kmonroe99
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I'm looking for a quiet 22 handgun setup for critter management in the suburbs. The key factors are quiet and small. I'm considering anything from a Beretta Bobcat with Bowers Bitty on up.
Suppressed 22 handgun advice
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My S&W Victory .22 with a Sparrow is quiet, so is a Walther PPKS with the same suppressor. Both guns are treaded and ready to go. Shoot 60 grain ammo for best sound reduction but semi auto may not work.
dmthomp32
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Without having owned a suppressor I'd say the bobcat with a short suppressor might still be too loud for the suburbs, unless you are using it as a single shot with either "Quiet" or some other subsonic rounds. Shorter barrels and semi auto actions equal louder report. If pest management is the name of the game and being inconspicuous is very important, I'd get something like one of the Cricket Bolt action pistols (yes pistol), they have an 8" barrel I believe, they are obviously a single shot bolt action but are threaded. All elements that would add to their level of quiet. Plus you could add a brace/red dot or scope to the package to increase your chance of hits (very important in the burbs). Not to mention the whole project could be funded for under $300. Just my two cents.
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Your thoughts of managing critters in the suburbs with a .22 requires you to have a handgun you can shoot accurately. IMO, this excludes many small guns such as the Beretta and others. My solution to this problem was solved with a Browning Buckmark and a S&W M&P compact. I have a Tactical Innovations Quest and a YHM Stinger which both do a fine job. You can even load .22 shorts if a second quick shot is not necessary.
One other thing, use subsonic ammo.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
My brother's Walther P-22 does a pretty good job on the raccoons! This setup will conceal in a big coat pocket.
Rather than the Aguila SSS 60 grain with the highest and pretty good accuracy, he goes with RWS subsonic HP 40 grain for exultant accuracy. The cats are sometime right there amongst the 'coons, in the barn. One in the brain pan is very hard to argue with.
If you have much variation in your target distance, the SSS has a very high arch to the trajectory compares to the RWS.
I always used a 22 rifle or a 223 rifle with a big silencer and supersonic ammo around the farm. Once supersonic, the noise level is the same (or close enough!) Just a high pitched crack, and done!
Just remember, this is not TV! All the gun noises are the same so the click of the firing pin and whatever noise the bolt makes are the same, if someone is observing!
My F-I-L had a scoped single shot 22 rifle with a soup can full of steel wool threaded on it. He would use standard velocity target ammo and snipe rabbits out of the garden from a bedroom window, while one of the neighbors mowed grass! Rabbits will often scream and/or jump up high, so having a covering noise often helps! (The gun belonged to the Police Department!). Ivan
Rather than the Aguila SSS 60 grain with the highest and pretty good accuracy, he goes with RWS subsonic HP 40 grain for exultant accuracy. The cats are sometime right there amongst the 'coons, in the barn. One in the brain pan is very hard to argue with.
If you have much variation in your target distance, the SSS has a very high arch to the trajectory compares to the RWS.
I always used a 22 rifle or a 223 rifle with a big silencer and supersonic ammo around the farm. Once supersonic, the noise level is the same (or close enough!) Just a high pitched crack, and done!
Just remember, this is not TV! All the gun noises are the same so the click of the firing pin and whatever noise the bolt makes are the same, if someone is observing!
My F-I-L had a scoped single shot 22 rifle with a soup can full of steel wool threaded on it. He would use standard velocity target ammo and snipe rabbits out of the garden from a bedroom window, while one of the neighbors mowed grass! Rabbits will often scream and/or jump up high, so having a covering noise often helps! (The gun belonged to the Police Department!). Ivan
Electraclyde
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I have several .22 pistols and rifles. The best combo of "quiet" and accuracy is a bolt action rifle with sub sonic ammo. Sub sonic ammo, even in a pistol like a S&W victory .22 will make more noise that the bolt action rifle, even if it cycles the action. You will be surprised at the noise level of just the action cycling. The surpressed bolt action rifle with sub sonic ammo will make less noise that a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun.
Rodan
Member
I have an M&P .22 compact and a Dead Air Mask. With CCI Standard Velocity, it's very quiet, and functions properly. As noted above, the sound of the action cycling is louder than the shot. In my experience, none of the specialty 'suppressor' ammo was any quieter than the CCI SV, and some of it wouldn't function the gun. Once nice thing with the M&P is Dawson makes suppressor height sights for it.
That said, a bolt action/single shot will be quieter. My suppressor on my bolt action .22 is quieter than any airgun I've ever heard. Something like a T/C contender with a reflex sight would be perfect for what you're talking about. Shouldn't be very expensive to have the barrel threaded, and it's easy to ship if you don't have a local 'smith that can do it.
That said, a bolt action/single shot will be quieter. My suppressor on my bolt action .22 is quieter than any airgun I've ever heard. Something like a T/C contender with a reflex sight would be perfect for what you're talking about. Shouldn't be very expensive to have the barrel threaded, and it's easy to ship if you don't have a local 'smith that can do it.
