Silencer/supressor effects on accuracy?

[Willem .243 musgrave]

Quick question, does a silencer affect a rifle in any negative way? For instance accuracy, barrel life, etc.???

 

[Gundog64]

Only thing I have seen is a POI change (repatable), but you would get that any time you hang a weight on the end of a barrel. Many report better accuracy with the suppressor on, and the recoil reduction is also a nice benifit. Never heard of a suppressor causing any increase in barrel wear.

 

[dansig]

Suppressors holds the heat in the barrel so you have to shoot much slower to maintain the same barrel temp as without suppressor.

Other than that it's just a bit lower poi and recoil is almost non existant, even on a .300 win mag, with suppressor it's like .243

 

[284driver]

Suppressors holds the heat in the barrel so you have to shoot much slower to maintain the same barrel temp as without suppressor.

Other than that it's just a bit lower poi and recoil is almost non existant, even on a .300 win mag, with suppressor it's like .243

POI can vary all the way around the clock. Not just low.

 

[boltfluter]

So far, with my personal rifles, all 3 have shown a slight improvement in accuracy with the suppressor installed. Lots of fun. ;D

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[germanlongbow]

Haven't noticed any negative effects yet. Shoot 243 AI with 105 Bergers at 3050 fps without suppressor. Haven't chrono'd with suppressor so not sure of velocity change. Accuracy is same as before with exception of first shot off inch high and left half inch or so. Group size quickly returns to sub .5 moa and less as can warms up. Actually noticed the hotter the can gets the better the rifle groups. After third shot the can is extremely hot. Have shot several 20 round strings with group size (5 shot at .5 moa and better) at 100 yards. Shoots 2.5 inch three shots at 600 yards so I can't complain. Also shoot the same can of my 6.5x284 and 300 black out with similar results. Can is TBAC 30P-1. Hope this helps Scott

 

[25AI260]

do the Silencer/supressor have to be cleaned... ?

do they have to be replaced after a certain time do to ware ?

 

[dansig]

My suppressor is made from stainless steel, it's welded together so I can't open it.
I put it in ultrasonic every 100 rounds, it gets most of the carbon out.

If you don't clean them then they will fill up with carbon and stop working...

 

[civil82]

do the Silencer/supressor have to be cleaned... ?

do they have to be replaced after a certain time do to ware ?

Rimfire cans dirty faster due to exposed lead particles. I've fired a SWR Spectre up to 1,000 rounds without cleaning, but manufaturer recommends 300 rounds if I remember right.
I have never cleaned my centerfire cans, but they don't see huge volumes of shooting. I was told by my Class III dealer that if it was something that really bothered me it could be soaked and blown out with compressed air. I'm sure that full auto guys need to clean them more than someone like me that puts 200-300 rounds a year through them.
I have an e-mail response from SWR in response to me asking the life span of an Omega 300 with full-house 300 Win Mag loads. Their response was something like "not sure, we haven't worn one out yet". I'm betting at the rate that I use it, the can will out last me.

ETA: No negative accuracy effects on several of my barrels.

 

[25AI260]

nice response thanks.......

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Suppressors holds the heat in the barrel so you have to shoot much slower..

It's a moot point. I only use a stick on the end moderator so the suppressor gets hot itself, the barrel doesn't run any hotter or cooler. I use a TAB thermal shield on the moderator sometimes, but I prefer just to stop and wait for the moderator to cool and get a clear view of the target. Check the link for a view of an AU-SL5 - my current favourite moderator.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p2948-remington-700-sa-in-260-rem.html

However, I agree that for an over barrel moderator, the moderator will stop the covered part of the barrel cooling. My first mod was a T8 over barrel mod and I wouldn't have another over barrel mod.

Moderators are like every other bit of kit we use, there good ones and not so good ones.
Best regards JCS

 

[dansig]

Suppressors holds the heat in the barrel so you have to shoot much slower..

It's a moot point. I only use a stick on the end moderator so the suppressor gets hot itself, the barrel doesn't run any hotter or cooler. I use a TAB thermal shield on the moderator sometimes, but I prefer just to stop and wait for the moderator to cool and get a clear view of the target. Check the link for a view of an AU-SL5 - my current favourite moderator.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p2948-remington-700-sa-in-260-rem.html

However, I agree that for an over barrel moderator, the moderator will stop the covered part of the barrel cooling. My first mod was a T8 over barrel mod and I wouldn't have another over barrel mod.

Moderators are like every other bit of kit we use, there good ones and not so good ones.
Best regards JCS

mine also only sticks on the end of the barrel, I took 10 shots in 10 minutes without suppressor and barrel temp went up to 104F and let it cool completely, did the same with suppressor and the temp went up to 149F
and temp was measured mid barrel.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Dansig

Two comments, as I still don't agree. Moderator off, the exhaust gases just dissipate in the air. Mod on, the exhaust gases force their way through the moderator and heat it up. The extra heat is captured in the moderator and transfers back along the barrel. If I touch the barrel and moderator as I did yesterday after shooting, the moderator is always the hottest bit of kit. Secondly, I think it's bad practice to shoot moderator off. The only time my rifles are fired mod off is when they go to proof. My loads are all developed moderator on for a specific moderator.

Regards

JCS

 

[dansig]

the moderator will ofcourse be the hottest part, after 10 shots it can go up to 320F, but the barrel heats up faster so one really should shoot slower.. if one cares about barrel life

I am allowed to use moderator at the range but not hunting.. at this moment there is a bill before congress to allow moderators for hunting... hope it will pass in the next few days...

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I hope your Congress think of folks' hearing and passes your law. It's certainly a big help when there's more than one deer to be shot. I shot one yesterday, watched the remaining two run about and shot a second deer.

Good luck.

JCS

 

[308sako]

I haven't fired enough rounds to know about wear, I suspect it does! So much more carbon in the barrel after each shot cannot help. As to accuracy, in general terms you will shoot better with a silencer than without. The recoil reduction, lack of muzzle blast and increased effective barrel length all contribute in part.

 

[Hoser]

If they hurt accuracy, the NRA High Power Rules Committee would not have outlawed them...

 

[brian923]

Is a sound moderator just another name for a sound suppressor, or is it different. i live in comi(illi)-nois, where we are not aloud to have any fun (suppreors, full auto, rifle hunting deer, ....) . im just wondering if this is something i can look into getting, or if its just another word for suppressor. thanks guy, Brian.

 

[Gundog64]

Brian,
Moderator and suppressor are one in the same. I find people from Europe tend to call them moderators while we tend to call them suppressors or incorrectly a "silencer".

 

[Hoser]

Unfortunately the BATFE calls suppressors, silencers. It is no big deal, but every time you call a suppressor a silencer, a liberal wins.