CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity: What Makes This .22 LR Load Different
The CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity is a .22 LR load designed to combine high velocity with CCI’s polymer-coated bullet technology. Its 31-grain purple-coated lead round-nose projectile is rated at 1,550 fps, giving it significantly more velocity than standard-velocity .22 LR ammunition while retaining the Clean-22 coating designed to reduce lead fouling in the firearm and suppressor. CCI specifically highlights the load for shooters who want the speed and trajectory of a hyper-velocity rimfire without giving up the fouling-reduction benefits of its Clean-22 line.
What Makes CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity Different?
The defining feature is the polymer-coated lead bullet.
Traditional uncoated lead .22 LR ammunition can leave lead and other fouling in the bore, particularly during high-volume shooting. CCI developed the Clean-22 coating to create a barrier around the lead projectile, reducing friction and fouling while making cleanup easier. CCI specifically notes the benefits for suppressed rimfire shooting, where fouling can be an especially important maintenance consideration.
The Hyper Velocity version combines that technology with a lightweight 31-grain projectile and a published muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps.
CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity Specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .22 LR |
| Bullet weight | 31 grains |
| Bullet type | Polymer-coated lead round nose |
| Projectile color | Purple |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,550 fps |
| Case | Brass |
| Ammunition type | Rimfire |
CCI’s current catalog lists the Clean-22 Hyper Velocity as product 954CC, with a 31-grain soft-point designation and published velocities of 1,550 fps at the muzzle, 1,327 fps at 50 yards, and 1,155 fps at 100 yards.
Clean-22 Hyper Velocity and Fouling
The biggest reason to choose CCI Clean-22 ammo is its approach to fouling.
CCI says the polymer coating reduces residue and makes cleaning easier, with particular benefits for suppressed rimfires. The company’s technical material describes the coating as reducing friction and residue, while CCI’s testing has demonstrated less fouling compared with conventional exposed-lead ammunition.
Independent testing of the broader Clean-22 family has also found a measurable cleanliness advantage. American Hunter’s testing reported substantially less barrel and suppressor fouling from Clean-22 loads than from conventional exposed-lead ammunition, although accuracy varied between loads.
That distinction matters: Clean-22 describes the coating and its fouling characteristics, not a lead-free projectile.
Is Clean-22 Hyper Velocity Lead-Free?
No.
The CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity bullet contains lead. The purple polymer coating surrounds the lead projectile but does not make the ammunition lead-free.
That makes it different from purpose-built lead-free .22 LR ammunition.
The advantage of the Clean-22 coating is reduced fouling and residue, not elimination of lead content.
Why 1,550 FPS Matters
The 1,550 fps rating puts Clean-22 Hyper Velocity firmly in the high-velocity rimfire category.
The lighter 31-grain bullet reaches substantially higher velocity than CCI’s standard Clean-22 loads. CCI’s current catalog lists the conventional Clean-22 options at 1,070 fps and 1,235 fps, compared with 1,550 fps for Hyper Velocity.
The higher velocity can provide a flatter trajectory over typical rimfire distances and gives the Hyper Velocity load a distinctly different ballistic profile from standard-velocity ammunition.
CCI itself positions the load as an option for shooters who want the speed and energy associated with faster .22 LR ammunition while retaining Clean-22 coating technology.
CCI Clean-22 Lineup
The Hyper Velocity load makes more sense when viewed alongside the rest of the Clean-22 family.
CCI’s current catalog includes several Clean-22 configurations covering different velocity and projectile combinations.
Clean-22 Hyper Velocity
The 31-grain Hyper Velocity load reaches 1,550 fps and uses the purple polymer-coated projectile.
Clean-22 High Velocity
The 40-grain Clean-22 load is listed at 1,235 fps, providing a heavier projectile at a lower velocity than Hyper Velocity.
Clean-22 Standard-Velocity Class
CCI also offers slower Clean-22 configurations, including a 40-grain load listed at approximately 1,070 fps.
Clean-22 Suppressor
CCI’s Clean-22 Suppressor load uses a heavier 45-grain bullet at 1,050 fps, giving suppressed-rimfire shooters another option within the same fouling-reduction family.
The result is a broader Clean-22 lineup covering different velocity requirements rather than one universal load.
Hyper Velocity vs. High Velocity
The easiest way to compare the two is bullet weight versus velocity.
| Feature | Clean-22 High Velocity | Clean-22 Hyper Velocity |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet weight | 40 gr | 31 gr |
| Published muzzle velocity | 1,235 fps | 1,550 fps |
| Coating | Polymer | Polymer |
| Primary difference | Heavier projectile | Higher velocity |
CCI lists both loads as part of its Clean-22 family, but the Hyper Velocity load is substantially faster because it uses a lighter projectile.
Which one performs better depends on the firearm and the application. A rimfire rifle that produces excellent groups with a 40-grain load may not shoot the lighter 31-grain projectile as well, and vice versa.
Accuracy and Ammunition Testing
Ammunition performance should always be evaluated in the firearm where it will actually be used.
