Suppress a .45 ACP or 10MM?

[Lennyjoe]

Ok folks, dilemma time. I’m in the tinkering mood so here’s my desire below:

I have (and love) a FN .45 Tactical with threaded barrel and am adding a Glock 20 to my collection. I plan on replacing the factory barrel with a KKM one and they have a threaded barrel option for the G20.

I’ve also been interested in building an AR pistol in 10MM. I’ve always been a fan of the MP in 10MM for some reason and the AR pistol is as close as I can get to one. Not sure if I’d be interested in building one in .45 ACP.

I reload and love my suppressed SBR in .300 Blackout and want to suppress and load for a handgun.

If you had a choice, would you just buy a suppressor for the .45 Tactical or the KKM barrel and a suppressor for the G20?

Thoughts?

 

[Busta Prima]

Most if not all 10mm loads are supersonic which will be louder than the 45 where most if not all are subsonic. Maybe you can do both with 1 can: As long as it's rated for the extra pressure you should be able to shoot 10mm out of a .45 can so the one suppressor can do both calibers.

 

[Obturation]

45 would be the natural choice, full power loads are already subsonic as was mentioned. It's probably the ideal candidate.

 

[mcb]

By a 45 ACP suppressor and use it on both handguns.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Most if not all 10mm loads are supersonic which will be louder than the 45 where most if not all are subsonic. Maybe you can do both with 1 can: As long as it's rated for the extra pressure you should be able to shoot 10mm out of a .45 can so the one suppressor can do both calibers.

Should be able to load a 200 grain 10MM bullet under 1100 FPS pretty easily.

 

[dogtown tom]

If you had a choice, would you just buy a suppressor for the .45 Tactical or the KKM barrel and a suppressor for the G20?

Thoughts?

Anything .45 or smaller fits through that .45 caliber silencer. You'll have a tough time finding a .40cal/10mm specific silencer.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Seems like the KKM thread size is 9/16 and the AR 10MM barrels are 5/8 so that is an issue

 

[Lennyjoe]

So next question, which .45 Suppressor is best bang for buck? Octane?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Its all physics and I'm not sure when you calculate it out that any 10mm sub load is going to "beat" a 45 sub load. Also, almost all 45 loads are subsonic off the shelf.

10mm is not a good sub round no matter how one cuts it. Can be made to work but not worth the juice.

 

[Busta Prima]

Should be able to load a 200 grain 10MM bullet under 1100 FPS pretty easily.

I haven't done the math in a while but I'm pretty sure the speed of sound is around 900 FPS. 1100 is still supersonic. It will still suppress the sound but not as well as a subsonic round.

 

[swg1]

1125fps per a quick search. Initially I would have said 45 acp, but 10mm would be more versatile if reloading.

 

[TonyAngel]

In my experience a suppressed .45 is NOT quiet. It's just less loud. Still need hearing protection. If you want to suppress something, suppress a .22. Now that's fun. .380 and 9mm work pretty well too. Still need hearing protection though.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Ended up ordering standard length KKM barrel for the G20. I’ll grab a suppressor for the FNX 45 later.

 

[ATLDave]

Most if not all 10mm loads are supersonic which will be louder than the 45 where most if not all are subsonic.

10mm can do 220 grain bullets that are firmly subsonic, as are most 200 grain loads. And they'll have somewhat better BC's than 45 230 grainers, so will still shoot a little flatter at moderate distances than a 45.

 

[TTv2]

Should be able to load a 200 grain 10MM bullet under 1100 FPS pretty easily.

I haven't done the math in a while but I'm pretty sure the speed of sound is around 900 FPS. 1100 is still supersonic. It will still suppress the sound but not as well as a subsonic round.

If we're not focusing on factory ammo options, the 10mm can be loaded down to .40 velocities without any issues, but you have to use a 180 or 200 grain bullet and use starting powder charge to keep the velocities down and you can't use any high energy powders like Blue Dot or Power Pistol.

