I’ve shot plenty of suppressed centerfire handguns, and these loads were, to my ear, as quiet as any. First, a brief excursion into basic physics. Bullets are stable and predictable, by and large, when they travel supersonic. Glock GIZ 9mm Suppressed Firing Remington UMC 147gr ammo Walther P22 .22LR Pistol, Suppressed Firing CCI standard velocity ammo Ruger 10/22 .22LR Rifle Suppressed Firing CCI standard velocity ammo Ruger 10/22 .22LR Rifle Integrally Suppressed Firing CCI standard velocity ammo Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun 175 100 75 dB 25 150140 125 Remington Subsonic 45 AUTO, 230-grain FNEB Bullet Subsonic 45 ACP drives a 230-grain FNEB bullet at an average velocity of 803 fps. If you’re a soldier trying to quietly take out a sentry or a rancher hunting a group of feral hogs, this additional noise could mean the difference between success and failure. Go to previous image Go to next image. In short, subsonic ammo is ideal for situations where you don’t want your ammunition to make more noise than the sound of your gun firing. Prvi Partizan 158 grain 9mm FMJ subsonic Accuracy was evaluated by shooting at a 25-yard target from a sturdy benchrest. Perhaps not coincidentally, the slide on the Glock 21 failed to go into battery more than once. The only practical way to eliminate the boom is to use subsonic ammo. A suppressor reduces the noise from your gun by slowing down the escaping gases that are pushing the bullet out of the barrel. Minimum Peak db: 138 db Maximum Peak db: 142.8 db Winchester 9mm Supersonic (5 shots) Average Velocity: 1226 fps / 836 mph Minimum Velocity: 1204 fps / 820.9 mph Maximum Velocity: 1248 fps / 850.9 mph. Fire a more powerful cartridge, and take the hit in noise and recoil as well. But here’s the rub: Unless subsonic ammunition is used, even a suppressed firearm will produce a sonic “crack” as it moves through the air. After all, staying safe while shooting a firearm means keeping all of your body safe, including your hearing. Unless it was a suppressed subsonic .22 rimfire, it still sounded like a gunshot. It also dampens the noise of the muzzle blast. The Kodiak is a long slide 1911-style semi-auto complete with 6-inch bull barrels and chambered in 10mm. $0.90 Per Round. This is a subsonic load which won’t issue a jarring crack as it exits the muzzle. SilencerCo’s uniquely shaped Osprey isn’t a spring chicken by any stretch of the … Out of stock. The amount of force projected by any given bullet headed downrange is a function of the bullet’s velocity and weight. Dr. Krammer continues to say that shotgun noise averaged slightly more that 150dB. Minimum Peak db: 133.6 db Police will be less likely to track down the shooter.” Maximum Velocity: 1248 fps / 850.9 mph, Wolf Match 22LR Subsonic (5 shots)Average Velocity: 1067 fps / 727.7 mph has the top brands in subsonic ammunition for dirt cheap prices so you can make your suppressor almost as quiet as the movie silencers! Not all pistol bullets are designed to expand reliably at subsonic velocities, which often left terminal performance lacking. There was still a problem, though. Nashua, NH 03062. https://www.silencershop.com/blog/post/subsonic-9mm-load-results Copyright © 2021 AMMOMAN.com. Minimum Peak db: 166.7 db This is why we wear. Subsonic ammo is very useful when shooting 22LR at longer ranges because it allows your bullet to remain ballistically stable at ranges where supersonic ammo would slow down and start to tumble. Claim: “When someone gets shot by a gun with a silencer, it’s quiet. When your life depends on it, you can rely on these seven 9mm defensive loads. is essentially a muffler that you put on the front of your gun. Bullets reach supersonic speeds at around 1,130 fps at sea level with a temperature of around 70 degrees. Based on the accuracy and reliability I saw with each other gun/load combination, I’m confident that the ammunition was not at fault for either the poor accuracy or spotty reliability. Witnesses might not hear. Maximum Peak db: 142.8 db, Average Velocity: 1226 fps / 836 mph The second reason to use subsonic ammo has to do with the motion of a bullet through the air. For comparison, OSHA’s “hearing safe” threshold is 140 dB, so all of these loads should fall into that category when using a … In fact, when we were testing the 