is a silencer useful at indoor range?

[MrBitey]

I've been thinking about getting a silencer (or two), but wondering whether it's worth the effort in my situation. I shoot 100% at an indoor range, and shoot 9mm and .22lr. So even with a silencer I'll be wearing ear protection at the range. The silencer looks like a cool toy, but is it worth the trouble? My thought is that if I ever get, say, a pistol caliber carbine for home defense I'd want to keep a silencer on it. Not sure whether it'll be that useful at the range, but with the long wait time though I may as well start the process. Thoughts?

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

Yes, once you get a can you never go back. The only exception I can think of, is the Uberfancy electronic ranges that score hits based upon sound — the suppressors ruin the “accuracy” of those sensors.

If you put a can on your .22 you may find a lot more places to shoot, like into a bag of sand across your basement (assuming that is safe/legal of course).

 

[greyling22]

Not for a pistol at an indoor range. In almost any other capacity, they're fantastic. I have 3 now and am plotting a 4th. Don't need it, but I want it.

 

[Riomouse911]

Man, when I am shooting at my local indoor range and someone brings in their AR to blast away... I WISH I could hand them a silencer .

Like any other addition to your firearm, if you're going to equip your home defense carbine with one you should be shooting it with it installed as well. Balance/portability etc. will change a bit with the addition of a bit more weight out front.

Stay safe.

 

[entropy]

Sure made firing MP5's inside easier on the ears.

 

[Alex Clayton]

They of course work great indoors but, unless you are there alone it will not do much good. They are fun but of course pricey by the time you get all you need done. We have a bunch of guns ready for a Can. Just have not yet got around to setting up the Trust to start making some. They are fun to play with though.

 

[748]

Definitely get a silencer.
I hate shooting at indoor ranges because the blast is reflected back at you.

 

[CapnMac]

it's kind of like wearing a mask--you are helping out others. But, you are still exposed to anything they fire off.
Cue the dude in the next lane with a .66magnum with a muzzle break.
They are addictive, though.
And, you will tend to look at all firearms as to whether they'd make good hosts before almost any other feature.

Also, while 140dB is "hearing safe" per OSHA, it's still going to do some damage. But, you will not need to double up hearing protection like you do for unsuppressed weapons.

 

[MrBitey]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm leaning towards buying the Dead Air Mask HD to get started.

 

[greyling22]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm leaning towards buying the Dead Air Mask HD to get started.

that was my first can. very quiet on all my rimfire hosts. sounds about like a small nailgun.

 

[mavracer]

Not so much on 22lr or 9mm but definitely for 5.56 and 7.62

 

[random_guy]

Once I started shooting suppressed my groups got a lot tighter. The suppressor will also lessen the recoil.

 

[Conelrad]

Back in the early 80's, I form 1'ed a built-in can on a Ruger Mk. II, and was shooting it at an indoor range. During a lull, I kept shooting it, and the boss came over and asked my if that was a silencer. I said yes, he said get out of here with that illegal thing. After showing him the paper on it, he was mortified and said he'd never heard of such a thing...lol

But yes to the original question; go for it.

Conelrad