Thoughts on "Quiet" airguns.

[Fisherdude]

A lot of readers of this forum have expressed interest in having a "quiet" airgun.  Certainly some are quieter than others, and I too have engaged in this quest.  I have a couple that I feel are pretty quiet, but I have learned that not all my problems were solved with a "quiet" rifle.

Shortly after purchasing a Crosman/Remington NPSS in .22 caliber, I was afforded the opportunity to shoot a tree rat right after getting it sighted-in.  He was about 20 yards up a tree. The use of a gas piston and the shroud on the NPSS make it relatively quiet to shoot.  So when I touched off my shot, there wasn't that much noise from the rifle.  But the "Thwak!!!" when the .22 pellet leaving at 750 fps struck the squirrel (headshot) echoed all through the neighborhood.  -  So my plan to be discreet in thinning out the squirrel population had a flaw. 

No matter how quiet my rifle is, there is still going to be the sound from the pellet striking its target.  Whether it be a tree rat or a tin can - there is always the noise from the other end of the pellet's path that I have to contend with.  Yes, there are some targets that are quieter than others (duct seal for one), but I really enjoy cans, spinners, and my Gamo Squirrel - all of which make a loud noise when struck with a pellet.

I have a CO2 rifle that is so quiet that I can't tell when it is running out of gas.  This is a disadvantage because I have to count the shots or notice when it starts shooting low.

 

[stilkikin]

First off nice headshot. Second, I'd rather hear a pellet striking a cranium than muzzle blast.

[JonnyReb]

 Thats what made me run for my chrony when i got the marauder, pull the trigger and there was almost no sound. Shoot something and it went "THWACK!!"  Amazing. I still have the mindset that power makes noise and i have to remind myself when shooting it that it's really a very powerful airgun. J

[Mark 611]

you can never escape impact noise no matter how quiet the rifle is ya got to make sure nobodys around hehehe! cause I have the same issues as you trying not to draw attention to myself while taking unwanted buggers out of my yard!

[airiscool]

Good shooting!

The pellet head shape can have an affect on impact sound levels. For hard targets not much differaence, but on critters it does make a difference.

When I hit Starlings with a Predator from my 22 cal Trail XL, no 'thwack', just dead Starling. The pointed ballistic tip of the Predators has no flat area to 'smack' with.

Lately I've been using some H&N Field Target domed pellets. I was surprised at how much louder than the gun the impact of hitting the Starlings are.

If your gun will shoot them accurately, try pointed pellets.

Paul

[aack73]

It's much more pleasant to shoot the mrod indoors or out. I can't even see my neighbors houses but they can still hear the sound of a 22lr or loud airgun. i like to be somewhat discreet(usually just shooting targets). ocassionally i shoot 17hmr and 243wssm and no one complains but i like to shoot alot and the mrod gives me accuracy and quiet and even though my neighbors probably don't even know i have it , they appreciate it. I love it. Before that i had a gamo big cat and i hated it. it was a loud as a 22lr and not as accurate.I thought what's the point and sold it to my friend. I thought they were all that loud. so i give upon airguns until i happened across an mrod.I'm in LOVE! (this is the part where i feel all giddy like a little school girl).Definitely wouldn't part with this rifle.
    When i showed it to all the guys at my local dealer... same reaction.... "wow it's quiet, powerful, and accurate." Maybe everyone doesn't feel that way but i think these quiet airguns will attract alot more people to this side of the industry. I'm hooked as it's my favorite now. my next purchase will be another airgun.... not center fire or rim fire and i have lots of those.

I would love to hear more about your quiet co2 rifle?? if you don't mind talking about your guns. hahaha.

ps not to offend any big cat owners i just prefer quiet and mine was loud. very

[jonnnyboy]

Chad, take a look at a QB with a TKO.  You will be surprised how neighborhood-friendly co2 can be.

