Reeder Custom Guns - Someone asked me this question. I did not know the answer.

Will subsonic .22 ammo cycle the action of the

Ruger Mark I, II, III, IV Pistols???

Thanks in advance for your reply!!!

Mark

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I figure there is a way to get a lighter spring. BTW that is not cutting off coils, that does not make it "lighter" in poundage. Wolff might be able to help.

Most all .22 RF semi's are "blow back" actions. That is the weight of the bolt, and the spring that holds it closed, are very well calculated. They allow the firearm to fire, then the resistance of the bolt is delayed by the weight and spring to allow the bullet to get down the barrel and gasses to reduce pressures enough to begin opening the action. The action needs to remain closed and brass case supported by the chamber for a certain set of conditions to take place. The brass case holds only a small amount of pressure before it blows out the side. So monkeying around with this is not a really good idea. The PSI involved are seemingly logarithmic in forces. Even 1000 psi can blow a biscuit through a pin hole!

You do not want to be exposed to those gasses escaping. You'd likely be safe, unless they were directed downward to blow the magazine or grip panels. I've had a blow out the side in a .401 WSL. It would have injured someone if they were beside me. FWIW.

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But we generally all know this and it hurts nothing to pause and think about that forces are in play. I have studied things extensively, tried something, and made a silly mistake. Obvious after the fact! LOL.

With suppressors all the rage this question is very viable. I really like the idea the Germans do frequently on suppressed sub guns. They internally make the barrel so short that with full power ammo it "becomes" sub-sonic. I have seen 2-3" barrel Ruger auto top units so equipped. That is what I'd want.

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Both my Browning buck mark and ruger MKIII cycled subsonic ammo with no problem. Both have suppressors on them. CCI quiet will not cycle a semi-auto.

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I wonder if the "backpressure" from the suppressor adds to the function? Great test!

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Gotta test it both ways to know for sure if it will be reliably both ways.

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Both worked with exception of one failure to fire on the last round of the buck mark. The firing pin did strike it. The rounds used were CCI subsonics.

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Many thanks. It is a small test but very interesting and the results are noted, within obvious limitations. We only need more data.

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while using a suppressor. That meant that it had to be enough to pressure up the receiver and blow out the cracks around the charging handle! That is a big increase. I'm not sure what brand of suppressor he is using but I bet it is not properly maintained, may be coked up. Unburned power can clog them up.

He also broke several gas rings on the bolt using full power ammo. I ordered a helical design gas ring (just one to take the place of three) and that stopped it.

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in the AR platform. One way to redirect the gas is a specialized charging handle with holes in sides to vent the gas out the receiver.

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Someone asked me this question. I did not know the answer.

It won't in a Browning Buckmark

Not in my experience. I just cycle manually.

Well said Scotty.

Thank you. Not to tell how to build a clock for the time

I just read this and tested it a few minutes ago,

Dan, can you shoot a round or two without the suppressor?

Backpressure from a suppressor definitely helps

Just tested both without the suppressors,

What a great sport you are Dan!

A friend was getting blast debris with is AR15

All suppressors drastically increase pressure