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Puller
Member
My Ruger SR22 with Surefire suppressor fits the bill for small and quiet. It functions well with sub-sonic or CCI suppressor ammo and the report is satisfactorily quiet . I've dispatched a number of unwelcome varmints around the hen house with mine.
Which Surefire is that? Thanks
Puller
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Surefire Ryder 22-A.
Rick_A
Member
I like my 22/45 MKII with Gemtech GM22. My ex's S&W 22 Compact was quieter (there's a plastic buffer in the guide rod), but mine's nicer and more accurate.
20180122_072424(1) by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20180122_072424(1) by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
gwpercle
Member
Don't forget quieter ammo . I live in the city and have dispatched pest with a semi-auto pistol and 22 CB Caps . They do not cycle the action , it remains closed but that's good, and the CB Cap is not loud at all ... a very muffled sound is all you hear ... my pistol doesn't have a silencer / suppressor on it ... just a Ruger MKII w/ 5" barrel .
Give the CB Caps a try ... they will help with noise .
Gary
Give the CB Caps a try ... they will help with noise .
Gary
forindooruseonly
Member
One thing that has not been mentioned that I find is really important for me in the burbs is "first round pop", where the first shot is louder than the subsequent ones. Some suppressors have quite a bit of a first round pop, which isn't good when you are dispatching a critter with only one shot.
I have a Silencerco Spectre that has no first round pop, while my YHM, Dead Air and integral AWC all have some degree of first round pop.
In a pistol, most ammo is subsonic anyway, so any bulk 40 gr. bullet will work just as well as the more expensive and harder to find specialized ammo. That is really for rifles. I shoot lots of bulk Federal and Winchester in mine and they're both subsonic with pistol barrels. On rifles, I use CCI standard velocity stuff. I never ever buy the specialized stuff.
Additionally, guns with a locking barrel action will be quieter than a blowback. My cheap GSG 1911 .22 is noticeably quieter on any suppressor than my fancy Ruger or Buckmark.
Just some thoughts from what my experience is playing around with a number of different .22s.
I have a Silencerco Spectre that has no first round pop, while my YHM, Dead Air and integral AWC all have some degree of first round pop.
In a pistol, most ammo is subsonic anyway, so any bulk 40 gr. bullet will work just as well as the more expensive and harder to find specialized ammo. That is really for rifles. I shoot lots of bulk Federal and Winchester in mine and they're both subsonic with pistol barrels. On rifles, I use CCI standard velocity stuff. I never ever buy the specialized stuff.
Additionally, guns with a locking barrel action will be quieter than a blowback. My cheap GSG 1911 .22 is noticeably quieter on any suppressor than my fancy Ruger or Buckmark.
Just some thoughts from what my experience is playing around with a number of different .22s.
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Gene L
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I've got one for my Buckmark. I had a Walther P 22, already threaded for a silencer, but the pistol wasn't as accurate as I wanted.
Thing about silencers on a .22 is most of them will mask your sights. I had to get an accursed red dot for mine.
Thing about silencers on a .22 is most of them will mask your sights. I had to get an accursed red dot for mine.
My setup is a Ruger MK 4, with a Sparrow. Decent quiet with subsonic A”ammo, but the first shot is a bit louder than follow up shots. It’s also set up to mount a red dot, if needed.
That said, my go-to for backyard varmint duty is a suppressed CZ 455. Much more quiet than a pistol, and the accuracy of the rifle/scope really helps make quick work of it…
I don’t have a picture of the CZ, but here’s the Ruger:
That said, my go-to for backyard varmint duty is a suppressed CZ 455. Much more quiet than a pistol, and the accuracy of the rifle/scope really helps make quick work of it…
I don’t have a picture of the CZ, but here’s the Ruger:
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Faulkner
Member
I too have a Surefire Ryder 22A that does good service for my needs. I have several threaded .22 LR pistols that I use but most often it's attached to my Ruger MKIV. It's one of my go to guns for dispatching masked bandits that try to raid the chicken house at night.
If one is serious about accuracy AND noise, though, I agree that a long gun does a better job. My S&W 15-22 is set up to dispatch vermin night raiders with a 5mW green laser, tactical weapons light, and suppressor. With subsonic rounds the only noise it makes is the bolt cycling. With this setup neighbors in the suburbs won't be aware you're taking care of business in the night and you'll have much better control of where the bullet goes.
If one is serious about accuracy AND noise, though, I agree that a long gun does a better job. My S&W 15-22 is set up to dispatch vermin night raiders with a 5mW green laser, tactical weapons light, and suppressor. With subsonic rounds the only noise it makes is the bolt cycling. With this setup neighbors in the suburbs won't be aware you're taking care of business in the night and you'll have much better control of where the bullet goes.
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Rodan
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Best of both worlds? 
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