Volquartsen Mamba: mini or 4.5"?

[JR1200W3]

I am ready to buy a Volquartsen mamba. I am trying to decide between the 3.5" Mini Mamba versus the 4.5 in barrel version. I've had a 6-in barreled Smith& Wesson victory 22 and I just sold a Ruger silencer shop 3" Mark IV. I had both those pistols purely to suppress and I have to say I was a little disappointed in the mark. 4. If I had known I would not have sold the victory. 22. It was actually a pretty solid pistol and it was much quieter with the same ammo and suppressor then the 3-in mark IV. The mini Mamba just looks really cool but I have seen a few reports from people saying that the shorter barrel just doesn't hold accuracy at distance to the extent of one guy talking about having a weird left POI shift at anything past 10 yds. In all reality I'm not buying these pistols for accuracy. My biggest concern though is the shorter barrel just being louder in general.

Any chance someone has experience with both suppressed and can offer some insight?

 

[HPIguy]

If anything the shorter barrel should theoretically be quieter than the longer barrel due to less velocity. I have a 4.5" and a 2.5" upper for my MK IV. To the naked ear, I can't tell any difference. Both are silly quiet suppressed. And the 2.5" can still ring the 100yd charlie with boring regularity.

 

[264win]

No offense intended but the above is 100% incorrect. Especially on short barrels longer is quieter.
The difference between 4&6” barrel even on a 22 is noticeable.

I have shot a couple of the mini mambas and wasn’t impressed with either.
Not bad, just no better than a factory mk4.

I would definitely go for the 4.5” mamba or probably the scorpion it it were mine.

 

[Cody S]

my ruger 22/45 lite is nice and quiet with most supersonic rounds because of the short barrel but being a semi-, it's significantly louder than my bolt actions. it's a hoot to shoot and the kids love it, definitely recommend. but if I had volquarsten money that's absofuckinglutely what I'd get.
I recommend shorter, just for handiness when suppressed.

 

[USMC22]

I think mines the shorter but not shortest of them. Gotta look. Fun gun though.

 

[JR1200W3]

If anything the shorter barrel should theoretically be quieter than the longer barrel due to less velocity. I have a 4.5" and a 2.5" upper for my MK IV. To the naked ear, I can't tell any difference. Both are silly quiet suppressed. And the 2.5" can still ring the 100yd charlie with boring regularity.

I think you might be confusing subsonic vs supersonic with quiet subs vs louder subs. With a longer barrel you get more powder burnt in the barrel and not in the suppressor, and all things being equal (subsonic) a longer barrel is quieter. I have a shit ton of CCI SV and I do not buy hunting ammo or bulk crap rimfire ammo so all my .22lr is going to be subsonic anyway. I won't be relying on a short barrel to dump a supersonic charge worth of powder into the suppressor to reduce velocity.

 

[HPIguy]

I think you might be confusing subsonic vs supersonic with quiet subs vs louder subs. With a longer barrel you get more powder burnt in the barrel and not in the suppressor, and all things being equal (subsonic) a longer barrel is quieter. I have a shit ton of CCI SV and I do not buy hunting ammo or bulk crap rimfire ammo so all my .22lr is going to be subsonic anyway. I won't be relying on a short barrel to dump a supersonic charge worth of powder into the suppressor to reduce velocity.

I'm not confused at all. I'm not trying to make supersonic ammo be standard velocity or subsonic ammo. Given the same exact ammo (I run a lot of CCI SV also) there is zero perceptible difference to the naked ear in sound. A high end meter might find something, but to the ear, both are silly quiet.

 

[Potsy]

I’ve had a .22/45 tacticool on order from the LGS for about 6 weeks now. Need to check on that.

When I was researching such matters, I found that Ruger is making a short barreled MKIV. Not sure how short, but shorter than 4”.

So, that’s an option if you want a mini but don’t have the scratch for a Volquartsen.

 

[Kahrhart63]

I too would get the 4 1/2 inch scorpion over the mamba!

 

[LR1845]

I too would get the 4 1/2 inch scorpion over the mamaba!

