Remington’s 22 Viper 36-grain copper-plated truncated-cone load has long lived in the shadow of its bigger, flashier siblings, yet it quietly checks every box the modern rimfire shooter needs. At 1,410 fps it’s fast enough to flatten trajectories out to 75 yards, while the truncated nose and copper plating reduce lead fouling in suppressed barrels—an increasingly common setup among today’s backyard plinkers and small-game hunters. The Angstadt RPR test rig revealed tight groups that rivaled match-grade 40-grain loads, proving the round isn’t just a “budget varmint” option; it’s a legitimate precision tool that punches above its price tag.

For the 2A community, this matters because rimfire is the gateway drug to lifelong marksmanship. When a $6 box of ammo can deliver sub-MOA groups from a pistol-caliber carbine, new shooters stay engaged instead of drifting away after their first range trip. That sustained interest translates into more range members, more junior competitors, and ultimately a deeper bench of voters who understand why the Second Amendment protects the tools—and the skills—that keep a free society armed and accurate. In short, the Viper 36 isn’t just another SKU; it’s another brick in the wall that keeps the rimfire renaissance—and the culture it feeds—alive and thriving.