CCI Quiet-22 Sem-Auto .22 LR at the Shot Show

CCI has brought out a new round in their quiet series. This is the second. This cartridge is designed to be as quiet as possible while reliably working the action of semi-automatic .22 rifles and pistols. From vista outdoors, CCI:

New Quiet-22 Semi-Auto drastically reduces the volume of standard 22 LR rounds, while cycling flawlessly through semi-automatic rifles and handguns. The accurate, low-velocity loads provide the sensation of shooting through a suppressor—without the suppressor—and are perfect for new shooters.

I think the idea of quiet .22 cartridges is a wonderful concept. The quiet .22 was introduced just before the .22 bubble hit in late 2012-early 2013. I had obtained some cartridges, but I did not write about it.

A very rare and unusual occurrence happened with one of those early lots of quiet-22. A round stuck in the barrel of my CZ ultra lux. It not only stuck, it stuck half in and half out of the barrel! This almost never happens. The picture below was taken on 28 August, 2012. The barrel of the ultra lux CZ is 28.65 inches long. It is harder to find a longer barrel on the market.

I contacted CCI. They changed the wording on their packaging, warning people not to shoot the Quiet-22 out of a barrel longer than 24 inches. It takes about a 16 inch barrel to notice a significant change in the noise from the Quiet-22 Semi-auto. It will still sound fairly loud out of a pistol or revolver.



The new Quiet-22 has had several changes made to make it reliable in semi-auto rifles and handguns. The bullet weight has been increased to 45 grains. The bullet shape has been changed. The nose has been altered to provide reliable feeding with the reduced velocity cartridge. In the picture below, you can see the difference with the Quiet-22 Semi-auto cartridge and a 40 grain .22 LR bullet.

Justin Ruegsegger was kind enough to point out the difference and provide specimens at the CCI booth.

To provide the 12.5%, five grain increase in weight, the bullet extends further into the case. The heel of the bullet has been reshaped to provide for reliable obturation at the lower pressures of the Quiet-22.  This helps the base to expand and fill the bore. Obturation also helps use all the energy available from the limited powder charge.

CCI does not tout the Quiet-22 Semi-auto as a hunting round. They put it in their target and plinking category.

I believe it would be a very capable and useful hunting round for small game and small varmints out to 50 yards.

Accuracy is said to be excellent at 25 yards. I have not tested it. If it reliably stabilizes at 25 yards, it should be good to 50 yards.Sighted in at 40 yards, with a scope, It would be .7 inches high at 25 yards, .55 inches low at 45 yards, and 1.3 inches low at 50. There is considerably more energy in a 45 grain bullet at 735 fps, (706) at 50 yards, than there is out of most air rifles used for hunting small game, at the muzzle. At 50 yards, the Quiet-22 Semi-auto retains 50 foot-pounds of energy.

The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the Quiet-22 Semi-Auto is about $5.95 for a 50 round box. That puts it in the same price range as as inexpensive 9mm cartridges.

It is a specialty cartridge. If it becomes popular, the price will likely come down.


©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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