Silence is Golden: Finding the Quietest 22 LR Suppressor

The humble .22 LR round has long been America’s favorite for plinking, small game hunting, and introductory shooting. Its relatively low power and minimal recoil make it perfect for new shooters, while its affordability keeps experienced marksmen coming back.

When paired with an effective suppressor, the shooting experience transforms into something truly remarkable. A rimfire suppressor can reduce the sharp crack of a .22 LR round to little more than a whisper, making it one of the most satisfying shooting experiences available.

All of the most popular 22 suppressors on the market are impressively quiet. I would highly suggest considering your intended uses to determine which features are most important for you, such as caliber ratings, materials, modularity, size and weight, price, warranty, etc. First, let’s review the industry standards of measuring sound suppression.

How Sound Suppression is Measured

When discussing “quiet” suppressors, we need to understand how sound suppression is measured. The industry standard is to measure the sound at the shooter’s ear in decibels (dB), with lower numbers indicating better sound reduction. Decibels (dB) – is a logarithmic unit that measures sound intensity.

Here’s where things get interesting: the logarithmic scale means that human ears perceive a reduction of 10 dB as roughly half as loud. Decibels (dB) is the “raw” measure of sound, whereas dBA take into account human perception. 

Most commercially available .22 LR suppressors will reduce sound by 30-40 dB, bringing the report down to around 110-120 dB when using standard velocity ammunition. This is close to the sound of a BB-gun.

Multiple factors affect the final sound level. The ammunition used plays a crucial role, as standard or subsonic ammunition will produce significantly different results. Standard velocity .22 LR ammunition typically travels at just under 1,100 feet per second, which is the speed of sound, and works well with semi-auto and bolt action rifles.

Subsonic ammunition, purposely designed to travel below this threshold, eliminates the supersonic crack and works wonderfully with suppressors on bolt action rifles. Environmental conditions also matter. Temperature, humidity, and altitude can all affect how sound waves propagate, potentially changing the perceived quietness in different shooting environments.

Practical Considerations Beyond Decibels

While decibel ratings can provide a useful baseline for comparison, practical considerations often matter more than fractional differences in sound measurements. Weight and balance significantly impact the shooting experience, especially during extended sessions. A front-heavy firearm can cause fatigue and affect accuracy. The quietest suppressor might be less desirable if it makes your firearm unwieldy.

Durability should be a top consideration as well. The .22 LR round may be low-powered, but it’s notoriously dirty. Lead and carbon buildup occurs quickly, making maintenance crucial. The best suppressors feature user-serviceable designs that allow for complete disassembly and thorough cleaning. If you’re involved in competitive shooting, such as NRL 22, you’ll benefit from the superior noise reduction and durability of models like the Dead Air MASK 22 HD or Rugged Oculus.

Cost versus value presents another important factor. Premium suppressors can approach $500, while budget options might be available for half that price. The cost difference often reflects materials quality, precision manufacturing, and company reputation.

For many shooters, a slightly louder but significantly less expensive suppressor represents the better value, especially when considering the additional $200 tax stamp required for legal ownership in the United States.

The Verdict: Which is Truly the Quietest?

According to PEW Science, the CAT SR (Short Round) Titanium is the quietest .22 LR suppressor they’ve tested. However, the margin between top performers is remarkably small—often just 1-3 decibels. Such minor differences may be imperceptible to the human ear in real-world conditions and can even vary based on specific firearms, ammunition lots, and environmental factors.

For most shooters, several impressively quiet options exist that balance sound suppression with other practical considerations.

• The Dead Air Mask HD offers excellent quietness with effectively no first-round pop and superior durability.
• The SilencerCo Sparrow 22 provides impressive performance at a competitive price point.
• The Rugged Mustang 22 balances exceptional quietness with a super lightweight design. Each represents a slightly different approach to the same goal.

Ultimately, the “best” suppressor is the one that best meets your specific needs while delivering excellent sound reduction. Consider your primary use case, budget, length & weight preferences, and maintenance needs before making a final decision.

Remember that proper ammunition selection—specifically quality subsonic rounds—will likely make a more noticeable difference than marginal differences in decibel ratings.

The perfect suppressor for you is out there, waiting to transform your rimfire shooting experience into something remarkably, satisfyingly quiet.