Ruger Mark III - Suppressed with Subsonic Ammo

[ratrod54]

I have a Mark III with a Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite barrel which I like to run CCI CB (710 fps/29 grain/32 ft/lbs of energy) in because they are so damn quiet. I have reached a point though where i am tired of the bolt not cycling. The load is way to light. I wonder if there is a lighter recoil spring that can be added to allow for proper cycle or is this load simply to light?

I know I am a first time poster in this forum and I would really appreciate any help one can provide.

 

[Quarterbore]

Why use CBs? Any standard velocity ammo will be subsonic in your pistol length barrel. My favorite ammo for use with my suppressors is CCI Standard Velocity

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/detail.aspx?use=1&loadNo=0032

This has far better energy output then what you are using and with a supressor it may not be as quiet as your CBs as there is more gas so more "POP" but it cycles 100% and it is relatively clean too.

Now, with a longer barrel on a hot day every now and then I will get one of these that will be supersonic and crack. It's not an issue with pistols but out of a 16.5-inch 10/22 on a hot day I may get say 1 or 2 supersonic cracks out of say 100 rounds (1 - 2%) but other then summer it isn't an issue.

 

[Dan in MI]

I can't help you with a supressed gun, but there were .22 shorts conversion available at one time. That tells me a weaker spring and lighter bolt is possible.

This actually has hit my "thinking hard" list recently. I'm toying with buying a beater Mk amd making it shoot CB's without a supressor for vermin control.

 

[ratrod54]

I love the CCI ammo for .22 and have the standard velocity in groves. Very good ammo. I was shooting some Remington subsonics suppressed and they do cycle 100%. I just liked the CB's and figured I would see what I could do to use them. Its not critical but It got me to wondering if there was a lighter recoil spring for the Mark III. I may try buying a couple recoil springs and taking a coil or two off/ two to three off etc... and see how they work.

 

[Mobuck]

Does it really make a difference whether the bullet is subsonic? That is only a factor if you're shooting at something you don't want to hear the sonic crack as the bullet passes. As stated, many/most standard ammo is not supersonic from a pistol barrel anyway.
I have a real desire for a suppressed .223 but don't care about the subsonic ammo. I just want to squelch the muzzleblast to improve chances of getting shots at multiple animals.

 

[98_1LE]

There is a noticeable difference between subsonic and supersonic ammo .22lr in terms of the volume of the report, suppressed or not.

I have had good luck with the Remington subsonic, 38gr.

 

[DPris]

In testing with my 22/45, there IS a difference in sound levels between sonic & subsonic with the suppressor mounted, but not enough for me to bother buying subsonics. In my case, it's barely noticeable.
As mentioned above, out of that barrel length they're ALL subsonic, and shooting regular standard, high, or hyper velocity loads cycles the action reliably.
Denis

Dug out the test results from last year.
PMC Moderator Subsonic Suppressed 113 DB creating 38.82 DB Reduction
Remington Subsonic Suppressed 117.75 DB creating 34.14 DB Reduction
Win SupX Hyper Vel Suppressed 120.22 DB creating 33.98 DB Reduction

There were others tested, these show the two lowest velocity & the one highest.
PMC load would not cycle, Remington load did.