.22RF -- BB/CB and the like

[Charlie in Dayton]

This is a general query, inspired by an old magazine I ran across that put my imagination into overdrive...

For those of us who like to pop a cap or three on occasion, but are not into causing hearing damage three counties away, what might be the benefits of using lightly loaded ammo?
In specific, I'm thinking of my brethren in the .22 clan...stuff like BBcaps, CBcaps, CB shorts/longs...in firearms that will handle such fodder, like TC single shots, Uberti's 1871 Rolling Block target pistol, my Ruger Single Six revolver, my Mossberg model 144 target rifle (loaded in single shot mode)...

Will BB/CB's even make it out of a 26" or so barrel?
What about the transition from the revolver cylinder to the barrel?
How 'quiet' are these things, anyway?
Is it even feasible to think of a basement shooting range with these loads? Well-ventilated to be sure, and some sort of absorbent backstop...a couple old mattresses, maybe a layer or two of 2x6's, something...

Anything anyone has (opinions, facts, urban rumors) on any/all of the above would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ccd]

The CB's and Super Colibris will be QUIET in the Contender and and the Rolling Block pistol. Not so much in the Single Six.

Don't know about 26", but they both work fine in my 21" Contender Carbine.

The longer the barrel the quieter and SLOWER they will become, as long as its not out of a revolver with its cylinder gap.

Basement shooting should be fine, but you still have to worry about lead in the air and proper ventilation. I Shoot them outside into rimfire trap and its not too loud, of course this isn't in a subdivision.In a basement you should be fine though.

They are about as quiet as an airgun in my experience(again you must have a longer barrel and no cylinder gap. My 10"Contender barrle is quiet enough for me(shouldn't have to worry about hearing loss) and again as the barrel gets longer they get quieter.

Only downside is they are dirty, especially the Super Colibris.

 

[35 Whelen]

CB's will do fine in long barrels. Very quiet, BUT far more powerful than you might imagine. I've killed a squirrel or two with them. If you shoot Colibri's, make sure you get Super Colibri's. CB's actually have a little powder in them while Colibri's don't.
I've fired I'd guess 1000 or so CCI CB caps. I always shoot CB longs because they feed through my repeater rifle.
Good luck,
35W

 

[jmorris]

I’ve shot steel plates out to 150yds with 22 CB shorts and a 24” barrel. They make less noise than a Benjamin air rifle and are more powerful. I don’t even go to indoor ranges anymore, since I started being tested for lead and levels were high, I certainly wouldn’t want to turn my home into one.

 

[rcmodel]

If you shoot Colibri's, make sure you get Super Colibri's.

Use the Colribi's!
They are much quieter then the Super Colbri, or CCI CB Caps, which both contain a powder charge.

I use Colbri's for function testing guns in the shop, and have never had a bullet stick in countless old Winchester pumps with very rough barrels, as well as many other handguns & rifles.

I just don't think it is a concern, but more "lawyer speak" to CYOA on the part of Aguila.

It's been my experiance that the CCI CB's are almost as loud as Standard velocity .22 Short.

rcmodel

 

[Khornet]

In both my Model 52s

Colibris don't make it out of the barrel and have to be driven out. CBs always do, and work fine. Haven't tried Super Colibris. Regular, "sans poudre" no-powder Colibris work in my Ruger 77/22, which has a much shorter barrel.