Building a quiet rimfires Henry and CZ

[Sir Henry]

I would love to be able to shoot rimfires in my backyard. I have the range but currently only shoot pellets. I would like to build a dedicated backyard rifle that is quiet. I realize I must use quiet ammo and a longer barrel would aid in the sound but at what point do I worry about a bullet getting stuck in the barrel?

Would a louder bullet and longer barrel be noisier than a quieter bullet with a shorter barrel?

This will be strictly a bench rifle as the backstop might not stop a bullet and I must hitinside a steel trap. I must guarantee hitting a one square foot target at 25 yards.

What is prompting me is I wanted to go shooting tomorrow but the range is closed for LEO training.

[BigAl52]

Cant answer your question Gene but sister has been shooting on the range at Black Diamond and likes it alot. I as well have shot there its a decent range. Not sure if thats farther for you or about the same. Just a thot.

[North Country Gal]

We use several of the steel 22 LR rated rimfire traps on our backyard air rifle range, so I think you'd be plenty safe using a couple those.

As far as squibs, we've had them with the very low velocity Colibri 22 LRs which are basically a CB 22 LR, only using the primer for propulsion and accuracy was pretty lame, anyway. I'd stay away from them, period. That was in a 24" CZ barrel.

The CCI Quiets,though, were no problem and much more accurate at 30 yards. I wouldn't use them at 50, but useable at 30. Still plenty quiet in a 20" barrel, so I think a 20" barrel would work for you, too. Don't think you'll need to go longer for these.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks Joanie. Would a 16” barrel be louder than a 20” even with Quiets? What about shorts?

[bandit1250]

My CZ Ultra Lux 452's with the 28.6" barrels are the quietest 22's I own. Sub sonic ammo of some brands are quieter than others so you should try different ones to find the one you think will be OK for in your back yard range. The ones with the lowest velocity rating will usually be the lowest noise. CCI quiets are not by any means bench rest accuracy from most 22's especially past 25 yds. Out of the Ultra Lux long barrel the bullet striking the target is some times louder than the rifle. The old Sheridan pellet rifle I shoot is louder than the UL CZ. The UL 452's can still be found used in like new condition but the 455 can be bought new. Most of the UL's are very accurate. It will be more fun if you find a rifle and ammo combination that you can shoot tiny little groups with and shoot itty bitty targets and hit them with regularity. A guy I used to talk with at shows had a insulated tube he made several feet long a foot or so in diameter on a little movable rack he placed at the muzzle and shot through to keep his shooting quiet in his back yard. He claimed no one ever said they heard his rifle shots. Here is my fun to shoot targets I shoot in my yard at 25 and 33 yard bullet trap. Empty 22 cartridges stuck in thick corrugated card board. Then shoot at just the shell head sticking out. It can be a fun challenge when you move to a different target for each shot instead of shooting groups. Sometimes I can run off both rows of ten each with out a miss and some times not. The 513T Rem. with peep sights is a fun challenge. There is another quiet rifle.(27 1/4") I have a lot of different ways to entertain my self with out going to the range.

[North Country Gal]

Gene, this is a tough one to nail, down. What is an acceptable level of noise for you, but, more importantly, for your neighbors? Along those same lines, I've found that the noise I perceive when shooting the gun is not quite what someone else perceives even a short distance from the gun. That long barrel may make the shot seem quieter to you, but what about someone over in the next yard? Overall, I think the best you can do is narrow it down to those options that will give you both the accuracy you want and a reasonably low level of noise.

There's also the issue of what is legal or not legal to shoot in your particular municipality, but I'll leave that to you.

