Bulk .22 LR: Browning 400 vs Aguila 500 vs the Case

With .22 LR the unit price is tiny, so the cost of getting it to your door matters more than usual. A worksheet for the 400-round, 500-round and case-size decision.

When the unit price is small, everything else grows

A round of .22 LR is generally the lowest-cost shot most shooters can fire. That is the reason people buy it in bulk, and it is also the reason a fixed shipping charge distorts the comparison. Spread over a few hundred rounds, a flat fee can add as much to each round as the ammunition itself costs. In that regime, the order size is a bigger lever than the brand.

Two listings anchor this comparison. Browning Performance .22 LR 36 grain copper-plated hollow point comes in 400 rounds. Aguila Super Extra .22 LR 40 grain high-velocity solid point comes in 500. Both listings describe four boxes to a case, which would make a case 1,600 rounds of the Browning or 2,000 of the Aguila, so check the quantity options on each page.

The comparison in one table

The Aguila page also describes the load as suited to rifles such as a 10/22 or a .22/45, which is the seller's suggestion rather than a compatibility guarantee. Notice what the table does not say: it does not claim one is more accurate, cleaner or more reliable. We have not measured that, and published numbers you will find elsewhere are for other lots, other barrels and other guns. The honest claim is that bullet weight, shape and velocity differ, and that those differences interact with your firearm.

Why your firearm gets a vote

.22 LR feeding depends on bullet shape, lubrication, case dimensions and the geometry of the gun. A hollow point and a solid point can ride the feed ramp differently, and semi-automatic firearms in particular can be fussy. Bolt-action rifles and revolvers are generally more tolerant of variation, because the cycle does not depend on the cartridge's energy or shape in the same way.

That is why the first purchase of either product should be small, or at least a single pack you are willing to run through your firearm before ordering more. If you shoot a Ruger 10/22, our guide on the best ammunition for the 10/22 is the more specific reference, and the sister site RimfireAmmo has a piece on what bulk .22 LR does and does not buy you and a troubleshooting guide for semi-auto .22 jams.

Shipping math, worked symbolically

Let F be the delivered shipping charge, N the number of rounds in the order, and u the unit price per round. The delivered cost per round is u plus F divided by N.

What does a difference in pack size do? Compare the 400-round and 500-round packs, holding F constant:

• Shipping share for 400 rounds: F ÷ 400
• Shipping share for 500 rounds: F ÷ 500
• Difference: F × (1/400 − 1/500) = F × 0.0005

So the 500-round pack carries 0.0005 times F less shipping per round. Whether that matters depends on F and on how the unit prices compare. The unit prices of two different brands will normally differ by more than this difference, but sometimes they do not. The only way to know is to read both carts.

Moving up to a larger case tier changes the picture further:

If shipping is free above a threshold, F falls to zero and the comparison collapses to unit price. Look for that threshold; sometimes ordering two packs together crosses it. Our case versus half-case math shows the general procedure.

Browse the category before you decide

Pack sizes and brands change often. The bulk .22 LR category lists the current range at Ammunition Depot, and it is worth sorting by quantity and checking whether a larger tier of either brand is available when you shop. Treat the category page as a menu, not a recommendation, and run the delivered-cost division on whichever listings look promising.

A fair way to choose

1. List your firearms. A bolt-action, a semi-auto rifle and a pistol may each prefer something different.
2. Buy one pack of each candidate. A pack, not a case.
3. Run a feed test. Shoot enough to be confident. Note stoppages, light strikes and dirtiness.
4. Pick the winner. If both work, the lower delivered cost per round wins.
5. Scale up. Move to the larger pack or case tier only after the load has proven itself.

Practical notes on rimfire bulk

• Cleaning: .22 LR is not known for being clean. Plan to clean your firearm after a lot of shooting, especially a semi-automatic.
• Storage: store it like any ammunition, cool, dry and secure.
• Hearing and eyes: .22 LR is quieter than centerfire but still loud enough to damage hearing. Wear protection.
• Safety: treat it with the same respect as any ammunition. A .22 can travel a long distance, and being small does not make it harmless.
• Subsonic or quiet loads: if you want quiet shooting, that is a different product and a different buying guide.

Decision aid

• Choose the Browning 400 if you want a hollow-point option and your firearm feeds it well.
• Choose the Aguila 500 if you want a solid point at a larger pack size and your firearm feeds it well.
• Choose whichever your firearm prefers if only one runs reliably. Reliability beats a small cost advantage every time.
• Go bigger than 500 only when you know the load works and you have the space and sensible shooting plans.
• Wait if you do not yet own a .22 firearm, or if your local rules restrict the purchase or shipment.

Check current price on each listing and in the category. As always, we do not print prices because they change from day to day.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.