Is there any type of quick hack?

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
With the Covid thing happening this Spring it seems like even mother nature is in shelter in place mode as far a tree leaves setting out!
I have a yard full of woodchucks Which I have been culling as usual for this time of the year however the large trees are just starting to leaf out! Even with CCI subsonics my wife is telling me that it is much more loud then usual ( I'm in the fringe of city limits)!
Any Quick hacks that would take back the sound (even a bit) of the muzzle report of a subsonic .22 RF out side of making a suppressor?
 

Ian

Notorious member
Anything you make to reduce the sound of the report IS making a silencer according to the definition in the NFA. Sorry.

$200, some paperwork, and a few months wait time would get you a Form 1 and you can cobble together something really useful from a flashlight and some automotive freeze plugs.

Edit to add...if you're IN the city limits a suppressor is really bad advice. The boundary lines might be vague to the general public but I'm certain a prosecutor could clear them up real fast. If adjacent to the city limits and legal to shoot vermin in the county, there should be no problem with what you're doing now. High-powered air rifles can be had with built-in "moderators", still loud but legal in many municipalities that forbid discharging firearms (check your laws). Live traps may be another option.
 
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Matt

Active Member
If you have a fixed firing point or bench to shoot from you can make a tube or box that will silence sub sonic stuff. Building a rack to hold old tires horizontally and stuffing them with fiberglass insulation is basic and easy. Building a plywood box with baffles and insulation is a more work but screening the insulation with heavy screen limits the wisps of insulation from flying around. I built both for a shooting shack I had years ago in western Washington. I built a lean- to over the shooting window with lights to keep my chronograph screens dry. I poured a concrete floor and the metal roof was about 8’ high. Every so often super sonic muzzle blast would shatter one of the four fluorescent tubes. The over pressure and noise was somewhat unpleasant too. After building the tire tube I didn’t break anymore lights and the over pressure was bearable. Shining a light on my 100 yard berm allowed me to shoot at night ( no wind, no mirage, cool air made for wonderful conditions) without disturbing my wife’s sleep in the house about 100 feet away. It didn’t disturb my neighbors that were from about 600 yards to 3/4 mile away. Even though I was in the county and could shoot legally I didn’t want attention from anyone. I built the box to shoot handguns and not get covered with insulation. Legal since it’s not attached to the firearm. If you need to wander around and be quiet the 1200+ FPS airguns with their muzzle devices are effective on stuff the size of large rats and the better models are very accurate.
 

StrawHat

Well-Known Member
I shoot CCI CB longs and Aquila SSS from a long barreled 22. The firing pin is all you hear until bullet impact. Without a suppressor, long barrels are your friend.

Kevin
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
What about CB's or Calibri ammo? My ling barreled Springfield shoots them quieter than a airgun and head shot chucks have yet to complain.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
The noise comes from two sources: The rapidly expanding gas escaping the barrel behind the bullet and the bullet itself breaking the sound barrier.
There's not much you can do about the expanding gas escaping the barrel other than resorting to a $200 tax stamp & a suppressor.
You can keep the projectile under the speed of sound and eliminate that "crack" generated by the bullet.

Of course you can combine the Tax stamp, suppressor and sub-sonic ammunition for the most reduction in noise; but that comes at a cost.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Thanks,
Don't want to get in trouble :embarrassed:
I'll just wait until the trees leaf out fully. I have tried the other mentioned cartridges My barrel is 24" However while they are much quieter ...To take down one of these 20 lb on average ground hogs I have learned from experience that the minimum is the CCI "subsonic segmented" rounds 1050 fps.
Shots on those big ones are usually 40 to 65 yards. I have taken young marauders with a CCI "quiet" up to 20 yds with head shots. Not always an on the spot kill however.
Back in the 90's before there were buildings all around me I could use my .243 With zippy jacketed handloads....noise was not a problem
 

Axman

Active Member
CB longs are like a pellet rifle on steroids.
Raccoons, crows, and groundhog have been relocated with a 68 Win.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have big mommas here too. But you are right 50 yards is too far for these kinda a ammo. I shoot them up close and personal.

no way for ya to get closer?? I sneak around when momma or the doggie spots them and snipe them as they feed to me. (Also have to wait for the safe shot or back stop. But that lil 29g CB kills them quickly with a noodle shot.
CW
 

Uncle Grinch

Active Member
I have moved from the Aguila Calibri to CB Long ammo. It’s more accurate and almost as quiet, plus it sports a heavier bullet. Another reason is I had the Calibri ammo lodge inn the barrel of my old Winchester 67 single shot. Now I use my scoped JW-15. It’s deadly and quiet.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
There's these guys that shoot really heavy for caliber/cartridge flat nose bullets with tiny charges of shotgun powder .......:rofl:

It's really hard to use Unique to do that though but when it does line up the hammer fall is most of the noise .
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
RB,
Actually I do have a woodchuck yard load for my 29.5" GEW 8 mm! It is 2.5 grain Red Dot and a NOE 130 FN bullet. The sound is very quiet and pretty accurate up to 60 yards. The sound it is there but it is hard to identify as a rifle It is indeed the quietest rifle & load I have used.
But it sports Target sights: Receiver rear and Aperture disk front sight....not the easiest for woodchucks. Also it is moose of a rifle for a quick shot on a chuck ( but they don't move after the hit
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
Just poking fun .

I don't know who on which forum now but someone related a quip about a squirrel hunt and one of the guys showing up with a 458 WM . <5 gr of something fast under a RB was the load .

I fussed with a 62gr 222/223 and couldn't get it slow enough .
I took a 150 down to 2.5 gr Unique in a 7×6.8 to get it sub .