CB loads, either CB Shorts, CB Longs or CB LRs are the quietest. They burn no powder, get their propulsion from the primer, only. I find them useful for testing function on a gun I may be working on or sometimes I just want to cycle and shoot a particular gun for fun, not worried about hitting anything. For me, accuracy with CB loads is consistently lousy. Any of my air rifles make CB loads look really, really, bad. Target ammo, CBs are not. CBs are also the most likely ammo to get you a squib load. I do NOT wear hearing protection when shooting CBs for that reason. Very important to hear what little noise there is. When I hear one that just doesn't sound "right", I check the bore. If you're shooting these in anything but a break open gun like a Contenderor a bolt gun with an easily removed bolt, I strongly recommend keeping a bore light, handy.

The CCI Quiets are a bit quieter than subsonic 22 LR target ammo and accuracy for me is decent enough for target practice out to about 30 yards.

22 Shorts are a great choice IF you use 22 Short Target ammo, not 22 Short HV, and IF you have a 22 Short, only, gun to shoot them. 22 Short Target ammo is not commonly found, but it is easier to find, these days, as a 22 Short, only gun. Not much louder than 22 Quiets, but way more accurate in a 22 Short, only, gun.

Still, when it comes to the best combination of quiet AND accuracy at 30 yards, our top guns are easily our PCP rifles. It takes one of our match grade 22 LR rifles to keep up with our Daystate CR 97 at 30 yards, but even our 900 fps class spring piston guns are much louder than a properly moderated PCP and so, too, are our pumpers louder.

[Sir Henry]

Thanks for the replies. I would like to address some of the comments and answer a couple questions.

First of all I live in King County, Washington where it is legal to discharge a firearm as long as it can be done safely. To keep it safe I should limit it to low power rim fire. The .17HMR is too much power and so is HV .22LR.

Another issue I need to deal with is the bullet hitting the metal traps. My backstop dictates I need to hit inside the traps every time. I can miss occasional but it would destroy the backstop quickly. Even a pellet hitting the Stop makes a lot of noise but I’ve conditioned the neighbors for it. In the distance I can hear centerfire from two separate sources so people do shoot near me. My problem is where I’m at it is zoned semi rural with one house per acre which is what I have. The others shooting is from a block away wher it is zoned rural with one house per five acres so the houses are much further apart.

I already own several Henry’s and CZs that would make perfect rifles for my backyard. It’s just a matter of setting them up strictly for 25 yards. I mention this because it is one of the reasons I want to shoot rimfire. A pellet would be much more practical but would mean I would need to purchase better pellet rifles. The Avanti is good enough but it is the only rifle good enough. I have two air pistols already that I can use.

Maybe I should rethink shooting rimfire and just get more air rifles???

[North Country Gal]

Going the air rifle route makes better sense from a safety point of view and/or potential damage to your backstop, should you hit outside the traps. Pellets travel only a tiny fraction of the distance of what even a standard 22 LR bullet will and, likewise, have only a fraction of the lethality. It's why we primarily shoot air guns on our property, other than an occasional test firing of other guns, even though it's perfectly legal for us to shoot any kind of gun. For sure, some of our neighbors are not at all bashful about shooting big boomers.

25 yards is a perfect distance for accuracy work with an air gun, too. At that distance, no problem rivaling your best CZ or Henry with the right air rifle.

On the other hand, there are times when the urge to grab one of our CZs or other favorite rimfires and do some shooting in the back yard is hard to resist. That's where the CCI Quiets come in. Don't do it, often, but every now and then. Our backstop, though, is crude and rustic compared to yours. Just a lot of old lumber and timber we've accumulated around the place. Nothing to damage or destroy and no worry about appearances, given how we are tucked back in the woods. The backstop is plenty thick enough to stop any 22 bullet, so it is safe, assuming no ricochets.

if you do choose to go the air gun route and need some advice, all you have to do is ask, of course.

[ditto1958]

I use CCI Quiets with good results. A Henry or a CZ rifle will be very quiet. I shoot them in a revolver and even then they’re quiet.

[Sir Henry]

I use CCI Quiets with good results. A Henry or a CZ rifle will be very quiet. I shoot them in a revolver and even then they’re quiet.

