suppressed .22

[444 Magnum]

My friend recently acquired a suppressor for .22 rimfire.
He plans to use it on a Ruger 10-22 rifle and a Ruger Mark IV pistol.
My question (and his) is what ammo to use in each or both. I saw mixed reviews on different ammo. The CCI Quiet at 710 and 835 fps definitely has mixed results. One person talked about changing springs to get desired results.
Any suggestions on ammo based on forum member's experience?
Will there be different results based on barrel lengths and the blow-back design?
Thanks for any help.

 

[BKLooney]

I usually run the CCI Quiet sub-sonic HP 40 grain through mine, about 400 rounds in and no issues so far.

 

[mckenney99]

For just plinking, CCI standard velocity works just fine. In my 10/22's and my "Colt/Umarex" AR22 the CCI standard stayed subsonic even through the longer barrels. I tried the Remington Sub-sonics and through the "Colt/Umarex" about every 3rd or 4th round would go super sonic. Through pistols any standard velocity ammo should stay sub-sonic. Don't buy into the hype that you have to buy special suppressor ammo.

 

[10mm Shooter]

I will echo what mckenney99 said. I use CCI Standard Velocity ammo in my suppressed rifles and CCI Mini Mags in my suppressed pistols - just because I am CCI fan. You can use any standard 22LR rounds in a suppressed pistol, due to the short length of the barrel...

 

[444 Magnum]

Let me expound on my question. I've shot some rounds that would not cycle a blow back action because there wasn't enough pressure. I remember shooting some .22 rounds that were given me in a "grab bag". Some of them did not have enough pressure to cycle the action. They weren't squibs. They fired and hit the target but the rifle action would not cycle. I assumed at the time they must have been subsonic rounds. I was not using a suppresor at the time.
My question, I guess, is how low can you go (measured in fps) and still get enough pressure to consistently cycle the action? Will a suppressed rifle fire lower pressure rounds than a suppressed pistol due to the longer barrel length?
Thanks.

 

[mckenney99]

How low can you go and still get reliable function? I think there are too many variables in play with your question. I believe it would actually take testing each low pressure/velocity ammo in each firearm to see if it will function. One problem you have to watch for is getting velocity/pressure so low that the bullet could possibly lodge in a longer barreled rifle.

 

[Model52guy]

I have used the Aguila 60 gr SSS in my S&W M422. Works great. Cycles the auto reliably.

 

[colt_saa]

Right now I have perhaps 10 22LR firearms set up for suppressors.

They work with three cans that I designed and built myself the first one going back more than 30 years now.

The first was a Ruger MK-II target that I ghost threaded. That can was a bit oversized because my original intent was to use it with the select fire G3 sub-caliber kit in my G3k.

I have a few additional MK-II configurations along with a Walther PPk/s and a SIG P322 and the 22LR kit for the SIG P220, Several 10-22 originals and some built from receivers that I milled myself along with one of the Ruger Precision bolt guns and to satisfy my inner Maxwell Smart, a revolver set up for a can.

Any ammunition may be used in the bolt guns, single shots, pumps, levers and revolver. The auto loaders were the issue. More than half of the autos worked just fine with just about any 22LR ammo that I threw at them including the sub-sonic stuff.

I was going to have one of my German Walther 22s ghost threaded about the time that Walther introduced the new PPk/s 22LR already threaded for just a couple of dollars more than what it would have cost me to ghost thread the German gun, so I bought one in nickel since my first can was bare aluminium. The PPk/s was probably the most finicky ammunition wise, it is pictured below with that 1st Full-Auto rated can.

Since it was new, I gave it about a 1,000 rounds of assorted High Velocity and faster ammunition to smooth things out, but that did not help. Finally the folks at Federal/American Eagle sent me some of their 45 grain Sub-Sonic and BAM that did the trick. With this can and the American Eagle Sub-Sonic it is almost motion picture quiet, not counting the action of course. As a bonus the 45 grain plated bullets hit harder than most Sub-Sonic and keep your can and barrel cleaner

So I have one Sub-Sonic ammo choice that runs well in all of me suppressed 22s I am currently 1/3 of the way thorough my second case of 5,000


This is the P220 that I got in 1991, When SIG announced 22LR conversions in 2008 and they were made available with standard or threaded barrel, you did not need to ask me twice. In this picture it has my 4th 22LR suppressor design on it. This is more compact than my 1st one, but I built it with no expectations of going on a full auto firearm. BTW, the 10 round magazines that come with the SIG 22LR conversions can be increased to 14 rounds by shortening the pin in the magazine. SIG did it this was to be legal in all states without needing to manufacture two different magazines.

My most recent addition is a Ruger Charger Take Down that I had a stabilizing brace on. I took advantage of the Government's Amnesty SBR registration and once my Form 1 came back, I switched to a full size stock and put a 3MOA holographic red dot on it. The whole thing breaks down into a very small package including a can, 10 rotary magazines and 300 extra rounds of ammunition. I know, I need to get a picture of it.