22 subsonic rounds, the loudest noises we heard was the click of the firing pin hitting the back of the chambered round and the “thwack” of the bullet impact downrange. Minimum Velocity: 1041 fps / 709.8 mph CCI Mini-Mag 40 grain 22LR supersonic SilencerCo’s data, which I trust are correct, list average muzzle report measurements of 125.2 dB for 9mm and 131.3 dB in .45 ACP using the Osprey 45 suppressor. We will use. Generally all standard pressure 147gr 9mm is subsonic, but there are 147 gr +p rounds that get close or go supersonic. This is why you’ll see that most, if not all, 22LR match ammo is subsonic, and does not break the sound barrier when fired. Still, subsonic ammo does fill an important niche for many hunters and shooters. Rogers traditionally used a gas mask to coach shooters out of a flinch, but a suppressor is a more comfortable solution. !). Maximum Velocity: 1041 fps / 741.8 mph, Average Peak db: 144.4 db Subscriber Services. is subsonic, and does not break the sound barrier when fired. Its stainless and aluminum construction has made Rugged’s Obsidian a popular choice due to its perfect balance between lightweight and durable. This will help us determine if each round did in fact travel at supersonic or subsonic speeds. Although your bargain box of 9mm ammunition is typically 115 grain and supersonic, 147 grain loads are becoming much more common, … Let’s see how each type of ammo did. A suppressor works by temporarily trapping propellant gases inside a system of baffles, effectively flattening the curve of muzzle blast and, therefore, sound signature. 9mm - 125 Grain Subsonic HoneyBadger - Black Hills - 20 Rounds. Jim and Scott show you how to make each trip to the shooting range a quality experience. Maximum Peak db: 165.3 db, Sellier & Bellot 300BLK Subsonic (5 shots), Average Velocity: 898 fps / 612.3 mph Want more oomph? Guns are fun, and cheap guns are even more fun. Long grooves in its gilding metal jacket combine with the bullet’s flat profile and the patented Flex Tip® insert within its hollowpoint cavity to help it … Minimum Peak db: 146.2 db In other words, don’t think you can fire an unsuppressed firearm with subsonic ammo without seriously damaging your hearing (or disturbing the neighbors). In my experience, handguns are almost always more practically accurate with a suppressor attached, probably because they make humans less scared of muzzle blast. Kevin has hundreds of training hours from people such as Bob Vogel, Craig Douglas, Rob Leatham, Massad Ayoob and others. Used in my HK P30L w/ Octane 9 HD suppressor. Anyone who’s ever shot an unsuppressed firearm without hearing protection knows the ringing in the ears it causes, which is an indication that a serious hearing injury is headed your way. For comparison, OSHA’s “hearing safe” threshold is 140 dB, so all of these loads should fall into that category when using a quality suppressor. Isn’t fast always better? Average Peak db: 154.8 db Minimum Peak db: 158.1 db Maximum Peak db: 153.6 db. Springfield Armory XD-M Elite Precision Review, Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0 Subcompact Pistol Review, The Black Belt - Remington's Newest Defense Load, SIG SAUER Introduces M17 9mm +P Ammunition, Product Warning and Recall Notice for Winchester .38 Special 130 Grain Full Metal Jacket, Pistol Skills Drills - Hardball's Headache, Compact Carry Pistols Are Effective With Practice. With few players doing it right, Hornady stepped in and built its Subsonic line of ammunition to meet the demand. When civilians began shooting suppressors over the past decade or two, they also recognized the lack of performance of many subsonic loads. There are a couple of ways of making a normally supersonic caliber into a subsonic one. We’ve all heard the phrase “faster than a speeding bullet, but just how fast is a speeding bullet, anyways? For handguns, your two biggest, and most common contenders are the.45 ACP which is already subsonic, and the 9mm. Winchester 124 grain 9mm NATO FMJ supersonic Let’s look at two reasons to use subsonic ammo in your firearm. This is why we wear hearing protection at the range. The muzzle blast is far less pronounced near the shooter, but the overall sound signature is still loud. The Rugged Obsidian 9 is a suppressor dedicated to everything 9mm, pistol or rifle, and can even perform on some higher pressure rounds like .350 legend and .300blk subsonic. