If You Were Inclined To Suppress A .22...

[Havok7416]

Which cartridge would you pick? A friend of mine is looking to acquire a .22-caliber centerfire rifle for very quiet shooting - likely 200 yards or less based on the land he has available. Is there any particular cartridge that would be more suitable for this than others?
Obviously the .223/5.56 Is the most economical in this category, but my friend (apparently) isn't using that as his primary consideration. This would only be a target rifle. Thoughts and comments are welcome.

 

[RPRNY]

Is this for varminting or target shooting? I don't suppose it matters much, my response would be the same:

222 Remington. Because it's not 223. But then, I have a 1978 Land Rover. Because it's not a Jeep.

The most sensible answer is 223. Because it's ubiquitous. Which is why 222 Remington.

222 is a fine choice for targets and varmints out to 200 yards. Some say it's more accurate than the 223. I don't get that. Doesn't seem logical and not my experience. With a 1:12 twist, 52-55grs are the max weight bullets it will likely stabilize.

If your friend is going to Jack deer, please convince him to choose a larger caliber. Poaching is one thing. Using an insufficient caliber while poaching just isn't cricket.

 

[Havok7416]

Is this for varminting or target shooting? I don't suppose it matters much, my response would be the same:

222 Remington. Because it's not 223. But then, I have a 1978 Land Rover. Because it's not a Jeep.

The most sensible answer is 223. Because it's ubiquitous. Which is why 222 Remington.

222 is a fine choice for targets and varmints out to 200 yards. Some say it's more accurate than the 223. I don't get that. Doesn't seem logical and not my experience. With a 1:12 twist, 52-55grs are the max weight bullets it will likely stabilize.

If your friend is going to Jack deer, please convince him to choose a larger caliber. Poaching is one thing. Using an insufficient caliber while poaching just isn't cricket.

I should have clarified - and will adjust my original comments. He has given every indication to me that this would just be for target shooting/bragging rights.
If it were me and I was limiting myself to a .22 cal (I personally am setting up a .300 BO for this purpose) I agree that I wouldn't go with .223 because it's too mainstream. My friend is not nearly as much of a gun guy and so ubiquitous might be right up his alley for convenience alone.

 

[Telekinesis]

There's no real way to make a supersonoc centerfire rifle round "very quiet". You could use subs, but if you're doing .22 caliber subs you might as well be shooting a .22 LR (cheaper to shoot and cheaper to suppress).

The .223 would be my recommendation. If you're just target shooting, 200 yards isn't really far enough to get any real ballistic advantage out of something larger (but still in the .22 cal centerfire range), and you'll save on ammo price or components. Suppressors will also be easier to find - almost every suppressor manufacturer makes some flavor of .223 can. There aren't nearly as many making cans rated for rounds like the .22-250.

If he doesn't want a mainstream cartridge, that's fine (I've been guilty of that myself) but it'll be more work and more expense without any real tangible benefit other than being able to have something different.

 

[Havok7416]

There's no real way to make a supersonoc centerfire rifle round "very quiet". You could use subs, but if you're doing .22 caliber subs you might as well be shooting a .22 LR (cheaper to shoot and cheaper to suppress).

The .223 would be my recommendation. If you're just target shooting, 200 yards isn't really far enough to get any real ballistic advantage out of something larger (but still in the .22 cal centerfire range), and you'll save on ammo price or components. Suppressors will also be easier to find - almost every suppressor manufacturer makes some flavor of .223 can. There aren't nearly as many making cans rated for rounds like the .22-250.

If he doesn't want a mainstream cartridge, that's fine (I've been guilty of that myself) but it'll be more work and more expense without any real tangible benefit other than being able to have something different.

I'm talking with him about the rimfire angle and hopefully I can get him to come around. I thought that with all the cartridges available there might be something similar to .300 BO but in .22 caliber. As mentioned, I have a .300 BO that I am working on getting a silencer for and once that happens I think he will see the light.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

I think the question should be is it on a gas gun or a bolt....I don't recommend just throwing a can on a gas gun if you dont know what you are doing. Its not like dangerous or anything, but you will have some issues with over gassing and if with subsonics...i mean, i dont know you would in a .223/556, but you would be switching an adjustable gas block around just to cycle everything.
.300aac would be heavy (easy to find subsonic) and wouldnt have to much drop at 200...at 300 and plus more so. Here's a list of .22 centerfires from the interwebs that are pretty common. You will find they are are all screaming fast, so you'll always get that supersonic crack. At least .223 has subs that are common to find.
.22 Accelerator
.22 Hornet
.22 CHeetah
.218 Bee
.219 Zipper
.220 Russian
.220 Swift
.221 Remington Fireball
.22 Nosler
.22-250 Remington
.222 Remington
.222 Remington Magnum
.223 Remington
.223 Winchester Super Short Magnum

 

[Havok7416]

I can sell him on a bolt gun pretty easy. I'll have to go poke into data on some of those listed above

 

[CraigC]

As posted above, a suppressed supersonic .223 is not going to be "very quiet". It's going to be about like an unsuppressed .22LR, which is certainly not a bad thing. The only advantage the subsonic .223 has over the .22LR is better, heavier bullets but you're paying a lot more for better downrange performance. A nice .223 boattail is going to drop a lot less than a heeled .22LR. That said, the .22LR is certainly capable of some fun shooting out to 200yds and subsonic match loads are the best for that anyway. You just need a 20MOA rail and a scope with a good bit of adjustment to get it zeroed.

 

[Darkbob]

I pretty much agree with everything that's already been said. I just want to reiterate that if "Hollywood Quiet" is the primary concern, the only way to really get there is with a Bolt gun shooting Subsonic loads. That said, my silenced .22lr Ruger MKIII pistol sounds about like an airgun or airsoft gun. So that is pretty darn quiet. It just depends on your expectations.

I also wanted to note that finding subsonic .223 ammo will be easier than finding subs for many of those calibers listed above. If your friend doesn't reload, (and wants Hollywood Quiet) that may be a consideration too.

 

[Nuclear]

A centerfire 22 will be cleaner, so less crap to clean out of the silencer. If he doesn't reload, then 223. If he does, then something with a small case volume. And definitely a bolt gun for less cleaning, tuning and overall quietness.

 

[Havok7416]

Good points from everyone and more or less long the lines of what I had already been gathering.
He does not reload but he would certainly be welcome at my bench any time if he so desired. It would certainly open up more viable options for him.
I agree that a bolt gun would be best and if he gets serious with this, that is the most likely (and cheapest) platform.
In actuality, I think he would be better served with a rimfire. I'm still trying to pry from him why it has to be a .22 caliber weapon. That seems to be the biggest limitation he has imposed on himself.

 

[greyling22]

I can get 1moa at 100 with good 22lr ammo. But if I was just looking for accuracy I might look at a 17hmr. Or even one or those combo 17hmr/22lr guns from cz.