Is there a differences between a suppressor and a silencer ?
Are these really effective on Rifles and SMG or is this "Hollywood" ?
Are these really effective on Rifles and SMG or is this "Hollywood" ?
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Suppressor / Silencer
- Thread starter jimmyj
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Same thing I believe. Proper name is suppressor. Pretty effective on .223 and smaller. Lowers the decibel on all calibers and as far as the military, makes it difficult to pinpoint where a shot comes from.
DR505
US Veteran
They work better with projectiles that are subsonic.
JohnK
US Veteran
I have always wondered, why in generally anti-gun Europe, anyone that does NOT use a suppressor, is considered RUDE.
In America, it will get you a trip to a prison (assuming you haven
't paid the $ 200 for a BATF permit))
Go figure.
Conversely, if you don't have a muffler on your car, you are breaking the law.
In America, it will get you a trip to a prison (assuming you haven
't paid the $ 200 for a BATF permit))
Go figure.
Conversely, if you don't have a muffler on your car, you are breaking the law.
Maybe we should call them "Mufflers"....its all in the marketing.....
For most of our history, 'concealing' was done by bad guys - concealed carry was bad, open carry was good. Same with suppressors - their logic is only bad guys have a reason to conceal their shots.
I've noticed America is the anti-fun country. If someone is having fun, someone else wants to ban it.
the reason they were added to the NFA of 1934 was because they were used for poaching during the depression. many game species were basically wiped out in certain areas of the country so people could eat. lee
HOUSTON RICK
Member
I have noticed that suppressors are expensive and sometimes legally risky to own and do not seem to increase the accuracy of what I am shooting. 
As the titles go they are one and the same. The correct term is suppressor...they are not properly called "silencer" because most of them do not truly "silence" {as in no sound} they just suppress {as in somewhat cut back the sound.}
As to the "really effective" part...there's a lot to that question...I will say that the ones Hollywood uses are way more effective, because they are not real.
In the movie "Magnum Force" an assassin is depicted as putting a 4 inch long and about 1 1/4" in diameter "silencer" on a 357 magnum revolver and it barely makes a puff when shot...that's totally Hollywood. In the first Dirty Harry movie the sniper has a 30-06 with a silencer not much bigger and it barely makes a puff. Hollywood strikes again.
The reality of suppressors is that a properly sized and precision made version can drastically reduce the muzzle, blast but they do nothing for the ballistic "crack" of a supersonic bullet. On a 22 long rifle it almost sounds as if there is nothing there...because most of what you hear anyway is the ballistic crack of the bullet.
They do serve a couple of purposes, as mentioned already they confuse the enemy as to which direction and distance a shot has been fired. If made properly and precise they can reduce recoil and should not effect accuracy. If the bullet is sub-sonic they can sound as good as Hollywood, but they device itself is always a lto bigger than depicted in the movies. Guns like the 45acp have such a big bore that a plastic or rubber "wiper" is typically used to help knock the report back some.
Currently, the military uses them more for when they have to enter a building and the confined unaltered muzzle blast would deafen the troops.
As with all things that involve the law, the people that make those laws usually are not smart enough to make much sense. Why anyone would not want to have a quieter gun is unreal, yet here it will get you a $10,000.00 fine and 10 years in prison.
Like this ridiculous state I live in...I can get a permit to protect my bosses money, but I cant get one to protect my families lives.
forindooruseonly
Member
Suppressors, as stated, are not Hollywood quiet by any means.
My suppressed .223 with an AAC can still sounds like a .22 rifle. We're not talking silent. The bullet crack alone is loud. I haven't noticed a significant change in grouping, it never grouped well to begin with, so the suppressor didn't change that. What did change was the point of impact between having the suppressor on or off.
They are much more effective on pistol caliber weapons - less pressure, and if subsonic, no bullet crack.
My subguns with suppressors are quieter than my .223, but still loud enough to alert anyone nearby. The thing that always surprises people about my subguns is how much noise the action makes. Bolts slapping back and forth aren't quiet at all.
The quietest suppressors are of course, .22s. They can be suppressed quite well, especially integral suppressors on rifles. Also, subsonic 9mm suppresses better than subsonic .45, simply as a result of hole diameter. Less room for gas to escape at velocity it seems.
If pure quiet is the goal, something bolt action and subsonic would be the best. I'd like a bolt action in .300 Blackout caliber with a suppressor on it. Kind of an updated De Lisle rifle.
My suppressed .223 with an AAC can still sounds like a .22 rifle. We're not talking silent. The bullet crack alone is loud. I haven't noticed a significant change in grouping, it never grouped well to begin with, so the suppressor didn't change that. What did change was the point of impact between having the suppressor on or off.
They are much more effective on pistol caliber weapons - less pressure, and if subsonic, no bullet crack.
My subguns with suppressors are quieter than my .223, but still loud enough to alert anyone nearby. The thing that always surprises people about my subguns is how much noise the action makes. Bolts slapping back and forth aren't quiet at all.