Well growing up, I loved watching Don Adams in Get Smart. I know that with a design exception here or there it is not possible to suppress a revolver, but I just had to satisfy my inner Maxwell Smart (Agent 86), so I acquired a Dan Wesson barrel nut that was threaded for a can and Joy o Joy I was ready for the nefarious Ludwig von Siegfried of KAOS

Back to ammunition, I would never use CCI Quiet in a suppressed firearm. You are giving 20%-25% in velocity with a bigger loss in energy over Sub-Sonic ammunition. It is also much easier to find most of the Sub-Sonic offerings for an imperceptible reduction in sound signature. Quiet is usually priced similarly to most Sub-Sonic offerings.

Quiet was designed to reduce the sound signature of non-suppressed firearms and it does that very well. It is almost as quiet as the Remington CB Caps but with better performance. The only ammunition that is quieter in non-suppressed firearms is the Aguilla Colibri and Super Colibri

The Aguilla SSS, Sub Sonic Sniper, is very quiet ammunition in a long gun. The only problem is that the longer and heavier 60 grain projectiles do not stabilize well in the common 1:16 twist barrels. Not too big a deal at handgun distances, but if we are talking about rifles, that is another story. There are 1:9 twist barrels available for at least the Ruger rifles, but then all the lighter ammunition shoots poorly. Unless you NEED the extra wallop that the Aguilla SSS provides I would stich with the 38-45 grain Sub-Sonic offerings.

Same issue with springs, if you have to mod the firearm to shoot one ammunition you are doing yourself a disservice. In this day and age with shortages coming and going, don't you want a firearm that wirks with the most options possible?

I use the Aguilla Colibri and Super Colibri offerings when teaching absolute novices how to shoot, especially those that have a pre-established fear of the sound of a gunshot and the recoil. I get rid of their fears and work them up into more powerful ammunition

 

[444 Magnum]

Here's what I'm seeing as far as brands:

These are all round nose except the CCI Quiet 22 HP.

Brand / Bullet Weight/ Velocity

CCI Standard 40 1070
CCI subsonic 40 1050
CCI suppressor 40 970
CCI Quiet 22 HP 40 710
CCI Quiet 22 S/A 45 835

Am. Eagle suppressor 45 970

Browning suppressor 45 1060

Aquila suppressor 40 1025

Winchester supreme suppressor 45 1060

Other than the CCI Quiet, everything is running within 100 fps. Some brands advertise cleaner powder in their suppressor lines.

The reason I originated the thread is a call from my friend. He received his suppressor last week and commented that it didn't sound much quieter than normal. I didn't ask him what ammo he was using-it may have been high velocity. I just remembered my above mentioned experience with the failure to cycle rounds and didn't want to repeat that.

With the exception of BKLooney (CCI Quiet) and 10 mm Shooter (.22 mini-mags), everyone seems to be running ammo in the 970-1070 range. Quite a bit slower than the 1235-1280 high speed LR rounds that I have and even my .22 shorts at 1105 fps.

 

[colt_saa]

The American Eagle is a 45 grain copper plated round nose, not 40 grain

The Aguilla Sub-Sonic is offered as a 40 solid or a 38 grain HP both with the same profile lead bullet

CCI Quiet is offered as a 40 grain lead or a 40 grain plated segmented bullet at 710.

The Quiet Semi-Auto is the 45 grain lead at 835

The Eley Subsonic is a 38 grain at 1,040 FPS and failed to cycle my suppressed PPk/s reliably. I never tried the Eley Contact (not available at the time) which is a 42 grain round nose at 1,040 FPS. It probably would have done the trick in the PPk/s but at a noticeably higher price than the American Eagle Sub-Sonic

Remember the speed of sound at sea level is 761 MPH which translates to 1,100 FPS. To be Sub-Sonic you have to go at or below the speed of sound

All of the offerings at 1,235 - 1,280 are Super Sonic and you will have the "crack" that comes as you break the sound barrier no matter if there is a suppressor or not

I bet you are correct that your buddy just grabbed some 22LR off the shelf not thinking it about Velocity

The American Eagle, Browning and Winchester 45 along with the Eley 42 grain Sub-Sonic Contact will all generate additional energy to cycle the semi-autos. I doubt you could go wrong with any of them.

The CCI Quiet will not be reliable in all Semi and Full Autos, but I use the segmented quiet in my BL-22.

I have never tried the Quiet Semi Auto.

 

[444 Magnum]

I fixed some of the errors. I typed that at 2 a.m.--don't ask.

I just called my friend and we discussed the ammo. He was previously shooting high velocity ammo so the suppressor didn't have much effect.

This morning, he dug around and found some older CCI Quiet 40 grain round nose rated at 710 fps and it would not cycle the 10-22 rifle. I'll probably try it in my Marlin 39A or my K22.

