By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
If there is anything a novice or an expert alike need in their battery it is a .22 caliber rimfire firearm.
There is nothing more satisfying as a tool for maintaining marksmanship in experienced shooters or to provide low recoil and report for trainees. Within its limitations the .22 LR is a good tool that need not be obscured by its more powerful big brothers. A particularly attractive set up is a suppressor equipped .22-caliber firearm.
As my friend Kendall pointed out these guns are addictive. They are a great deal of fun to shoot and that is motivation enough. But there are roles a suppressed firearm fills better than any other. The primary advantage of the suppressed .22 is a lack of offensive noise. The caliber is simply quite with a suppressor. In some cases you literally only hear the action cycling. That is a superb training tool. While my Walker muffs are efficient a suppressor lowers the sound level to a surprising extent. You may even fire a .22 LR with Subsonic ammunition without hearing protection- it is that pleasant to fire.
Typical 9mm handguns and carbines are among the firearms I use with a suppressor but the majority of my practice time is filled with .22 LR firearms. Not only am I able to enjoy firing without the chance of hearing damage when training young shooters I am able to effectively communicate while firing- something that is much more difficult without a sound suppressor. The .22 Long Rifle’s other good attributes are part of the equation- low recoil and little expense compared to centerfire ammunition. With the cessation of recoil and low noise level you are able to focus on marksmanship. This is especially true when training young shooters.
Training isn’t the only role for a suppressed .22. Small game hunting is enjoyable with the rimfire and while suppressor grade ammunition is low velocity that doesn’t mean it isn’t effective. Few hunters wear hearing protection in the forest and while we should, we don’t. The suppressed .22 doesn’t frighten nearby livestock other animals or humans.
I am not certain how many times I have taken a single squirrel with a .22 and watched the others scurry away. It takes a few to make a stew—with the quite .22 this effect will be lessened. There isn’t a lot of true wilderness anymore. I live fairly close to wooded areas. I am certain that the shots I hear are well directed but sometimes I wonder. A sound suppressor is a nice neighborly addition to the firearm. In years past there were designated times when animal control kept a .22 caliber rifle for dispatching dangerous or dying animals humanely. A suppressed version would be more urban friendly.
While sound suppressors have many valid advantages the primary advantage is still limiting damage to the eardrum. I have tested quite a number of suppressor ready loads from CCI ammunition. Some standard velocity loads work well, but the Suppressor Ready line is best overall. High velocity loads break the sound barrier producing a crack that takes away from the advantage of the sound suppressor. .
Dead Air Mask HD
When doing my research, experts recommended the Dead Air Mask for .22 caliber use. Dead Air brings a great deal of experience to the table. This is advanced technology. The Mask weighs only 6.8 ounces. Diameter is 1.07 inch and the Mask HD is 5.1 inches long, with baffles of stainless steel. The tube is manufactured from Titanium.
The Mask HD is as strong and durable as possible while maintaining a manageable weight. It features a rugged Cerakote finish.
Let’s acknowledge that .22 Long Rifle ammunition is dirtier than centerfire ammunition. Dead Air’s Mask HD features enclosed baffles, which alleviate carbon buildup.
I tested the Dead Air Mask on one pistol and three rifles. The pistol was the SIG P322. I added a Hi Lux red dot sight for training compatibility with my carry guns. The TD 3E enclosed emitter optic is a rugged optic supplied with a steel cage for protection.
While I mounted this sight on a rimfire handgun the Hi Lux TD 3E is well suited to any caliber handgun. This is a useful optic with good features.
The long guns tested with the Dead Air Mask HD included a Ruger Charger, Ruger custom grade 10/22 and a Smith & Wesson FPC. All were supplied with factory threaded barrels save the full size 10/22, it is fitted with a Beyer custom barrel with threaded muzzle. A strong recommendation: a Ruger 10/22 for dedicated suppressor use should be fitted with the Volquartsen Firefly bolt. You will be glad to you obtained this well made and reliable bolt carrier group.
Results
Hearing damage may occur 140 DCBs or so. It is interesting to note that the .22 pistol is usually 3 to 5 DCBs louder than the rifle. No surprises there. In all cases the Dead Air HD Suppressor was a joy to use and fire.
The pistol was particularly fast handling and effective. This set up makes a fine understudy for the 9mm suppressed pistol. The Hi Lux optic and the SIG’s light weight and easy handling added up to a fun gun.
The SIG ran well with the Quite 22 designed for semi autos. This 45-grain load is something of a wonder running well in all firearms testing despite its lower velocity. The standard load is slower and at about 700 fps and must be chambered by manually racking the slide for each shot when used in pistols.
The same was true of the rifles, although the Ruger Charger ran well with the standard suppressor load, something of an anomaly. The suppressor not only reduced sound there was no muzzle flash to speak of. Accuracy was unaffected; all of the firearms tested are proven accurate.
The suppressor gains 15 to 22 fps in velocity with the same load compared to testing in the standard barrel. Results have been fascinating. While practical value is high I am a gun crank and enjoy testing firearms and ammunition simply for the experience.
The Dead Air Mask HD has provided many hours of enjoyment. As an understudy to centerfire handguns the SIG P322 has been particularly useful. My wife isn’t as big as shooter as myself. It has to be a quite gun and a fun gun to get her interested. A suppressed .22 fits that billing. I have enjoyed these firearms a great deal. Practical utility is high with this combination. The .22 world and the suppressor world just got a lot bigger.
Ammunition testing
Load DCB Handgun DCB Rifle
CCI Standard Velocity 116 114
CCI Quite 45 grain Semi Auto 115 110
CCI Suppressor 111 114
CCI Suppressor hollow point 112 114
CCI Mini Mag —- 118
Specifications Dead Air Armament Mask HD
Caliber Rating: .17 – .22 Rimfire, 5.7×28 mm
Diameter: 1.07″
Length: 5.1″
Weight: 6.8 oz
Tube: Grade 9 Titanium, Matte Black Cerakote
Baffles: 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, Natural Finish
End Caps: 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, Black Nitride
Thread Size: 1/2″ x 28n TPI
MSRP: $449
