Suppressed AR...any experiences?

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Harold Mayo

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I've been thinking quite a bit recently about getting a suppressor for an AR15. I have no real experience with suppressors beyond the use of one on an MP-5 and am craving some opinions.

My local dealer has a few suppressors from Advanced Armament waiting on the paperwork to come through and I was looking at one of those today. It wouldn't add much length and can be taken on and off at your convenience using a special birdcage-type flash suppressor that is supplied.

Anyone have any thoughts or opinions? How much does a suppressor matter on a .223? Any trouble with functioning? How is the subsonic .223 ammo?
 
I have a friend with one. However, I don't know a whole lot about them. My understanding is that you don't shoot sub-sonic ammo. The blast is attenuated to a degree that it is much more comfortable to shoot. He says that you can shoot it without hearing protection, but personally, I wouldn't try it. But it does knock the noise down a significant degree.
From a police standpoint, it makes firing the weapon inside a building much more bearable. Again, they arn't nessessarily looking for silence, just something so the concussion doesn't disorient them and deafen them.
From a military standpoint, the enemy knows a weapon has been fired, but it is difficult to locate the position of the person that fired it because they round creates a sonic boom on the way to the target at a different location from where it was fired.
 
For plinking at the range, it's fun.

For any practical application, usually not worth it. 5.56mm relies on its high velocity. Sub-sonic ammo completely negates that point. A slow moving 5.56mm is not very efficient.
 
The US Army seems to think they are worth it.
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there a suppressor in every SOP MOD kit ?
 
A suppressor on an AR, even shooting Mk262 is suprisingly effective. The smooths out the sound impulse. Spectators 10' away don't strictly need earpro.

-z
 
Better than sex. Removes muzzle blast, reduces felt recoil. Messes with the rifle balance a little though.
 
Our guns ARE the right partners...!

Anyone have any recommendations? The guy that I'll deal with generally orders suppressors from Advanced Armament. I've look at them and they're not all that large and seem of quality construction but, while I have a lot of experience with machinery and can tell quality, I don't have a lot of experience with suppressors.

Are there any others that I should take a look at? Jet Suppressors is either making or has made a suppressor that adds only 2" to the length of the AR (the rest of the can is back over the barrel). Other than Advanced Armament, Jet Suppressors and Gemtech, who are manufacturers?
 
Suppressors are both great muzzle brakes and great flash suppressors in addition to their other qualities.

One bad thing is they will increase pressure in a gas gun. This has two practical effects - because most gas guns are designed around certain operating pressure it can (but not always) effect function. The second issue is that you will get more carbon and debris blown back in your face through the ejection port.

It isn't dangerous or intolerable by any means; but for me, 300rds indoors with an MP5SD will make the tears flow like someone was chopping onions.
 
I have the AA ranger for 5.56.
It works extremely well.
I have found it is just as quiet with regular loads as it is with IMI blue tip reduced loads made for suppressors.
Bullet weights up to 69 grn have no affect on accuracy with suppressor on.
While shooting without hearing protectors, all I hear is the sound of the recoil spring.
I also use it on .22lr pistols and rifles where it is as quiet or quieter than a pellet gun.

Using it on a M16 is real fun, but it gets hot quickly.


ar111.BMP
 
Is the shooter even in a position to hear the SS crack? I thought it propagated more or less normal to the flight path.

It's also possible that the action operation noise is louder than the SS effects.

-z
 
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