Silencers - Why?

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243winxb said:
https://www.hornady.com/support/superformance-in-gas-operated-firearms

Watching suppressors equipped firearms........

The AR 223 left factory ammo brass full of soot. In the action also.

A 22 lr pistol, with special sub ammo, still could be heard 75 yards away, with a building in between.

A guy had a homemade suppressors made with pvc pipe on a 223 bold action. Seemed to work like a real on. Problem- no tax stamp.

Would save ones hearing? Report i read said hearing protection is still needed.

https://www.ssusa.org/content/translating-suppressors/#:~:text=Typically, however, manufacturers claim a,same category as a jackhammer.
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That is true in most cases. I still use lightweight in-ear protection. Not necessarily for the volume of sound, more for the pressure. A pair of noise-cancelling bluetooth earbuds are overkill.

My Howard Leight Pros Reduce noise by 32db, Walker Razors clock in at 23db. So suppressors are only about as effective as over-the-ear muffs. If you look at the volume up many guns and compare them to "safe" with over the ear hearing protection, they will still be in the "you will have tinnitus one day" category.

If you normally double up, you will still want something. If you don't double up, well, start.
 
I’ve shot with one a little, if they were about half the cost I’d probably own one or more. But I must say, given the extra barrel length, bulk, weight, and ugliness I suspect I’d just assume have a loud blast. I’ve never been one to care much about the blast anyway.

Like the op said, I still have to wear the hearing protection. Now if I shot more, like substantially more, then I may consider it. I’d have to look into just how much hearing additional hearing damage could be mitigated.
 
tarosean said:
While no-where near a grand.. Shoot a 22LR suppressed and it will become crystal clear.
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Mine cost almost that with the $200.00 tax included. Silencer Central. Kind if a waste of money for me. I have a home range so no Neighbor complaints. If I'm shooting .22 Quiet in a rifle it's the same as suppressed. .22 pistols are pretty quiet firing CCI suppressor ammunition bit standard velocity or high velocity give a good crack! I wouldn't buy it again. Sig P322.JPG
 
gwpercle said:
Shooters like expensive gadgets and gizmos and don't forget the added Wow Factor !

Look I have a Beer Can looking thing screwed to the end of my barrel ... isn't that Cool ...

Nine times out of ten ... the Cool Guys look good but can't hit Doodley-Squat !

Gary
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This is one of the dumbest takes I’ve seen on this board in a long time. Congrats.
 
I started using suppressors when I started shooting pigs and coyotes at night. The anything I want is a bunch of attention from neighbors who think they’ve caught someone spotlighting a deer. It also allows me to shoot pigs in multiple adjoining fields without spooking them. It’s a no brainer for predator hunting and pest control. The truth is though, that once you start shooting suppressed rifles, you don’t really want to shoot anything unsuppressed anymore. At least that’s been my experience. I’ll still take my Ruger No. 1s or M77s to the woods on occasion, but I’d much rather spend my range trips with suppressed rifles and no muffs.

The good news for the OP is that this is America and nobody is going to make you buy a suppressor.
 
gwpercle said:
....Look I have a Beer Can looking thing screwed to the end of my barrel ... isn't that Cool ...
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If your silencer resembles a beer can...you got took.
If you think a silencer resembles a beer can, you've never seen a silencer.






Nine times out of ten ... the Cool Guys look good but can't hit Doodley-Squat !
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9 out of 10 guys that think others buy stuff to look cool, are simply jealous.

If you don't see the usefulness of a silencer, thats sad.
 
I think 95% it’s the “cool factor.” Summed up as “hey, I paid hundreds of dollars for this and want to use it. Also I’m in the elite club of those who own NFA stuff. Also I have this thing prominently featured in video games and movies attached to my gun.”


The other 5% are thinking “if I don’t practice with my exact setup I can’t condition myself for success.” Or “I need to make sure my POA doesn’t shift.” Or “Realistically I will probably reduce my decibel exposure by a percentage, if I use my own suppressor even if most others aren’t using theirs, and hearing is good so I will do my bit for my health and that of my neighbors.”
 
243winxb said:
Would save ones hearing? Report i read said hearing protection is still needed.
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As I noted above for centerfire rifle ammo, generally their reports are reduced down to (about) the sonic crack which will be in the 130s db-wise which takes you out of the safe range, barely, by a few db. So hearing protection is definitely suggested.

However, I don't have to double up with hearing protection on my head when I run a silencer. Also, if I forget my hearing protection, the damage that occurs is MUCH less than without a silencer.

