Questions about suppressors?

Question

Don't you need special sub-sonic rounds in order for a silencer to work?

Answer 1

No, sub-sonic ammo only makes the shots more quiet, as the projectile (bullet) doesn't exeed the speed of sound and produce the sonic 'boom' (crack) that a higher velocity round will.

The suppressor acts like a car muffler, trapping and baffling the sound waves created by the detonation of the cartridge propellant. It can't affect the shock wave created by the bullet after it leaves the end of the weapon's barrel.

Answer 2

Sub sonic rounds help a suppressor work but in reality it is difficult to completely silence a center fire suppressed weapon.  I've fired a professionally suppressed Beretta 92 loaded with Remington 147 sub sonic ammo and I was NOT impressed.  It did change the sound somewhat but it still sounded like a gun shot to me only not as loud.  Also the person giving the demonstration had to keep adding oil to the suppressor in order for it to continue 'muffling the sound' and I worried about the oil leaking and getting on my uniform.  It never did, but I just didn't like the idea of having to mess with the oil.  

I've seen illegal .22 single-shot poacher's rifles fired with .22 Short ammo that were completely silent (except for the firing pin clicking when it hit the primer) but these had a suppressor that was nearly as long as the abbreviated  rifle itself.  Both the stock and the barrel had been cut down making the rifle itself illegal just on that count.  This rifle was topped with a 6x fixed power scope and the poacher ended up getting a 10-year sentence.  I'm not sure what game he was shooting at with .22 Short ammo.  I'm sure he crippled a lot of deer during the unknown length of his career.  It was a good thing he got arrested.

H

Answer 3

I really wish only people who know what they were talking about would answer questions like this.

I am a NFA suppressor owner.  Yes, you do need special subsonic rounds for a silencer to be quiet.  Any bullet that travels faster than 1080 feet per second will cause a ballistic crack - and this number can change plus or minus 40 fps depending on temperature and altitude.  Professionals like to keep things between 990fps 1000 fps nominal.

Some cartridges are natually subsonic - the 45acp and standard 9mm - but the high vel +P versions can give a sonic crack that is as loud as a 22 pistol.

For 22 long rifle you buy special subsonic rounds - there are lots of different ones on the market.

For the rest of the centerfire rifles - you normally need to cast a lead (impossible to purchase) bullet and load your own.  This is one of the reasons the 300 Whisper became popular because it can be subsonic and use jacketed commercially available rounds and projectiles.  

For the M16a4 a special 100gr projectile is used - it travels at 990 fps and will cycle the rifle in both semi and full auto totally silent.  This 100gr projectile isn't much at 200 yards - but in a tactical 20 yard range it really packs a puch.

Most 22 suppressors are tiny - they can be built into the actual barrel (integral) or have a small can attached that is no larger than a normal barrel.

One of the reasons you see big suppressors on little guns - because a 45 suppressor will take any caliber to 45.  So one large suppressor can fit all your other pistols and makes all your pistols quiet.  Where as if you bought a tiny 22 suppressor - it's only good for a 22 pistol.  Considering the cost and trouble to get the approval and pay the tax - why own several when just one big one will do?

Hope this helps

Answer 4

The suppressor arrests the gasses and quiets them, the sub sonic ammo will not produce a sonic crack. The perfect combination is using both. Using high velocity ammo with a suppressor will still produce a sonic crack.

115 grain 9mm will produce a sonic crack

147 grain 9mm will not.

Answer 5

no but it will sill go super sonic and make that loud crack.hope it helped go with god.

Answer 6

No.  The silencers you see in the movies and on tv are just a bit larger than the barrel.  Real silencers are very large and awkward.  To take more than 70% of the sound out of a shot of a hand gun or rifle the silencer needs to be at a minimum of 3" in diameter and 50% of the barrel length.  The material used makes them weigh a lot more than the gun