This has been an educational journey. Thanks fellas.

As for bushwhacking backyard varmints, I've lived where I do for 26 years - suburban Maryland - and have waged a seemingly never ending battle with them. Groundhogs in platoon strength, foxes (only while the neighbor kept chickens - imagine that in a toney suburban neighborhood!), and garbage can raiding 'coons. I found early on that low-noise "quiet" .22 Longs didn't really cut the mustard, even with head shots unless really really close. The equipment of choice the last few years has been one super accurate single shot or another with Eley Tenex. Rather quiet out of a long-ish barrel and enough moxie to thoroughly scramble a critter's brain.

I subscribe to the axiom - When people hear a single shot fired they look at each other and say "what was that", a second shot makes them nervous, and a third shot has folks dialing 911.

One such escapade, Browning Low Wall/Eley Tenex, around 50 yards:

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gnoahhh,
My goal is CCI's .22LR subsonic hollow point, 45 gr, 970 fps.  I think that'll be the best blend of striking power w quiet report.  I've got to get this groundhog.  One neighbor (with a garden that's been robbed) is thumbs up, the other neighbor I don't know, and I'm more cautious.   

I grew up with my grandfather's Winchester 1890 in .22 Long.  I hunted w that for years, and I'm happy with that level of performance, esp. if I can get it in a quiet load.

Joe

Several years ago when I lived in a log house we had a problem with pack rats. Our two cats had one cornered behind the stove. I had a little Remington #4 and some 22 shorts. I got the muzzle about 2" from the rats head and pulled the trigger. He was gone, like not there. I saw him the next day and he had one blue eye and one  pink. There was no blood in the house and no bullet hole in the wall or floor. Finally got him with a rat trap and a piece of chocolate but he was still alive.