Tom R. served in the U.S. Military, witnessing firsthand the role suppressors play on the battlefield.
During a late-night raid, twenty U.S. soldiers deployed on a mission to capture a high-value target.
U.S. forces believed they would encounter about five to eight Taliban fighters, but when the soldiers arrived, they were met by 40 to 60 Taliban fighters.
The ensuing battle lasted hours.
During the engagement, two members of the U.S. forces didn’t have functioning suppressors.
Once the fighting started, these two men were told to only shoot when it was absolutely necessary.
That’s because their muzzle flashes gave away their positions, attracting enemy fire.
It also allowed the soldiers to distinguish enemy rounds from their own, helping them determine where the gunfire was coming from.
Now, when it comes to suppressors, most shooters use them for noise reduction.
But, as the encounter above demonstrates, there are many more ways a suppressor can change the dynamics of a gunfight.
As you know, I’ve said before that there is nothing wrong with adding a suppressor to your weapon.
It’s not the first upgrade I would make because it’s expensive and requires a tax stamp.
And it’s important to remember that a suppressor can change many aspects of your firearm.
One common misconception is that suppressors can reduce the effective range of the rounds.
So here is a breakdown of how suppressors affect range:
Muzzle velocity:
Many people think that suppressors reduce muzzle velocity.
But the truth is the opposite.
Suppressors can slightly increase muzzle velocity because the suppressor extends the barrel length.
The longer the length the more gases are allowed to push the bullet for a longer amount of time.
There can be a velocity increase of 10-30 feet per second. Not a huge amount, but it’s not a reduction in velocity.
One thing that can affect velocity in a suppressed gun is the specific type of ammo used such as subsonic or supersonic.
Accuracy:
Suppressors typically improve accuracy since they regulate gas flow, reducing the effect of the muzzle blast, and improving shot-to-shot accuracy.
In addition, the added weight from the suppressor can reduce recoil, most noticeably in lighter guns.
At long distances, most shooters will achieve tighter groupings because the suppressor improves consistency.
Another example of how suppressors don’t diminish range or accuracy.
Trajectory:
A suppressor affects the bullet’s trajectory in a good way.
The increase in velocity creates a flatter trajectory and less wind drift.
Also, the weight of the suppressor improves barrel harmonics, changing how the barrel vibrates when firing.
The reduced vibration makes it easier to fire consistently accurate shots.
This also helps maintain better control and sight picture.
So, a quality suppressor won’t reduce a firearm’s range, velocity, or trajectory.
In fact, in most cases, it will do the opposite. The biggest factor in determining it is the specific ammunition used.
