Silencers - Why?

[usaral63]

I'm 83 now, and currently am VA assessed at a +30% hearing loss...............mostly due to military service involving small arms fire, too, I've also been a shooter since my teens and served as a LEO for a lotta years.....during my early years that ringing in our ears was thought to be a temporary matter.........and I don't recall ever being issued ear protection in the military, ever! By the time the LEO stuff started I had enough sense to wear protection, but even that is not always possible.........especially hunting. I can only say that if you are cavalier about the problem you are also gonna' have a wife that develops good lungs from yelling at you.

Don't own a suppressor currently but if I'd had the option in my younger years I would've picked one up.............they were illegal for hunting in Florida for a number of years........changed now. Just remember that it ain't dumb if it works and the things are gold when it comes to reducing hearing loss!

 

[Odd Job]

Our shooting range is in a residential area. We have a rule that if anyone shoots before 09:30 they must shoot suppressed. Same applies to after dusk shooting. Nicer for the neighbours.
Over here they are called "sound moderators"
We currently have a government consultation started, looking to deregulate the suppressors that are currently regulated. The attitude in the UK is pro-suppressor, I don't know anyone who has been refused a suppressor.

 

[JEBruns]

First how do you know it's a dedicated range rifle?

I didn't mean to imply the guns I see with them are range guns only. Mine are range only, and I can't think of a reason why I'd want to add one. But I have a lot more of this thread to read, maybe some compelling reason will be forthcoming.

Second high powered rifles indoors are obnoxious even with double ear protection the concussion gives me a headache.

Sorry, I am talking about outdoors. I don't shoot rifles indoors. Longest indoor range around here is only 25 yards.

 

[horsemen61]

No. They make the gun quieter, reduce recoil and increase accuracy.

This All Day Long!

 

[zeke]

Using a suppressor allows me to access our range before and after normal shooting hours. A 22 lr 16 in bolt with sub sonic rounds is indeed the next best thing to silent, with only the hammer falling and bullet impact making noise. Very good vermin control. A hunting rifle with a suppressor is very useful for critter control (nuisance) tags on farmers property's that don't want the noise. A home protection firearm with a suppressor may save your hearing or awareness of your surroundings.

Have not experienced a suppressor physically increasing the accuracy of a firearm, but they can help in maintaining your ability to be accurate.

 

[JEBruns]

Think of this analogy. What if you had to have a special permit and pay a fee just to put a muffler on your car or truck. Think about how loud our roads would be if none of the vehicles driving on them had a muffler. A suppressor is simply a muffler for your gun.

Not a like comparison. Vehicles are everywhere, day and night.

 

[JEBruns]

There is a lot to unpack here. There are a lot of guys at the range with silencers. Okay. Then you transition to saying that these are dedicated range rifles. How do you know all the guys at the range with suppressors on their rifles that the rifles are dedicated range rifles?

Already addressed. I didn't mean to imply that.

Also, unless folks are running subsonic ammo or maybe .22 lr, in their rifles, they are going to need hearing protection. The sonic crack of of supersonic ammo is at the level to cause hearing damage.

If you are at the range and half of the shooters, or even just one, doesn't have a silencer, you still need to wear hearing protection. Probably even if everyone else suppressed. I've heard some fairly loud suppressed guns too.

I know several companies used to advertise this. I think Surefire was one of them. It is a bit of a myth. Silencers/suppressors do not increase accuracy except in the sense that they do change barrel harmonics. This may increase accuracy (smaller group size). It may also ruin accuracy (larger group size)..

From what I've read, they mostly have a negative affect. Maybe not a lot, but any loss of accuracy would be a big deal to me. But maybe that can be balanced out some by tuning your loads.

 

[Spats McGee]

I have exactly one suppressor, a Dead Air Mask for my .22s. I don't use it all the time at the range, mainly because there's usually a few more folks there shooting unsuppressed. Out on the farm, though, it's probably as much fun as I'll ever have with my pants on. The best thing about that is it lets me talk to my buddies without hearing protection while we're out shooting. In particular, subsonics in a bolt gun are just ridiculously quiet.

 

[Jim Watson]

A suppressor is simply a muffler for your gun.

Trivia: There is still a Maxim Silencer Co. making industrial mufflers. I doubt they have any corporate or family connection with ol' Percy, but somebody thought to seize the name.

"Suppressor" is a newfangled name to market an evil silencer that only assassins would use.

I was Fudded the other day. A friend was amazed by the 8.6mm Blackout, how quiet and powerful it was "No (body) armor could stop it. Ought not to be so available for terrorists and murderers." Of course the silencers on HIS guns are safe and peaceful.

With supersonic rounds, you still hear the round breaking the sound barrier as it goes down range, and there is that crack.

When silencers were still allowed in F class, I saw a couple in use.
Sound signature was interesting. If in the target pits, you could hear the "Crack" as the bullets went over and through the target, without a following muzzle blast audible from 1000 yards.
If near the line, pull off your hearing protection and hear a still-loud "Blam" followed by a whistle as the "can" depressurized.

 

[doubleh]

Being old and set in my ways I am going to use the original name, silencer. Now, I seldom see a silenced anything at my gunclub range and that negates any benefit I would get from a silencer as I would still have to use hearing protection. I use good hearing protection. If someone else doesn't that is their problem, not mine. I also don't care for a blob on the end of my barrel either. My range is out of town so noise pollution is no problem. I will continue to be a curmudgeon.

 

[mavracer]

Sorry, I am talking about outdoors. I don't shoot rifles indoors. Longest indoor range around here is only 25 yards.

oh yeah outdoors where it ain't air-conditioned sometimes it's dang nice to take the muffs off and go with just plugs.
And the aforementioned SBR doesn't need to be indoors to be obnoxious unsuppressed

 

[md7]

I have one 30 cal suppressor on a 308 bolt action hunting rifle.

