How do Firearm Suppressors Work?

You may have noticed the rise in popularity of suppressors lately and if you don’t already have one are starting to wonder what you're missing out on.  It seems like more people than not are running them in classes these days so let's take a look and see if adding a suppressor to your gun is right for you.

What are suppressors?  Are they different from silencers?

Suppressors, silencers, and cans refer to the same device, one which is attached to the muzzle of a firearm to drastically reduce the sound of the gun shot.  The silencer term is actually an old brand name from the early nineteen hundreds, the Maxim Silencer.  But don’t let the name fool you, suppressors do not make a gun silent they simply reduce the sound.  It is recommended that you continue to wear your hearing protection even when shooting suppressed.  Though many shooters do like to fire a round or two just to know what it sounds like, we’re all tempted, just do it outdoors.

Are suppressors legal?  Who can have one?

Yes, suppressors are legal in a number of states but you can’t just walk into any old shop and buy one.  A suppressor is a “restricted” item under the NFA regulations so there are a few boxes to check off in order to obtain one.  Just like with a firearm, the purchaser cannot be a felon, must meet age requirements, be a US citizen, and pass a BATFE background check.  The purchaser will also need to send the ATF an application (including fingerprints, passport photos, and a $200 transfer tax, notify your local Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO)), and wait for ATF to process the application. Upon approval, ATF will enter your information into a national registry.

That covers the federal level, but there is also a state level of involvement and 8 states have banned ownership of suppressors.  The other 42 states allow ownership under the same requirements as federal law but may dictate their own statutes for the where and how to use a suppressor.  Research what your state laws are and anywhere you may travel to shoot so you are informed.

Why would you want a suppressor?

Awesome, you now know if you can or cannot own a suppressor.  If you can though, should you?  Why would you want one?  Are there benefits or is this pure cool factor?

The biggest benefit is right there in the name, it suppresses sound.  If you have ever had the displeasure of a shot going off while not wearing ear pro, you 110% understand why we shooters wear it and why we are more than happy to have multiple options and spend a bit for the fancy electronic ones.  Your ears will be ringing for quite some time and hearing damage can happen, especially if the event repeats.  Hearing loss is cumulative after all

Regardless of what type of shooting you're doing or how many rounds are being fired, hearing protection is a must.  When in a public range with other shooters it’s a given, but when out hunting many do not wear hearing protection so they can stay aware of their environment.  A suppressor is the best and only way to move the hearing protection off your head and to the gun, which makes suppressors highly beneficial for hunters.  

Those in classes will also find suppressors beneficial.  Using a suppressor to reduce noise pollution makes instruction and communication easier to hear for those in the immediate area but also reduces disturbance to those in the general area, whether they be shooters in the next bay or neighbors to the range.

People are often surprised to find out another benefit to a suppressor is increased accuracy.  The use of a suppressor can help reduce shooter flinch and reduce the overall recoil allowing for improved accuracy and follow up shots.  The shooter of course still has to have good fundamentals, which can be honed with our MantisX smart training system, to hit the target.  Newer shooters may actually benefit from a suppressor and grasp the fundamentals much quicker due to the reduction of flinch and recoil, two aspects new shooters struggle with.

How does a suppressor work?

Now we know what a suppressor is, that they are legal to own and that they are actually very beneficial to not only the shooter but others in the general vicinity, but how does one actually work?

A suppressor works by trapping and gradually releasing the expanding gasses that travel down the barrel.  This is done through an internal structure that creates an expansion chamber and baffles.  The expansion chamber, also known as a blast chamber, is the first and largest chamber for the gas to initially expand into, followed by a number of smaller baffle chambers that continue to disrupt the gas path allowing it to slow down and cool before being released which results in reduced sound.

Think of this as popping a balloon with a pin versus slowly letting the air out in a controlled manner by the lip of it.  While accomplishing the same feat of letting air out of the balloon, they are highly different experiences.

The design and material of the suppressor can vary widely but the design principles stay the same, in fact suppressors aren’t too different from a car muffler since they are accomplishing the same goal.  Take the time to learn about the science behind your suppressor candidates and see which ones match your use and performance needs.  

Buying your first suppressor

By now you are probably thinking about what you want out of a suppressor, which gun you would like it for, when would you use it and how do you get one.  There are a host of suppressor companies out there and a handful of them will even help you through all the paperwork, some can be completed online but there are also some in store kiosk options if you’d like to check out your local gun shop for some help.

If you are new to suppressors take the time to do some research, watch videos, ask questions and bug your friends about theirs.  You’ll have a few things to consider before choosing a suppressor like what is the main use case, what caliber(s) do you want it for, how does it perform, and what is your budget.  Once you pick one though, have no worries companies like Silencer Central and Silencer Shop will make sure you go through the process correctly.

Once you have your suppressor and your cool factor has gone through the roof, don’t forget you still need to train.  Your firearm has changed, better put some time behind it to acclimate.  So drop in that BlackbeardX, gear up, and do some training.