Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
What is the reason to use a suppressor? Can you dispense with hearing protection? Do they reduce the bullet’s energy?
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When shooting subsonic ammo, they can be VERY quiet. Buddy's Gemtech Mist is an integral 22 for a 10/22 setup. All you hear is the action operating. On a bolt 22, you can hear the firing pin hit and the thwack of the bullet on paper.
Shooting centerfire stuff, something like a 9mm becomes a quiet "chuff" and the clack and rattle of the action. A supersonic 9mm or standard 223, etc. will still have the sonic crack, but the big boom and thunder is controlled to the point of it sounding like a loud 22lr from a rifle. Not exactly hearing safe, but on the lower end of that scale.
So yes, you can mostly dispense with hearing protection, and no, they don't affect bullet velocity OTHER than intentional changes to use subsonic ammo.
As far as getting one, well, I'm saving my pennies to have my 2A violated by having to pay for a SBR tax stamp on a form-1, then I may consider saving up for a good can (about $900 plus tax stamp and transfer for the one I want)