Suppressor LOAD time

[Mark_Mark]

currently waiting in line for a suppressor. Silencer Central is doing most of the work.

So lets talk about your favorite 9mm 147g Subsonic load!

got the Banish 45 & 22K

 

[MWC1974]

Ummm. Aren’t all 147gr 9mm loads subsonic?

 

[Demi-human]

Not all of them, especially not all Handloads. Though, generally, 147s are subsonic in factory loadings. Depending on host firearm or course, as the suppressor is extra, albeit inefficient, barrel length.

So lets talk about your favorite<(snip)>Subsonic load!

I cut out the 9mm part, because favorite isn’t what I call it, and it isn’t 147. Slow can be done with lighter too.

Speaking in generalities, the “best” suppressor oriented handload for any firearm will have the fastest burn rate of powder suitable for the cartridge, with a bullet whose speed doesn’t break the sound barrier. So heavy ones are easier.
You already know about the heavy part it seems, so let’s talk about gas.
Even though a suppressor will quiet any shot, it will have a lot less work to do, and do it more effectively, with a powder charge that has a lower bullet exit pressure. That means a faster burning powder. A faster powder will use less powder in total, and have less pressure behind the bullet after the barrel for the suppressor to capture. (And release slowly.)
In addition, depending on the host weapon, when the action opens there will many times be a lower residual pressure, which is nicer to the ears.

Slower powders will try to burn inside the can too, causing a louder shot. The can acts like more barrel, burning the powder in it, instead of trapping the already combusted gas.

So, Bullseye, HP-38, Ramshot Competition, and the like are the types you’re looking for as “Best”. But, even Power Pistol has a Sub-Sonic load.

Start at Start, then work down until the pistol won’t cycle anymore. Then go back up from there until it holds the action open on the last round every time. This will be the least amount of powder to work the pistol, and should be the quietest way to go about it.
The trick is getting the very most pressure out of the least amount of gas volume, no sending the bullet and putting enough energy into the slide to cycle, while having everything as close to depressurized when it opens as possible. Because for a semiautomatic pistol the most noise comes from the action at ejection.


As far as the 22LR, get 40grain Standard Velocities, smile at the Hollywood quiet!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Not all of them, especially not all Handloads. Though, generally, 147s are subsonic in factory loadings. Depending on host firearm or course, as the suppressor is extra, albeit inefficient, barrel length.



I cut out the 9mm part, because favorite isn’t what I call it, and it isn’t 147. Slow can be done with lighter too.

Speaking in generalities, the “best” suppressor oriented handload for any firearm will have the fastest burn rate of powder suitable for the cartridge, with a bullet whose speed doesn’t break the sound barrier. So heavy ones are easier.
You already know about the heavy part it seems, so let’s talk about gas.
Even though a suppressor will quiet any shot, it will have a lot less work to do, and do it more effectively, with a powder charge that has a lower bullet exit pressure. That means a faster burning powder. A faster powder will use less powder in total, and have less pressure behind the bullet after the barrel for the suppressor to capture. (And release slowly.)
In addition, depending on the host weapon, when the action opens there will many times be a lower residual pressure, which is nicer to the ears.

Slower powders will try to burn inside the can too, causing a louder shot. The can acts like more barrel, burning the powder in it, instead of trapping the already combusted gas.

So, Bullseye, HP-38, Ramshot Competition, and the like are the types you’re looking for as “Best”. But, even Power Pistol has a Sub-Sonic load.

Start at Start, then work down until the pistol won’t cycle anymore. Then go back up from there until it holds the action open on the last round every time. This will be the least amount of powder to work the pistol, and should be the quietest way to go about it.
The trick is getting the very most pressure out of the least amount of gas volume, no sending the bullet and putting enough energy into the slide to cycle, while having everything as close to depressurized when it opens as possible. Because for a semiautomatic pistol the most noise comes from the action at ejection.


As far as the 22LR, get 40grain Standard Velocities, smile at the Hollywood quiet!

