Subsonic lead free alternative to .22

[User00039]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of an alternative accurate and also cheap subsonic rim fire calibre in testing to replace the .22 lr subsonic?

Many thanks.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Watching this one with interest

Cheers

Bruce

 

[long_range_rob]

Nope. The only stuff I’ve tried is rubbish.

 

[triggertrix]

The holy grail. Unlikely, but by god I hope it’s found

 

[One on top of two]

Never happen .

 

[User00039]

I guess even if they do, won't be allowed a semi automatic.

 

[User00039]

I wondering if it will be just .17 hmr

 

[long_range_rob]

I wondering if it will be just .17 hmr

So what about us that shoot around easily spooked horses. The only other option will be gassing the warrens

 

[triggertrix]

So what about us that shoot around easily spooked horses. The only other option will be gassing the warrens

HV with moderator is likely to be the best solution

 

[User00039]

So what about us that shoot around easily spooked horses. The only other option will be gassing the warrens

It's similar to what I was thinking. Only alternative was subsonic shotgun or my friends .223 with subsonic ammunition but that is not financially viable.
I had read that Winchester looked at replacement calibre but it was scrapped, I can't find the article on Google, so posted the question hopeful that someone may know of something. The whole thing is crazy.

 

[triggertrix]

Or moderated FAC PCP air rifle

 

[User00039]

Or moderated FAC PCP air rifle

I heard that non lead pellet's were not that great either? Also a bit of a initial outlay. My marlin 795 cost £149.00 it shoots great with subsonic out to 125 yards. 10 and 25 round magazine doesn't jam very often at all.

 

[Overlay]

Only one I’ve found after testing a few different makes are Norma segmented sub .50 of an inch at 50 yds the other from Norma are a high but stringy grouping round, not much good to be honest, some of the other makes we’re horrendous

but they ain’t cheap

 

[User00039]

Only one I’ve found after testing a few different makes are Norma segmented sub .50 of an inch at 50 yds the other from Norma are a high but stringy grouping round, not much good to be honest, some of the other makes we’re horrendous

but they ain’t cheap

After something subsonic otherwise I'll just use 17 hmr

 

[Heym SR20]

It will require a rethink. 22lr has been around for 150 odd years, and ammo made today needs to OK in old rifles.

No reason why you cannot make a monolithic copper bullet that will open at subsonic velocities. Nor any reason why it shouldn’t be accurate.

Peregrine and Discreet Ballistics have developed such bullets for us .308 calibres for bigger four legged and I suspect two legged animals. And no I sm suggesting that a 150 gn subsonic .308 bullet out of 300 Blackout is needed for rabbits or fox.

Now if there was .224 or .25 diameter 40 to 50 odd grain bullet using same tech, being shot out of 1 in 10” or 1 in 8” barrel at subsonic velocities you would have a silent effective varminter. As for cartridge - well you wouldn’t need the volume of the .223 Rem but you can do subsonics with bulky low energy powder. You could of course do a 22 Long Rifle version, but that need to be a rimfire large factory type set up which would require a big player to see the market potential. And it would need a much faster twist rate.

Given all the challenges with fundamentally changing a cartridges characteristics with both Saami and CIP (basically once cartridge is listed it can’t be fundamentally changed), a new cartridge may need to be introduced.

Just like there have lots of positive developments in both rifles and shotguns no reason to think that a subsonic vermin and small cartridge solution cannot be developed.

In the meantime many controlling vermin have switched across to the 17 HMR with non toxic bullet. Yes they make a crack but its not that loud. And to be honest driving around in the dark on a quad or pickup probably disturbs more than the cracks of a moderated .17 HMR.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

If the lead ban comes in it will be the death of the 22lr.

 

[RJD]

You make a good point above, there is no ‘need’ for a subsonic round for rabbits when you can gas or ferret in noise sensitive areas.

Cant see anything working in small calibers to be honest, 17 hmr works well where noise isn’t an issue

 

[jb7x57]

Is the HMR bullets all copper or lead centre same as a lot of bullets if so that will also be a problem

 

[Smellydog]

It would need a fancy copper bullet to work in 22. The case and bullet are all but a few thou the same diameter. The copper bullet would need a thin skirt to allow obturation and seal the barrel. The forward section would need circumference rings to aid sealing and reduce friction maybe, maybe some lube too.
Probably no more than 29-30 grain. A hyper velocity type.
If all this nonsense goes through forget subsonic 22 ammo.
Just gonna have to get use to hearing rifles going off and so are the horses, which by the way, have never been an issue for me including shotguns and large rifles!

 

[Bowland blades]

Thing is if we collect the slain and dispose of them in a way that birds cannot eat the carcass there is NO REASON WHY WE CANNOT CARRY ON WITH LEAD . Its a metter of trusting our community to do that and i think most of us know we aint short of idiots in our rank , who think they dont have to abide by the rules .
When i was shooting crows on a shotgun day on an estate not that long back i was the only guy who picked up my dead , bagged them and disposed of them via the refuse ( still gulls etc will get to some as they go on the dump ) Might be a few owls and buzzards there also , so my defence is weakish .