which is quieter Marlin 39A or Henry 22

[arnie08515]

I live in NJ and have very large back yard where I can shoot small squirrels and rabbits. I'm planning on buying one of the above for this purpose. I like both rifles very much.

I need a rifle that is quieter b/c I don't want to disturb neighbors around me. The Marlin has a longer barrel i think and the Heny has a shorter one. I plan on shoor .22 shorts which are usually quieter.

Question: which of these two rifles is likely to be more quiet for me.

 

[Shade00]

IMHO they will both be extremely quiet if you shoot .22 CB shorts. My dad shoots pigeons in his backyard with the CB Shorts and it sounds just like a pellet rifle. However, I would choose the Marlin any day - can't beat the 39A.

 

[goon]

The longer barrel will probably be more quiet.
I'd choose the Marlin, even if it didn't have a longer barrel.

Also, try some of the standard velocity 40 grain loads too if you can. Some of them are also very quiet.
Wolf match target in a long barrel comes to mind and CCI blazer isn't too bad either.

 

[chris in va]

I live in NJ and have very large back yard where I can shoot small squirrels and rabbits

b/c I don't want to disturb neighbors around me.

I'm sorry, but I think that's a really bad idea unless you have a very high berm you can shoot into. There was a situation recently where a guy in a trailer park was shooting at targets in his backyard and one went too high, killing a child 600 yards (or feet?) away bouncing on a trampoline.

Believe me, I thought of doing the same thing at my place but realized we have kids sneaking around in the woods behind me.

 

[rcmodel]

+10000

If you have neighbors in the same general vicinity at all, and have less land then a 180 acre farm, you don't want to be zinging .22 shorts out of your yard.

I don't know much about NJ, except I never want to go back to Ft. Dix again.
But I imagine it is against the law to shoot firearms in your back yard, period.

I'd really suggest you buy a good Spring-piston .177 air rifle.

rcmodel

 

[arnie08515]

Actually I've shot frequently in my backyard with a .22 LR Savage Boltaction using an iron catch as a backstop against several large oak trees. I've never had problem except one time I shot a .22 magnum and it made too much noise. So I went to .22 shorts w/o a problem. I think its OK to shot squirrels and rabbits here and there.

 

[jmr40]

I doubt barrel length will matter much. The longer barrel will seem quieter to the shooter because the muzzle is farther from your ears. The neighbors will never notice any difference.
An air rifle is a good choice. If you want a .22 most anything but an auto will work with the .22 CB's.

 

[ThomasT]

Yes the longer barrel will help with the report of the shot. I have a 39 and its pretty darn quiet with CB rounds.

Thats why rifles like the CZ are reported to be so silent with the 28" barrels.

Also my marlin model 60 will cycle CB longs through the action but they will not cycle the bolt. You have to do that manually.

 

[woof]

I doubt it is legal for you to shoot and sooner or later you'll find yourself in a world of hurt. Are the squirrels and rabbits really hurting you?

 

[whiskey]

I doubt it is legal for you to shoot and sooner or later you'll find yourself in a world of hurt. Are the squirrels and rabbits really hurting you?

A good consideration followed by a bad question.

First check the local laws and see if air rifles are legal to shoot. If you want to shoot in your backyard, get a good air rifle and leave the guns for the range. It is not worth the risk.

Then if you can legally shoot with the air rifle, you can use it to shoot the evil animals that keep pooping up your yard.

 

[rugerfreak]

In an urban setting--you're much better off with a pellet gun---for legal and peace of mind reasons.

Tried the Remington subsonics in my Marlin and they weren't quiet at all.

Between the rifles you were looking at---the Marlin is a masterpiece---the Henry is a pot metal POS.

 

[moooose102]

+1 again. buy an air rifle to shoot varmint in your back yard with. buy the .22 for regular target practice or hunting out in the real woods. it does not matter how unintentional a death is. if someone dies as a result of shooting a firearm in your back yard, someone is going to go to jail! and rightfully so. it would be very unlikely that someone would die shooting a pelet (air rifle) gun.

 

[SprayAndPray]

You can probably shoot squirrels with an airrifle, there are some that used compressed air (PCP) and they can be quite powerful, 30-40 Joules is not uncommon, its about 1/4-1/3 of a 22LR, and there are some with integral silencers which are very quiet. Probably good for 40-50 yards.

 

[Creature]

I live in NJ and have very large back yard where I can shoot small squirrels and rabbits.

For argument's sake, just how big exactly is your "backyard"?

 

[goon]

I'd trust the OP to take necessary safety precautions.
If it isn't safe to shoot, the guy probably won't be shooting.

The .22LR isn't to be underestimated but it's also not the hammer of thor. People shoot it safely in their basements.
Also, how powerful is a short, CB, or long in comparison to one of these powerful air rifles?
If they work out to the same thing give or take, what's the difference?

 

[22-rimfire]

Air rifle or 22 rifle, that is the evolving question...

In an suburban setting, I'd choose the air rifle. Some are quite good these days and lethel to small critters. The air rifle should be quieter and even if it isn't, a neighbor will just think... it's a bb gun.

With the 22 rifle choice, I'd go with the Marlin 39A. Some days it will sound very quiet and other times it is likely to surprise you. Depends on weather conditions.

 

[rcmodel]

I think its OK to shot squirrels and rabbits here and there.

What you propose is almost certainly illegal, on so many levels!

Not to mention firing a firearm where it is highly likely against the law.

I'd almost bet NJ has small game hunting seasons, hunting license requirements, and other game laws like most civilized States in the U.S.A..

rcmodel

 

[SprayAndPray]

After hearing a few powerful air rifles (PCP) I can say that an unsilenced 40 J rifle sound a lot more than a 22LR, and a .25 cal 75 J rifle sounds like a pretty much like a high powered rifle, no joke.