Angstadt Arms, the company well-regarded for its suppressed rimfire and tactical offerings—and no strangers to an integrated design—has recently extended its silent treatment to the popular .22LR AR platform. Their latest design, the Vanquish AR-22, essentially transplants the company’s rather clever, baffle-free suppression technology, already a favourite on the Ruger 10/22, into the AR-style rimfire architecture. The notion is simple: a dedicated, low-noise option for those who enjoy the familiar AR-15 ergonomics and controls while partaking in the comparatively inexpensive pleasures of the venerable .22 Long Rifle cartridge.

The trick here lies in its patented, internal arrangement—or rather, its distinct lack of an arrangement one might typically expect. Eschewing the traditional stack of baffles that so often turn suppressor maintenance into a grimy chore, Angstadt has opted for a "baffle-free" design. For the shooter, this translates to a substantially cleaner running system, which should be a welcome relief, as the .22LR is, let's be frank, one of the dirtier calibres to shoot in volume. It also helpfully eliminates the unfortunate possibility of a ‘baffle strike,’ a moment of genuine despair when a bullet clips one of the internal partitions.

Crucial to the Vanquish system's acoustic success is a particularly well-thought-out precision-ported barrel. This isn't just a haphazard scattering of holes; it’s an engineered affair that is carefully tuned to bleed off just enough gas velocity to ensure standard .22LR ammunition drops to subsonic speeds before it leaves the muzzle. The significance of this cannot be overstated. Since the biggest source of noise isn't the gunshot itself, but the crack of a bullet breaking the sound barrier, keeping the round below the speed of sound makes for a genuinely quiet report.

This ingenious porting means shooters can largely dispense with the need to buy specialist, often less potent, subsonic ammunition to achieve proper suppression. The Vanquish AR-22 promises to take your ordinary, readily available high-velocity .22 rounds and quieten them down to a pleasant "thud" or "ting." Naturally, for those who wish for the near-Hollywood levels of silence, using purpose-made subsonic rounds will likely be quieter still, but the versatility of taming standard fare is certainly a compelling feature.

For existing owners of AR-22 setups based on the CMMG dedicated .22LR bolt group, the new Vanquish is designed as a straightforward 'drop-in' affair. No need for complex gunsmithing or fiddling with proprietary components; simply swap out the existing barrel assembly for the new integrally suppressed unit. This ease of installation maintains the simple modularity that is the hallmark of the AR platform, allowing for a swift and relatively painless transition to a suppressed plinking configuration.

The new barrel assembly itself is constructed from durable materials, featuring a 416R stainless steel barrel for resilience, housed within a 6061-aluminium shroud, and finished with a hard-wearing black Cerakote for a bit of protection against the elements. It’s offered in two distinct lengths: a compact 12-inch option for shorter, handier builds, and a longer 18-inch version that might suit those looking to maintain a more traditional rifle aesthetic and perhaps eke out a smidge more velocity, albeit still subsonic.

Both configurations feature a 0.920-inch bull barrel contour, giving them a robust and purposeful look. The 'Sporter' chambering is generally understood to offer a good balance between reliability and accuracy for various types of .22LR ammunition. Furthermore, for those with a suitably permissive regime or a penchant for swift shooting, the entire unit is rated for full-automatic fire, suggesting a build quality that can certainly withstand some rigorous use.

“Shooters have been asking for a suppressed AR-22 solution that doesn’t compromise on accuracy, sound performance, or reliability — and the Vanquish AR-22 delivers,” said Rich Angstadt, President of Angstadt Arms.

The pricing sits at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $599.00. Given that this figure incorporates not just a quality barrel, but also the technology of an effective suppressor, it certainly presents a notable value proposition. When one considers the additional costs, paperwork, and waiting periods often associated with purchasing a separate traditional suppressor, a ready-made, integrally suppressed barrel that simplifies the process becomes rather appealing.

Overall, the Vanquish AR-22 appears to be a shrewd piece of engineering, extending Angstadt’s reputation for practical, suppressed weaponry to a broader audience. It answers the call from AR-22 enthusiasts for a quiet, low-maintenance option that doesn't require compromising on the fun of shooting cheap rimfire rounds. While no suppressed system is ever truly silent—you still have the mechanism's clatter, after all—the Vanquish promises a thoroughly civilised and entertaining day at the range.