Posted on 03/20/2023 5:44:07 AM PDT by marktwain
Everyone who has listened to gunshots in close proximity knows some cartridges are much louder than others. In the other direction, some cartridges are much quieter than others.
Everyone understands a .22 LR out of a rifle is much quieter than a .338 magnum out of a rifle.
Not as widely understood, loads for the same cartridge vary widely in how loud gunshots are perceived. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge is a good example. The highest energy .22 LR cartridges, such as the Aguila Interceptor and the CCI Velocitor, are much louder than CCI Standard Velocity, even though all are firing 40-grain bullets. Further down the scale, the CCI Quiet .22 load is much quieter with a 40 grain bullet than the Standard velocity. The 29-grain CB load is even quieter. The Aguila 20 grain primer-powered Super Colibri load is still quieter. It makes less noise than many pellet guns.
A key difference in how loud a load sounds is whether the bullet goes supersonic or stays subsonic. To be very quiet, a load must operate in the subsonic area. Projectiles should have an average muzzle velocity of 1070 fps or less to stay sub-sonic reliably. The speed of sound depends on the temperature. At 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the speed of sound is 1128 feet per second. At freezing (32 F), the speed of sound is 1087 fps. At 100 degrees F, the speed of sound is 1158 fps.
For a particular load in a particular cartridge, the length of the barrel makes a considerable difference in how loud the discharge of the cartridge sounds.
An Aguila 20-grain Super Colibri can sound loud out of a short-barreled pistol and quiet out of a rifle.
To have quiet loads in any caliber without using a silencer/suppressor, the key is to have a subsonic load fired in a
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Here is a 77/22 in .22 LR on Armslist in Oklahoma City for $730.
Well, to be fair, I didn’t test a revolver, only semiautomatics.
I hear from Hollywood that the revolver is the assassin’s pistol of choice because it is so quiet.
This is helpful information, thanks. Actually my preference would be for a plain’ ol Savage or something like that with possibly an aftermarket barrel, but more information is always good.
Well, gosh, if tens of thousands of dollars in instrumentation cannot be reliable, then I guess my whole post should be ignored. (I am a sensor systems and instrumentation engineer, so I’ll take my measurements for accuracy enough.)
So, what did you use?
As an instruments and sensor guy, I suspect you are aware of all the complications siting and environment bring to the problem.
I have attempted to understand the difficulties of measuring gunshots. I have read numerous accounts of how difficult it is to have repeatable tests.
So, I am very interested in your instruments and setup.
All levity aside, the Nagant M1895 revolver’s cylinder moved forward when firing and closed the cylinder-to-barrel gap. I’ve never seen a suppressor on one, but that would be a “quiet” revolver.
There may be a few obscure .22 rifles with a 1-14 twist, which might make a difference.
Or, potentially, you could find a cheap AR-15 take-off (or other centerfire .22 caliber barrel) and modify it to fit an inexpensive .22 bolt gun.
I have not found a simple solution.
There is always an exception.
I played with Nagant revolvers a bit.
In spite of the "seal", there is significant gas leakage at the barrel/cylinder intersection.
Not nearly as much as in a regular revolver, but it dampened my enthusiasm for making a silenced revolver.
I think it could be done; but a manually operated repeater, such as the welrod, or the more current VP9, are probably better solutions.
I like bolt guns in general though, and the idea of a quiet-shooting .22 bolt gun appeals to me.
In time, who knows, I might have one of each.
“Using a subsonic load in a long barreled gun can produce relatively quiet gunshots without a silencer or suppressor.”
Yes. Or low powered loads in a short barrel pistol. Favorite “Mob Hit Man” load. .22 short in a 2” revolver. I’m not sure why this article was necessary? More gunpowder, more noise. Short version.
A .22 short in a 2" barreled revolver, to me, is much louder than a .22 long rifle standard velocity out of a 24" barreled rifle.
—works in shotguns, too—
—several years ago, IIRC, Cabela’s sold 40 inch replacement barrel for some popular shotguns—with light loads, almost to report—
He says it is pretty quiet.
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