Ammo for 'The Sound of Silence'?

[hakr100]

I must say, this message board is a great source of quality and accurate info on our rifles, ammo, and matters that pertain to both and a lot more.

I'm pleased with the lack of gunfire noise with my 15-22, my Sparrow sound suppressor and CCI Standard Velocity (SV) ammo. All I can hear when I fire off rounds is the mechanical "click" of the rifle bolt as it reciprocates. So, I have the ammo I want for that firearm.

I've also got a Ruger Mk III on which I fit the same suppressor. It is not as quiet as the rifle when I fire off CCI SV rounds. Mind you, it is a lot quieter with the suppressor affixed than it is when it is not affixed, but I'd like more in the way of "quiet."

I managed to get ahold of some CCI "Suppressor" rounds. I like the rounds - the bullets are copper plated and therefore are cleaner than the SV in terms of lead deposits in the barrel - and they seem to produce a teensy less sound than the SV rounds in my pistol. But I'd like to do better, in terms of quiet ammo.

Any suggestions?

In the 15-22, the "Suppressor" rounds aren't really any quieter than the SV rounds, since the only noise is mechanical from the rifle.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I find that CCI SV & Norma Tac-22 are a perfect match for my SBR 15-22 suppressed with a Sparrow. They function flawlessly & are plenty quiet. I can't expect much quieter than what they provide because the true test is shooting thru a bolt gun, where you don't pick up all that noise from the action cycling on a semi-auto. Either of those ammo shot thru my CZ455 with Sparrow attached sounds like a pellet gun. So with that being the case, I see no sense in hunting for quieter ammo. It can't get much quieter than these plus with the lesser energy, probably would impact reliability negatively.

 

[LittleCooner]

My suppressor is still "in jail" but I did a great deal of research back in the winter. My thoughts, based totally on my research, is that you will never be able to have the same "silence" from a pistol as a rifle with a 22LR that is blowback designed semi auto.

You must answer just what it is you want to accomplish with the Ruger Mark III. The recoil/action spring an any of these guns will have a range that the work and then as the amount of powder in the case is reduced, they comes a point when the action will not cycle. I will be playing with some of this in a few months. I would think a CB or possible a 22 Short could yield a very quite round in the pistol, yet know it would not even begin to cycle the action to reload.

Person opinion. Short barrels (pistols) and a suppressor are not of sufficient length to burn 100 % of the primer and powder mixture in any 22 LR SV round, so that little extra noise that is not there in a rifle is the burning of that powder that still escapes out the end of the suppressor. Watched a lot of YouTube videos, Shot a few different suppressors and read quite a bit before I decided the brand and make of the suppressor I purchased.

If you want that same quite sound in your Mark III and want it to cycle in the autoloading mode, I think the only way anyone will ever accomplish this is an after market barrel that is quite a bit longer that what you have. This is why I have only threaded the barrels on a few of my 22 LR rifles as I plan on hunting with them. The pistols will not see the "cans" on the front and I believe you still need to use hearing protectors when shooting a pistol with a "can" installed.

At the NRA convention, I spent a lot of time talking to one of the design engineers with AAC about "performance".
Mostly about centerfire rifles. Personal opinion - the manufactures have the ability to make your Ruger pistol very quite, but you would not want to pay the price or like the size of that huge long suppressor that would be required to accomplish the task. Just like life, its all about the compromise of functionality, price and performance.

 

[telero]

I would guess that in your pistol the bolt is opening sooner than in your rifle and you are getting additional sound coming out of the ejection port. If that's the case, less powerful (slower) ammo like CCI Quiet-22 might help a little, but it also may not cycle the action. Possibly adjusting the weight of the bolt and/or the weight of the recoil spring may help in either case.

 

[LittleCooner]

Let me see if anyone else jumps into this thread with support of my idea.

I think this "suppressor craze" and opening all the states to legally hunt with suppressors may fuel the gun manufactures to bring the autoloading 22 short pistol back to the market.

I grew up shooting and hunting with shorts and us old timers remember buying either 22 short, 22 long or 22 long rifle 40-50 years ago. Auto loaders and "progress" led to only a 22 long rifle market and the old 22 short Olympic pistol competition was a very small part of the market.

I would think that there would be some combination of barrel length and using the titanium "cans" that would bring the sound to the level the OP would like to see. I would love to see that long barreled 41 short the guy has posted on here, brought back to the S&W catalog with a properly threaded barrel. Would be a lovely firearm to shoot.

