Suppressed AR

[Zak Smith]

I was referring to full power ammunition. 137 dB is not really hearing safe.

[Irving]

Can't you just cough at the same time as you pull the trigger? Like when you used to open a can of Mt Dew, under the desk, in English class in high school.

[tmckay2]

I was referring to full power ammunition. 137 dB is not really hearing safe.

pretty much everyone that uses suppressors consistently shoots them without hearing protection. thats kind of the point. its not that loud. the only reason its still even that loud is because of the crack of the bullet due to speed. if you use subsonic, you basically get a click and a very soft muffled sound. sounds about like a 22. you really can't get any quieter due to simply physics. you either have a super sonic bullet and the crack that comes with it, or a sub sonic round with no crack. take your pick.

the suppressor helps drastically reduce the "boom" of the gases through the muzzle, but the only option to eliminate bullet noise is by shooting sub sonic. its not a video game.

[Zak Smith]

I know a thing or two about silencers and sound meters.

Hearing damage is cumulative and irreversible. If you are unfamiliar with the sound-levels that cause hearing damage, do some research. Here's a quick link that gives an overview http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/wh...und-levels.php

[Great-Kazoo]

I know a thing or two about silencers and sound meters.

You DO ???

Hearing damage is cumulative and irreversible. If you are unfamiliar with the sound-levels that cause hearing damage, do some research. Here's a quick link that gives an overview http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/wh...und-levels.php

[Hoser]

I know a thing or two about silencers and sound meters.

Awwww come on Zak. Just because you build suppressors for a living does not mean you might know what you are talking about.

[Ranger]

It seems like a lot of folks are using suppressors, I'm wondering how difficult it is to get one. I've never really bothered with either a suppressor or fully automatic because it seems like a massive pain in the butt to get either but would like to have both.

[gcrookston]

It seems like a lot of folks are using suppressors, I'm wondering how difficult it is to get one. I've never really bothered with either a suppressor or fully automatic because it seems like a massive pain in the butt to get either but would like to have both.

I've owned both and currently have a couple of cans. It's a pretty simple, but time consuming process. Complete a form 4, get fingerprinted and photographed, get the LEO to sign off, mail it in with your check and wait. In 1991 it took about 3 weeks to get it back for an HK33. in 2009 it took about 5 months for a can for my .45.

[Zak Smith]

Suppressor sales are booming, and with more and more Class 3 (SOT) dealers around, it's easy to handle the product you're thinking about buying, or even get an in-person shooting demonstration. The Form 4 process is not complicated, just time consuming (like gcrookston said), but the Class 3 dealer will basically help you through it. The most annoying thing I found was getting the passport photo and stopping by the Sheriff's office.

A suppressed AR is cool, no doubt. At the 3Gun match yesterday Ray shot our 7" suppressed M16 (and used full-auto on stage 1), and it sounds really good. However, there are some downsides of a suppressed AR: not as quiet as a bolt gun, increased heat and backpressure, rifle gets dirty a lot faster.

In terms of "bang for buck", I think a .22LR suppressor is the most fun for the money, while a suppressor on a bolt gun works the best and provides the most real benefits to shooting.

As far as the ear protection issue-- if you are serious about retaining your hearing into old age, when shooting full-power centerfire ammunition, you should double up, e.g.: muffs and plugs, or suppressor and plugs. If you are in a situation where you can't wear plugs (such as hunting or as a LEO), then a suppressor will reduce the amount of hearing damage you accumulate over time.

[tmckay2]

I know a thing or two about silencers and sound meters.

Hearing damage is cumulative and irreversible. If you are unfamiliar with the sound-levels that cause hearing damage, do some research. Here's a quick link that gives an overview http://hearinglosshelp.com/weblog/wh...und-levels.php

don't get your panties in a wad. no one disputed your all knowingness. of course 137 Db CAN hurt you, but you sound like my mother. fact is people shoot without hearing protection all the time while using suppressors. i never said i recommended it, i said it happens. hell, my grandpa never used hearing protection in WW2 for three years, nor did any of my friends in iraq or afghanistan (although they were supposed to) and all of them are fine. if you sit there and shoot 2000 rounds a year for 20 years without hearing protection even with a suppressor, yeah you are probably going to have hearing issues. shooting with a suppressor and no hearing protection for 50-100 rounds once in a while isn't going to destroy your hearing.