Does using a silencer reduce the speed of a bullet, and if so how much?

Answer 1

Silencers generally do not affect velocity unless wipes or mesh are used, then only when the bullet contacts the rubber wipes or metal mesh. Most good modern suppressors only use baffles that are machined to have an inside diameter of about 50 thousands of an inch greater than the bullet diameter.

The range of the rifle is only affected if subsonic ammunition is used instead of standard supersonic ammunition.

A suppressor with baffles will actually raise the velocity of the bullet as it passes through. This is because the propellant gases will jump to over 5000 fps and are still contained inside of the suppressor and push a little bit on the bullet as it passes through. This slight increase in speed does not happen at all in suppressors equipped with wipes.

If the barrel is ported, then velocity suffers, but not always a great deal. Porting allows some of the propellant gas to vent into the back of the suppressor, and helps reduce sound.

The word “silencer” is a legal term in the USA, and it was also used as a marketing term by Maxim when he marketed his first suppressors. As silencers do not by any stretch of the imagination make firearms silent, they are more properly called suppressors or moderators.

The silencers I make for my firearms do not slow the bullets down at all according to my chronograph. I do have one rifle with a ported barrel, but the barrel is not part of the suppressor, and is typically shot without the can attached.

In the USA, a permit or license is not required to buy, sell, make or own a silencer. A manufacturer will need a license. To buy one, an ATF form 4 is submitted with a $200 tax check, to make one, use the ATF form 1. In either case, when the tax stamp is issued to the owner, then they can legally possess it. A tax stamp is not a permit or a license.

Silencers are legal in 36 states of the Union. There are no Federal laws banning them. They also prevent the most common injury associated with shooting; hearing loss. Do not listen to idiots that say otherwise.

Ranb

Answer 2

A silencer/suppressor does NOT effect the velocity of the bullet.

A bullet coming out of a 16" barrel will be exactly the same velocity as one coming out of a 16" barrel with a silencer added on.

The silencer only effects the gas that pushes the bullet *after* it exits the barrel. It suppresses the sound by allowing the gas to swell to a larger size reducing it in pressure.

By the time the bullet leaves the barrel and the silencer goes to work, it's traveling at its max speed no matter what.

Silencers/suppressors reduce the pressure of the gas after it leaves the barrel end and the bullet is already gone. Nothing more.

Answer 3

Some silencer designs slow the bullet to subsonic speed by means of ports cut into the barrel, with the ported section extending to protrude into the expansion chamber. These ports bleed off gas from behind the bullet, thereby reducing bore pressure and, eventually, the velocity of the bullet. In other designs, the baffles are made from an elastic material with a central hole smaller than the bullet. These "wipes" are pushed open by the passage of the bullet and close when it is past. The idea is that they further slow the exit of gas. Not surprisingly, the wipes can wear out rather quickly and can affect the accuracy of the bullet.

15%

Answer 4

A silencer does reduce the velocity of the bullet.

By how much im not sure but it could vary on the silencer and the gun.

Answer 5

I agree with ranb. Suppressors dont slow the bullet. I would suspect a slight increase in velocity . Heres my resoning...If you shoot a gun at dust or at night you will see a "flame" come out of the muzzle. Addind a suppressor (esintially lenghening the barrel) it will accelerate the bullet for a longer time. however is you were already using the optimal barrel lenght for the cartridge being fired and you tacked on 4 more inches it could cause a slight"vacuume" and slow the projectile.

Answer 6

Firstly, it is called a "suppressor".....a "silencer" is what they are called in a movie.

The suppressor disipates the energy expended by a round, and this in turn affects muzzle velocity AND accuracy.

The actual difference in velocity is dependent on the spec of both the round and the suppressor...there is not a definitive change of velocity for ALL arms/ammunition

ex Royal Marines - 3 Comando Brigade

Answer 7

Yeah, it does, to the best of my knowledge, a silencer reduces the bullet to sub-sonic speeds, so it doesn't make any noise, you still have to contend with the clatter the weapons action makes and the sound of the spent casing hitting the ground.

Answer 8

Yes, velocity is affected by a silencer.
Sinlenced weapons generally (but with a few exceptions) have considerably LESS range than their non-silenced counterparts. How much depends on the type of weapon and ammunition used.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suppressor

Answer 9

1. Silencers are illegal.

2. How it affects velocity is dependent upon it's design and the design of the firearm. (Single shot rifle, revolver, etc.) There are just too many variables.

3. You don't need a silencer for any LEGAL activity.

4. Are you sure you need to know about a silencer? Perhaps you mean a flash suppressor or muzzle brake. All three do different things.

Answer 10

Well, it depends on the design of the silencer of course, but for a silencer to be effective it's gonna reduce projectile velocity.