Suppressors are practically made for .22 rimfire guns.
If you want to get as close to “movie suppressor” quiet…you’ll want to suppress a .22 LR gun. It gets to the point where the bolt cycling might be louder than the actual bullet.
I’ll quickly go over the basics of getting a suppressor, then dive into the best choices for a .22 rimfire suppressor.
I’ll stick mostly to rimfire-specific suppressors but will also show some multi-caliber options.
THE QUICK LIST
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Editor’s Pick
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Best Full-Auto Rated Rimfire Suppressor
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Best Modular Rimfire Suppressor
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Best Budget Rimfire Suppressor
Table of Contents
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The National Firearms Act (NFA) and You
We have the complete guide to the NFA, but the gist is that in 1934 the government enacted a $200 tax stamp for items such as suppressors.
The good thing is that thanks to inflation the $200 is a lot more affordable now than back in the 30s (to the tune of ~$3,800 current dollars).
Getting a stamp is easy, but you want to do it through a gun trust and not under your individual name.
I’ve personally used the $79 option through GunTrustGuru and hosted on Capitol Armory, which is one of our go-to’s for buying suppressors online. And you don’t need a notary to set it up, either.
Then…you just wait, and you’ll be granted the ability to pick up your suppressor.
Or get it shipped to your door if you go with a vendor that has a license in your state.
Decibel Reading Setup
We tried to keep it at least semi-scientific.
So we got a Larson Davis SoundTrack LxT-QPR sound level reader and utilized our Browning Buckmark .22 LR pistol as the basis.
Ammo? We used some supersonic 36-grain stuff we had lying around.
Here’s a baseline measurement:
Now without further ado…
Best .22 Rimfire Suppressors
1. Silencer Central Banish 22
We’re big fans of Silencer Central cans since they make it so easy to purchase online and then get your silencer delivered to your doorstep.
How?
Remember that license part I said above…they have it for all the ~42 states that allow suppressors.
But enough about them…how does the Banish 22 fare?
It’s a tiny boi and you get a real scale of its size when it’s on a .22 handgun.
Let’s see/hear it in action:
Manufacturer Specs:
- Decibel Rating: down to 120dB
- Rating: .17 HMR to 5.7×28
- Weight: 4.1oz
- Diameter: 1″
- Length: 5.375″
- Construction: Titanium
- Mount: direct thread
That 120dB…it’s only 10dB louder than a bb-gun and totally hearing safe. And we managed to get closer to the 110dB mark with our tests.
It’s also super light being made of titanium and full-auto rated.
Another good thing for shooting dirty rimfire rounds is the ability to be taken apart and serviced.
Even when I’ve only shot 100 rounds and taken off the suppressor it drops out carbon flakes. I take out the baffles and throw it into an ultrasonic cleaner every 500 rounds and it’s GTG.
If you’re looking for a super effective and easy-to-purchase .22 suppressor…check out the Banish 22.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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What’s your take on the Banish 22? Rate it below!
Also…we’ve already hands-on reviewed their other cans…the Banish 30 (for rifles) and also the Banish 45 (for pistols).
2. Dead Air Mask
Another option rising in popularity is the Dead Air Mask.
It’s full-auto rated…for real.
And has a low first-round pop because of its unique baffle system.
This one has been well used on the Ruger Mark IV along with full-auto .22 LR ARs and keeps on truckin’.
Check it out on the range:
Manufacturer Specs:
- Rating: .17 HMR to 5.7×28
- Weight: 6.6oz
- Diameter: 1.07″
- Length: 5.1″
- Construction: Titanium and Stainless Steel
- Mount: direct thread
It’s also user-serviceable so you don’t have to worry about all the carbon buildup on the baffles slowing you down.
If you’re looking for a heavy-duty .22 LR can with low first-round pop…check out the Dead Air Mask.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
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3. SilencerCo Switchback
Of course, we have a SilencerCo option here…but it’s not the one that everyone is thinking.
Enter the Switchback.
Already instantly recognizable because of its gray/black color scheme…it also allows multiple user configurations based on application.
The shortest config makes it just above hearing safe with a pistol…but if length really matters it’s a great system.
And if you look carefully…you’ll see the right-side baffles are switched for the “rifle optimized” length. Hence its name…mind blown.
Now let’s check out some specs:
Manufacturer Specs:
- Rating: .17 HMR to 5.7×28
- Weight: 3.2-6.5oz
- Diameter: 1.07″
- Length: 2.5-5.75″
- Construction: Titanium and Stainless Steel
- Mount: direct thread
And how does it shoot?