We're going to find something with a little more pressure. I'm looking forward to trying it out. He also has a suppressed 45 acp that I haven't shot.

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[BE Mike]

My suppressor, Silencerco Sparrow, works great with CCI Standard Velocity and Aguila standard velocity. It has worked well with a S&W M&P Compact pistol, a DPMS .22 conversion and a Sig P322. My suggestion is don't overthink it. Oh yeah, I almost forgot my Marvel .22 conversion for my 1911 with suppressor also functions great with any standard velocity ammo.

 

[hkcavalier]

Aguila 60gr SSS is primarily aimed at (pun intended) .22LR conversions that use modern fast twist .223/5.56mm barrels.

I don't have an extremely short .22LR to test, but I have not had good results using standard .22LR out of a 5" 1911 conversion or my Kel-Tec P17 with its 3.8" barrel. Too many of them go supersonic. Sure, for plinking it's no big deal but it does take the edge off the fun factor. Re: a short .22, I'd love a Beretta Bobcat, but unfortunately with the laws here in WA re: threaded barrels, that window has passed me by.

 

[wood714]

Buy CCI Sub Sonic or SV. I've shot thousands of rounds of it suppressed , and never had a feed problem. CCI is really clean in a suppressor too. To me that's most important. I have a few thousand rounds of Remington sub sonic, and it's a mess.

My 22 hosts.

 

[DWalt]

I neither have nor want a suppressor. I occasionally shoot in my back yard using my Remington 550-1 semi-auto .22 rifle using CCI .22 Short SV. The 550 will function OK with them, and the combination makes a report not much louder than a pellet rifle. I also have a Hi-Standard Olympic rapid fire pistol that also functions 100% with the CCI .22 Short SV, but it seems to make more noise than the rifle. I have not chronographed the MV of the CCI .22 Short SV, but I am sure it is subsonic. Ballistic data is apparently unavailable from CCI but I did locate some old information that gave the MV of the CCI .22 Short Standard Velocity load (29 grain bullet) to be 835 ft/sec when fired from a 22.5 inch rifle barrel. Definitely subsonic. BTW, I have a large stockpile of .22 Short ammunition, both SV and HV. One of my favorite calibers. Also good for use in any .22 revolver. I grew up shooting the .22 Short, and never got over it. A little difficult to find these days.

 

[Skeet 028]

The only suppressed 22 I ever saw was an old High Standard in 22 short with a big ugly suppressor. Owned by an old real deal OSS officer from WWII. Hard nosed ol guy. I must admit it didn't make an awful lot of noise. He passed in the late 80s early 90s...never knew what happened to it. I too shot a lot of shorts. We wasted untold 1000s of 22s at the dump. I wanted LRs but bought what the money paid for..the money was raised in all sorts of ways...but a lot of grass cutting,weed pulling, an untold number 0f 1000s of soda and beer bottles. And 100s of pounds of brass from Aberdeen Proving grounds so we shot a lot of shorts...and our preferred brand was Western Auto...cheapest place to buy ammo...less'n we got to Monky Wards

 

[zeke]

Buy Segmented Hollow Point for USD 10.99 | CCI

Cycles a Ruger Mark III just fine and stays subsonic through a 16 " Savage bolt. Very accurate out to 50 yds. The loudest thing you here through the savage bolt when suppressed is the the firing pin click. Stocked up awhile back.

 

[DWalt]

The only suppressed 22 I ever saw was an old High Standard in 22 short with a big ugly suppressor. Owned by an old real deal OSS officer from WWII. Hard nosed ol guy. I must admit it didn't make an awful lot of noise. He passed in the late 80s early 90s...never knew what happened to it. I too shot a lot of shorts. We wasted untold 1000s of 22s at the dump. I wanted LRs but bought what the money paid for..the money was raised in all sorts of ways...but a lot of grass cutting,weed pulling, an untold number 0f 1000s of soda and beer bottles. And 100s of pounds of brass from Aberdeen Proving grounds so we shot a lot of shorts...and our preferred brand was Western Auto...cheapest place to buy ammo...less'n we got to Monky Wards

When I was a kid, .22 Shorts were a quarter a box at the neighborhood general store, while .22 LRs were 40 cents. Guess which I bought. Always Federal, that's all they carried. I had only a single shot bolt action rifle so using shorts was not a problem. If you bought ammo from Western Auto, it was house-branded Federal. Most of Federal's market was sales to country general stores and gas stations, and also making house brand ammunition for Sears, Wards, and other retail store chains.

 

[Skeet 028]

Yep even as a kid I knew those cheaper 22s were Federal...but as you said...cheap compared to Win or Rem...and the fellow that ran the Western Auto Mr Hoops lived across the street from my grandmother and I could get a deal from him...and I would mow or shovel snow

 

[DWalt]

Same for Federal shotshells. Many of the country stores would sell shotshells by the piece, like a dime (or less) each. A full box cost too much money for many folks to afford. At least where I lived.