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Quality and consistency is typical Hornady, which is to say excellent. Subsonic loads for 9mm commonly use 9.5 grams (147 gr) bullets at velocities of 300 metres per second (980 ft/s). Hush - 9mm Luger 147 gr RN New. Because the power of any given round is more or less set by the SAAMI standard, ammo manufacturers use lighter or heavier bullets to vary the velocity of their ammunition (Force = Mass x Acceleration: It’s not just a good idea. View as Grid List. However, it’s important to note that the 142 db was recorded by a sound meter placed just one yard away from the path of each bullet. Suppressors reduce the sound of shot by an average of about 30 dB(decibels), but they do nothing to reduce the sonic boom that a bullet makes as it flies through the air. Prvi Partizan 125 grain 300BLK FMJ supersonic, Sellier & Bellot 200 grain 300BLK subsonic, Winchester 124 grain 9mm NATO FMJ supersonic, Subsonic Ammo: Bang Without The (Sonic) Boom, Investigating A Common Pistol Shooting Grip Chart. The Sub-X bullet used in Subsonic Rifle features a lead core. Now, Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates, AmmoMan.com Standard-pressure.45 ACP and heavy-for-caliber 9mm ammunition still produces around 160 dB of noise when fired, which - if not wearing hearing protection - produces instant and irreversible hearing loss. . Not necessarily. Minimum Velocity: 834 fps / 568.6 mph Barring legislation that would deprive us of them, suppressors are here to stay. As a comparison, 142 db is about the same level as a firecracker going off, and that level of noise can harm your hearing. The affordable price, reliability and shootability of the Taurus G3c make it a perfect choice... Revolvers have experienced a surge in popularity recently. In those conditions, the speed of sound turns out to be 1118.2 fps, or 762 mph. Every round of HUSH is proudly loaded in our Lewiston, Idaho USA facilities. Sound Reduction: 9mm: 127.0 dB SilencerCo Osprey 45 (Specifications) Caliber: 9mm to 45 ACP including .300 BLK subsonic; Length: 7.89 inches; Weight: 10.3 oz Diameter: 1.30 X 1.75 inches Sound Reduction: 9mm: 125.2 dB, 30 S&W: 128.6 dB 45ACP: 131.3 dB SilencerCo Osprey 45K (Specifications) Caliber: 9mm to 45 ACP including .300 BLK subsonic According to instructor and prolific inventor Bill Rogers, who has given the issue careful study, flinching is often caused by the overpressure event of propellant gases reaching the shooter’s eyes. In case you’re wondering, it is perfectly fine to use a .45 suppressor on a 9mm, and there is no loss in sound-reduction performance. I’m not sure who deserves credit for the explosion in suppressor popularity in this country, but there is little doubt of its occurrence. Factory-made ammunition conforms to standards laid out by SAAMI, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute, which standardizes the specifications for any given type of ammo. As far as 147gr rounds and defense, they're fine. When Hornady set out to produce its own subsonic ammo, it specifically chose bullets that are designed to expand at slow speeds. It’s also useful in competitions such as Precision Rifle matches. Various loads have been used in suppressed firearms since suppressors came into common use in World War II and on into more modern times, but it wasn’t always ideal for its intended use (see sidebar). Hornady launched its Subsonic products in 2018 and added handgun chamberings in 2020. It’s also useful in competitions such as Precision Rifle matches. The first is with a suppressor. But here I want to make the point that while subsonic ammunition is hypothetically quieter than supersonic issue in any given firearm, there is no noticeable difference in terms of the report unless a suppressor is used. Muzzle Velocity: When you are chasing those sweet, sweet subsonic decibels, muzzle velocity is one of the most important specifications to review before buying. That started to change in the 1970s and ’80s when the 9mm submachine gun was the go-to weapon for counter-terrorist troops and 147-grain subsonic jacketed hollowpoint ammunition became more widely available. Height: 30 feet above sea level (hey, it’s Florida…), The