.22 LR different noise levels

[GSP84]

Possible a stupid question, I'm fairly new to rifles but learning quickly.

 

I have always shot with a .17HMR which is noisy regardless of moderator.

 

I sold my old inaccurate fun M&P 15-22 for a proper rabbit gun as numbers were building on my permission, and one shot with the HMR scares everything off.

 

However I'm now a bit disappointed, I have a 1417 with SAK moderator and have been using RWS subsonics, but it still seems loud enough to upset a group of bunnies in a paddock I was asked to clear.

 

Does different brand ammo have different noise levels?... CCI and RWS subsonic are both the same speed, will they produce different noise levels? Or is my problem the cheap moderator?

 

Thanks in advance

[la bala]

Have never had problems with noise, cant you try a friends moderator, that would answer that question. Maybe try some more makes of ammo. When you said the noise upset a group of bunnies, did the shot hit or miss?. The thud of a bullet killing one of the group is different from a missed shot hitting the ground and showering them with earth bud.

Edited June 15, 2016 by la bala

[Hendrix's rifle]

The impact of the .22 usually scares them away with the noise? I've shot 6 (full mag and 1 chambered) that were next to each other without any running. Was approx 150 yards with the furthest around 165.

[GSP84]

These are hits I'm talking about, probably max 60 yard though.

 

That is what is confusing me, plenty of near silent videos about, with lots of bunnies taken all at the same time. Yet one thud from me and it's game over they are all gone.

 

Maybe I'm to close, better get down the range for some 100yd+ practice and try again.

[oldypigeonpopper]

hello, as it happens today a friend and bisley shooter zereod a new scope on my 455 and we tried a cci just to see and hear the difference from the usual RWS subs, no contest cci was loud rws a dull thud. oh he got zero in 4 bullets, last time i took 25

[walshie]

The impact of the .22 usually scares them away with the noise? I've shot 6 (full mag and 1 chambered) that were next to each other without any running. Was approx 150 yards with the furthest around 165.

 

With a 22lr?

[team tractor]

I shot 6 in a row with my hmr on Sunday and all within 80 yards and within 40 seconds . I find they get confused with the hmr but run with the lr.

Edited June 15, 2016 by team tractor

[remmy1100]

i used to use winchester subs but now use eley they are slightly down on power but are quieter and more accurate in my book

[39TDS]

i used to use winchester subs but now use eley they are slightly down on power but are quieter and more accurate in my book

Same here and I used to slate Eley subs.

 

I also have some CCI "Quiets". I use a CZ and a cheapo moderator and I'd say most air rifles are louder. Not a great fan of the round as they are solid point and drop very quick. They are quiet though.

[Walker570]

I use Winchester subs as well. The THUMP as the bullet arrives usually causes more panic than the zing from the 17HMR which as said you believe confuses them. Lets face it we all know the name 'Thumper' which derives from the way a rabbit thumps the ground with a back leg to warn of danger. My top score with any rifle was 9 out of 10 at 90yrds and that was with a 17 Remington and all where sat on top of the burrow. The 10th just got lonely and popped down the hole. Had him twenty minutes later :-)

My 22RF is fitted with a SAK Rim and the sound of the firing pin going forward is deafening, followed by a THUNK!! as the bullet arrives. A good trick when shooting multiple numbers is to shoot the furthest animal first and this even relates to shots at foxes and deer. The reaction is to run from the sound they hear and that is a sharp crack and thunk and not the noise from the rifle, so almost always they will come towards you. Often shot two deer like this and my top score on foxes was five, the first at 120yrds the last at 20yrds from a high seat (vixen and 4 well grown cubs) and they all ran towards me looking back as each animal fell. Shot two sparring roe bucks last year the same way. They stopped hustling each other for a second and I dropped the furthest. The second ran towards me and stopped nicely square on looking back at the other in disbelief. I suppose he thought he had done it :-)

Edited June 16, 2016 by Walker570

[andrew f]

Eley subs for me

[oowee]

The rabbits may already be spooked from your work with the HMR. If they are on edge from previous shooting even walking past or stopping a vehicle will be enough to see the run. Maybe give them a rest?

[wymberley]

If all else fails, you could see if you can try an old Parker Hale moderator - they last forever and don't look too shabby on the dumpy 1417.

[bazzab]

Cci quiets are super silent. Don't have a huge range but can't be beaten for noise in my opinion.

[telf]

stick with the rws or eleys(best imo),very much doubt youve a problem with the sak,unless its ******** off the hmr

 

i would say its just the noise of the bullet thwacking the rabbit,i have permissions where one shot off the .22 can clear the field,but the noise of the mach2 just confuses them,and other permissions where the exact opposite happens

[Bewsher500]

depends on rifle and moderator

long barrel short barrel

Semi auto/Bolt

 

I have a Sako quad with 12" barrel and Weirauch mod

I also have a Sako quad with a 22" barrel and a T12 scout!! (doubles as the mod for my WMR/HMR)

Also have a Browing Semi with a parker hale

 

I use WinSubs

but having done this test with various ammo

RWS are quieter than other brands in my sako rifles

the semi and parker hale is much much noisier in all ways

 

I don't buy the "rabbits run at the thud but not the crack"

Rabbits will do what they want when they want

I have shot two rabbits the second landed on the first, both with WinSubs at less than 50yds

considerable impact noise,

also shot two foxes with a ,222 that were less than 10yds apart!

[Dougy]

A few comments were made over the weekend regarding how quiet my 22lr was.

It's a standard barrel length Anni shooting RWS, the only sound was the click of the bolt.

[Hendrix's rifle]

 

With a 22lr?

Sorry I should have said 17hmr, tbh I thought I did. The noise from the hmr usually makes them sit tight

[Alpha Mule]

I reckon it's just chance. I shoot both HMR and LR. My LR is quieter then my moderated CO2 Air rifle was. I have a SAK fitted to both .17 and .22.

Bunnies will sit or bolt regardless of the rounds I use, with perhaps a slight benefit in the LR, but only just.

The smack of a head-shot, or the plop of a chest-shot, send then running. I've actually had one shift when he heard the click of the pin, fast enough to dodge the bullet (approx 65 yards).

Sometimes the crack of the HMR gets them sitting up - sometimes they just leg it.

[Dekers]

Nothing wrong with a SAK mod, and there will be very little difference in noise levels of any sub sonic .22lr ammo.

 

I guess your bunnies are just sensitive!

[Walker570]

I have some old Magtech subs and they are also nice and quiet until suddenly you get one, about one in 50, which goes off like a full bore. Never had extraction or any signs of over pressure from them but it does wake you up and everything else for a couple of miles around :-) Have a good stock of Winchesters so don't tend to use them these days.

[Bazooka Joe]

If all else fails, you could see if you can try an old Parker Hale moderator - they last forever and don't look too shabby on the dumpy 1417.

 

Definitely worth a try, I was given a mod off a member on PW some time ago which was damaged.

 

I fixed it, & now use nothing else, my other mod was a parkerhale.