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Old December 15, 2013, 04:20 PM   #1
mike444
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Quietest 22lr bolt/lever

Anyone have experience with any of the popular 22 bolt action or lever actions and which shoots to quietest?

I have an old lever action Ithaca 22 single shot lever action with a 16" barrel that even with CCI Quiets is still pretty loud.

Generically speaking is a bolt action or a lever action quieter? Is an auto loader quieter? I know they won't cycle the lower load rounds but I guess still on option.

Guns I'm looking at:

Marlin XT
Savage MKII
Ruger American
Browning BL22
Henry 22
CZ 452/455

Should I move this to the general forum?
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Old December 15, 2013, 04:31 PM   #2
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If the action does not move than they are all nearly equally quiet in shooting when equipped with a suppressor. The difference will be in the way that the pin makes contact with the primer.


Quote:
Generically speaking is a bolt action or a lever action quieter?
Most of the time the bolt will be more quiet due to the less number of moving parts.
Quote:
Is an auto loader quieter?
They can be more quiet than bolt or level action. While this seems counter intuitive keep in mind that you can suppress the action sounds of a SA action. This will require work by someone who knows what they are doing.

Quote:
I know they won't cycle the lower load rounds but I guess still on option.
Don't know what you mean by "lower load" but if you are talking about sub sonic than they should be just fine.
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Old December 15, 2013, 05:10 PM   #3
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Quietest 22lr bolt/lever

I was referring to subsonic. I've got a bit of a critter problem and while I do live in the country on 4 acres and backup to the woods, I have neighbors.

It's a known fact that many auto loaders won't cycle with CCI Quiets and other subsonic low load ammo.

And I live in MD and I don't want the hassle of a suppressor.

Last edited by mike444; December 15, 2013 at 05:29 PM.
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Old December 15, 2013, 05:55 PM   #4
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.

Hint: Long barrels tend to be quieter with the same ammo than short(er) barrels.



.
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Old December 15, 2013, 06:09 PM   #5
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I'd second that PetahW.

Compare a walther p22 to any .22 rifle, for instance. My old walther used to make my ears ring!
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Old December 15, 2013, 06:36 PM   #6
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So a nice long barrel bolt action should be the quietest, right?
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Old December 15, 2013, 06:56 PM   #7
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The 22 CB's are about the same noise level as a pellet rifle. I'm not sure if they even have powder in them and just fire from the primer?
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Old December 15, 2013, 07:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
The 22 CB's are about the same noise level as a pellet rifle.
Which raises the question:
If you need to buy something new for this task, and you want it to be quiet, could you do it with an air rifle?

Good luck!
Tom
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Old December 15, 2013, 07:42 PM   #9
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An old Winchester model 67 with a 27 inch barrel is the quietest I've ever heard.
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Old December 15, 2013, 07:47 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmlynch View Post
Which raises the question:

If you need to buy something new for this task, and you want it to be quiet, could you do it with an air rifle?



Good luck!

Tom

I have a couple air pellet rifles already but I want a new 22 and if helps with the critters that is even all the better.
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Old December 15, 2013, 08:14 PM   #11
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Quote:
but I want a new 22
Then you should absolutely get one!

Good luck on the selection.
Tom
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Old December 15, 2013, 09:35 PM   #12
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The 22 shorts are very quiet, but they do lack a lot of power. I shot a groundhog earlier this summer with one, obviously hit him but he ran to his hole and I never saw a drop of blood.
Maybe he died, maybe it bounced off of him, who knows. I think he was about 15 yards away.
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Old December 15, 2013, 10:30 PM   #13
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Smaller critters...field rats and raccoons.
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Old December 15, 2013, 10:40 PM   #14
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" An old Winchester model 67 with a 27 inch barrel is the quietest I've ever heard. "

Agreed. I have one and it is great with everything from the CCI shorts/longs to remington sub-sonics to the 60 grain aguillas (sub sonic and great pentration)
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Old December 15, 2013, 11:10 PM   #15
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Hint: Long barrels tend to be quieter with the same ammo than short(er) barrels.
That ^^.