 

[mcb]

Or just shoot 40S&W in your 10mm when suppressed... .

 

[swg1]

Or just shoot 40S&W in your 10mm when suppressed... .

I accidentally did something similar as a kid, 380 in a S&W m39. As long as the extractor held it against the breech it all goes off. But technically all headspace on the case mouth.

 

[TTv2]

Or just shoot 40S&W in your 10mm when suppressed... .

Can do that too, only thing is, unless you don't mind paying for 200 grain .40 ammo, you're really limited to 180gr. 220gr is not even an option.

 

[mcb]

I accidentally did something similar as a kid, 380 in a S&W m39. As long as the extractor held it against the breech it all goes off. But technically all headspace on the case mouth.

Can do that too, only thing is, unless you don't mind paying for 200 grain .40 ammo, you're really limited to 180gr. 220gr is not even an option.

I say that somewhat facetious but also with the understand that a fair number of semi-auto 10mm Auto owners do run 40S&W though there 10mm Autos relying on the extractor for head space. Most will acknowledge there can be minor reliabily issue but that it work pretty darn well and plenty good for practice.

I am in a minority that has probably shot two order of magnitude more 40S&W through my 10mm Auto than 10mm but it's a revolver and so head spacing on the moonclips is just as reliable as the case mouth. ETA: Revolvers suppress really bad in most cases.

The only reason to shoot 40S&W is you 10mm Auto would be cheap ammo and for subsonics you would simply run what every 180gr you could find at your price point. Double tap loads a 230gr 10mm load that might be a good choice for suppression and replicating 45 ACP with better ballistics.

Factory ammo is always a limiting factor. Reloading always the way to get exactly what you want. Even 220 gr 40S&W if you like (@ATLDave I have not forgotten about the 220gr bullet you sent me to try in 40S&W they are sitting next to the press that just finish a big batch of 300 BO for my brother. They are next!)

 

[swg1]

Yeah, the 380 in the 9mm worked so well we didn't notice until we picked up the brass.

 

[TTv2]

I say that somewhat facetious but also with the understand that a fair number of semi-auto 10mm Auto owners do run 40S&W though there 10mm Autos relying on the extractor for head space. Most will acknowledge there can be minor reliabily issue but that it work pretty darn well and plenty good for practice.

I am in a minority that has probably shot two order of magnitude more 40S&W through my 10mm Auto than 10mm but it's a revolver and so head spacing on the moonclips is just as reliable as the case mouth. ETA: Revolvers suppress really bad in most cases.

The only reason to shoot 40S&W is you 10mm Auto would be cheap ammo and for subsonics you would simply run what every 180gr you could find at your price point. Double tap loads a 230gr 10mm load that might be a good choice for suppression and replicating 45 ACP with better ballistics.

Factory ammo is always a limiting factor. Reloading always the way to get exactly what you want. Even 220 gr 40S&W if you like (@ATLDave I have not forgotten about the 220gr bullet you sent me to try in 40S&W they are sitting next to the press that just finish a big batch of 300 BO for my brother. They are next!)

I understand all that, I am a proponent of shooting .40 in 10mm Glocks for the lower price and subsonic. I was figuring for best performance using a heavier bullet at subsonic velocities is going to perform better.

 

[Bronco72]

If you reload. Work for a 250 gr. bullet out of a 45 acp! Subsonic and lots of thump. Got to spring a 1911 properly but loads of fun out of a carbine.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I do reload so that gives me a lot more flexibility. Only factory ammo I shoot (besides .22 and 9x18) is self defense stuff. Everything else is reloads.

 

[Trashyshoots]

I would grab a 45. 99% of 45 you grab off the shelf will be subsonic.

 

[JR24]

I guess it's what you want for platform more than caliber, it seems.

Since you already have a suppressed .300 BLK you have everything the 10mm would do covered easily.

So I'd go with the .45 FN.