This right here^^^.

 

[JR1200W3]

Why? The Mamba is more easily disassembled. What is the Scorpion bringing to the table?

 

[LR1845]

Why? The Mamba is more easily disassembled. What is the Scorpion bringing to the table?

So get the Mamba....because its easier to disassemble....or skip the Volquartsen and get a CWA if you want one of the best 22cal hand guns made https://www.cwaccessories.com/custom-builds

Or a Smith & Wesson model 41 https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/performance-center-model-41 probably the most accurate 22cal hand gun ever made...you can find some smokin deals on Gun Broker on the model 41s.

I personally would take the Scorpion over the Mamba for the very reason you seem to think the Mamba is the better of the two....I owned a Scorpion and really liked it...sold it and bought a CWA and will NEVER sell this pistol...if you are really into the 22 pistols and have the money do yourself a favor and get a CWA or a model 41.

 

[264win]

Why? The Mamba is more easily disassembled. What is the Scorpion bringing to the table?

The mamba is a ruger that has a lot of VQ bits. The scorpion is all VQ and has a metal frame instead of plastic.

 

[Kahrhart63]

If you want ease of disassembly, get a mamba upper and put it on a tandemkross kracken lower! Thats what I did and shoots right with my scorpion! The Mamba does not balance very well with the ruger 22/45 frame. Now you put on supressor and it gets real front heavy!!

 

[JR1200W3]

The mamba is a ruger that has a lot of VQ bits. The scorpion is all VQ and has a metal frame instead of plastic.

Volquartsen sells a complete Mamba. You are saying the plastic frame is still Ruger?

 

[264win]

Volquartsen sells a complete Mamba. You are saying the plastic frame is still Ruger?

Yes, and a few other parts as well if I recall correctly

 

[JR1200W3]

Yes, and a few other parts as well if I recall correctly

Meh, I'll take the ease to disassembly over an aluminum frame

 

[Kahrhart63]

It is not hard to take down a scorpion!! Dont sell yourself short! Takes no time at all!! But you said accuracy doesnt matter! So i get it!!

 

[JR1200W3]

It is not hard to take down a scorpion!! Dont sell yourself short! Takes no time at all!! But you said accuracy doesnt matter! So i get it!!

I appreciate your faith in me. I for sure don't tie any self worth or value to choosing not to buy a pistol people complain about taking down. Again, not really looking for experience in scorpion vs mamba. More so sound suppression between two different barrel lengths of the same model. Though, thanks to @264win for explaining the difference.

I found a 4.5" Mamba for $1150 that I'll buy tomorrow.

 

[264win]

Congrats!
Definitely let us know how you like it after you have a chance to put it through its paces.

 

[Doctorwho1138]

So get the Mamba....because its easier to disassemble....or skip the Volquartsen and get a CWA if you want one of the best 22cal hand guns made https://www.cwaccessories.com/custom-builds

Or a Smith & Wesson model 41 https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/performance-center-model-41 probably the most accurate 22cal hand gun ever made...you can find some smokin deals on Gun Broker on the model 41s.

I personally would take the Scorpion over the Mamba for the very reason you seem to think the Mamba is the better of the two....I owned a Scorpion and really liked it...sold it and bought a CWA and will NEVER sell this pistol...if you are really into the 22 pistols and have the money do yourself a favor and get a CWA or a model 41.

Ok. I own a Black Mamba and have shot the CWA and have a CWA due to come in a few months. Yes the CWA is a great pistol. It also shoots high velocity ammo. The Black Mamba shoots standard velocity ammo. Both are reliable to a fault. However for bullseye or target shooting I say the black Mamba is more accurate. The CWA is great for shooting steel and cans etc but if you are trying to hit the bullseye with ever every shot then I think the Black Mamba is the better option. I say the CWA is faster to shoot but that may be just me. I also have a Pardini SP Bullseye and I will say it’s more accurate than both. If you are going steel challenge style of shooting get the CWA. If you are lining up at your local bullseye comp then get the Black Mamba or Pardini. As far as frames go, I have the TF model and the frame is aluminum.