Subsonic semi-auto .22lr ammo

DLParis

DLParis

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What's the best, quietest/subsonic ammo for the M&P 15/22 WithOut the use of a suppressor?
I've searched here, various sites, different forums and various stores, but can't make a definitive conclusion on which to order.

Can anyone please tell me the quietest subsonic .22lr ammo brands/types that will cycle the 15/22
 
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I use CCI Subsonic, CCI Standard Velocity & Norma Tac-22 & all cycle it perfectly & all sound the same to me suppressed. Not much difference in fps, so that seems logical to me. CCI Quiet would be much quieter but will not reliably cycle the action.
 
I've had great luck with Aguila subsonic and RWS subsonic in my S&W M&P 15-22!!! No cycling issues at all with either round! I hear the action and then the impact!!! And they pack a wallop!

With the RWS I had great penetration and expansion at 50 yards at a 55 gallon steel drum! Great varmint round IMO!
 

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CCI 45gr Suppressor HP and Federal 45gr Suppressor RN copper plated. Both cycles the action and very quiet, accurate and consistent. 970fps no suppressor needed.
 
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The CCI and Federal are fantastic. Highly accurate and consistent. I.have about 700 down range between the two in the last 2 weeks not one issues not even one. Out of 4 different.22lr weapons.

Gemtech Silencer 42gr are very nice and quiet also. No quite as quiet as the CCI and Federal.
 
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Eley Subsonic Hollow Points

It has not been mentioned above, but it is by far my favorite because I have found it not only quiet but consistently accurate, like match accurate, great for head shots on chipmunks out to 30 or 40 yards. The down side is it is expensive. A $90 brick if you can find it is a good deal. But unlike cheap bulk pack ammo for 40 or 50 bucks, this price point is not inflated. I would not use it for tin cans, plinking or rapid fire. But when you need to make the shot, nothing better.
 

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My absolute go to sub is Winchester sshp 40 grain truncated cone. IMHO there is nothing in comparison as far as a hunting/small game load. They have cycled well in my 15-22 with the few I've shot in it which was just to see if they would cycle. Don't wanna burn em up for plinking. I will second the eley subs though. They are my 2nd fav behind the winchesters.
Good luck,
Eddie
 
I used both the Win and Eley SubSonic. I liked the Eley a bit better more consistent.

But honestly guys try the CCI Suppressor. They have the same amount of energy down range as the other SubSonic and/or Standard Velocity rounds do to their heavier bullet. And seem to retain just about all their weight after expansion. They are just as consistent if not more so the the CCI Standard Velocity and the Eley and a bit more consistent then the Winchester SubSonic out of all my .22lr weapons.

Now my weapons love the Winchester SubSonic 42 max. These are just great. But they are impossible to find at the moment as they are made by Winchester Australia.
 
Seeing as how I don't have a sound meter this is just my own subjective hearing.

Quietist that will still cycle the gun - Aguila 60gr SSS 950fps.
It's a considerably longer bullet than a standard .22 and isn't suppose to stabilize well, but it shot fine for me at 50yds and no sign of keyholing.

Next quietest (pretty much the same) is American Eagle "Suppressor" 45gr 970fps.
This is a rare bird having a copper plated bullet that isn't loaded to high velocity. Shoots well and is cleaner for suppressor use.

Everything else is pretty much unremarkable. For suppressed shooting I use CCI Standard Velocity due to price and availability.
 
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ChattanoogaPhil said:
Seeing as how I don't have a sound meter this is just my own subjective hearing.

Quietist that will still cycle the gun - Aguila 60gr SSS 950fps.
It's a considerably longer bullet than a standard .22 and isn't suppose to stabilize well, but it shot fine for me at 50yds and no sign of keyholing.

Next quietest (pretty much the same) is American Eagle "Suppressor" 45gr 970fps.
This is a rare bird having a copper plated bullet that isn't loaded to high velocity. Shoots well and is cleaner for suppressor use.

Everything else is pretty much unremarkable. For suppressed shooting I use CCI Standard Velocity due to price and availability.
Click to expand...

The Federal Suppressor and CCI Suppressor are about the same. Being they are somewhat sister companies. The Federal favor are hard to find now. Glad I bought a 2 bricks while it was at a good price, have a brick left.