 

[Grayfox]

I've got a can that will go on either my 10/22 or my Buckmark. I just don't think its possible to get a handgun as quiet as a rifle. But, if you let someone else shoot the gun and back off 20-30 ft, you'll find that a handgun can be pretty quiet.
I've tried several of the low noise, sub-sonic or suppressor .22 loads. I always go back to CCI SV. Quiet is good, accurate is better.

 

[hakr100]

Thank you all for your comments. I agree that the shorter barrel on pistols prevents the same sort of complete powder burn that can be accomplished in a rifle. I did try the CCI "Quiet" rounds, and they did not cycle in either my 15-22 or my pistol.

 

[Newhouse]

Gemtech and American Eagle suppressor 22 maybe quiter and cycles my MP15-22.

 

[StlBluesFan72]

I found my Sparrow to be great on my rifles, but not so great on short barrels or pistols, so I got a Spectre II for pistol shooting. Using my M&P 22 with the Spectre II, and Federal Suppressor Ammo or CCI Suppressor ammo (Impossible to find) I get nothing but the action cycling and a sound of a very light and dull hand clap. Definitely quiet enough to shoot indoors, and what I would consider "hollywood" quiet!

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I also have a MarkIII and Sparrow. I shoot CCI SV 99% of the time.

If you want to try something else you might look around for American Eagle Suppressor Ammo. I've got some. 45gr copper plated bullet (very rare in subsonic) and rated at 970fps. It's supposed to have faster burning powder in an effort to burn more while still in the barrel rather than after exiting the muzzle to keep things quieter and can cleaner, and the copper plated bullet helps keep the can cleaner too.

It's got excellent reviews and the consistency is remarkable.

Good luck finding it. If you do, send me a PM and well buy a truckload together.

To quiet things down much more you'll need to shoot the can wet or get a different can. My YHM Wraith is noticeable quieter on short handgun barrel.

 

[hakr100]

I've got some CCI "Suppressor" ammo, also 970 FPS and 45 grain copper bullet. Can't hear any difference firing it in my 15-22, compared to CCI SV, and might be...might be...a "smidge" quieter in my Ruger MkIII pistol. I've got no way or place to try out a different can on my pistol, and dropping another $600 on a can that *might* be a hair quieter seems a bit over the top for me.

No luck finding any American Eagle suppressor ammo.

 

[Faulkner]

I've been using the German made subsonic ammo that works great in my rifles and pistols with my Surefire Ryder 22A suppressor. I bought a couple of bricks at a gunshow just to try out.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

......... and dropping another $600 on a can that *might* be a hair quieter seems a bit over the top for me.

I'm with ya on the which can is quieter argument. They are all quiet enough to shoot a pistol without hearing protection.

That said, the Sparrow does have a nasty first round pop on pistols that my Wraith does not. The Wraith is as quiet dry as the Sparrow is wet.

This is the 15-22 Forum, right?

 

[hakr100]

Phil:

What are you using to "wet" that Sparrow? Plain old water? A friend suggests I just dip the Sparrow muzzle end into a glass of water that isn't as tall as the Sparrow, and then shooting it at an angle that doesn't let all the water drip out or ooze back into the pistol. What do you do when you finish? Take the Sparrow apart and oil it?

To get back on topic, the Sparrow is great on my 15-22...and I see no reason to use anything more expensive or rare than CCI Standard Velocity rounds. I'm not buying another .22LR silencer...but I am thinking about one for my .357 Henry...maybe. I'd have to ship the rifle to ADCO for threading, though. Or at least the barrel.

 

[68sixspeed]

I tried a little bit (1/2 tablespoon to tablespoon) of wire pulling gel and it does work and helps take that first round pop out of the sparrow. Doesn't run out of the barrel either. Under $10 on amazon or the home improvement store for a quart size bottle.

 

[RedNeck Jim]

I don't see the need to worry about FRP or any solution to it. I mean, by definition, it only impacts the first round... and only on short pistol length barrels. Now if I were hunting with it or if maybe I worked for the CIA, then maybe I'd give it more thought. But since I normally shoot many hundreds of rounds per outing, that first round ain't real significant, plus it ain't so loud as to hurt your ears or require hearing protection.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I don't shoot wet. I mean I have... but it isn't a practice.

