Let’s start with the stigma… The idea that a suppressor was a device for assassins and spies which would allow them to operate in absolute silence. It is of course true that weapons existed for this kind of use, the most famous probably being the Welrod pistol. This pistol or at least its concept was likely responsible for the “Hssssss” noise that generally accompanied the firing of suppressed guns in the movies. In fact, the Welrod used several features to reduce sound signature: A bolt action design to reduce noise from moving parts, rubber swipes through the integral suppressor designed only for a very low volume of rounds. And lastly and most importantly, subsonic ammunition. It was this combination that greatly reduced noise output but even then, it was never reduced to a hiss as the movies may suggest. It produced around 75 Decibels, about the same as a washing machine, not exactly silent. And so, for many years the suppressor was frowned upon by authorities and somewhat tricky to procure. Thankfully we entered a new era where peoples health and safety became rather important. PPE for ears and eyes became a standard and anything that could reduce noise for both the firer and anyone in the surrounding area was viewed in a more positive light.
So, we know that a suppressor makes the act of shooting more comfortable from a noise perspective, but does it offer any other benefits? It will reduce felt recoil in larger calibers. This is best demonstrated with a .50BMG rifle. I was once asked to shoot one with no muzzle brake or suppressor as part of some defence sector testing. I have fired many unpleasant things in my time but this was by far the worst. It felt like my shoulder had been struck with a baseball bat and my head rang from the violent whiplash. I was asked to repeat and I declined… Fitting a suppressor reduced the recoil to a brutal shove but certainly took 50% of the sting out of it. The hot gasses are forced around a series of twists and turns before they exit the muzzle which reduces their speed significantly. The speeding gasses are in part responsible for felt recoil and definitely effect the energy over time curve (a quick sharp shock vs a heavy shove). Although this is particularly noticeable in larger calibers the physics bare out for all.
One could of course use a muzzle brake which reduces felt recoil even further. The problem with brakes is that they vent the fast exiting gas toward the firing point. They are deeply unpleasant to be near and we are slowly learning that subjecting yourself to repeated over pressure is also rather bad for one’s brain. It may also be worth considering that brakes project toxic gasses back toward the firing point. Suppressors direct them downrange.
Because suppressors reduce the speed of the hot gasses they also reduce flash signature. This is especially useful for the hunter who would rather not announce his position to any animal in a 1-mile radius. Flash reduction also helps spot your impact, this is especially true when using NV systems for night shooting where a big flash signature can “white out” digital optics.
As with all things shooting related there are negative aspects as well. You don’t get a free ride when it comes to physics. Slowing down hot gasses will cause heat to build faster, in both the suppressor and the bore. If you are a very high-volume shooter this may be a serious deal breaker. Extreme heat build up has a number of side effects: Increased bore erosion, decreased precision and mirage. If you are shooting on a windless day the mirage can be a pain. You will see the air rippling which is magnified by your optic, sometimes this can lead to the target being completely impossible to see with any clarity.
Of course, the other obvious issue is that there is a burn risk. I have seen people burn hands, melt gun slips and ruin car seats when they forgot just how hot things can get on the front of a rifle. Hot enough to cook bacon, don’t ask me how I know that.
The other problems often attributed to suppressors require a caveat. They are normally due to a badly made suppressor, incorrect fitting or a compatibility issue. If projectiles skim the baffles it will have a detrimental effect on precision. It could also lead to a catastrophic failure which I have also witnessed multiple times. I have also witnessed expanding projectiles in specific systems damage suppressors. One that springs to mind was a 300BLK rifle running a tight custom twist (1:5). This caused the expanding subsonic projectile to peel apart upon leaving the bore and blow the suppressor to pieces! Not good if you were standing in the next shooting lane…
There are several myths doing the rounds of course: “suppressors decrease muzzle velocity”. This one is actually from computer games! To “balance” the game play the addition of a suppressor must have a defined reduction regards damage/hit probability. Designers commonly decided this would be reduced velocity. It has no real-world basis. Equally a suppressor will not add any significant velocity.
Personally, I always run rifles suppressed. I am not a high-volume shooter and I can happily wait for a system to cool down if needed. I enjoy the benefits of reduced recoil and sound signature as do my fellow shooters. We should also consider the general public and the future of shooting sports. Noise complaints have closed ranges in the UK and will continue to do so. The less noise we make, the less people are able to complain about us. Do your homework, don’t just buy the first suppressor you see. Just like all things there are a good and bad out there. I use Hausken but there are other great brands on the market. If you have friends with suppressors then try theirs, ask them about performance and longevity. A decent suppressor will last many years if properly looked after.
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