meter will be placed one yard beside a target that is 55 yards away from the shooting position, similar to the setup that Larson-Davis recommends for firearms noise testing. The 150 to 160 decibels from the supersonic ammo, is a big deal. To reduce effects of the noise of the muzzle blast from the equation, each of the guns will use a suppressor. In short, subsonic ammo is ideal for situations where you don’t want your ammunition to make more noise than the sound of your gun firing. We will use a Larson-Davis LXT1-QPR sound meter to measure the noise of each round as it passes through the target. Therefore, in order to be reliably subsonic, a load must have consistent velocities of less than 1,100 fps. However, it has no effect on any noise that the round itself makes as it heads downrange. I have found the opposite to be true, and in each case here, the suppressed velocities were appreciably higher. We’ll shoot one type of supersonic ammo and one subsonic ammo in three different calibers. Minimum Peak db: 138 db I just made a 9mm subsonic load of 3.3gr of VV N320, 147 Berry's plated, 1.155 coal. Height: 30 feet above sea level (hey, it’s Florida…), Humidity: 72% (Did I happen to mention Florida?). Anyone who’s ever shot an unsuppressed firearm without hearing protection knows the ringing in the ears it causes, which is an indication that a serious hearing injury is headed your way. Through the Bowers VERS 9S, the HUSH ammunition was incredibly quiet. This fully-welded, tubeless suppressor shines in its 9mm classification, but also handles subsonic and supersonic .300 BLK. Humidity: 72% (Did I happen to mention Florida?). The solution to this problem is simple: ammunition that doesn’t create a sonic signature because it is moving at less than the speed of sound. The meter will be placed one yard beside a target that is 55 yards away from the shooting position, similar to the setup that Larson-Davis recommends for firearms noise testing. According to the American Suppressor Association, the number stood at 1.8 million as of January. Subsonic ammo is not for everyone or for every situation. Five-shot groups from both the Fueled By Ed Brown MP-F3 and the Glock 19 hovered right around the two-inch mark at 25 yards, with both guns shooting slightly better with the suppressor attached. I’m not exactly sure what to blame, but other than the shooter, my first culprit would be the aftermarket barrel. The amount of force projected by any given bullet headed downrange is a function of the bullet’s velocity and weight. Objects travelling near or above the speed of sound create a shockwave of compressed air in front of them. When discussing accuracy, I should make it clear right away that two out of the three guns I used did not have suppressor-height sights or an optic. Wolf Match 40 grain 22LR subsonic. Find your best price for 9mm Luger Ammo handgun subsonic | Best 9mm Luger Ammunition handgun subsonic - AmmoSeek.com Search Engine 2021 Shot from 10-feet, the Remington Subsonic 9MM velocity averaged 963 feet per second (fps), with a high velocity of 1,045 fps, a low of 926 fps, and a standard deviation of 31 fps. In fact, none of the 100 or so rounds I fired moved at greater than 1,000 fps. 7.62x39 WOLF FMJ 122 GRAIN FMJ (1000 ROUNDS), Was: $515.00 Kevin has been a gun writer since 2006, writing articles on the new reality of gun ownership in the U.S. for publications such as American Hunter, Shooting Illustrated, BearingArms.com, Beretta.com and also Downrange TV. Same story for rifle ammunition and shotgun ammunition. Minimum Velocity: 922 fps / 628.6 mph The question then becomes, why would ammo manufacturers want to make slower rounds, such as subsonic ammo? SIG SAUER, Inc. introduced the newest addition to the SIG SAUER Elite Ammunition product line... Handguns Online Editors - February 28, 2019. The answer couldn’t be higher velocities, which meant the solution had to be bullets that would expand more readily. Maximum Velocity: 958 fps / 653.2 mph, Average Peak db: 143.8 db Gun owners are very familiar with the sounds of a gunshot, but what sound does the bullet itself make as it heads downrange? As I’ve come to expect with Hornady’s XTP bullets, accuracy was excellent, with one exception. The Osprey 45 is a low-profile design that puts most of the suppressor bottom