CCI’s new Uppercut 32-grain jacketed hollow point is a reminder that the rimfire market is still fertile ground for innovation, not just a nostalgia shelf for plinking ammo. At 950 fps, the load sits in that sweet spot where velocity is high enough to deliver reliable expansion in small-game heads or varmints, yet low enough to keep report and recoil neighbor-friendly—exactly the profile that keeps .22 LR relevant for training new shooters and maintaining those all-important skills that transfer to defensive firearms. For the 2A community, every new specialized .22 LR option is another data point proving that rimfire isn’t going away; it’s a gateway that keeps ranges busy, keeps newcomers engaged, and keeps politicians’ “armor-piercing” talking points toothless when the only thing leaving the muzzle is a 32-grain JHP designed for prairie dogs.

What makes the Uppercut interesting on a deeper level is how it threads the regulatory needle while still pushing performance. Hollow-point .22s have long been the industry’s workaround for restrictive lead-free or “high-capacity” rules in certain states, and a jacketed version adds another layer of feeding reliability in semi-autos that newer shooters are likely to own. That reliability matters: if a new gun owner’s first experience with a modern rifle is flawless function with an affordable brick of Uppercut, the psychological barrier to owning a larger centerfire defensive rifle drops. In short, CCI isn’t just selling varmint ammo; it’s reinforcing the entire continuum of lawful firearm ownership that begins with a $20 box of .22 and never has to end.