The basics of subsonic ammo?

It has a smaller powder charge to keep the velocity under 1100fps (approximate speed of sound). A large portion of a gun's report is the bullet making a sonic boom, and not the explosion of the powder.

subsonic = below sound

The weight of the bullet makes no difference in the sound.

It's the speed of the bullet that determines whether of not it breaks the sound barrier.

The CCI and Remington "Subsonic" ammunition is much quieter than super-sonic ammo (e.g. CCI Stinger) in my suppressed MkIII.

Subsonic ammo obivously dosent go as fast as regular ammo when it hits, and thus dosent carry as much potentially damageing energy. That said, I still dont want to get hit with a subsonic slug, .22 or not.

I havent shot any subsonic rounds myself, so I´ll leave it to someone more knowledgeable to answer your question regarding noise.

Is this to say that subsonic ammo does less damage to a target as compared to regular comparable ammo?

Click to expand...

Energy = Mass * Velocity^2. Obviously if you restrict the velocity while keeping the same mass, there will be less energy.

You might want to experiment, but I'd be willing to bet that most standard velocity, and even some high velocity ammo may be subsonic when shot from a pistol. .22LR ammo doesn't develop the manufacturer's rated muzzle velocity unless shot from a long (16-18") barrel.

From a ballistic perspective, the main difference you'll see is more drop at longer ranges. Thats probably not a big deal with a pistol being fired at 20yds or so.

Lower sales volume

Yep. Also, some of the subsonics don't even use powder, just a little extra primer compound. Slightly different manufacturing process. So, different production run (stock item) with lower sales volume, and the setup cost has to be spread out over less sales volume...viola! Higher prices. Same reason that .32 centerfire ammo is way more expensive than 9mm.

I think the original gist of subsonic ammo was accuracy. There is supposedly some upset when a bullet crosses from supersonic to sub sonic. So you can avoid that by starting out at the highest possible subsonic velocity.

Most 22 ammo is subsonic out of handguns.

I can shoot CCI mini mags and various bulk box ammo at my elevation without a supersonic crack through my Ruger MK2.

I'd try the regular stuff out if you have a short enough barrel. I run mine with 4.5" barrel + silencer and unless I go out of my way to get stingers or some high-velocity 22 ammo, it all says quiet.

-T

Subsonic = thumbs down

Not a fan. I had accuracy issues...More so than my normal, substandard God-given abilities.

I use subsonic out of my Henry .22 I like it seemsto kill groundhogs the same with less of a "crack" sound

SOYADON’THAVETAYELL!

Well… I thought it was funny.

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