If you’re looking for something super modular that can go super short…and also be optimized for rimfire rifle…you can’t go wrong with the Switchback.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
4. SilencerCo Sparrow
This is the one you know that would make the list of best .22 suppressors.
The SilencerCo Sparrow.
While the other options used baffle systems inside…the Sparrow uses a monocore that looks like a pipe with cut-out designs.
This makes it ridiculously easy to service…and also lowers its production cost.
However, one downside is that it’s only full-auto rated for .22 LR…but is that really a problem for most given ammo cost nowadays?
Manufacturer Specs:
- Decibel Rating: .22LR: 112.7dB, 5.7×28: 127.7dB
- Rating: .17 HMR to 5.7×28
- Weight: 6.5oz
- Diameter: 1.06″
- Length: 5.08″
- Construction: Stainless Steel
- Mount: direct thread
That 112.7dB for .22 LR is ridiculous! Again that is Hollywood quiet and the sound of impact on steel or your action is going to exceed the actual round coming out.
We couldn’t get it down quite as low but we were using supersonic ammo. If you go subsonic you’ll probably hit it.
And because it’s monocore construction? You’re looking at just above $300 for the SilencerCo Sparrow. Plus the tax stamp for Uncle Sam, of course.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
How About Multi-Caliber Suppressors?
We’ve gone through the rimfire-specific suppressors…but what about multi-cal options?
Multi-caliber suppressors are kinda cool because they can work alongside rimfires and centerfires.
Though they can suppress a multitude of calibers, what’s really cool is that they can mount to various platforms.
Essentially, you get more bang for your buck…and who doesn’t love that!
We really dig Silencer Central’s Banish line but we have a whole article dedicated to AR-15 suppressors with some great multi-cal options. Check it out here!
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
-
25% off all OAKLEY products - OAKLEY25
Copied! Visit Merchant
Final Thoughts
Shooting a suppressed gun is a serious blast. These nifty devices not only reduce noise but tame recoil and muzzle rise as well. This makes shooting so much more comfortable.
Hopefully we gave you a good taste of the best .22 LR suppressors out there.
What are your feelings on suppressors? Let us know in the comments! Not sure where to buy one…check out Best Places Online & Off to Buy Suppressors.
15 Leave a Reply
I would have preferred you using the same gun for each of the different suppressor. As it is, I'm not sure if the barrel length and action would, or could, influence the decibel reading. I'm not trolling, but rather just making an observation.
Disappointed you only listed 4 and all in the higher price range for 22 Rimfire silencers. Was also hoping for some info on the dB performance of the Dead Air Mask but you only mentioned low first-round pop. How does it suppress nominally? Looking forward to additional future reviews.
The first one you called a Ruger buck Mark
Can you use a 5.56 suppressor for 22lr or vice versa? Thank you.
hi, apologies for dumb question, but I'm not sure I understand the purpose of a gun trust. possible to explain?
thanks
Hi Steven, it looks like no one has answered your question. The short answer is that without the trust, you are the only one who can have and use the NFA item. A trust makes it possible for others, say your wife or adult child, to be named as trustees. They can then have access legally to whatever the trust owns. Trusts also designate what happens to the assets upon the demise of the Grantor. Look up John Pierce Esq. on the interwebs for more info. IANAL, but he is, and he specializes in firearm law. He's in Virginia, so there may be some differences if you're in another state, but he's pretty knowledgeable and explains things well.
Really disappointed that some other .22 suppressors weren't given a trial and any ratings by your guys. I would have love to have seen how the Erector or El Camino from Q, the CGS Hydra , and the GemTech .22 would have fared. Also i think it might be good to not only to try them on a pistol, but also something like an M&P 15-22 as well so we can see how they would perform on a rifle platform
We're always testing and updating...stay tuned!
I wholeheartedly agree! Is everyone getting kickbacks for mentioning Banish suppressors?
They are the best because of the full titanium build. And super durable and very quite
It would've been cool t oget some readings with subsonic 22LR. dB in the 80s?
River doesn’t make the Buckmark, Browning makes the Buckmark.
Exactly!!!
Dang, I was hoping this would be a huge review with a dozen or more suppressors. Any chance y'all could tag team with a dealer that has a big inventory?
Browning makes the Buckmark, not Ruger - but you knew that.