SilencerCo Sparrow 22 Supressor | First Look

In the crowded world of rimfire suppressors, there are more than 60 options. But today, we are looking at the best silencer of them all, the SilencerCo Sparrow 22. The Sparrow has been on the market since 2008, and thousands of units have been in the hands of shooters in the last 17 years. Almost all of them are functioning flawlessly. Even the few that have had problems have been serviced by the company’s lifetime warranty. Let’s break down the Sparrow, see why we love it, how we tested it, and what our results were.

Specifications:

Dimensions:

• Length: 5.08”
• Weight: 6.5 Oz
• Diameter: 1.07”
• Materials: 17-4 Stainless Steel

Calibers Supported:

• .22LR
• .17 HMR
• 5.7 MM

Thread Pitch:

• 1/2×28 Stock
• Adapters Available for:

Sig Mosquito: M9 x .75 adapts to 1/2 x 28. Walther P22: M8 x .75 adapts to 1/2 x 28. GSG 1911-22LR: M9 x .25 adapts to 1/2 x 28. FN Five-seven: M10 x 1 adapts to 1/2 x 28. S&W M&P 22 Compact 3/8 x 24 adapts to 1/2 x 28. 

MSRP: $296.00

Wait Times

When it comes to suppressors, or any firearm regulated by the National Firearms Act, it always seems like we hear about “the wait” and how long the waiting period is. This protracted timeline from purchasing an NFA item to enjoying it was always a huge deterrent for many would-be owners. Well, here are the facts: in 2022, I waited 11 months for a Form 4 to be approved for my Rugged Obsidian 9mm suppressor. Fast-forward to January 2025, and this time it only took a weekend for BATFE to approve my Form 4 for the SilencerCo Sparrow.

I used the same BATFE E File system and Silencer Shop kiosk I used in 2022. My Form 4 for this suppressor was submitted on a Friday afternoon, and the following Monday at 2:00 PM, I got the call from my local shop that my paperwork had been approved. Proving that the E-File system has definitely gotten much faster and quicker. So, the old “it takes too long” reasoning is now a thing of the past.

Build Quality / Disassembly

When I was looking for a rimfire suppressor, I was concerned about getting the perfect blend between build quality and weight. If a suppressor is too heavy, it can throw the weight off a firearm and be awkward. If the build quality is substandard, it shows up quickly, and then the suppressor becomes nothing more than a light paperweight. Spoiler: That is not the case with the Sparrow. All the finishes, seams, and components of the Sparrow showed absolutely no issues with fit, finish, or coloring.

I was looking for a rimfire suppressor with a history of craftsmanship and something that is user-serviceable and not overly complicated. The Sparrow, with its 17-4 Stainless Steel construction and 1-piece monocore, hits all those categories. It can also be disassembled by the user without any special service tools. Which I admit, was another huge plus in shopping for another suppressor. I had considered other models made by SilencerCo and other well-known brands with removable baffle stacks and “short and long” configurations. Honestly, I’m at the age where I want simple things that work well. I have enough complicated things in my life. Another firearm or component that could pose problems was not on my list.

Silencerco Sparrow 22 Video Overview:

Breaking down the Sparrow is almost too easy. The breakdown steps are a very simple process, but should be mentioned for the sake of a complete review.

Step 1: Unscrew the back cap

Step 2: Slide the outer tube off

Step 3: Peel half tubes away from the monocore

Reassembly of the unit is also easy, but with a few details to pay attention to. This is straight from the SilencerCo Users Manual, Page 5.

Step 1: Ensure the three O-rings A, B, and C are in the proper grooves. A large O-ring A, B should be placed on each end of the monolithic core in the existing grooves, and a small O-ring C should be in the groove where the muzzle threads engage the silencer body.

Step 2: Place the half tubes around the core so the ends are flush against the shoulder at the front of the monolithic core, and the side edges seat against the spines

Step 3: Slide the waved side of the outer tube over the half tubes and monolithic core until the tube rests against the waved shoulder of the front cap. Ensure that the waves of the tube and front cap interlock

Step 4: Screw back cap onto silencer body. As you are tightening, ensure that the waves of the tube and front cap remain interlocked. We recommend holding a thumb over the front cap as you install the back cap to aid in keeping the waved sections interfaced.

Field Tests & Decibel Scores

This is what we all want to see in the end, how well does the SilencerCo Sparrow hold up in real-world field testing, and how quiet is it? We hit the range with 15 varieties of .22 LR and a pair of decibel meters to get real data in our testing. Below is my “Scientific Method” and the parameters for the testing. I used the average dB rating between two different decibel meters over a 3-shot spread to come up with the average dB rating.

Testing Protocols / Technique

• The round must reliably cycle the host gun (Ruger 22/45) to be considered
• Fire 1 round every 5 seconds (roughly) 3 times total per load
• Record the decibel rating from two different decibel meters for each shot of the 3-shot group. Find the average of these two numbers.

The List Quietest to Loudest with decibel rating

• CCI Quiet 22 Target (Disqualified would not reload needed manual slide manipulation)(91.8 dB)
• Federal American Eagle .22 LR Suppressor (94.43 db)
• Winchester White Box Bulk Pack (94.93 db)
• Lapua Pistol King (95.80 db)
• CCI Standard Velocity Target (96.26 db)
• CCI Mini Mag (96.73 db)
• Norma Tac 22 (96.86 db)
• Remington Golden Bullet Bulk Pack (97.43 db)
• Federal American Eagle Bulk Pack (98.66 db)
• Aguilla 22 Super Extra (100.93 db)
• Armscor (101.7 db)
• Winchester Super X (102.2)
• Federal American Eagle Lightning (104.56 db)
• CCI Velocitor (107.63 db)
• CCI Stinger (108.86 db)

Results & Final Thoughts

As you can see from the results, the top 3 were not very far apart. And there were some surprises in the pile. We included the data for the quietest load, even though the round did not cycle the pistol, it did function perfectly when manually cycled. The low decibel rating was very interesting, and we felt users would like to see that data as well.

The strong showing by the economy pack Winchester Bulk Pack was a real eye opener, as was the poor showing by the CCI Stinger and the CCI Velocitor. But to be fair, both of those rounds are much faster than the majority of the rounds we tested. The Stinger at 1640 fps and the Velocitor at 1435 fps, compared to the 710 fps of the CCI Quiet Target and the 1280 fps of the Winchester Bulk Pack.

All in all, the testing was rewarding and a lot of fun. It really lets us see how different rounds sound when suppressed and how they compare against each other head-to-head using real-world verifiable data. The SilencerCo Sparrow was a bit dirty because I had about 200 rounds through it prior to our testing without a proper cleaning, but it functioned flawlessly.

In the end, readers want to know, “Is the Sparrow 22 worth it?” To me, the response is a resounding YES! The SilencerCo Sparrow might be the best bang for the buck in the rimfire suppressor market, period. The Sparrow has more than a decade and a half of proven history behind its name and design, coupled with a sub $300 price tag, makes this really a very appealing option for anyone considering a rimfire suppressor.

We hope you have enjoyed this first look at the SilencerCo Sparrow. We want to hear from you regarding your thoughts on rimfire suppressors. Do you have one? Would you buy that same one again? Or is something like the Sparrow more to your liking?

Disclosure Statement and Links

SilencerCo did not provide, endorse, or collaborate with this review in any way. This product and testing ammunition and gear were purchased with the writer’s funds.

Links:

SilencerShop: www.silencershop.com

SilencerCo: https://silencerco.com/silencers/sparrow-22/