Fisher, I agree about the mrod.  It's pretty neat that the only sounds you can hear are the lockwork within the gun itself and the sound of impact from downrange.  Makes you think your gun is broken.  When I first got my mrod, if I hadn't already heard on the forum about how quiet it was, I would have thought it broken.

joe

[aack73]

ok dumb "newbie" ? what is a QB? it would have to be co2 cartridges cause i sold my co2 fill station to some guy in TN lol!

[airiscool]

Right after my post above, another chance to see how loud domed pellets are.

This 'barn trasher' Red tried to sneek down a tree to the pile of sunflower seeds I put out for the Grays. It stopped on a branch  about 15 feet up and facing to the left sideways to me.

I know the tree is 30 yards out from my shooting blind so I held a 1/4 inch high on it's shoulders and squeezed !

At 30 yards the pellet strike was as loud as the Trail XL.  The H&N Field Target caught the Red right behind the shoulder and exited out the far shoulder.  

I would not have heard a Predator strike at that distance,....... and the exit wound would have been massive !!!

Paul
 

[dk1677]

Nice shooting Paul!

[Desert Drifter]

Fisherdude here is some of my thinking on the subject.  The impact twack might have been noticeable to you because you were aware of what was going on and anticipating the sound.  As long as there is just one twack I think most folks and even animals dont pay much attention to a twack.

Case in point.  I was deer hunting with a friend on the wide open sage country of northwestern Colorado.  I was sitting about 200 yards from my hunting partner.  He came walking upto my carrying a fine cottontail.  I congratulated him and ask him where he got it at.  He told me about 200 yards from where we sat and less than 5 minutes previous.  I never heard his 30-30 discharge.  I was stunned.  I even argued the point with him.  But he swore and stuck to his story.  Why make something up.

One more case.  I had just got some pellets I wanted to try a penetration test on.  I dont have a chronograph but I can get a good picture of a pellets performance by shooting into a soft pine board.  My garage door was open and I was shooting across the garage into a 1x6 pine board.  My son-in-law was about 30 yards away in the driveway checking his engine oil.  I safely shot the board and it made a very loud twack.  I had an eye on my son and law to watch his reaction.  Thinking I might get a scare out of him.  Nothing.  No reaction at all.  I even asked him if he heard me shoot.  Nope! didn't hear a thing.

My point.  I think one twack goes unnoticed.  Many twacks draws attention.  But keep in mind that no one might hear the twack but they would notice a squirrel falling into their ice tea while they were reading a book.

Just my thoughts.

'Drifter

[CitySniper]

Good point...DD

Snipers use that trick all the time....no more than 2-3 shots

There is no way 20-50 yards away to determine where that shot came from.

Case in point...a few weeks ago I shot (2) crows from inside my garage through a cracked door, they were 50 yards away up on a power pole. 2 house away to my left my neighbor was outside and had a worker in her yard doing some stuff.

First crow I shot was a clean quiet kill, crow fell down. (no noise) the second crow didn't even know what happened and moved exactly where the other one was 30 sec. before...I worked the Bolt on my Marauder chambered another 21.14 Baracuda and shot the second Crow in the upper chest just like the first bird... The only sound I heard was the crow falling and hitting a car below. and that worker saying to my neighbor " That crow Just fell Down!"

haha..mission accomplished


ssshhhh don't tell anyone

[furchtloss]

I'm glad to finally learn how to spell that sound that pellets make as they flatten out.

[Snaab9-2]

Baracuda and shot the second Crow in the upper chest just like the first bird... The only sound I heard was the crow falling and hitting a car below. and that worker saying to my neighbor " That crow Just fell Down!"

haha..mission accomplished


ssshhhh don't tell anyone

I got a good laugh at that one!  They had no idea a sniper was lurking near by!  Bad ^&*!

[rbshoots]

bear this in mind...... you can hear the pellet wizzing overhead  (if you shoot over peeps heads or by them or around them ect) but....unless you are familiar with the sound, probably will not know what it is......I know from first hand experience    

[Onebaddj]

That crow just fell down! Thats hilarious! Good shooting city sniper.