Angstadt Arms, probably more known for their more tactically inclined firearm offerings, have recently unveiled a piece of kit for the enthusiast who prefers a quieter life at the firing range. They’ve announced the Vanquish 22 suppressed barrel, engineered specifically to slot straight onto the much-loved Ruger Precision Rimfire platform. In a way, this seen as a rather pragmatic development, bringing some genuinely useful, modern engineering to a widely adopted rifle.

The core concept that sets the Vanquish 22 apart from the usual cylindrical noise reduction apparatus—the humble silencer, to the layman—is its patented, baffle-free suppression technology. Traditional rimfire suppressors, bless their noisy little hearts, are notorious for accumulating a rather impressive build-up of lead and carbon, necessitating a cleaning routine that is, frankly, a bit of a palaver. Angstadt Arms has apparently taken one look at this tiresome chore and thought, "Right, let's just get rid of the internal baffles altogether."

This design decision gives rise to the system's headline benefit: Zero Baffle Design. By eliminating these internal components, the company claims to have dramatically reduced the need for the sort of vigorous scrubbing usually associated with suppressed rimfire shooting. Furthermore, it removes the spectre of the dreaded baffle strike, a minor catastrophe that can certainly put a dampener on one's afternoon of target practice. It’s a pragmatic solution to a perennial problem, suggesting a focus on enjoyment over maintenance—something we can all appreciate.

The absence of internal wizardry doesn't mean they've skimped on the precision side of things, mind you. The Vanquish 22 barrel is built with Match-Grade Components, featuring a Bentz match chamber and precision rifling. For the accuracy aficionados who champion the Ruger Precision Rimfire, this suggests that the addition of the suppressor shouldn't equate to a frustrating drop-off in group size. After all, what’s the point of a quiet shot if it misses the mark entirely? It’s a matter of having one’s cake and eating it, silently.

The acoustic performance, which is, naturally, the whole point, is described as Whisper-Quiet. This isn't just a marketing flourish, apparently. The barrel uses precision porting designed to slow down bog-standard, standard-velocity .22LR rounds to subsonic speeds. This is rather neat, as it means the shooter doesn't have to faff about stocking up on specialty subsonic ammunition just to achieve consistent, satisfying suppression. Less fuss, more shooting—a thoroughly British approach to a day out.

A quick glance at the specifications reveals the barrel's makeup. It’s an 18-inch affair, constructed from a 416R barrel mated to a 6061 aluminium shroud, all finished in a smart, durable black Cerakote. Chambered, of course, for the venerable .22 LR, and, to reiterate, made for the Ruger Precision Rimfire. The suggested retail price sits at $599. While not exactly pocket change, one is paying for a marriage of barrel and suppressor in one complete unit, which, for some, will be worth the extra shillings.

It's also worth noting that this new item isn't an isolated experiment. The Vanquish 22 for the Ruger Precision Rimfire joins a rather established family of suppressed barrels. Angstadt Arms offers similar integration for other popular platforms, ensuring that fans of quiet shooting aren't left behind, whether they favour the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22® and its Takedown variant, the Ruger 10/22 Charger, or even an AR-22 setup utilising a CMMG dedicated bolt.

“Precision rimfire shooters no longer have to sacrifice accuracy for sound performance, the Vanquish 22 delivers both and has the added benefit of near-zero maintenance over traditional baffle-style rimfire suppressors,” said Rich Angstadt, President of Angstadt Arms.

So, for those keen to get their hands on this bit of suppressive genius, Angstadt Arms states the Vanquish 22 is available now. Shooters can acquire one directly through the company’s online store, via their network of authorised dealers, or at major retail partners. It seems a quiet revolution in rimfire shooting is now underway, and one can simply pop online to join the throng.

Ultimately, the Vanquish 22 appears to be a rather sensible, well-thought-out piece of equipment. By integrating the suppression directly into the barrel and eliminating the problematic baffles, Angstadt Arms seems to have delivered a product that genuinely addresses the common annoyances of suppressed rimfire shooting. It offers the enticing combination of quiet operation, commendable accuracy, and a distinct lack of tedious cleaning—a solid bit of engineering that will likely appeal to the discerning, yet practicality-minded, rimfire enthusiast.