below the bore, but it still partially obscured my view of the target with both Glocks, so take the suppressed accuracy results with a grain of salt. The advantage of 300 Blackout is if the shooter wants an AR-pattern rifle or pistol that is easily suppressed, they can use a common magazine and typically only need to swap an upper receiver. He is an active competitor in USPSA, IDPA and 3 Gun and is an NRA-licensed firearms instructor. (Any .22 Short cartridge will accomplish the same thing, if your gun will shoot them.) As a comparison, 142 db is about the same level as, that level of noise can harm your hearing. For these ammunition loads, balancing bullet weight and velocity are required to ensure that the ammunition will still reliably cycle semi-automatic firearms. Hornady’s Subsonic line of ammunition correctly matches the components to its velocity to ensure that the loads are both quiet and terminally effective. , which standardizes the specifications for any given type of ammo. The Omega 9K is popular for its exceptional versatility and known for its big sound suppression with minimal footprint. The 150 to 160 decibels from the supersonic ammo, . This is why you’ll see that most, if not all. The first is with a suppressor. There is a common myth that suppressors decrease the velocity of a given load, which is probably a throwback to the days of suppressors using wipes instead of baffles. Using subsonic ammo in a suppressed firearm makes very little perceivable noise. All rights reserved. Cheaper Than Dirt! There is a loud crack when they break through that shockwave that we call a sonic boom, and it makes a lot of noise. Hornady’s Subsonic ammunition maintained a comfortable average velocity that kept every shot well below the subsonic threshold. $0.92 Per Round. CCI’s Subsonic HP, for example, reduces velocity to 1050 fps and therefore lowers the decibel level to around 68, almost half the normal high-velocity .22 LR load. This will help us determine if each round did in fact travel at supersonic or subsonic speeds. All of the subsonic ammo in our test averaged around 142 decibels, which is right in-line with testing done by Larson-Davis themselves. Factory-made ammunition conforms to standards laid out by SAAMI, the, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute. Minimum Velocity: 1204  fps / 820.9 mph First, a brief excursion into basic physics. The first is to give it an exceptionally heavy bullet. After all, staying safe while shooting a firearm means keeping all of your body safe, including your hearing. Subsonic ammo is very useful when shooting 22LR at longer ranges because it allows your bullet to remain ballistically stable at ranges where supersonic ammo would slow down and start to tumble. My two centerfire handgun suppressors are an older 9mm from DeGroat Tactical Armaments and a SilencerCo Osprey 45. Hornady’s handgun line of Subsonic ammunition contains three loads for three different cartridges: a 147-grain 9mm, a 180-grain .40 S&W and a 230-grain .45 ACP. From a practical but subjective standpoint, both loads I tested were consistently quiet when used in my suppressed pistols. Each of these loads uses Hornady’s proven XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) jacketed hollowpoint bullet. Georg Luger developed 9MM ammo in 1902. Because of this, I was able to mount the Osprey on both the .45 and 9mm handguns. Overview. 9mm, for example, is generally considered supersonic as most 9mm ammo has a muzzle velocity over 1100 FPS. Think of it as a muffler for a firearm. For example, subsonic 300 AAC Blackout loads typically sport bullets that weigh greater than 200 grains, and 9mm rounds with relatively heavy 147 grain bullets can easily leave the sound barrier intact. sound meter to measure the noise of each round as it passes through the target. It also happened to be noticeably better than other loads I tried. 