The simplest way to build a suppressed .22 AR is to skip the thread-on silencer and let the barrel do the work. The Vanquish AR-22 is an integrally suppressed .22LR barrel that works with a CMMG dedicated .22 LR bolt carrier group and brings standard-velocity ammo down to subsonic speeds on its own, so you never have to buy subsonic ammo.

It is baffle-free, so there is almost nothing to clean, and the suppression lives inside the barrel shroud instead of hanging off the front of the muzzle.

What is the Vanquish AR-22?

An integrally suppressed barrel builds the suppression into the barrel itself, so there is no separate suppressor to thread on. When building an AR-22 you need a dedicated barrel chambered in .22 LR, so you might as well install the one that has the suppressor built in. The only other two parts you need are a CMMG dedicated .22 LR bolt carrier and .22 LR magazines. Everything else can be standard AR-15 components.

The Vanquish AR-22 barrel is 416R stainless steel nested inside a 6061 aluminum shroud, finished in black Cerakote. It is baffle-free and full-auto rated, so there is no fear of striking a baffle or overheating when running a select fire or FRT.

The Vanquish AR-22 is the barrel and the suppressor in one part, so a quiet .22 AR is a barrel swap, not a barrel plus a suppressor.

Which .22 AR does the Vanquish AR-22 fit?

It is built for CMMG dedicated .22LR platforms, the ones that run a true .22LR bolt rather than a 5.56 bolt with a conversion insert. Compatible CMMG BCG SKUs are 22A7E0F, 22AC60F, 22A340F, and 22BA487. It is not made for 5.56-to-.22LR conversion kits. If your .22 AR is a conversion-kit upper or a different host, the Vanquish AR-22 is not your path.

Worth noting: many companies resell or machine licensed copies of the CMMG bolt under their own names. Palmetto State Armory, Bore Buddy, and Right To Bear Arms all offer compatible systems. If you are unsure, send us an email and we can confirm compatibility.

The Vanquish AR-22 installs in a standard AR-15 upper and runs on a CMMG dedicated .22 LR bolt carrier group. If you run a conversion kit or another host, go thread-on suppressor instead.

How does it stay quiet on cheap standard ammunition?

Most .22 ammo leaves a normal barrel above the speed of sound, so it cracks like a tiny rifle no matter what suppressor you attach to the front. The Vanquish AR-22 uses precision porting along the barrel to bleed velocity as the bullet travels, so standard-velocity .22LR exits below the sound barrier and never cracks. You get subsonic quiet out of supersonic ammo, without buying subsonic.

Because it is baffle-free, there is no monocore to clean when you are done shooting. You clean it about the same as a normal barrel.

The porting forces cheap standard ammo subsonic inside the barrel, so you do not pay a premium for quiet at the ammo counter.

Should you build the 12″ or the 18″ barrel?

Two lengths. The 12″ weighs 15.2 oz and makes a short, lively .22 AR that is easy to move with. The 18″ weighs 21.5 oz and gives a longer sight radius and a steadier hold for small game and precision plinking. If you want the quieter option, go with the 18″. If you are willing to trade some sound reduction for a more maneuverable rifle, go with the 12″.

Both barrels are the same suppressor. One thing to plan for on the 12″: run it on a rifle with a stock and you have built a short-barreled rifle, which is its own separate NFA registration. Many owners run the short barrel on a pistol lower to sidestep that, so decide how you are building the host before you buy.

Pick the 12-inch for a compact, packable .22 AR, the 18-inch for the quieter build. Just size the host to the barrel, since a short barrel with a stock is a short-barreled rifle.

How do you install the Vanquish AR-22?

It installs like a standard 5.56 barrel. Slide the shroud off, index the barrel into your upper receiver using the indexing pin, install the barrel nut and your handguard per the manufacturer’s instructions, then hand-tighten the shroud back on. There is no special torque on the shroud, and we have a video walkthrough if you want to follow along using our suppressor series handguards.

If you have installed an AR handguard, you can install the Vanquish AR-22. It is a drop-in barrel with a shroud that hand-tightens, not a permanent-attach suppressor build.

Vanquish AR-22 Installation Video

Follow these steps to install your Vanquish AR-22 barrel using our suppressor series handguard.

When is a thread-on suppressor the better call?

When you want one suppressor to quiet several guns. A thread-on suppressor like the Reticent 22 is 2.5 oz of Grade 5 titanium that threads onto any 1/2×28 rimfire you own, so one silencer moves from your .22 AR to a pistol to a bolt gun. The Vanquish AR-22 is dedicated to one rifle by design.

If you want one quiet, low-maintenance .22 AR, the integral is the cleaner build. Our breakdown of integrally suppressed versus traditional suppressors covers the sound side in detail.

Buy the integral for one dedicated quiet .22 AR. Buy the thread-on when you want one suppressor across the whole safe.

The Vanquish AR-22 at a glance

The short version

• The Vanquish AR-22 is the barrel and the suppressor together.
• Runs quiet on cheap standard-velocity .22LR, no subsonic ammo required.
• Fits CMMG dedicated .22LR platforms, not 5.56-to-.22LR conversion kits.
• Baffle-free, so cleaning is close to nothing.

Build one quiet .22 AR, the simple way

The Vanquish AR-22 is the fewest-parts way to a quiet .22 AR: one integrally suppressed barrel that installs in a standard AR-15 upper and runs on a CMMG dedicated .22 LR bolt carrier group, quiet on the bulk ammo you already shoot, for $535. New to the paperwork? See how the eForm 4 timeline works now.

Featured Products

• Vanquish AR-22 Suppressed Barrel $599.00 Original price was: $599.00.$535.00Current price is: $535.00.

Frequently asked questions