That really surprises me in a revolver.

[North Country Gal]

The CCI are noticeably quieter in a revolver than standard 22 loads. I agree. I use them in revolvers, too, when I want to test fire a revolver and check for function. Still nowhere near as quiet as in a rifle, though. Again, just all depends on what is an acceptable noise level in your situation.

[Redthies]

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/frontie ... barrel-24/

That is all you need to know! Although I’m not sure why they thread the longest barrel model they make, so that when you add a suppressor it becomes something like a 28 or 29” barrel. Obviously local law may or may not allow suppression. Where I live, handcuffs would be involved in having one, although I know some people who have had them. I’m not legally allowed to even shoot my B.B. gun on my acreage since the city decided it needed a bigger tax base and extended its boundaries. That hasn’t stopped me from using .22 shorts and subsonic rounds. It’s still not quiet enough for regular target shooting though as someone would eventually complain.

[Sir Henry]

The CCI are noticeably quieter in a revolver than standard 22 loads. I agree. I use them in revolvers, too, when I want to test fire a revolver and check for function. Still nowhere near as quiet as in a rifle, though. Again, just all depends on what is an acceptable noise level in your situation.

It needs to be very quiet.

[Sir Henry]

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/frontie ... barrel-24/

That is all you need to know! Although I’m not sure why they thread the longest barrel model they make, so that when you add a suppressor it becomes something like a 28 or 29” barrel. Obviously local law may or may not allow suppression. Where I live, handcuffs would be involved in having one, although I know some people who have had them. I’m not legally allowed to even shoot my B.B. gun on my acreage since the city decided it needed a bigger tax base and extended its boundaries. That hasn’t stopped me from using .22 shorts and subsonic rounds. It’s still not quiet enough for regular target shooting though as someone would eventually complain.

Two years ago Washington State changed the laws and we can now own suppressors with the federal tax stamp.

[North Country Gal]

Gene, a suppressor may be the best option, actually. Yeah, the stamp is expensive, but buying a threaded barrel gun and the suppressor is probably still no more expensive than going all out with a high end PCP rifle and all the support equipment needed. Don't know if Henry offers anything in a suppressor-ready gun, but CZ does.

[Sir Henry]

Gene, a suppressor may be the best option, actually. Yeah, the stamp is expensive, but buying a threaded barrel gun and the suppressor is probably still no more expensive than going all out with a high end PCP rifle and all the support equipment needed. Don't know if Henry offers anything in a suppressor-ready gun, but CZ does.

Thanks Joanie, you make a good enabler. I’m going to check the CZ’s out.

[Henry88]

I can say that my bolt action with 22" barrel is a lot quieter than the H001 with CCI Quiets. No comparison.

The Marlin bolt gun does not sound like a shot and has 0% chance of getting stuck. People laugh when they hear it

The range is limited however, and the accuracy diminishes with distance.

[Sir Henry]

I can say that my bolt action with 22" barrel is a lot quieter than the H001 with CCI Quiets. No comparison.

The Marlin bolt gun does not sound like a shot and has 0% chance of getting stuck. People laugh when they hear it

The range is limited however, and the accuracy diminishes with distance.

Accuracy is my main goal for the backyard.

[bandit1250]

I can say that my bolt action with 22" barrel is a lot quieter than the H001 with CCI Quiets. No comparison.

The Marlin bolt gun does not sound like a shot and has 0% chance of getting stuck. People laugh when they hear it

The range is limited however, and the accuracy diminishes with distance.

Accuracy is my main goal for the backyard.

If you don't have the accuracy you will soon get tired of shooting target. Accuracy is every thing when shooting from a bench. I have a lot of fun just trying to beat the targets I previously shot or maybe even beat my wife. I do under stand the need for low noise when shooting in the yard. The CZ Ultra lux is the quietest rifle I have ever heard with out a suppressor and it will be accurate.