If you put my Springfield M56 (circa 1918) with its 24" barrel up against my Rossi 62SAC with its 16.5" barrel, there's a notable difference in muzzle report. The extra 8" of tube makes a big difference in keeping things quiet. With high velocity stuff, there's still a noticeable report, but the longer barrel quiets it down a bit.

And, if you drop to .22 CB Shorts, the Springfield is quieter than almost every BB gun and pellet rifle I've ever shot (including the average Daisy 'Red Ryder').
It's the quietest unsuppressed .22 rifle I've ever heard - due primarily to barrel length. There is a difference in noise level between the striker of the M56 and the hammer and firing pin of the Rossi, but that's secondary to the muzzle report.
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Old December 15, 2013, 11:13 PM   #16
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The CZ-452 line includes a rifle with a 29" barrel. It's pretty quiet with .22Shorts. Be careful with anything lower powered than that as the bullet may not exit the barrel.
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Old December 15, 2013, 11:48 PM   #17
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CCI CB longs are pretty quiet in a non suppressed rifle, but compared to a suppressed one there is no contest.
A suppressed rifle with CB longs is a lot quieter that an air rifle, but even normal subsonic ammo is very quiet.

My bolt action is a lot quieter than my semi due to the sound of the action, but the actual muzzle blast is much the same. My semi will cycle all types of subsonic ammo I have tried, but not the CB longs, which are really like sub subsonic ammo.
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Old December 16, 2013, 07:38 AM   #18
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If you don't want to go suppressed than the pellet gun might be the way to go.

Quote:
won't cycle with CCI Quiets
Don't use those then. There are lots of subsonics out there. I run subs in my suppressed SA .22s without issue.
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Old December 16, 2013, 07:52 AM   #19
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Small critters? Bolt action, scoped. Many fine choices out there. Savage makes accurate, fairly priced options.
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Old December 16, 2013, 08:06 AM   #20
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I shoot CBs in a lever action 22 rifle. I can stack a ton of carts in the tube and it sounds like and air gun.
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Old December 16, 2013, 08:28 AM   #21
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Many moons ago an infestation of skunks and I went toe to toe, my weapon of choice was Marlin Golden 39A with its 24" tube and CB's, wasn't pretty but could kill a skunk without making it spray which made it a valuable tool.
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Old December 16, 2013, 12:11 PM   #22
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I also second the Marlin 39A. I don't know why it seems quieter than my Win 69A with a bit longer barrel.

The .22LR reaches top velocity in about 16" of barrel. Perhaps the micro-groove barrel has more resistance, slowing the bullet more than other rifles of comparable barrel length?
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Old December 16, 2013, 02:27 PM   #23
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm a big fan if CZ as I own a 9mm 75 P-01 handgun.

I love the lever actions as I own a Win 94AE 30/30 so I'm partial to the Browning or the Marlin lever 22s.

I appreciate the pellet gun suggestions but I already own 2 .177 caliber air rifles and there is not enough oomph to take down larger critters.

I'd probably only use the low power ammo on smaller creatures and step up to higher power ammo on larges ones. Gotta be better then breaking out the 870 like I had to do on a rabid raccoon a couple of months ago.

- mike
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Old December 16, 2013, 05:23 PM   #24
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Pick up a box of Agulia super colibri. Out of my 1906 pump, all you hear is the hammer drop. It takes multiple hits to bring down a possum, but it will. I don't think it would bother a groundhog, or penetrate the hide of a cat or dog. One shot 1 kill on ground squirrels.
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Old December 17, 2013, 05:10 AM   #25
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I've got an old Winchester single shot model 67, pre A. It's got a stinkin' long barrel, like 26" & change. It's very quiet with subsonic ammunition like the Remington hollow points or the Gemtech stuff made just for silencers.

I tried short hollow points, but they just broke the sound barrier & are throwing less bullet out there to boot.

I'd imagine with some CBs it'd be laughably quiet. I thought about getting a silenver for it but really can't see the point, it's that quiet. You can shoot things where shooting things is frowned upon, long as no one sees you.

So I've been told, at least.

Crazy accurate too.
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