That rig is zeroed with the suppressor on and with my hunting ammo and I would shoot it in the field or at the range with the suppressor on it.

Mines not for the cool factor. I’m usually alone in the woods, and almost never go to public ranges. I got it for the noise reduction, which is noticeable and appreciated. So much easier on the ole eardrums.

Being a suppressor newbie, I’ve also found it dampens muzzle blast and seems to lessen recoil. A pleasant by product in addition to being more hearing safe.

 

[BreechFace]

It’s a LOT more pleasant for new shooters on centerfire rifles shooting with a suppressor as well.

 

[BreechFace]

I often get, “why don’t all the guns have these?” Questions from non-firearm folks. Good question, that.

 

[.38 Special]

Suppressed rifles are safer for everyone's ears. Not just the shooter, but other shooters, spectators, range employees, etc. Most of us have experienced unprotected muzzle blasts, either from forgetting our muffs, or having someone shoot unexpectedly, or simply getting out of the car near the firing line and being caught off guard.

Moreover, a lot of us are using inadequate hearing protection, or hearing protection that doesn't fit quite right, whether we know it or not.

Beyond that, shooting ranges often get shut down due to urban encroachment, with noise complaints being the number one issue.

I'm not allowed to own a suppressor here in California, which strikes me as stupid even by CA standards. As a hearing care professional, if I could I'd put one on just about every gun that could benefit from it.

 

[JDeere]

I thought about it but at 6 or 7 for can, 2 for stamp and cost of having my barrel threaded I'm in over a grand. I'm shooting bugholes now so increased accuracy? Not to mention big brother in my business more than he already is, nah. I do like my breaks though on some. The range I frequent has stalls so you don't have to worry about my break and I don't have to worry about getting nailed by your brass from the AR. Recoil never been an issue and I shoot up to .06...

 

[dranrab]

I was specifically talking 22lr.. I dont know any 22LR cans that cost $800.00 do you?

The OP didn't give me the impression that the discussion was on 22LR silencers. The 1K reference was part of why. I'll let him clear it up if he was.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Calling it a silencer is not technically correct. The sound isn't silenced, but suppressed.

People keep making this argument, but it never changes the fact my form 4s all have the word SILENCER written on them and the word 'silencer' is used as per the definition (required for box 4 b of what can be put in the box to define said item, as explained under 1C. Muffler would have worked as well. Strangely, nowhere on the legal description within said documents is the word "suppressor."

Apparently, I legally own a silencer, several.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Oh, and silencer is defined thusly...

18 U.S.C., § 921(A)(24)

The term “Firearm Silencer” or “Firearm Muffler” means any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm, including any combination of parts, designed or redesigned, and intended for the use in assembling or fabricating a firearm silencer or firearm muffler, any part intended only for use in such assembly or fabrication.

Firearms - Guides - Importation & Verification of Firearms - Gun Control Act Definition - Silencer | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Previous Page Download this Section Download the Guidebook Next Page Firearms Verification Gun Control Act Definitions Silencer 18 U.S.C., § 921(A)(24) The term “Firearm Silencer” or “Firearm Muffler” means any device for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a portable firearm...

www.atf.gov

 

[hso]

But why would a range gun have one? Still need to wear ear protection.

And the combination makes for less impact to hearing. A suppressor is a courtesy and a piece of safety equipment to protect the owner's and your hearing.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Suppressors are COOL! and it will be way more common!

 

[Show Me]

I see lots of guys at the gun range with silencers on their rifles. See them a lot in pictures at competitions also. I guess I can kind of see them for home defense or maybe hunting. But why would a range gun have one? Still need to wear ear protection. I can't imagine they add anything to accuracy.

Not putting them down. I'm a big believer if whatever floats your boat. I'm just curious about why a person would drop a grand on one for a dedicated range rifle. Is it just the cool factor at work?

Well maybe i would want to sight in for the change of point of aim. Maybe I would like to check zero before a hog hunt or setting it against the night stand. Just look the other way if it's offensive. Better to be on the lookout for those dangerous enthusiasts that didn't learn gun safety.

 

[NeverEnoughFDE]

Aside from the obvious benefits, they are tons of fun.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I don't know that I can really put into words why shooting a range gun suppressed is "worth it" even though you still have to wear hearing protection if you're shooting at a public range. My best advice is to try it. You might giggle like a little girl. Or, you might discover that it makes you less prone to flinching at the report of the rifle and helps you train any lingering flinch out. Cans also reduce recoil. They are great for teaching new shooters, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't discover I still had a flinch I thought I'd previously trained out when I first started using one. I have not seen them impact dispersion too much one way or another in my sample of one 30-caliber can on a few different rifles, though they of course do shift point of impact. Shooting is simply more pleasant with a can on the end of the barrel.

If you shoot F-Class or other competitions that don't let you use them, then yeah they don't make any sense for that rifle. And I still have hunting rifles that aren't threaded because the barrel is too long for a can to be practical or the OD too small for threads. But I thread every rifle that's practical to do so because cans are great. You only need one for several rifles.

 

[zeke]

Already addressed. I didn't mean to imply that.

If you are at the range and half of the shooters, or even just one, doesn't have a silencer, you still need to wear hearing protection. Probably even if everyone else suppressed. I've heard some fairly loud suppressed guns too.

From what I've read, they mostly have a negative affect. Maybe not a lot, but any loss of accuracy would be a big deal to me. But maybe that can be balanced out some by tuning your loads.

To be technically correct, they do indeed negatively affect accuracy as in shifting the poi on rifles. Have not had any negatively affect precision, as in group size. However the poi shift on mine are repeatable, and once you know what it is you can dial it in.