Dunking the can in water is ok, but be sure to let it run out. You only need about a tablespoon or so to get the job done. Too much can build up high pressures, excessive blow back and could damage the can.

Wire pulling gel works well. Unlike water, if doesn't leak out or evaporate before use. You can put some in the can before you go backyard critter hunting to avoid that FRP. Some guys use gel throughout a shooting session because it makes for easier cleanup of the internals but I don't bother with it. The DIP works well for cleaning.

 

[hakr100]

If I am understanding what I am reading (hey, two university degrees in English and I'm easy to confuse), the "wet" approach only quiets the first round pop?

 

[hakr100]

I've been using the German made subsonic ammo that works great in my rifles and pistols with my Surefire Ryder 22A suppressor. I bought a couple of bricks at a gunshow just to try out.

A couple of buddies have "recommended" that very ammo you are using, but no one has seen any of it. It used to be manufactured by the Nobel dynamite company, but I read somewhere the license and production rights were sold to another company.

I'd love to try some but...it's basically Unobtanium.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

If I am understanding what I am reading (hey, two university degrees in English and I'm easy to confuse), the "wet" approach only quiets the first round pop?

It helps some beyond the first round. But of course water quickly evaporates. The idea is to cool and slow down the hot expanding gasses. That's what quiets things down. The FRP is largely the result of more oxygen in the can which burns and creates even more hot expanding gasses.

 

[joaquinwalking]

Sound suppressor (i.e. silencer).

I'm surprised to see silencers advertised in magazines. I'd always thought they were illegal. Would someone enlighten me on this trend?

Thanks,

JoaquinWalking

 

[hakr100]

I'm surprised to see silencers advertised in magazines. I'd always thought they were illegal. Would someone enlighten me on this trend?

Thanks,

JoaquinWalking

Perfectly legal in my state of Maryland, which is considered fairly restrictive on firearms. You do have to jump through a federal form, a 90-day waiting period (at least), and the purchase of a $200 tax stamp.

 

[Majorlk]

I'm surprised to see silencers advertised in magazines. I'd always thought they were illegal. Would someone enlighten me on this trend?

Thanks,

JoaquinWalking

They are legal here in Connecticut, pending the required federal paperwork.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

You're not alone. It's not unusual for someone at the Club to ask the same thing. The popularity of suppressors is off the charts. There's been more suppressors sold in the last few years than all sales since the NFA in 1934.

Legal in most states, I think around 40 now.

If you have a place to shoot other than a range with folks banging away with unmuffled guns, it really makes shooting enjoyable absent muffs and plugs. The shooting environment comes alive with sounds you've never heard before.

I started shooting suppressed rimfire a few years ago. I won't shoot any other way now. So beware... once you start shooting suppressed there's no going back. Might consider stocking up on standard velocity ammo while you're waiting on the stamp.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

For you suppressed rimfire fans...

Palmetto has unlimited CCI SV $45/brick.

 

[gks6419]

I shoot a FORM 1 can on my S&W M&P .22 Compact (3.5") barrel and it sounds like a pellet gun with CCI SV! $200 Tax stamp $100 in parts! Results are cheap and impressive, with less first round pop than commercial cans. Less bang for your buck

 

[Faulkner]

For you suppressed rimfire fans...

Palmetto has unlimited CCI SV $45/brick.

Thanks, not been able to find any locally so I ordered a couple of bricks.

 

[whoppo]

I've tried a LOT of different types of ammo with and without a can. The Gemtech 42gr subsonic ammo is a clear winner among all I've tried. It's "just" subsonic at just over 1000fps. It cycles semiauto with complete reliability. Without a can it's about as loud as a party popper... with a can you hear only the cycling of the bolt.

Kinda hard to find, but I've seen it online recently for around $6.oo for a box of 50.

 

[hakr100]

At the only on-line supplier I could find, the GEMTECH is 40 cents a round. The CCI "Standard Velocity" I've been buying is also subsonic, and can be found for about 8, 9, or 10 cents a round. I'd love to watch a test comparing the sounds these two rounds make...

 

[whoppo]

At the only on-line supplier I could find, the GEMTECH is 40 cents a round. The CCI "Standard Velocity" I've been buying is also subsonic, and can be found for about 8, 9, or 10 cents a round. I'd love to watch a test comparing the sounds these two rounds make...

http://swfa.com/Gemtech-Ammunition-22LR-Subsonic-42gr-50rd-Box-P70677.aspx