Rifle Review: Volquartsen's Vanquish 22 Superlite ISR
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
There is something deeply satisfying about a suppressed .22 LR. The sound drops from a sharp crack to something closer to a heavy stapler. Squirrels stop running. Neighbors stop noticing. And if the rifle behind the suppressor happens to be built by the people who have spent decades perfecting the rimfire platform, the experience goes from satisfying to something you genuinely do not want to stop doing. The Volquartsen Vanquish 22 Superlite ISR is that rifle. It is quiet, it is accurate, and it is built with the kind of component quality that makes most .22 LR rifles feel like toys by comparison.
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Volquartsen and the Rimfire Standard
Volquartsen Firearms, based in Carroll, Iowa, has been building premium rimfire rifles, pistols, and parts since 1974. Their tagline is not modest: "Engineering the world's finest rimfire." And while that kind of claim usually invites skepticism, Volquartsen has the track record to support it. Their aftermarket triggers, bolts, extractors, and barrels have been the go-to upgrades for 10/22 owners and competitive rimfire shooters for decades. Their complete rifles regularly appear on the firing lines of NRL22 matches, rimfire silhouette competitions, and in the hands of shooters who simply refuse to accept factory-grade accuracy from a .22.
The Vanquish 22 line is a collaboration with Angstadt Arms, combining Volquartsen's rimfire expertise with Angstadt's manufacturing capabilities. The Superlite ISR takes that partnership into NFA territory with a fully integrally suppressed barrel system.
What You Are Looking At
The Superlite ISR is a semi-automatic .22 LR rifle built on the 10/22 platform with an 18.5-inch integrally suppressed barrel. That barrel is made from 416R stainless steel with a 1:16 twist rate and a 0.920-inch bull diameter. The suppressor body surrounding the barrel is machined from 6061 aluminum with a Cerakote finish. Because the suppressor is integral to the barrel rather than a detachable can threaded on the end, the overall package remains sleek and proportional. It looks like a bull-barreled target rifle, not a rifle with a tube bolted to the muzzle.
The barrel uses a Bentz chamber, which is a match chamber designed specifically for semi-automatic rimfire actions. It is tighter than the standard factory sporter chamber, which translates to better concentricity and more consistent bullet release, but it is not so tight that it causes feeding issues with quality ammunition. The Bentz chamber is widely regarded as the sweet spot between a loose sporter chamber and a true match chamber that requires hand-feeding. It is a deliberate choice for a rifle that needs to cycle reliably while still delivering the kind of accuracy that Volquartsen's name demands.
The receiver is CNC-machined aluminum with Type III hard anodizing and a full-length Picatinny rail on top for optics mounting. Inside, the bolt is DLC-coated (diamond-like carbon) for reduced friction and improved durability, and it rides with Volquartsen's Exact Edge extractor and a titanium firing pin. The titanium pin is lighter than steel, which means faster lock time and more consistent ignition, both of which matter when you are trying to wring every last bit of accuracy out of a rimfire cartridge.
The Trigger
The TG2000 trigger group is one of the most well-known aftermarket 10/22 triggers on the market, and it comes standard in the Superlite ISR. It is CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum with a trigger sear and disconnector manufactured from A2 stainless tool steel, hardened to Rockwell 58 specifications. Pull weight sits at 2.25 pounds, and the trigger is adjustable for both pre-travel and overtravel. The reset mechanism uses an internal coil spring rather than the conventional trigger plunger found in factory 10/22 groups, which eliminates the dragging sensation that plagues stock Ruger triggers. For a suppressed rifle where you are likely shooting slowly and deliberately, a clean, light trigger with a tactile reset makes every shot feel intentional.
The Practical Side
The rifle feeds from standard Ruger 10/22 magazines and ships with one factory 10-round magazine. Compatibility with the enormous ecosystem of 10/22 magazines, including extended options from BX-25 and aftermarket alternatives, means capacity is never an issue. The stock on this configuration is a Magpul unit in black, and the overall rifle weighs approximately 5 pounds 5 ounces.
Because this is an integrally suppressed firearm, it is classified as a suppressor under the NFA. That means a Form 4, a tax stamp, and the associated wait time. It must be transferred through an NFA dealer in your state. Once you clear that process, though, you own a single serialized unit with no threads to check, no mounts to tighten, and no alignment concerns. The suppressor is the barrel. It is as simple as a rimfire gets while still being genuinely quiet.
For ammunition, the Bentz chamber and integral suppressor combination works best with standard velocity and subsonic loads. Standard velocity .22 LR typically runs around 1,050 to 1,080 feet per second, which keeps the bullet below the sound barrier and allows the suppressor to do its job properly. High-velocity loads will still cycle and shoot accurately, but you lose the full suppression benefit once the bullet goes supersonic. Hyper-velocity rounds like CCI Stingers are not compatible with the Bentz chamber due to their longer case length.
Who This Is For
The Superlite ISR sits at the intersection of several overlapping communities. Small game and pest hunters who want a quiet, accurate rifle that will not disturb the property. NRL22 competitors who want to practice suppressed without hauling a separate can. Recreational shooters who simply want the most enjoyable .22 LR experience money can buy. And rimfire enthusiasts who appreciate the idea of a rifle where every component, from the firing pin to the suppressor body, was selected and assembled with match-grade intent.
Final Thoughts
Volquartsen could have built a basic suppressed 10/22 and called it a day. There is certainly a market for that. Instead, they put a Bentz match chamber, a DLC-coated competition bolt, a titanium firing pin, an Exact Edge extractor, and a TG2000 trigger group into an integrally suppressed package that weighs just over five pounds. The Vanquish 22 Superlite ISR is not just a quiet rifle. It is a quiet rifle that shoots like a competition gun, handles like a sporting rifle, and reminds you with every trigger pull that the people who built it take rimfire more seriously than almost anyone else in the business. Once you clear the paperwork, you may find it hard to pick up anything else.
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