Here's what I've learned in my pursuit of a quiet .22 plinker. From quietest to loudest:
BROWNING SA-22 chambered in .22short (special edition) loaded with CCI CB shorts (16 shots). Functions the action and is quieter than most of my pellet rifles. You can shoot this at the cottage or in the basement without ears and no one will be the wiser. (my wife will complain about me shooting air rifles in the basement, but shooting this combination into a duct seal trap does not register on her irritability meter
)
FX Revolution Pre-charged Pneumatic 12 shot semi-auto .22 cal air rifle, uses wasted air at the muzzle to cycle the action making it even quieter. 36 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle and 10 shots easily under an inch at 50 yards! Do head shot on rats at the dump in cottage country at night and you won't even disturb the raccoons
Remington 572 Fieldmaster loaded with CCI CB's (short or LR) do not require ears shooting in my basement but it is slightly louder than the SA-22, though I don't know why? (The barrels are similar length?)
***Shooting the above mentioned combo's into a typical metal rimfire trap with the deflector plates can still be quite loud as the projectile slams into it! I use generous amounts of duct seal (check it often as you can "drill" a hole into it when shooting groups) laid out in a cake pan for a silent trap)
BROWNING SA-22 chambered in .22short (special edition) loaded with CCI CB shorts (16 shots). Functions the action and is quieter than most of my pellet rifles. You can shoot this at the cottage or in the basement without ears and no one will be the wiser. (my wife will complain about me shooting air rifles in the basement, but shooting this combination into a duct seal trap does not register on her irritability meter
)FX Revolution Pre-charged Pneumatic 12 shot semi-auto .22 cal air rifle, uses wasted air at the muzzle to cycle the action making it even quieter. 36 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle and 10 shots easily under an inch at 50 yards! Do head shot on rats at the dump in cottage country at night and you won't even disturb the raccoons
Remington 572 Fieldmaster loaded with CCI CB's (short or LR) do not require ears shooting in my basement but it is slightly louder than the SA-22, though I don't know why? (The barrels are similar length?)
***Shooting the above mentioned combo's into a typical metal rimfire trap with the deflector plates can still be quite loud as the projectile slams into it! I use generous amounts of duct seal (check it often as you can "drill" a hole into it when shooting groups) laid out in a cake pan for a silent trap)
