Have you ever wondered why gunshots sound so loud? Everything comes down to gas. When you pull the trigger, the primer ignites the gunpowder, causing a quick expansion of gas inside the barrel and driving the bullet forward. The associated gas decompresses into the atmosphere as the bullet departs the barrel, causing a tremendous BOOM. However, by confining the gasses, the sound can be muffled. Enter the silencer, a device meant to reduce the noise produced by a shot.
Patriot Training and Consulting, a veteran-owned and locally owned business with an excellent reputation, understands the mechanics of silencers and their impact on firearms. Silencers, invented by Hiram Percy Maxim, who also invented the first automotive muffler, work by trapping and slowing expanding gasses to reduce noise. Although they do not totally silence weapons, they greatly reduce noise while also decreasing recoil.
So, how exactly does a silencer work? Consider a modern silencer to be a hollow tube with holes at both ends. The one end screws onto the muzzle of the handgun, while the other permits the bullet to leave and go downrange. Baffles are walls that split the silencer into small, hollow chambers inside the tube. Each baffle has a drilled hole in the center that properly aligns with the muzzle of the handgun.
When a shot is fired, the bullet exits the barrel, enters the silencer, and is accompanied by high-pressure gas. Some of the gas is trapped in the chamber behind the bullet as it passes through the first baffle’s hole. This process is repeated as the bullet moves through the suppressor, with each baffle trapping more gas. The majority of the high-pressure gas is confined within the small chambers by the time the bullet exits the silencer and reaches its target downrange. This trapped gas progressively dissipates, resulting in a significant reduction in the loudness it can generate.
Depending on the manufacturer and the intended firearm application, silencers come in a variety of sizes, baffle designs, geometries, and constructions. Others are built to accommodate different calibers and are modular, allowing users to add or remove baffles.
While a silencer effectively muffles the sound at the muzzle of the rifle, there are other audible sounds that bullets can make as they travel downrange. When a bullet breaks through the sound barrier, it causes a distinct crack. Shooters who use unsuppressed firearms may miss this sound because it occurs after the initial gunshot. The sonic crack becomes more visible when a suppressor is installed. Shooters can counteract this by using subsonic ammunition.
Subsonic ammunition travels at speeds less than the speed of sound, often less than 1,125 feet per second. Subsonic cartridges are frequently loaded with heavier bullets to compensate for their lower velocity. Subsonic rounds may necessitate barrels with varying twist rates for stability and may not cycle consistently in semi-automatic guns. It is also worth noting that subsonic ammunition may have a different point of impact than standard ammo, requiring weapon re-zeroing. While subsonic ammunition may not have the same flat trajectory or long-range performance as regular bullet, it successfully reduces sonic crack when used in conjunction with a silencer.
Patriot Training and Consulting is dedicated to firearms instruction and delivering vital information to gun owners. Please visit our website at www.PatriotTAC.com to learn more about our services and experience. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/patriottrainingandconsulting/ and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriot-training-and-consulting-b4512749 . You can also contact us at (910) 545-7761.
Patriot Training and Consulting, your trusted local and veteran-owned firm, can help you gain a better understanding of guns suppression. Our team is dedicated to providing outstanding training and consulting services that provide gun owners with information and expertise.
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