But the CCI Suppressor are popping up now. Seem CCI did a run of these lately. Check your local Academy mine just got some in yesterday. As stated above like the Federal the CCI flavor is very very clean and accurate and quiet. Expect to pay about $6 for 50 at Academy which what I paid at a LGS also.

The other rare one is the CCI Suppressor 45gr in Hollow point copper plated.
 
This stuff right here. Hands down the most quiet and accurate ammo ive found. Thats with or without the suppressor. Most people just want quiet. But i myself like both quietness and accuracy.

20160628_174624_zpsbnafnyxt.jpg
 
RedNeck Jim said:
I use CCI Subsonic, CCI Standard Velocity & Norma Tac-22 & all cycle it perfectly & all sound the same to me suppressed. Not much difference in fps, so that seems logical to me. CCI Quiet would be much quieter but will not reliably cycle the action.
Click to expand...

I ordered a box of Norma Tac-22 and a box of SK Rifle Match. Should be here tomorrow.
I was hoping to find some Aguila, or CCI Suppressors but couldn't find any available.
I'll post some results asap.
Thanks,
d
 
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DLParis said:
I ordered a box of Norma Tac-22 and a box of SK Rifle Match. Should be here tomorrow.
I was hoping to find some Aguila, or CCI Suppressors but couldn't find any available.
I'll post some results asap.
Thanks,
d
Click to expand...

My go to ammo now, is the Norma Tac-22. It used to be CCI Standard Velocity and I have many thousands of rounds but I find the Norma a bit more accurate and much easier to buy by the case. I also prefer the "greasy" coating on the Norma as I feel that ammo will possibly store better & longer having that coating. Champion Shooters Supply usually has it in stock in case quantities & costs .10 per round as opposed to the .12 each for the CCI Suppressor listed above.

The best way I know to evaluate how loud ammo is is to shoot suppressed thru a bolt gun, otherwise there is just too much other noise associated with the cycling of the action. I just know, thru a suppressed bolt gun, the Norma & CCI Standard Velocity sounds like a pellet gun. Hard to imagine any other round with enough power to cycle the action reliably being noticeably quieter. I don't doubt there may be some rounds a few db less, but I said noticeably. Same with suppressors. Some folks brag that one suppressor is a few db quieter than another but the human ear, especially an old one, can't register that small a difference.
 
Virtually any target ammunition is subsonic. I shot a lot of Eley Black Box when I shot 50 meter prone matches and you could definitely tell a difference between that and cheaper target ammo. The cheaper stuff would occasionally push a bullet into the supersonic range with the sonic crack easily discerned.

What I would suggest the OP do is to buy a single box of every target velocity ammunition he can find and shoot them for noise, functioning, and grouping. Then you buy as much of that ammunition as you can afford and hope it's the same lot number.
 
RedNeck Jim said:
My go to ammo now, is the Norma Tac-22. It used to be CCI Standard Velocity and I have many thousands of rounds but I find the Norma a bit more accurate and much easier to buy by the case. I also prefer the "greasy" coating on the Norma as I feel that ammo will possibly store better & longer having that coating. Champion Shooters Supply usually has it in stock in case quantities & costs .10 per round as opposed to the .12 each for the CCI Suppressor listed above.

The best way I know to evaluate how loud ammo is is to shoot suppressed thru a bolt gun, otherwise there is just too much other noise associated with the cycling of the action. I just know, thru a suppressed bolt gun, the Norma & CCI Standard Velocity sounds like a pellet gun. Hard to imagine any other round with enough power to cycle the action reliably being noticeably quieter. I don't doubt there may be some rounds a few db less, but I said noticeably. Same with suppressors. Some folks brag that one suppressor is a few db quieter than another but the human ear, especially an old one, can't register that small a difference.
Click to expand...

Sorry but the 970fps suppressor ammo is noticeable quieter than the Tac 22 and Cci SV. Noticeable. I shot them all out of my CZ455, 15-22, 10-22 and 22-45. The CCI and Federal Suppressor ammo is noticeable quieter and cycles the action in all the semi-auto without one issue every time. The OP said best and quietest without a suppressor.

I like both the Tac22 and CCI SV but for quite accurate shooting without a suppressor the suppressor ammo are hard to beat. The only ones I have not tested is the Aguila SSS.
 
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Glad you pointed out that OP said W/O supressor.

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