Ug, I hate when there is this much disinformation in a thread.
There are ever increasing numbers of suppresors in service. In SF units especially. I can't speak for regular army since I don't ever really work with them, but SF is starting to see a lot more cans in service. It really depends on the mission.
Anybody seen the new SPR? It has an OpsInc on it, and is perfect for its mission.
And yes, M4s with suppresors get a lot dirtier a lot faster.
Now for the wrong stuff:
The point of a suppressor is predominately to suppress sound, to do this effectively you have to have a sub sonic round. If the round is supersonic the suppressor will only help to reduce the initial propellent sound, as soon as the round clears the barrel there's your noise.
Negative. The supersonic crack is only "devestating" on the internet. The muzzle blast is the vast majority of the noise.
If you're playing ninja, then it matters, but if the goal is to protect your hearing, and still be able to communicate, then the muzzle blast is the problem, not the bullet passing through the air.
I can run a suppressed M4 full auto, with standard ammo, and people standing five feet away can carry on a conversation. I've got video on Youtube of me shooting a 10.5 AR with a can, and I'm talking while I'm shooting, and my voice is louder than the gun.
As it is, an 5.56 round through the M4 14" barrel has dropped to ~2500 fps or less do you really need to reduce an already aenemic hit?
You're off by a couple hundred feet per second, and also modern cans don't slow the bullet down. Modern machining is very precise and the bullet never actually touches the baffles.
In addition a suppresor has a very limited life span, particularily if shot in fully automatic or burst which is the typical combat scenario.
Maybe true a couple of decades ago, but many modern 5.56 suppresors are fully rated for full auto fire, and have a lifespan of about 50,000 rounds. Since you will usually wear out a few barrels before you kill a can, I don't see that as a problem.
You get no real benefits and lots of downside.
I've got a few dozen guys who've killed men in combat with suppressed weapons who would probably disagree with you just a smidgen.
Now, a subsonic 9mm or .45 up close and personal...
What? I've got an MP5SD. It is only a little bit smaller size than my suppressed 10.5 AR, except that the AR is launching a 55 grain bullet at 2,700 FPS, which absolutely smokes the 9mm in every possible way. I've got a ton of rounds through a suppressed .45 MAC, and the AR smokes it just as bad.
And here's the funny thing, as the shooter, there isn't a whole lot of sound difference between them. The 9mm sounds kind of chittery, and the MAC sounds like dropping a dictionary on the ground, and the AR sounds like a loud CHUFF noise. (downrange as the bullet passes you, it is louder, but to the shooter, it is very mild).
But since most people on the internet have never actually used a suppressed weapon, that damn myth about having to use subsonic ammunition WILL NOT DIE.
The only downside is cleaning. The direct gas impingement does get dirty fast. But even then, I can usually fire about 300 rounds before I need to start applying oil directly to the bolt carrier to keep it wet.
I am pretty sure that after a week's worth of combat, no solider would still be in possession of his silencer. "Battle field damage" would likely have claimed most.
Local SF company brought all of theirs home. But what do they know? They should probably check the internet more often for reliable information.
Honest opinion, suppresors keep getting better. The only real drawback is the extra amount of carbon they deposit in the chamber of direct gas impingement guns. And heat. They get really hot. So for a gun that is going to get tons of rounds dumped through it fast, don't let that thing touch flesh.
I fully expect over time for there to be more and more suppresors in service. Ten years ago it was really odd to have an Aimpoint on your gun, and look where we've gone since then.