Wow! So work your way down to the point of not cycle, then back up! Now we talking! And this is why we hand load! custom load for host gun via. suppressor!

thanks for that process tip

 

[P Flados]

For the absolute quietest load, working "down" makes sense but you are loosing velocity at the same time. Generally a sub shooter will want the fastest velocity possible that gives zero sonic "crack".

As previously noted, powder selection matters it you want the lowest muzzle pressure.

Air space also matters. The less the airspace (a.k.a the higher the fill percentage), the lower the muzzle pressure. Once you have selected the cartridge, you can adjust this parameter with bullet selection and/or AOL selection.

Barrel length matters. Different lengths may have different "optimum" powders.

Now for the tricky part. If you are loading a powder that gives you the right velocity with near zero air space and a chamber pressure of say 95% of SAAMI max, the load will usually be very sensitive to small changes in charge weights and small changes air space (caused by either variations in AOL or variations in case capacity). A reduction in AOL of 0.015" for a 9 mm sub load can push the chamber pressure up by 10%. A charge increase of 0.15 grains can give a similar increase.

I have used Quickload a lot to evaluate powder and AOL choices for proposed sub loads. Unless you really know what you are doing, you are probably unlikely to pick the "optimum" powder and AOL for a sub load. Most just use published data to get a safe load that has no crack even if velocity is a little less than perfect. Again, any bullet substitution or AOL reduction can potentially push you over the SAAMI pressure limit real fast.

 

[RockRat64]

I use Bullseye with my 147gr cast bullets. As mentioned, the faster powders will usually be quietest. Not sure on my velocities, but I just got a Labradar and will probably head out today. Will be interesting to test my subsonic loads and see if I need to adjust to get close to supersonic. Lyman cast bullet book is a good place to start.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

I found this site to be very interesting
http://www.natoreloading.com/9mm/

 

[jmorris]

I use my minor loads for gun games. Small charges of fast powders is what use 3.1 grains of N310 or 3.2 of N320 & Titegroup a with a plated 147 is pretty good. You won’t get the best accuracy out of plated bullets but they do the job most of the time…

 

[mcb]

Find the load that gets to the velocity you want using a lighter charger of fast burning powder, while obviously staying under the safe pressure maximum and still cycling you chosen gun. By using the lighter powder charges of fast powders you produce higher peak pressures for a clean burn but less total gas volume that your suppressor have to slow down at muzzle exit. In my playing with by 300 BO I found that while 1050 fps is sub sonic and has not crack if you drop the velocity down to 970-1000 fps it is noticeably quieter than the usual 1050 fps that most subsonic loads shoot for. That said if you looking to maximize energy than obviously you want to get right up to 1050 fps.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I use my minor loads for gun games. Small charges of fast powders is what use 3.1 grains of N310 or 3.2 of N320 & Titegroup a with a plated 147 is pretty good. You won’t get the best accuracy out of plated bullets but they do the job most of the time…

Missed! lol

 

[Mark_Mark]

Find the load that gets to the velocity you want using a lighter charger of fast burning powder, while obviously staying under the safe pressure maximum and still cycling you chosen gun. By using the lighter powder charges of fast powders you produce higher peak pressures for a clean burn but less total gas volume that your suppressor have to slow down at muzzle exit. In my playing with by 300 BO I found that while 1050 fps is sub sonic and has not crack if you drop the velocity down to 970-1000 fps it is noticeably quieter than the usual 1050 fps that most subsonic loads shoot for. That said if you looking to maximize energy than obviously you want to get right up to 1050 fps.

excited about suppressor! now the 8 month wait. But I got 2, so that should keep me busy

 

[sevt_chevelle]

excited about suppressor! now the 8 month wait. But I got 2, so that should keep me busy

Ordered my first one, a rugged obsidian 45, back in early August. The closer it gets to that 6-9 month period the longer the wait seems.