9MM to .45 ACP INCLUDING.300 BLK SUBSONIC: TOTAL LENGTH: 6.41" WEIGHT: 8.0 oz DIAMETER: 1.30" X 1.75" MUZZLE AVERAGE: 9MM: 135.0 dB 40 S&W: 135.5 dB 45 ACP: 137.3 dB: WARRANTIED DOWN TO: Call for Details: MATERIALS: Aluminum & Stainless Steel SKU: SU1274 MSRP: $ … ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Interestingly, the worst groups of the day showed the lowest standard deviation in velocity, more evidence the ammo wasn’t responsible. |   Maximum Velocity: 2020 fps / 1377 mph, Average Peak db: 166 db We’ll also measure the velocity of each round by using a digital chronograph placed 10 feet away from the muzzle of our guns. Maximum Velocity: 1248 fps / 850.9 mph, Average Peak db: 154.8 db However, it has no effect on any noise that the round itself makes as it heads downrange. Fire a more powerful cartridge, and take the hit in noise and recoil as well. Affordability, accuracy and reliability are built into each HUSH subsonic round we manufacture. All Handguns subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Subsonic cartridges do produce less noise than full-velocity rounds, but there’s no free lunch. Let’s look at how subsonic ammo can answer all those questions. Maximum Peak db: 141.1 db. One Tara Blvd., Ste 200 Due to inclement weather our Fort Worth office is short staffed so we are unable to respond to calls and emails immediately. I'd worry more about which Winchester ammo it is. Let’s look at two reasons to use subsonic ammo in your firearm. The Ruger PC Charger is a short, sweet 9mm pistol. A suppressor (or silencer, as they were originally. ) Suppressors are regulated by the National Firearms Act, which means that every transfer must be approved. This causes an involuntary response a suppressor can eliminate. I like the idea of VV powder for suppressors, lower burn temperature than hot stuff like titegroup or bullseye, and lower muzzle pressure. at the range. Maximum Velocity: 986 fps / 672.3 mph, Average Peak db: 139.8 db SWR Warlock 43.0 db net reduction 3 db first round pop 308/7.62 Nato Mil-Std-1474D SoundTech AWS 31.2 db net reduction 2.9 db first round pop.308 subsonic MIL-ST SoundTech AWS 37.7db net reduction 6.9 db first round pop 40 S&W - Mil-std-1474D only one tested Gemtech Raptor-40 30.9 db net reduction 6.9 first round pop.45 SMG MIL-STD-1474 Take your gun to the range and enjoy the shooting sports in a quieter sort of way. A suppressor reduces the noise from your gun by slowing down the escaping gases that are pushing the bullet out of the barrel. When firing the Glock 19 suppressed, we recorded an average of 134-140 dB, while the H&K MP5 comes in at an average of 133-144 dB. Sellier & Bellot 200 grain 300BLK subsonic CALIBER COMPATIBILITY 9MM & 300 BLK Subsonic DIAMETER: 1.40" MUZZLE AVERAGE: 9MM: 127 dB 300 BLK Subsonic: 129.5 dB: MATERIALS: Stainless Steel, Aluminum Minimum Peak db: 158.1 db With that in mind, let’s compare what subsonic ammo does compared to ammo that goes faster than the speed of sound. Because the power of any given round is more or less set by the SAAMI standard, ammo manufacturers use lighter or heavier bullets to vary the velocity of their ammunition (Force = Mass x Acceleration: It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law!). Moving through all that compressed air affects the flight of the bullet, and it starts to tumble, throwing the round off-course and away from the intended target. SubSonic Ammo Refine Search: -- Select -- .223 SubSonic .308 Win SubSonic 300 Blackout SubSonic In Stock Items Only Sort By : Default Name (A - Z) Name (Z - A) Price (Low > High) Price (High > Low) Model (A - Z) Model (Z - A) Show : 20 25 50 75 100 Olin Winchester, LLC is recalling three (3) lots of 38 Special 130 Grain Full Metal Jacket... Give a Gift   Super quiet! I grew up in a home with a pretty healthy collection of firearms—and among them was a handful of suppressors. This problem was more pronounced with rifle ammunition, but handguns were not immune. ... Hush - 9mm Luger 165 gr RN New. 7 Review(s) View Product Quick View Quick View. The extreme example of this is Aguil… The second is to give it a less potent propellant charge. 