CCI Ammunition
CCI (Cascade Cartridge Inc.) has been manufacturing rimfire and centerfire ammunition in Lewiston, Idaho since 1951 and is the dominant brand in the .22 LR market. CCI’s Mini-Mag is the most widely recognized .22 LR cartridge in America, and their Stinger hyper-velocity load defined what a high-performance .22 LR round could be. Beyond rimfire, CCI’s Blazer line provides affordable aluminum-cased centerfire pistol ammunition for range training, and their shotshell loads offer versatile pest control options. CCI is a sister brand to Speer under Vista Outdoor, sharing manufacturing facilities and quality standards.
Read our CCI Buying Guide ↓
CCI Mini-Mag: The .22 LR Benchmark
The CCI Mini-Mag is the standard against which other .22 LR cartridges are measured for reliability and consistency. Available in 36-grain hollow point and 40-grain round nose configurations at approximately 1,260 fps from a rifle barrel, Mini-Mag feeds reliably in the widest range of semi-automatic .22 LR firearms including the Ruger 10/22, Smith & Wesson M&P15-22, and virtually every other popular platform. For shooters whose primary concern is reliable feeding and consistent ignition across a variety of .22 LR firearms, Mini-Mag is the default recommendation. It is not the cheapest .22 LR option, but it is among the most reliable. See also: .22 LR Ammo.
CCI Stinger: Hyper-Velocity Performance
The CCI Stinger introduced the concept of hyper-velocity .22 LR ammunition when it launched in 1977, pushing a 32-grain copper-plated hollow point to approximately 1,640 fps from a rifle barrel—significantly faster than standard .22 LR loads. The Stinger’s higher velocity produces reliable hollow point expansion at ranges where standard .22 LR velocities may not reliably expand a hollow point. It is widely used for small game hunting and pest control where maximum terminal effect from a .22 LR is desired. Note that some semi-automatic .22 LR pistols may experience feeding or cycling issues with hyper-velocity loads—verify compatibility with your specific firearm.
CCI Blazer: Affordable Centerfire Training
CCI Blazer uses an aluminum case rather than the brass cases found in most centerfire pistol ammunition. Aluminum-cased ammunition is less expensive to produce, allowing Blazer to offer a lower-cost training option in 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and other common centerfire pistol calibers. The tradeoff is that aluminum cases cannot be reloaded—for handloaders, Blazer is not appropriate. For shooters who don’t reload and want to reduce training costs, Blazer Aluminum provides reliable function at reduced cost. Blazer Brass offers the same economical positioning with reloadable brass cases for handloaders who want an affordable training option.
CCI Shotshells: Pest Control in a Pistol
CCI produces shotshell cartridges in .22 LR, .22 WMR, 9mm, .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, and .45 Colt. These cartridges fire a small charge of #12 shot rather than a single bullet, making them effective for dispatching snakes and small pests at very close range (under 10 feet). The .22 LR shotshell is popular for garden and small farm pest control. The centerfire shotshell variants allow a service pistol to serve as an emergency pest-control tool without requiring a separate firearm. Effective range is extremely limited compared to a conventional shotgun load.
See also: .22 LR Ammo • .22 WMR Ammo • All Ammunition • Speer Ammo