Quiet rifle for squirrels?

[Mike Islander]

My suppressed 22 with sshp’s is far quieter than any pellet rifle I’ve ever shot. Especially one that’s powerful enough to kill a squirrel at reasonable range. I’d go with a bolt action though. Cleaner shooting and less noisy with the action staying closed. I’d also challenge the comment that suppressed 22 will spook deer. That’s not been my experience at all.

You can hold the bolt shut on the 10/22 with all ammo, and low velocity is even easier. I think spooking the deer depends on where they are when you shoot and the time of year. If they're spooky near the end of the season and approaching a feeder (legal in SC, and about all we can do with our thick woods), shooting suppressed might spook them IMO. Our bucks can literally go nocturnal near the end of the season. In any case, I'm not going to shoot squirrels while deer hunting. But if the OP wants to, I say go for it. Squirrels are some of the best tasting game meat in my opinion.

 

[Mike Islander]

Agreed. The only sound my suppressed .22lr makes is the firing pin click and the bullet hitting something.

That's just crazy talk.

Suppressed 10/22 with the best suppressor made and sub-sonic 22lr (enough energy to kill squirrels reliably) is still about 117 db. That's about as loud as a loud as a car horn at 1 meter. May not sound like it to you, because the frequency is higher and much shorter. Whether that spooks the animals in your neck of the woods is a different story.

 

[Mike Islander]

Maybe one of these?

 

[JohnJohnson]

That's just crazy talk.

Suppressed 10/22 with the best suppressor made and sub-sonic 22lr (enough energy to kill squirrels reliably) is still about 117 db. That's about as loud as a loud as a car horn at 1 meter. May not sound like it to you, because the frequency is higher and much shorter. Whether that spooks the animals in your neck of the woods is a different story.

I'm not disputing your assertion but I can't find any evidence to back it up either. All of the DB data I just looked up was acquired using semi-automatic suppressor hosts. I am referencing a bolt action host. Can you link to tests done on bolt actions?

 

[Mike Islander]

I'm not disputing your assertion but I can't find any evidence to back it up either. All of the DB data I just looked up was acquired using semi-automatic suppressor hosts. I am referencing a bolt action host. Can you link to tests done on bolt actions?

Silencerco makes the quietest suppressor for 22. Here is a link to their whitepaper showing their formal dB testing on a bolt rifle.

https://silencerco.com/media/contentmanager/content/documents/silencers/wp-switchback_3_.pdf

Standard model Switchback suppressor is 118 dB on 16" bolt rifle. The long version of the Switchback gets you down to 108 dB, which is pretty remarkable. That is still as "loud" as a standard car horn at 1 meter. Suppressors shift frequencies to peak around the 8kHz range, which is a frequency that squirrels are sensitive to. Not coincidentally, that is also in the most sensitive range of deer.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Silencerco makes the quietest suppressor for 22. Here is a link to their whitepaper showing their formal dB testing on a bolt rifle.

https://silencerco.com/media/contentmanager/content/documents/silencers/wp-switchback_3_.pdf

Standard model Switchback suppressor is 118 dB on 16" bolt rifle. The long version of the Switchback gets you down to 108 dB, which is pretty remarkable. That is still as "loud" as a standard car horn at 1 meter. Suppressors shift frequencies to peak around the 8kHz range, which is a frequency that squirrels are sensitive to. Not coincidentally, that is also in the most sensitive range of deer.

Think I discovered our disconnect by reading that. The "long" configuration of the Switchback reduces the db of a bolt action rifle down to 108 db. The "long" configuration is basically the exact same length as my TBAC 22TD suppressor (5.6" vs 5.75"). So my rifle/suppressor combination is coming in at about 108 db.

Edit: I'm also skeptical of any suppressor manufacturer's claims about their suppressor being the "quietest". They all say that.

 

[Oldffemt]

Silencerco makes the quietest suppressor for 22. Here is a link to their whitepaper showing their formal dB testing on a bolt rifle.

https://silencerco.com/media/contentmanager/content/documents/silencers/wp-switchback_3_.pdf

Standard model Switchback suppressor is 118 dB on 16" bolt rifle. The long version of the Switchback gets you down to 108 dB, which is pretty remarkable. That is still as "loud" as a standard car horn at 1 meter. Suppressors shift frequencies to peak around the 8kHz range, which is a frequency that squirrels are sensitive to. Not coincidentally, that is also in the most sensitive range of deer.

I’d say the pitch has a lot to do with it. I have shot a squirrel within 10’ of a deer’s nose and the pop of the bullet hitting the squirrel was the only thing that got any reaction. After she settled down she just kinda looked at the squirrel as if wondering why it decided to take a nap there of all places and went back to feeding again within 10’ of the dead squirrel. I’ll try to get a video of it next time!

 

[Oldffemt]

Think I discovered our disconnect by reading that. The "long" configuration of the Switchback reduces the db of a bolt action rifle down to 108 db. The "long" configuration is basically the exact same length as my TBAC 22TD suppressor (5.6" vs 5.75"). So my rifle/suppressor combination is coming in at about 108 db.

Edit: I'm also skeptical of any suppressor manufacturer's claims about their suppressor being the "quietest". They all say that.

You’re in for a treat! My rimfire can was one of the cheapest on the market at the time I bought. Its definitely not the quietest but it’s still crazy quiet. It’s by far the most fun gun related item I’ve ever had. Screw one on a 22 pistol and try to get the grin off your face!!

FYI, if buying a pistol to suppress, get one with 4”barrel or shorter. Then even bulk hv ammo stays subsonic.