Protecting your hearing while shooting is important, which is why we’re on the hunt for the quietest .22LR ammo. 

Hearing loss from gunfire is an issue for many long-time shooters, especially those who began shooting before wearing ear protection was normalized. Today, many shooters opt to suppress their .22LR pistols and rifles, cutting back on the noise levels and making for a more pleasant shooting experience. 

Even with a suppressor, there is still a lot of variation in how quiet different loads of .22LR ammo will be. That’s why we’re taking a look at the quietest .22LR ammo, complete with decibel testing of different .22LR loads.

Quietest .22LR Ammo

Now, we know you’re here for the quietest .22LR ammo. Here’s the thing though – the quietest .22LR ammo is generally gonna be low velocity ammo as well. That’s because the bullet needs to travel at subsonic speeds, meaning slower than the sound barrier, which is roughly 1,125 fps. The problem you get into with many subsonic rounds is that they don’t have the power to properly cycle semi-auto guns. So, you may get a super quiet round, but you may also get many malfunctions with it. 

That’s why these decibel levels alone should not be the sole, or even primary, factor in choosing a .22LR round. 

Winchester 22 LR Ammunition - 333 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP

$22.99

Magtech 44 Magnum Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 240 Grain SJSP

$39.99

.22LR Decibel Testing

We wanted to test out different .22LR loads to find the quietest options out there. To do so, we rented a Larson Davis Spartan 821 Noise Sound Level Meter. With the sound meter set up using a .5″ microphone and one meter to the left of the shooter, we fired five rounds of each load and recorded the average z-weighted decibels. Z-weighted decibels are also known as linear or unweighted, and are a more accurate method of measuring potential hearing damage when testing gun shots.

The guns used for testing are:

• Pistol Used: TaurusTX 22, 4.6” barrel length
  • Pistol Suppressor Used: Tion Minuteman Ti Rimfire Suppressor
• Rifle Used: Ruger 10/22 Competition, 16.12” barrel length
  • Rifle Suppressor Used: Dead Air Mask

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA for long periods or at repeated instances can cause hearing loss. When we tested our .22LR pistol unsuppressed with the CCI Quiet 40gr. LRN, the sound level came in at 143.9 dBZ. We generally expect a suppressor to drop the sound level by 20 to 35 decibels. So, even with a suppressor, the noise level could still potentially cause damage.

Some other average decibel ratings from the Nation Insitute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders include:

• Normal conversation
  60-70 dBA
• Movie theater
  74-104 dBA
• Motorcyles and dirt bikes
  80-110 dBA
• Music through headphones at maximum volume, sporting events, and concerts
  94-110 dBA
• Sirens
  110-129 dBA
• Fireworks show
  140-160 dBA

Quietest .22LR Ammo for Suppressed Pistol

From our testing, the quietest .22LR ammo with a suppressed pistol are:

1. CCI Suppressor Subsonic 45gr. HP – 112.62 dBZ
2. Eley Subsonic 38gr. Hollow Point – 113.96 dBZ
3. CCI Quiet-22 Small Game 40gr. Segmented HP – 114.62 dbZ
4. CCI Pistol Match 40gr. LRN – 114.98 dBZ
5. Aguila Subsonic 40gr. LSP – 115.1 dBZ

While these were the quietest in our testing, some of these rounds also displayed reliability issues. For example, the Aguila Subsonic round did not cycle well, giving us stove pipes after each round. The Eley Subsonic also gave us issues by ejecting casings, but not cycling the next round. These issues are not surprising with loads that have such low velocities. 

Below we are going to list some of our top picks for quiet .22LR ammo for suppressed pistols. While these may not necessarily be the quietest of our testing, they balance noise level and performance.

CCI Suppressor Subsonic 45gr. HP

The CCI Suppressor Subsonic was not only the quietest .22LR load out of the suppressed pistol at 112.62 dBZ, but it also ran reliably. This load uses a 45gr. hollow point bullet, making it an excellent choice for taking small game quietly.

CCI Quiet-22 Target 40gr. LRN

CCI designed its Quiet line to run quieter than other .22LR loads. The CCI Quiet-22 Target 40gr. LRN is ideal for bolt-action and single-shot .22LR rifles according to the company. Despite this, we found that it ran reliably in our suppressed semi-auto pistol. At an advertised muzzle velocity of 710 fps and an average of 116.88 dBZ, it is worth picking up one box to make sure it reliably runs before stocking up in bulk.

CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN

Whileit says Standard Velocity in its name, the CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN is actually a subsonic round. For that reason, it can work well in a suppressor. In our testing with the suppressed pistol, the CCI SV came in with the bottom half of quietest rounds tested at 116.32 dBZ. It is one of our most affordable subsonic .22LR loads, making it a great choice for the shooter that want to balance noise level with cost.

Quietest .22LR for Suppressed Rifle

The quietest .22LR ammo we recorded out of the Ruger 10/22 Competition with 16.12” barrel and Dead Air Mask includes:

1. Aguila Subsonic 40gr. LSP – 109.78 dBZ
2. CCI Quiet-22 Semi Auto Target 45gr. LRN – 110.12 dBZ
3. Eley Subsonic 38gr. Hollow Point – 110.66 dBZ
4. SK Rifle Match 40gr. – 111.56 dBZ
5. Norma Tac-22 40gr. – 111.92 dBZ

Of these loads, the only malfunction was one failure to fire with the Aguila Subsonic. Below are some of our ammo picks for suppressed .22LR rifle.

CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN

Even though it didn’t make the top 5 quietest rounds tested with the suppressed rifle, the CCI Standard Velocity 40gr. LRN is an affordable choice that tends to run reliably and stay subsonic, keeping it relatively quiet. In our testing, it averaged at 113.54 dBZ.

Wolf Match Target 40gr. LRN

Another more affordable ammo choice is the Wolf Match Target 40gr. LRN. This load was in the bottom half of loads tested at 113.64 dBZ, and to the ear was very quiet when suppressed.

CCI Quiet-22 Semi Auto Target 45gr. LRN

Coming in at #2 of quietest .22LR ammo for suppressed rifle in our testing at 110.12 dBZ is the CCI Quiet-22 Semi Auto 45gr. LRN. Because the other CCI Quiet loads may have issues cycling semi-auto guns, CCI designed this load specifically to have the power to cycle reliably while keeping the noise levels low.

Quietest Unsuppressed .22LR Ammo

So, what if you’re not wanting to invest in a suppressor, but still want the quietest experience possible with a .22LR? Your best bet is to invest in a bolt, level, or pump rifle with a barrel over 18”. Pair it with some CCI Quiet-22 Target 40gr. LRN or CCI Quiet-22 Semi Auto Target 45gr. LRN ammo and you may be able to get by without ear protection. 

Final Thoughts

In order to get the quietest experience possible with a .22LR, you’re best off getting a rimfire suppressor and pairing it up with some of our ammo choices above. Suppressor wait times are at record lows, making the purchase much less daunting. And while there is still currently a $200 tax on suppressors, there are also some affordable suppressor options under $500, such as the Dead Air Mask.

Winchester 22 LR Ammunition - 333 Rounds of 36 Grain CPHP

$22.99

Magtech 44 Magnum Ammunition - 50 Rounds of 240 Grain SJSP

$39.99