How short of a bbl for 22lr to remain subsonic?

[Vermiform]

I have a new 22 can and I'm starting to come up with ideas for a rifle.

When using run of the mill, walmart bought bricks of 22LR, how short of a bbl do you need to remain subsonic?

Will I need to go the SBR route?

 

[Vermiform]

Wanted to add that it will be a 10/22 bbl

 

[cajun 22]

All HV ammo will crack in a barrel over 6". 4.5" seems to be the magic number for bulk ammo staying subsonic. I shoot CCI standard vel in a 16" 10/22 and it is just as quiet as it is on a 4.5" pistol with a suppressor. I am in the process of building a pocket rifle with a 4.5" barrel. Well as soon as I can source a barrel.

 

[Vermiform]

Are there any bulk packs (bricks) of standard velocity, other than CCI I could stock up on?

 

[Magdump]

+1 on the CCI standard. It's uber accurate in everything .22 I own also.

There are lots of standard velocity picks brother.
Some of the federal bulk, the aguila super extra is standard vel with a high vel name, most target ammo runs below 1100 fps, which is just below the speed of sound. Just pay attention to the velocity rating and you'll see

 

[Abby Normal]

Where Yat Vermiform. Here's the info you need from BallisticsByTheInch.
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html
I love their straight forward No Non scents approach. They cut up a lot of gun barrels to get this info.

 

[Vermiform]

Where Yat Vermiform. Here's the info you need from BallisticsByTheInch.
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html
I love their straight forward No Non scents approach. They cut up a lot of gun barrels to get this info.

Very nice! Thanks!


And another thanks to everyone's help in this thread!

 

[LACamper]

.22 is supersonic coming out my M21 w/ a 2" barrel...

 

[Vermiform]

.22 is supersonic coming out my M21 w/ a 2" barrel...

You mean it is subsonic?

 

[topgunz1]

Without a subsonic ammo, you'll have to SBR. I like CCI Standard Velocity, in my Ruger American with Tac-65 can it is silly quiet.

 

[Vermiform]

I've decided on adding CCI SV to my stores and probably going with a Tactical Solutions SBX bbl for my build. I have nothing against going the SBR route but MAN, that is such a long wait now for stamps.

 

[rcm192]

I shoot cci standard velocity mainly from my 22 pistols and rifles with my warlock....when shooting Federal Hi Velocity bulk pack ammo every now and then you will notice a little crack it seems from going at a faster rate of speed. Another nice round my gunsmith and I have been playing around with is the Geco Rifle 40gr, it will cycle in everything with a can on it and its standard velocity.

 

[rcm192]

I've decided on adding CCI SV to my stores and probably going with a Tactical Solutions SBX bbl for my build. I have nothing against going the SBR route but MAN, that is such a long wait now for stamps.

I did this. Its a fun little set up!

 

[LACamper]

You mean it is subsonic?

No,with standard ammo the round is still supersonic with a nub for a barrel. That's without a suppressor though. CB caps are fun though...

 

[JR1572]

4.5 inch and shorter in .22 to keep standard velocity rounds subsonic.

I had great success using federal bulk pack out of a 4.5 upper.

JR1572

 

[Spleen]

The old-school AWC Amphibians and other such integrally suppressed pistols are kept at 2.5" barrel length generally.
They usually require high velocity ammo to function reliably but keep well under subsonic rates.
Fun to shoot but finicky.

 

[Magdump]

Without a subsonic ammo, you'll have to SBR. I like CCI Standard Velocity, in my Ruger American with Tac-65 can it is silly quiet.

Agreed! Mine likes it also. And if you can find the segmented subsonics you will likely shoot the same ultra small groups.

 

[Magdump]

Don't wanna break into a standard velocity vs high velocity debate, but standard vel usually encompasses target ammo and others rated at (usually) or around the 1100fps mark, (or below 1200fps) High vel, super vel hyper vel etc is the stuff usually rated above 1200fps.
It's rare to find .22LR designated as "pistol", target or match that is rated over 1000fps. I've found a few loads of different brands that are actually rated at subsonic velocities and not "labeled" subsonic.
That being said, I'll shoot CCI mini mags all day from a 4" barreled Ruger and my chrony rarely shows a number over 950fps.
So, when looking at .22LR ammo try looking up the claimed fps (which may be from a barrel 16-20") and go from there. You may be surprised at how much truly subsonic ammo you can find out there.

 

[noob]

I've found that pretty much all ammo stays sub sonic out of all my pistols and 4.5 inch AR. YET sub sonic ammo actually makes a popping noise vs the nail gun noise I normally get out of my suppressed 22s.