The quietest suppressors are of course, .22s. They can be suppressed quite well, especially integral suppressors on rifles. Also, subsonic 9mm suppresses better than subsonic .45, simply as a result of hole diameter. Less room for gas to escape at velocity it seems.
If pure quiet is the goal, something bolt action and subsonic would be the best. I'd like a bolt action in .300 Blackout caliber with a suppressor on it. Kind of an updated De Lisle rifle.
I always thought a suppressed .45 auto would be the ultimate home defense weapon. Good caliber, heavy subsonic bullets, less chance of deafening yourself if you have to use it.
R. G. Amos
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Suppressor is the correct term. They are effective in reducing the noise of propellant gasses expanding into the atmosphere. They do nothing to reduce the sound of a self loading action cycling. They also do nothing to reduce the sound the projectile makes if it exceeds the ambient speed of sound.
I run suppressors on 223, 300 blackout, and 308. Supersonic bullets are reduced from around 170db to around 140db.
140 db for that type of impulse noise is right at the threshold for what OSHA considers permanently damaging.
I dont mind one or two shots without ear protection but anymore than that and I'll put on the muffs
Subsonic is substantially quieter and requires no earpro but with a semi auto there is still a lot of noise coming from the action but also gases expanding from the action so it is no where near movie quiet.
My 308 bolt gun with subsonic is very close to movie quiet. You can hear the projectile whish through the air, the thump into the target, and manually cycling the bolt after the shot sounds loud by comparison.
140 db for that type of impulse noise is right at the threshold for what OSHA considers permanently damaging.
I dont mind one or two shots without ear protection but anymore than that and I'll put on the muffs
Subsonic is substantially quieter and requires no earpro but with a semi auto there is still a lot of noise coming from the action but also gases expanding from the action so it is no where near movie quiet.
My 308 bolt gun with subsonic is very close to movie quiet. You can hear the projectile whish through the air, the thump into the target, and manually cycling the bolt after the shot sounds loud by comparison.
Old TexMex
Member
Look up the ARIES system, youll learn a lot you never knew. George builds
these carbon fiber suppressors for numerous governments. No need for
Subsonic ammo. Sounds like a spring pellet rifle, only it's a.308, or a Barrett .50.
these carbon fiber suppressors for numerous governments. No need for
Subsonic ammo. Sounds like a spring pellet rifle, only it's a.308, or a Barrett .50.
- Joined
- May 8, 2009
- Messages
- 915
- Reaction score
- 2,903
Suppressor's.......
This glock 21 with H.E.M.S. can from SWR sounds about as loud as a 22 short. The baffles somehow change the pitch of the noise. When you are downrange, it is barely recognizeable as a gunshot. You kinda' look at your buddy & say " what was that". Definitely great for inside work, no ear protection necessary.
This Remington 700 PSS in .308 has a titanium can made 20 years ago by Special Op's Shop. With 168 gr Gold Medal Match, blast noise is well reduced. Super sonic crack is still loud. With IMI 308 Sub-Sonic, muzzle blast is almost none, super crack is all but gone. If I handload it with some Blaylock straight cases, it is quieter than my pellet rifle, good out to about 125 yards, where it starts to yaw.
Ned
This glock 21 with H.E.M.S. can from SWR sounds about as loud as a 22 short. The baffles somehow change the pitch of the noise. When you are downrange, it is barely recognizeable as a gunshot. You kinda' look at your buddy & say " what was that". Definitely great for inside work, no ear protection necessary.
This Remington 700 PSS in .308 has a titanium can made 20 years ago by Special Op's Shop. With 168 gr Gold Medal Match, blast noise is well reduced. Super sonic crack is still loud. With IMI 308 Sub-Sonic, muzzle blast is almost none, super crack is all but gone. If I handload it with some Blaylock straight cases, it is quieter than my pellet rifle, good out to about 125 yards, where it starts to yaw.
Ned
Seeing the one on the Glock and reading Tex-Mex's post on carbon fiber, even seeing the bolt action they look to add 8 inches to the barrel length. How much weight and muzzle movement do they add?
Old TexMex
Member
The carbon fiber is very light. , and doesn't heat up. The bbl section is the entire expansion chamber, and sound elimination is far superior to any other. Subsonic ammo is not necessary and therefore long range accuracy is excellent. ARIES also make silencer for shotguns. Drawback? Thousands of dollars.
The bbl on the rifle is still free floating so poi is exactly the same with or without the suppressor.
Shooters Depot - THE A.R.I.E.S. SYSTEM
The bbl on the rifle is still free floating so poi is exactly the same with or without the suppressor.
Shooters Depot - THE A.R.I.E.S. SYSTEM
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In WW II didn't Britain build a rifle using the SMLE action but chambered for the 45 ACP, with integral silencer. It was apparently used by the Commandos for taking out sentries. I forget what they called it.
I call them silencers just because it seems to tick off some people who think they should not be called silencers. Federal regulations call them silencers and they are listed on the Form 4s as silencers. As far as movie quiet goes I guess it depends on what movie you are watching. A .22LR shot outside with a silencer is very much like many movies.