 

[redcon1]

I used Berry's 147 gr hybrid hollow points and 4.7 gr of longshot. That's a max load and gets you around 1,004 fps from a 4" barrel according to Hodgdon. It seemed to work just fine in my Glock19x and Rev 45 combo and was pretty affordable since it's Berry's. It was plenty accurate and functioned 100% so that ended load development for me.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Ordered my first one, a rugged obsidian 45, back in early August. The closer it gets to that 6-9 month period the longer the wait seems.

Hopefully I’ll forget I ordered and it will be a suppress in 8 months or so!

I think more people are dabbing into suppressor.

 

[EricBu]

Ummm. Aren’t all 147gr 9mm loads subsonic?

No, not in all guns.....for sure.

 

[EricBu]

currently waiting in line for a suppressor. Silencer Central is doing most of the work.

So lets talk about your favorite 9mm 147g Subsonic load!

got the Banish 45 & 22K

TiteGroup and Coated Cast are my favorite 9mm suppressor loads. TG is magically clean, and waaaayyyy reduced blowback. This may not be important with a pistol....but if you get in AR type PCC's.......the blowback from under the charging handle will really be miserable with a lot of powders. For bulk 9mm bullets, Gallant 147 RNFP coated cast are really hard to beat. Also, just a note......"subsonic" is relative. If you're shooting and testing at sealevel on a warm day with no humidity, 1050 will be subsonic. But take that same load out in the dead of winter, or in the mountains in cold and humid weather.......and 900fps may not in fact be "subsonic". Also, a sub load in a PCC...may not even run in your Glock or other semi-auto. Can be a fine dance to nail a good load that works in a variety of guns and barrel lengths.

 

[mstreddy]

For 9MM suppressed loads I've been using 3.5 grains of Win231. It's been very quiet in a variety of hosts and cans.

 

[Mark_Mark]

For 9MM suppressed loads I've been using 3.5 grains of Win231. It's been very quiet in a variety of hosts and cans.

Win231 is Universal!

Thanks! because I can be lazy

 

[Soonerpesek]

Win231 is Universal!

No..................231 is 231 or HP38
Universal is Universal..................

 

[Mark_Mark]

No..................231 is 231 or HP38
Universal is Universal..................

I got some HP38! good stuff

 

[N555]

Nitro100nf

 

[mcb]

If you look around Fiocchi, SBR, and Prvi Partizan sell a 158gr 9mm subsonic load. Advertised velocity is usually between 850-950 fps A buddy of mine has a 9-inch belt-feed 9mm upper and the rounds are still subsonic even with that length barrel. I suspect they would still be subsonic even in a carbine. Very quiet rounds if you're after quiet.

Hodgdon has a nice batch of reloading data for a 160gr coated bullet in 9mm. I would think from that data one could safely work up a good subsonic load for their favorite 158-160 gr lead/coated/plated bullet.

 

[Mark_Mark]

If you look around Fiocchi, SBR, and Prvi Partizan sell a 158gr 9mm subsonic load. Advertised velocity is usually between 850-950 fps A buddy of mine has a 9-inch belt-feed 9mm upper and the rounds are still subsonic even with that length barrel. I suspect they would still be subsonic even in a carbine. Very quiet rounds if you're after quiet.

Hodgdon has a nice batch of reloading data for a 160gr coated bullet in 9mm. I would think from that data one could safely work up a good subsonic load for their favorite 158-160 gr lead/coated/plated bullet.

I got a ton of berry 147 from the panic days! but some 160gn heavy 9mm would be BOMB!

Super glade .45 ACP 230 gn are easy to Subsonic

 

[Kaldor]

147 HiTek coated and 3.2-3.4 gr of TiteGroup or N320. Preferably N320 as it burns cooler and cleaner. Clean and cool is good for not filling a can full of carbon that you have to clean out.

 

[N555]

Not using ballpowder keeps from filling it with soot. The cleanest burning pistol powder I have is CBI, the inside of fired cases don't look fired. But CBI really only works well for 115gr in 9mm.