New for 2026: CCI Hunter and Golden Boy

by
posted on January 18, 2026
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
LEDE CCI Boxes

CCI has been busy of late, with several new offerings this year, but a couple of their excellent rimfire offerings caught my eye. The CCI Hunter line of 22 Long Rifle ammo sees the return to simplicity —there are two loads built around a 40-grain flat point lead bullet. The first sees a muzzle velocity of 1,235 fps, for a traditional performance level we are all familiar with. The second load runs a bit slower—at 1,050 fps—for subsonic performance. The simple lead projectile has been a staple since the inception of the cartridge in the 19th century, and tends to damage less meat than does a hollowpoint. They will, however, expand well enough to ensure quick kills on groundhogs, foxes and even coyotes. CCI loads the Hunter ammo in 100-count translucent blaze orange boxes. While those plastic boxes are handy for shipping and storing ammunition, I must admit they rattle a bit more than I’d like them to. Nonetheless, I appreciate the return to a simple, flat-nose lead projectile.

In keeping with the collectable ammo box theme brought out this year by TKG (The Kinetic Group) ammo companies, CCI has paired with Henry for the Golden Boy Collector’s Edition 22 LR ammo. Consisting of a 36-grain copper plated hollowpoint bullet, at a muzzle velocity of 1,260 fps, CCI packs 275 of these little dandies to the box. That hollowpoint is equally at home in the hunting fields as it is at the target range. The Henry Golden Boy lever-action rifle has become an iconic American gun, and CCI is one of our most revered rimfire ammunition producers, so I really like this collaboration, and will be putting a box or two away for posterity. Both CCI and Henry make their products right here at home, and the box reads “Made in America or not made at all.” For more information, visit cci-ammunition.com and henryusa.com.

Latest

Majestic Deer In A Forest Glade 2026 01 07 07 17 03 Utc
Majestic Deer In A Forest Glade 2026 01 07 07 17 03 Utc

What Summer Buck Sightings Tell Us

Dreaming of fall? Here are some things to look for during your summertime scouting.

One Out of Every Four Hunters Won’t Hunt in 2026

One out of every four hunters who hunted the 2025 season will not hunt in 2026. That startling statistic was arrived at by Southwick Associates after conducting a survey of 28,447 hunters in 20 states.

Says You: Sightseeing on a Hunt?

Editor-in-Chief Scott Olmsted's monthly response column to questions posed by our members. This time, we're discussing hunting practices and traditions, and making some long-distance connections.

First Look: CVA Cascade SR

CVA has announced the Cascade SR. This suppressor-ready version of the company's standard Cascade, is built for hunters who need a compact, maneuverable rifle.

Fueled by AI: Boone and Crockett Club Launches Big Game Records Live 2.0

The Boone and Crockett Club recently launched Big Game Records Live 2.0, a major evolution of its digital platform that transforms the world’s oldest big game records database into an interactive analytics tool for hunters.

Lightweight AR-10: Building a Hunt-Focused Backcountry Rifle (Part 1)

Curious how to create a .308-chambered AR-10 that *doesn't* suck to carry into the backcountry? Dennis Bradley does just that, off a DPMS-pattern lower, and comes it at a shocking weight (read on for the exact number, but it is sub 2). Read on, to see how he does it.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.