4 Suppressor Myths: True or False? By: William Lawson

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Suppressors are often misunderstood creatures. This comes from persistent myths regarding their use, whether it be ultra-quiet Hollywood assassins or “Fudd lore” decrying their perceived lack of accuracy. In the video below, Jeremy Stone discusses some suppressor myths with Caleb from SilencerCo. Here’s a brief rundown, but you’ll want to check it out yourself.

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Caleb from SilencerCo and Jeremy from GunMag Warehouse.

Myth 1: Suppressors Decrease Muzzle Velocity

This 1 has been around for a while and it’s easy to understand why. After all, suppressors trap and reroute gas that would otherwise propel the bullet. Right? Well, kinda. It’s more accurate to say the suppressor changes the gas flow, which does slightly affect the projectile, as Caleb explains.

This change does not reduce velocity and, if anything, increases it just a bit. But that increase is so minuscule that most shooters would need a chronograph to even be aware of it. The increase, if any, is also very inconsistent. The only people really affected by that increase are long-range precision shooters.

So, this one is FALSE.

suppressed versus unsuppressed gas behavior
This photo shows how a suppressor affects and alters the gas generated when a round is fired.

Myth 2: Suppressors Decrease Accuracy

This one is also FALSE. Suppressors do affect a gun’s point of impact but not its accuracy. They are not the same thing. Caleb explains the difference by saying accuracy refers mainly to grouping. If a gun, or shooter, can group well, they are described as being accurate. Point of impact is where the round hits relative to the sights. If you zero your sights or optic to the gun’s point of impact while suppressed, you’ll be fine. The point of impact will be consistent. The accuracy is up to you.

Caleb notes that the only time a suppressor will impact accuracy is on a super lightweight barrel combined with a big suppressor and a high round count. Accuracy will degrade faster over time in that situation. Suppressors get hot and those thin barrels are vulnerable to that heat. This is not a concern for most shooters.

Myth 3: Suppressors Have a Short Lifespan

This myth says you shouldn’t shoot your suppressor too much because it can’t handle constant use. Caleb says this may have been true at one time, but modern metallurgy and manufacturing processes mean quality suppressors are far more robust.

Caleb asserts that a quality modern suppressor will likely outlast its owner. He says that SilencerCo suppressors are “a legacy product. We make suppressors to pass to your children, if not their children.” “It won’t hurt the suppressor to shoot it,” he adds. “That’s what it’s made to do.” You may see some erosion over time, depending on what you’re shooting and your round count. But he says they often see suppressors with over 75,000 rounds through them. They might be dirty, but they are still structurally and functionally sound.

shooting a rifle with suppressor
A quality suppressor will likely outlast its owner.

He does say that aluminum suppressors are vulnerable if they aren’t used correctly. The only aluminum can SilencerCo makes is for .22 Long Rifle. If you shoot more powerful rounds through it, the aluminum will degrade. But that totally makes sense and does nothing to verify this myth.

So, again, we’ll call that one FALSE, with the caveat that we’re talking about modern, quality suppressors.

Myth 4: Suppressors are Quiet Enough for No Ear Protection

The answer to this one is, “It depends.” It really is an individual call dictated by firearm, suppressor model, and activity. Caleb says that with most suppressors, shooters will technically be within the “hearing safe” zone. .22 is certainly there. Other calibers are maybe and maybe not. Hearing safe is 140 decibels. Caleb notes that 140 or less is SilencerCo’s standard.

Activity is also a consideration. A large caliber round, like the .45-70 Gov’t they have on hand, is fine for 1 or 2 shots while hunting. An extended range day, assuming you can afford it, is a different story. Your ears would thank you for protecting them. Same with an AR or AK or anything you’ll shoot a lot. It may sound fine for the 1st mag but be smart and think about your hearing.

Personally, I was interested when Jeremy fired the .45-70 unsuppressed and then with the SilencerCo Hybrid46M. I fired that very same Marlin 1895 with the same setup on my visit to SilencerCo last October. Jeremy found that the big lever gun was not too bad while suppressed and I agree. I fired 3 suppressed shots without ear protection, and it was fine. But, like Jeremy, I wouldn’t want to do that for an extended period.

Firing a Marlin 1895 .45-70 Gov't with SilencerCo Hybrid 46M suppressor
Top: Jeremy with the Marlin 1895 .45-70 Gov’t wearing a SilencerCo Hybrid 46M suppressor. Bottom: The author firing the same rifle with the same suppressor. (Bottom photo: Sara Liberte Photography)

Caleb says that bolt guns, especially .22s, as mentioned, are usually fine without ear protection. All in all, it’s a personal choice. But be smart.

You Need a Suppressor — Common Use

And we, as a community, need you to have a suppressor. Jeremy makes a good point that, as suppressor use grows, they become more of a “common use” item. That terminology is important. The Supreme Court’s Heller Decision says that the 2nd Amendment protects “arms ‘in common use at the time’ for lawful purposes like self-defense” as well as arms that are “typically possessed by law abiding citizens for lawful purposes.” Crucially, the Court found that “common use” arms are “chosen by American society,” not the government.

Suppressor - Common Use
Why we all need suppressors.

That’s why the so-called “assault weapons” bans are unconstitutional and are being knocked down by the recent Bruen Decision. Bruen-based challenges to the National Firearms Act, which regulates suppressors, may be coming soon. The more suppressors we possess and use, the better our chances of repealing that onerous and ill-considered law. Think about it.