With the Long Range Match, RWS presented a new .22 LR rimfire cartridge this year, specially developed for shooters who value an affordable purchase price and yet exceptional accuracy. With a high, supersonic muzzle velocity of 345 m/s (shot from the test barrel), the RWS Long Range Match ensures a flat trajectory and tight groupings even beyond the 50-meter mark, which is standard for most rimfire rifle disciplines. Following the launch of the RWS R Plus Long Range in the premium segment, the new RWS Long Range Match is RWS's response to the continuing trend towards using rimfire rifles at longer ranges. In terms of price, the German ammunition manufacturer has priced the new rimfire cartridge at a non-binding recommended retail price of €10.70 per box of 50 cartridges in the Professional line – as the yellow stripe on the pack reveals – which also includes the Rifle Match and Rifle Match S variants.
The RWS Long Range Match is based on the high production standards of the well-known R50 and R100 lines from the Premium line with the gold-striped packaging. Every component is designed for maximum consistency, from the choice of materials to manufacture in state-of-the-art production facilities. The result is consistent ignition, a uniform muzzle velocity and reduced wind drift, even during extended shooting sessions.
Its position in the mid-price segment of the Professional line makes the new Long Range Match attractive to a broad target group: from ambitious beginners to experienced competition shooters and professionals who expect the highest level of reliability. The new RWS Long Range Match is available in packs of 50, 500 and 5,000.
The most important advantages of the RWS Long Range Match cartridge at a glance:
- Tight shot groups thanks to supersonic speed
- Reliable ballistics with reduced wind drift
- High manufacturing quality according to strict RWS standards
- Versatile for training and competition
- Attractive price-performance ratio
RWS R Plus Long Range – High bullet weight and more velocity for a longer trajectory
At the same time, as already mentioned, RWS offers an absolute high-end cartridge in the Premium line with the R Plus Long Range. The centerpiece of this cartridge is a special, patented bullet design with a pointed tail that guarantees a particularly high ballistic coefficient (BC). The BC summarises the cross-sectional area and the areodynamic properties of a projectile in one number, whereby the further the shooting distance, the greater the BC value should be in order to be able to compensate for as many external ballistic factors as possible.
With a muzzle velocity of 355 m/s (from a 650-mm test barrel) and a bullet weight of 43 grains (2.8 grams), the cartridge not only provides an elongated trajectory, but is also significantly less susceptible to crosswinds than classic .22 loads with 40-gr bullets. The R Plus Long Range thus sets new standards in the premium segment for long-range shooters. The pack of 50 RWS R Plus Long Range cartridges costs €27.30 (RRP).
With the RWS Long Range Match and the RWS R Plus Long Range at the shooting range
For our test, we used the new Anschütz 1727 APR Competition precision rifle model with a thick match barrel and the Fortner straight-pull action familiar from biathlon. A Zeiss LRP S5 525-56, a proven long-range riflescope, was used on the test rifle's Picatinny rail with 30 MOA pre-tilt. Equipped in this way, long-range expert and experienced shooter Christopher Hocke went to the open shooting range for our test to determine the accuracy of both the RWS Long Range Match and the RWS R Plus Long Range at distances of 50, 100 and 150 m respectively for this report. We would have liked to shoot at further distances here, but unfortunately the wind conditions on the test day were characterised by extreme gusts, so that despite the ammunition types already optimised for wind draft, it was not possible to conduct a meaningful accuracy test at ranges beyond the 150-m mark.
Shooting results with the RWS Long Range Match and RWS R Plus Long Range cartridges at distances up to 150 m
Target Distance and Ballistics: | 50 m | 100 m | 50 m | v0 | E0 |
RWS Longe Range Match: | 16 mm | 37 mm | 60 mm | 353 m/s | 161 J |
RWS R Plus Long Range: | 11 mm | 36 mm | 52 mm | 365 m/s | 186 J |
Notes/Abbreviations: | 5-shot groups, measured center-to-center. The groupings were shot from a sitting position using a bipod and with buttstock support. v0 = muzzle velocity, E0 = bullet energy calculated from v0 and bullet weight. | ||||
Looking at the groupings, it can be said that the RWS Long Range Match, as a competition cartridge, offers even the more ambitious shooter more flexibility in terms of budget up to the 100-m mark compared to the Premium-line RWS R Plus Long Range. However, at longer distances the heavier bullet of the RWS R Plus Long Range proves to be more accurate. Therefore, if every millimeter of accuracy counts, the shooter should be prepared to dig a little deeper into their pockets if they want to rely on the highest possible accuracy from their cartridge in competition.
And what about RWS precision ammo for long-range shooting with centerfire rifles?
If you want to be at the forefront of centerfire long-range shooting at distances of up to 1,200 meters, you should take a closer look at the RWS Target Elite Plus. The fact that RWS has a suitable and precise solution for this purpose with the Target Elite Plus Target Elite Plus is not least due to the in-house bullet with which the manufacturer manufactures this cartridge. The handloader quality match cartridge is fitted with the Scorion bullet, a streamlined hollow-point bullet with a boat tail that has excellent aerodynamic properties.
Thanks to the double-step loading technology, the manufacturer RWS achieves extremely consistent production with this cartridge. This minimises weight fluctuations in the manufacturing process and optimises the concentricity of the bullet – all factors that have a major influence on accuracy at long ranges. In test runs, the Target Elite Plus achieves met defined accuracy requirements of 16.9 to 25 mm standard deviation at 300 m.
The cartridge is clearly aimed at long-range disciplines and long-range competitions where every millimeter counts. Here you can find more information about the RWS Target Elite Plus on all4shooters.com.
Conclusion on the RWS cartridges specially designed for long-range shooting
With its Long Range Match, R Plus Long Range, and Target Elite Plus ammo types, specially designed for long-range shooting, RWS once again demonstrates that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand. While the Long Range Match impresses as a versatile and affordable solution for sport shooters, the R Plus Long Range serves the premium segment with the most modern bullet design for top shooters. In centerfire rifle shooting, the Target Elite Plus has long since found its firm fan community in competitions with distances up to and beyond the kilometer mark.
You can find out more about the RWS long-range cartridges mentioned in the report on the following websites:
Product information on the new RWS Long Range Match rimfire cartridge.
Product webpage with further details on the R Plus Long Range in 22 LR.
The most important information about the RWS Target Elite Plus precision centerfire cartridge.
