Silencer Operation

[Rocketman]

At the request of another member I found some cool high speed X-Ray flash footage of a silencer in operation. Or as A4's might say "the business end of a Hush Puppy".

It starts out with the first round fired. Click on the second video to see what the movement of gases from the second round fired looks like. You can actually see a big difference between the two. That's where the term "first round pop" comes from. The first round fired is always lightly louder than the second and subsequent shots. I don't know in technical terms why this happens but guys who really need to be quiet do understand it and use it to their advantage.

There are also some videos on disassembly and manufacture of this particular model. If I was going to buy a suppressor for a .22 this would be it mostly because it's very well built and easy to clean.

By the way, IMHO calling a supressor a silencer is like calling a CVN a ship.

http://silencerco.com/Silencerco/#/22sparrow/video/

 

[exhelodrvr]

At the request of another member I found some cool high speed X-Ray flash footage of a silencer in operation. Or as A4's might say "the business end of a Hush Puppy".

It starts out with the first round fired. Click on the second video to see what the movement of gases from the second round fired looks like. You can actually see a big difference between the two. That's where the term "first round pop" comes from. The first round fired is always lightly louder than the second and subsequent shots. I don't know in technical terms why this happens but guys who really need to be quiet do understand it and use it to their advantage.

There are also some videos on disassembly and manufacture of this particular model. If I was going to buy a suppressor for a .22 this would be it mostly because it's very well built and easy to clean.

By the way, IMHO calling a supressor a silencer is like calling a CVN a ship.

http://silencerco.com/Silencerco/#/22sparrow/video/

So they always fire a round before they go on a mission, to get the loud one out of the way?

 

[Rocketman]

So they always fire a round before they go on a mission, to get the loud one out of the way?

That's what I've been told but I've never actually talked to anyone who's done it so take it with a grain of salt. I have shot a few weapons that were suppressed and there is a difference for sure so it makes sense to me.

 

[HeyJoe]

By the way, IMHO calling a supressor a silencer is like calling a CVN a ship.

http://silencerco.com/Silencerco/#/22sparrow/video/

True that, everyone knows it's just a boat*!

*except when you "going baksheeep"

 

[wink]

My left hand shooting 13 year old shot a friends suppressed M-16 on full auto. The gases that backed up just about suffocated him. When I shot it right handed I hardly even notice.

 

[Rocketman]

My left hand shooting 13 year old shot a friends suppressed M-16 on full auto. The gases that backed up just about suffocated him. When I shot it right handed I hardly even notice.

Is he shooting near Flagstaff?

 

[A4sForever]

My left hand shooting 13 year old shot a friends suppressed M-16 on full auto. The gases that backed up just about suffocated him. When I shot it right handed I hardly even notice.

Quite the tricked-out AR ... probably weighs about as much as #13 son ... I don't like suppressors on "standard" direct impingement AR's -- too much blow-back of "stack gas" to suit me ...

As far as first round "pop" ... my limited experience and pass-down understanding is that there IS a difference -- don't know how many DB's or whatever -- DB to me means DB Cooper --it's got something to do w/O2 in the barrel/suppressor -- but that "difference" dissipates a few minutes after the first round is long gone (obviously). The theory is that there's more burnable O2 in the can on the first round, ergo "first round pop" when the first round goes bang .... one way operators get around that dissipation is to use their cans "wet", at least that's what guys who've "schooled" me and know the real deal say -- I am no font of knowledge(s) on the subject of suppressors as my learning curve can only go UP.

I assume it's not superstition -- but there you go.

 

[feddoc]

FWIW, my wet suppressor uses lithium grease.

 

[Rocketman]

Quite the tricked-out AR ... probably weighs about as much as #13 son ... I don't like suppressors on "standard" direct impingement AR's -- too much blow-back of "stack gas" to suit me ...

I think there is a special charging handle called a "gas buster" that can be used to help provide a better seal when running a can but I've never seen one.

In a related note I've read that some like piston uppers on their suppressed ARs because the hot gases don't get dumped back into the reciever but are vented to atmosphere up near the front sight post. Seems like that would add some extra noise though.

 

[gotta_fly]

My left hand shooting 13 year old shot a friends suppressed M-16 on full auto. The gases that backed up just about suffocated him. When I shot it right handed I hardly even notice.

That is the coolest 13 year old I've ever seen, and a Red Sox fan to boot.

 

[wink]

That is the coolest 13 year old I've ever seen, and a Red Sox fan to boot.

I'll be sure NOT to tell him. He just won the state JHS lacrosse championship as starting goalie, can talk about theoretical physics on the on an undergrad college level and shot that AR better then 4 out of the 6 adults there (all hunters). Yup, proud pop. But I was most proud when my buddy, that AR owner, competitive shooter and instructor, handed him the weapon and my boy put his trigger finger right along the receiver and held it at a low ready. Pleasantly surprised, my buddy said, "I have seen all I need to see, he is good to go."

 

[A4sForever]

....(First round "pop") ... It starts out with the first round fired ... The first round fired is always lightly louder than the second and subsequent shots. I don't know in technical terms why this happens ....

Here's a little more "technical" explanation I found re: "FRP" (NOT to be confused w/ FRP = Fleet Replacement Pilot) :

" ... What is FIRST ROUND POP (FRP)???
FRP is related to a louder-than-normal report. This occurs when oxygen is present within a suppressor. Since 1/5th of our atmosphere is oxygen, FRP usually occurs when the very first shot is taken. Few (if any) gunpowders retain enough chemical oxygen internally to allow total and complete combustion in the cartridge case and barrel. These hot combustion gasses often reignite after they reenter the primary chamber in a silencer on the first shot. Subsequent shots delivered in close succession are usually much quieter than the first shot in a sequence.

FRP will reoccur when another shot is taken a few minutes later, as more oxygen will gradually reenter a silencer that is not sealed off from the atmosphere. FRP can be minimized with careful design, and with a very small primary expansion chamber, but it is considered a major problem within the suppressor industry. FRP is minimal with the CZ and Fat Boy .22 LR cans, but can be a problem with compact cans, extremely short pistol barrels and centerfire cans.

A small primary expansion chamber in .223, .308, .50 BMG and heavier calibers will soon damage a rifle’s muzzle due to a plasma effect – causing accuracy to deteriorate because of premature melting and erosion of the barrel metal in the weapon’s bore. While some manufacturers use this technique to reduce FRP in heavy caliber cans, others will not, because of longevity concerns ..."

 

[wink]

For those without any experience with suppressors, the .22 cal pistol on my son's hip had a louder report then the silenced .223 AR we were shooting. Wish I could give you details about he suppressor and weapon, but I can't remember. All I remember about the set up is the $$$$$$$!

 

[A4sForever]

For those without any experience with suppressors, the .22 cal pistol on my son's hip had a louder report then the silenced .223 AR we were shooting. Wish I could give you details about he suppressor and weapon, but I can't remember. All I remeber about the set up is the $$$$$$$!

But it's a revolver -- and Hollywood notwithstanding -- my info (and best guess) is that suppressors "don't work" on revolvers ???

 

[Rocketman]

Here's a little more "technical" explanation I found re: "FRP" (NOT to be confused w/ FRP = Fleet Replacement Pilot) :

FRP will reoccur when another shot is taken a few minutes later, as more oxygen will gradually reenter a silencer that is not sealed off from the atmosphere.

So that means that operators wouldn't benefit from firing their first round prior to leaving the wire on a mission. Fact trumps internet BS once again.