Re: Tactical .22 Photo Thread (non-Mossberg)
Yeah, suppressors do add some extra length and bulk no matter how you go about it but you already knew that.
One thing that may suit your fancy if you're trying to save some length is use a 12 or maybe 14 inch barrel, but a ported reflex suppressor. I know that sounds counter-intuitive to use a longer barrel if you're wanting to keep the OAL shorter, but a reflex suppressor attaches differently.
If you type in reflex sound moderator, you'll get a lot of European hits, but reflex cans do save a lot of length without sacrificing sound reduction because they slide over the barrel instead of threading directly to the muzzle.
I'm not sure why they're not more popular here in the states than what they are but it may give you some idea's.