---------------

Real life example: My neighbor, years ago, showed me a silencer on his rifle and told me no hearing protection was required. I fired one shot and my ears were ringing and I put on muffs. He asked what I wasn't and I explained. Well, his ears never rang when he shot without hearing protection. Why? His ears were already shot (Air Force F4 WSO). For him, the silencer seemed more than enough. For me, well less than enough.
 
For those that suggest that some form of symptoms, such as ringing of the ears, as a sign that the firearm report was damaging, whereas no ringing is associated with no damage. Loud noises, even when you don’t have symptoms can have long term damage via repeated exposure.
 
1948CJ2A said:
I agree with you, in concept on the first two point of suppressing sound and reducing recoil. I'm basing that off my understanding of how my one rifle with a muzzle break theoretically works. I'm curious about the accuracy part though. How would a suppressor increase accuracy? I'm honestly asking because I'm pretty ignorant to suppressors. I have no desire to own one at this time, mostly because I don't like the way they look on a rifle and also because I don't want the ATF to have anything with my name on it, or at least any more than they probably already do! The latter is the same reason I never did a C&R FFL. :)
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If you bought a new firearm, and did paperwork, you're already on a list.
 
JEBruns said:
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?
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I asked the same question on another forum and was met with mostly insults and circular logic.

Some folks have legitimate reasons for using suppressors.

I'd say that 80% of suppressors are the result of owners wanting to look cool, or impress their friends. No rational reason for the cost and physical negatives of adding so much bulk and length to a firearm for most users.

I personally don't own a suppressor. I have no use for one. My home defense firearms are a 9mm subgun and a full-sized 40 S&W pistol. Hearing damage from either one if pressed into service is negligible.

I also own my own private outdoor range. No neighbors for half a mile.

I suspect that most folks are just fine with no suppressor and some quality hearing protection for 99% of their shooting.
 
My reason is a reduced need for earpro while hunting as well as a few other hunting related benefits.

A 16” barreled 450 bushmaster is pretty loud to the shooter. I like my Walker Game Ears but I like nothing over or in my ears better while hunting.
 
The trade off in weight and length on a hunting rifle just isn’t worth it. For A dedicated range rifle, sure I can get on board with it. It seems like the same crowd who demand that a short action rifle cartridge is the only way to go, are tho first ones to grab a full length action Tikka chambered in a short action cartridge and screw on 5-7” of suppressor. With that logic, it just may be about being part of the Kuiu club.
 
marksman13 said:
but I’d much rather spend my range trips with suppressed rifles and no muffs.
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That does not seem a wise course of action, as far as long term hearing damage. At least for centerfire rifle.
marksman13 said:
The good news for the OP is that this is America and nobody is going to make you buy a suppressor.
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The OP never said anyone was making him buy one.
 
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I appreciate all the input. For sure gives me some additional thoughts on the different reasons folks own them. I'm still not personally interested in one, but some good reasons are listed.
 
Is there a cool factor? Absolutely. I apparently have an inner 12-year-old boy. I know this because he giggles every time I shoot my guns suppressed. I don’t see a problem with buying something for the cool factor.

Is there some utility? Yes. My hearing isn’t bad, but I am in my 50s and don’t need to go deaf. Besides, when I get to shoot out on a farm, I rather enjoy talking to my friends without having to shout at them.
 
Mosin77 said:
I think 95% it’s the “cool factor.” Summed up as “hey, I paid hundreds of dollars for this and want to use it. Also I’m in the elite club of those who own NFA stuff. Also I have this thing prominently featured in video games and movies attached to my gun.
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There is a remedy to solving the "elite club" if you're willing to stop allowing your "servants" to decide what you get to do with your life and do something about it. Seems Caligula was right in his thinking here too, and your servants employ it liberally and heavily. ;)

I think the jealousy factor is a thing here too, and more than anything else, simply due to fear, ignorance, and some laziness. Before we allowed them to curtail our rights even more back in 86, everyday Joes could easily afford to buy things and while annoying, the "tax" is just that, and is what it is, until it isn't. You could buy most sub-machineguns for well under $1k back in the 80's (even cheaper in the 70's) and still, all you heard from most "sportsmen" at the time was the litany of BS and fear from the unknowing and unwilling. 🙄

This isn't about "being in a club", its about exercising whats left of your rights. And if more of us would do it, we might actually start to get somewhere. ;)
 
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