ MOA you need.

Conclusion: Stop Holding Over, Start Dialing

The challenge of long-range rimfire isn't if the bullet can get there; it's how you're going to aim it. Trying to hold "a little high" becomes "hold 25 feet over the target," which is impossible.

A canted MOA rail is the fundamental piece of equipment that makes long-range rimfire shooting possible. It unlocks the full potential of your scope and allows you to use your turrets as they were intended—by dialing for a precise, repeatable, first-shot hit.

Don't let your gear limit your fun. Evolution Gun Works (EGW) manufactures precision-machined picattiny rails with 0, 20, 30, and 40 MOA built-in for hundreds of rifle models, from the Ruger 10/22 to the CZ 457 and the Vudoo V-22.

Find the exact rail for your rifle on our website and start hitting those long-range targets.

EGW Rimfire Picatinny Rail Offerings

EGW manufactures rails for a wide variety of popular and classic rimfire rifles. Most are available in multiple MOA cants to suit everything from standard plinking to long-range competition. Below are some of our most popular models for long-range shooters.

1. Ruger

2. CZ

3. Savage / Stevens

4. Tikka

5. Other Popular Rimfire Rails

6. Classic & Target Rifles (Multi-Fit Rail)

EGW manufactures a popular multi-fit rail that provides a modern mounting solution for several classic .22LR target rifles. Available in 0 MOA and 20 MOA.

  • Primary Fit: Winchester 52 Target, Winchester 75
  • Also Fits:
    • Kimber 82C / 82G
    • Remington 37
    • H&R M12
    • Anschutz 64 (that use Unertl blocks)
    • BSA Martini Mk2 / Mk3
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