CCI has a very wide variety of .22 cartridges. I recently picked up a brick of CCI quiet-22 to see how it performs. There are many .22 cartridges out there that boast being "hearing safe." However, most of them achieve it by using a much heavier bullet or a lighter bullet with less or no gun powder at all.

Previously, I had been using CCI minimag standard velocity rounds which are subsonic with a speed of 1070 FPS. The quiet version comes in with a speed of 710 FPS. Both use 40 grain lead bullets. I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

I first shot from a Umarex MP5-22 and was amazed at how quiet it was. I'm talking suppressed quiet. The only problem, it doesn't cycle. I tried adjusting the bolt speed, but short of modifying the recoil spring the gun will not cycle the CCI quiet. I also tried the quiet ammo in a Ruger 22/45 pistol and it did not cycle either. Both guns were able to cycle the standard velocity just fine.

CCI advertises the quiet ammo to be up to 75% quieter than standard velocity. I would say it was at least 50% but 75% is pushing it. I only shot it out to 25 yards and it seemed just as accurate as regular ammo. Use of both the SV and quiet ammo in a bolt action rifle is a completely different story. There is next to no report and when I use the quiet ammo with a suppressor the only audible sound is the trigger pull and hammer drop. Even shooting into a soft target like rotting wood will produce a louder sound than the operation of the gun and/or report from the muzzle.

If you want to have some serious fun try the CCI quiet in a bolt action rifle. Even without a suppressor it is quieter than a BB gun.

The HK Mark 23 is an amazing handgun. However, it's size excludes it from being considered by many holster manufacturers. One of the more common form fitted options is the Safariland 6005-94-122.

The 6005 series is a drop leg holster with a rear retention strap. The strap slides forward (towards the ground) to allow the operator to draw the weapon when needed. It's light, durable and effective. The only downside is the price. It comes in at $100+ and usually a special order item in both left and right hand models.

My only compliant is that the 6005 will not accommodate a weapon light. This is partly due the design of the Mark 23 as it does not have any picatinny rail. The image to the right shows the holster on a man 6'4" and 200 pounds.

If you plan on owning a long gun with a barrel shorter than 16 inches, you will have to comply with the NFA laws. This requires you to submit a form 5320.1 commonly referred to as a "form 1." If you apply with a gun trust, there is no identifying information for the BATFE to run a background check. Once the form is approved, they will mail it directly back to you. Once you have the approved form in hand you are legally permitted to purchase/install a short barrel on your firearm.

A form 1 with a trust is the only NFA process which does not require any type of background check or even a standard form 4473 which is needed to take ownership of any NFA item after form 4 approval.