CCI’s Clean-22 technology was developed primarily around reducing fouling, and independent testing of earlier Clean-22 loads found that the cleanliness advantage did not necessarily translate into the smallest groups compared with conventional ammunition. American Hunter’s testing found Clean-22 loads produced more fouling-resistant performance but also recorded accuracy differences compared with conventional CCI loads.
That makes testing important.
Ammunition that produces excellent accuracy and reliable function in one .22 LR firearm may perform differently in another because rimfire chambers, barrels, actions, and barrel harmonics vary.
Semi-Automatic Reliability
The CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity load is designed around a relatively strong velocity and recoil impulse compared with standard-velocity rimfire ammunition.
That can make high-velocity ammunition useful in semi-automatic .22 LR firearms that require sufficient energy to cycle the action.
Actual reliability still varies by firearm, magazine, ammunition condition, and maintenance. No factory .22 LR load should be assumed to cycle perfectly in every semi-automatic rimfire platform.
Testing the exact load in the intended firearm is the most useful way to establish compatibility.
Clean-22 Hyper Velocity for High-Volume Shooting
For shooters who fire large quantities of .22 LR, the fouling advantage is potentially more meaningful than the headline velocity.
A range session involving hundreds of rounds can leave conventional exposed-lead rimfire ammunition with considerable residue.
CCI’s Clean-22 coating is designed specifically to reduce that buildup. Independent testing of the Clean-22 family found noticeably less barrel and suppressor fouling than conventional exposed-lead ammunition.
That doesn’t mean the firearm never needs cleaning. It means the coating can make the maintenance cycle easier.
Clean-22 Hyper Velocity for Suppressed Rimfire
Suppressed rimfire shooters are one of the clearest audiences for Clean-22 technology.
Rimfire suppressors can accumulate considerable fouling during high-volume shooting, and cleaning can become a recurring maintenance task.
CCI specifically highlights the polymer coating’s ability to reduce fouling in suppressed rimfires.
However, Hyper Velocity ammunition is not subsonic ammunition. At a published 1,550 fps, it is designed for speed rather than quiet, subsonic operation.
Shooters choosing ammunition specifically for suppressed use should therefore consider both sound characteristics and fouling—not simply whether a cartridge belongs to the Clean-22 family.
Is CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity Worth It?
The answer depends on what you want from .22 LR ammunition.
If your priority is the lowest possible ammunition cost, conventional bulk .22 LR remains difficult to beat.
If your priority is high velocity combined with reduced lead fouling, Clean-22 Hyper Velocity offers a more specialized proposition.
The 31-grain projectile and 1,550 fps velocity provide a distinctly faster ballistic profile, while the polymer coating addresses one of the more annoying characteristics of high-volume rimfire shooting.
The coating is the reason to pay attention to this load—not simply the velocity number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity?
CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity is a .22 LR load with a 31-grain polymer-coated lead round-nose bullet and a published muzzle velocity of 1,550 fps. CCI developed it to combine high-velocity performance with its fouling-reducing Clean-22 coating.
How fast is CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity?
CCI lists a 1,550 fps muzzle velocity for the 31-grain Hyper Velocity load. The current CCI catalog lists approximately 1,327 fps at 50 yards and 1,155 fps at 100 yards.
Is CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity lead-free?
No. The projectile has a lead core with a polymer coating. The coating is intended to reduce fouling and residue; it does not make the ammunition lead-free.
What makes Clean-22 different from regular .22 LR ammo?
Clean-22 ammunition uses a polymer coating around the projectile that CCI says reduces friction and fouling. Independent testing has also found reduced barrel and suppressor fouling compared with conventional exposed-lead ammunition.
What is the difference between Clean-22 High Velocity and Hyper Velocity?
Clean-22 High Velocity uses a 40-grain projectile at approximately 1,235 fps, while Clean-22 Hyper Velocity uses a lighter 31-grain projectile at 1,550 fps.
Is Clean-22 Hyper Velocity good for semi-automatic .22 LR firearms?
The high-velocity design provides a strong operating impulse compared with standard-velocity ammunition, but cycling performance varies by firearm. Test the ammunition in the specific rimfire platform before relying on it for a particular application.
Bottom Line
The CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity is interesting because it combines two characteristics that are not always found together: high-velocity .22 LR performance and polymer-coated lead ammunition designed to reduce fouling.
Its 31-grain projectile is rated at 1,550 fps, making it substantially faster than CCI’s 1,070- and 1,235-fps Clean-22 offerings. At the same time, CCI continues to position the polymer coating as an advantage for reducing fouling, particularly in suppressed rimfires.
It is important not to confuse “clean” with “lead-free.” The Clean-22 Hyper Velocity projectile is lead, with the polymer coating serving as a fouling-reduction technology.
For shooters who want a fast .22 LR load for high-volume shooting while reducing the amount of lead fouling produced by conventional ammunition, Clean-22 Hyper Velocity occupies a useful niche within CCI’s rimfire lineup.
For comparing current CCI Clean-22 Hyper Velocity and other .22 LR ammunition, Bulk Ammo Togo provides additional rimfire options.