9mm ammo is the most popular ammunition cartridge for handguns in the world. So how many suppressors are actually out there? We have stock of 9mm ammo for sale at wholesale prices. However, in the real world, we are not going to be one yard away from where the bullet is flying past us (at least I hope that is the case). All Rights Reserved. Maximum Peak db: 153.6 db, Prvi Partizan 9mm Subsonic (5 shots)Average Velocity: 944 fps / 643.9 mph They are effective for personal protection but only if you put in the time to practice. SilencerCo’s data, which I trust are correct, list average muzzle report measurements of 125.2 dB for 9mm and 131.3 dB in.45 ACP using the Osprey 45 suppressor. attests their suppressors reduce the sound pressure of a 9mm gunshot to anywhere from 125.7 dB to 131.5 dB, depending on the model. Keep in mind that the decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear. Want more oomph? SilencerCo Osprey. Subsonic ammunition is loaded specifically for the projectile to maintain a speed that does not break the sound barrier and create a sonic crack. The question then becomes, why would ammo manufacturers want to make slower rounds, such as subsonic ammo? Isn’t fast always better? The Glock 21 fired five-shot groups that were almost identical with the suppressor, but with the Osprey 45 removed, groups opened up to six-inch patterns. To maximize the performance of a suppressor, subsonic ammunition is a must. Accurate sound-measuring equipment is cost-prohibitive for average folks like me, so I can’t list the actual reductions in sound using Hornady’s Subsonic ammunition. The guns we’ll be shooting are a 300 Blackout pistol with a Sig Sauer suppressor, a 9mm Glock 19 with an Omega-K suppressor, and a Savage bolt-action 22 rifle with a CMMG suppressor. In my estimation, Freedom's 165 grain load is probably two or three decibels quieter than factory 147 grain ammunition, which is just enough to be noticeable. The subsonic 300 Blackout loads are often compared to 45 ACP, 10 mm or 9mm subsonic rounds. The 9MM ammo is the most used ammo in United States and other countries. This means that  any given caliber can only produce so much force when it’s fired. It also dampens the noise of the muzzle blast. The DeGroat suppressor’s 1/2x28 threads matched both 9mm barrels, while the Osprey is user-configurable to a variety of different thread patterns using its interchangeable piston system. This is approximately 14dB beyond the threshold of pain, and more than sufficient to cause acoustic trauma. Consistency in velocity is very important in this context because a significant extreme spread could mean that individual shots might be supersonic, thereby creating a significantly greater sound signature. It’s quite common at a Precision Rimfire match to see targets beyond where a standard .22LR round slows down and is no longer subsonic and starts to veer off target. A suppressor (or silencer, as they were originally called) is essentially a muffler that you put on the front of your gun. Small, compact semi-auto pistols are popular with concealed-carry firearm buyers, and these two models – the KelTec PF9 9mm and the Ruger LCP II .22LR – are no exceptions. There Was Supposed To Be An Earth-Shattering Kaboom! However, it’s important to note that the 142 db was recorded by a sound meter placed just one yard away from the path of each bullet. All of the subsonic ammo in our test averaged around 142 decibels, which is right in-line with testing done by Larson-Davis themselves. Because of these attributes, particularly the reduction in muzzle blast, suppressed firearms with subsonic ammunition are a great tool for coaching new shooters. We’ll also measure the velocity of each round by using a digital chronograph placed 10 feet away from the muzzle of our guns. The unsuppressed MP5 registered an average 160-163dB, compared to the unsuppressed Glock 19, with an ear-splitting average of 165-167 dB. With the introduction of the XD-M Elite line of pistols, Springfield Armory one-ups itself. Minimum Velocity: 1912 fps / 1303 mph Suppressors also cut recoil and muzzle blast, making them physiologically easier to shoot well, and they add weight and stability to the firearm. Subsonic Handgun utilizes tried-and-true XTP® bullets that expand reliably at subsonic velocities. If we dive deep into the data published by BATFE in 2017, we can see that the number of Form 4 transfer applications went from 7,024 in 1990 to 133,911 in 2016. Prvi Partizan 300BLK Supersonic (5 shots), Average Velocity: 1979 fps / 1349.5 mph The Hardball's Headache pistol drill is very similar to the El Presidente drill with a higher level of difficulty due to two added twists. Because of my long experience with them, I knew few were as quiet as those you saw in the movies. Maximum Peak db: 149 db, CCI Mini-Mag 22LR Supersonic (5 Shots)Average Velocity: 1226 fps / 836 mph