Posted on 02/07/2023 4:00:00 AM PST by marktwain
At the SHOT Show, Browning ammunition has introduced a subsonic, 45 grain, suppressor optimized .22 Long Rifle load for pistols. It uses the heavy, 45 grain bullet to increase energy from a pistol at subsonic velocities. It is loaded to reliably stay subsonic from pistols. If fired in rifle length barrels, it may reach supersonic velocities, with the resultant sonic barrier snap produced by bullets exceeding the speed of sound. A rough estimate of the price is about 10 cents a cartridge. The market for ammunition is fluid, so prices are difficult to forecast.
Browning ammunition is produced by Winchester, which does the research, testing, marketing, and production, branded with the Browning name.
This is the first introduction, of which I am aware, of .22 Long Rifle rimfire being produced for optimum subsonic energy from .22 LR cartridges for pistols. It is optimized for suppressor use, with black copper plated bullets to reduce fouling. According to my calculations, a 45 grain bullet at 1060 feet per second produces a bit more than 111 foot-pounds of energy. That is about 9% more energy than a CCI standard velocity 40 grain bullet produces at the muzzle of a .22 rifle. On the boxes produced for the SHOT Show, the graphic designers mistakenly placed an energy number of 100 foot pounds. The error will be corrected before the new ammunition is shipped out.
This makes the cartridge an interesting contender as a self-defense cartridge for .22 pistols. In my opinion, what is wanted in a .22 for self-defense, is penetration. The 45 grain bullet is 12.5% heavier than the standard 40 grain bullet. It is not a hollow point, so it should penetrate about 12.5% more than the 40 grain bullet, at the same velocity.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Yeah, but they are no much more than a pellet gun.
This sounds like it has a fair amount of mass and is just dancing on the edge of subsonic speed in a pistol. All the others stay subsonic in rifles (which increas velocity).
I’m intrigued.
Squirrels in yard cower before me!
Mossad and oga’s buy in bulk. ‘Sounds’, like fun.
The CCI standard velocity reliably stay below the sonic barrier, and they are rated at 1070 fps. When I tested them, (50 rds measured) they averaged 1072.3 fps with an extreme spread of 84 fps. The max velocity was 1119 fps. I did not hear any sonic crack from the CCI.
65-year-old Remington Standard Velocity ammunition, in the same test, had a little higher average velocity (1098.9), and a little larger extreme spread, with a max velocity of 1143.
I heard a few sonic cracks with that ammunition.
As the ammunition produced for suppressors is designed to stay below the speed of sound, I expect it will do so.
bkmk
I wonder how the Aguila SSS 60 grain round stabilizes in a pistol. These SSS would probably be well below the subsonic limit in a pistol so the Browning probably gives more velocity. Any info for cycling reliability in a semiaoto?
What 400fps?
1060fps ? I doubt it especially in a revolver.
However, the new compact Taurus TX22 has a 1 in 10 twist barrel. There is an excellent chance it will stabilize the 60 grain bullet.
It is designed for semi-auto pistols.
1060 out of .22 pistols is not uncommon. When testing the CCI Velocitor and Aguila Interceptor cartridges, both averaged 1060 or more in pistols with barrels 4.1 inches or longer, including revolvers with 4.5 inch and 6 inch barrels.
As far as self-defense, a 22 is better than nothing and may be all that some people can handle. However, a 9mm & the lesser .380ACP are far superior in stopping power compared to any 22. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a self-defense caliber, go bigger than 22, if able.
My assumption is the pistol load is a little hotter than the rifle load to better dance on the edge of subsonic?
I would phrase it a little differently. They engineered the load to deliver the most energy out of a pistol, while staying reliably subsonic.
When I talked to the product manager, he believed they used a six inch barrel as the test barrel. So, a shorter barrel would deliver somewhat lower velocities. From my experience, a four inch barrel would deliver about 90 fps lower velocity.
That said, I think you are precisely correct. The pistol load is loaded to a higher energy to get the most out of a pistol barrel, without going supersonic.
It’s so close that temperature can be a factor in going supersonic.
Along with barrel length of course.
I carry a Ruger LCP 2
Shot placement for me is most important. CCI rounds...22 with extra mag
Very concealable, reliable and accurate within 10-15 yards.
As you said, something is better than nothing.
I used to shoot those a lot when I didn’t want to make a lot of noise on cold foggy mornings, they worked but accuracy beyond 30-40 feet was lacking in everything I fired them from
Buddy of mine built a 10/22 with a custom barrel with a much faster twist and modified springs to operate reliably
With that barrel he could hold a nice tight group out to about 50-60 yards but beyond that it was much the same with little consistency
it tends to tumble and keyhole but hits the mark with a mighty thump
It appears the ammunition would have problems breaking the sound barrier when the temperature drops below freezing.
More concerning than the stopping power of 22lr is the notorious unreliability of rimfire versus center fire.
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