Why subsonic ammunition

For handguns, your two biggest, and most common contenders are the. Although your bargain box of 9mm ammunition is typically grain and supersonic, grain loads are becoming much more common, and those will hush down as quiet as anything. Popular cartridges like the 6. On the other end, a. The same can be said for the. Something like the. Generally, many of the principles of selecting a gun to use with subsonic ammunition are the same as for using a suppressor.

However, there are a few things to consider when making your choice beyond the basic threaded muzzle. As mentioned previously, if shooting subsonics is a high priority, be sure and pick the appropriate action and chambering.

Although a. A bolt-action rifle is a superb fit while, a semi-automatic will still leak some gas and sound. With any gun you plan to use subsonics in, make sure the twist rate of the barrel is rated to stabilize the bullets you intend to shoot, and verify on paper before using through a suppressor.

Although some subsonic cartridge loads are totally suitable for hunting, they are typically underwhelming. If you plan on hunting big game with subsonic ammunition, be aware of this fact, and if you can, select bullets that are designed to expand at low velocities.

At present, the Defense Department does not have subsonic bullets "classified for use in the calibers provided by any DoD service.

Commandos have used subsonic bullets since World War II , though these are mainly effective in smaller guns like the. Subsonic bullets and fairly large-caliber war rifles, on the other hand, don't mix very well. For one, to keep a bullet from breaking the sound barrier -- 1, feet per second at sea level -- requires several trade-offs at higher calibers.

According to the solicitation, subsonic bullets "experience significant accuracy problems due to excessive deviations in velocity. This results in bullet that is far and away less accurate, doesn't go nearly as far, and "creates lower pressures which First, you eliminate the sonic crack altogether, and the suppressor is also able to better mitigate the expansion of the gases in these rounds, resulting in even less sound.

Like all things in life, there are advantages and disadvantages to every choice we make. Choosing subsonic or supersonic ammo is no different. If you practice shooting on your own piece of property or on an outdoor range that has neighbors, using subsonic ammo with a suppressor is an easy way to keep yourself on the good side of the people who live around you.

Supersonic ammo has a higher velocity, better range, more stopping power, and a flatter trajectory than subsonic ammo. This makes it a better choice for self-defense purposes. You want a cartridge that is going to perform at its absolute best when in a life or death situation. The last thing you need is your semi-auto turning into a single-shot. We mentioned above that supersonic ammo has better velocity, range, stopping power, and more than subsonic ammo.

While you certainly can hunt with subsonic ammo, it might not be the most ethical choice when the goal is for a quick and humane harvest. One example would be small game hunting at relatively close range. Subsonic ammo really shines when used with a suppressor. Since the goal of a suppressor is to reduce the sound signature of your shot, it only makes sense that the less noise your bullet makes to begin with, the better job a silencer can do to further reduce that sound.

You can absolutely run supersonic ammo with a suppressor, you just need to be aware of the fact that it will not be as quiet as subsonic ammo. The Blackout cartridge has become incredibly popular because of its versatility in an equally incredibly popular shooting platform: the AR. But, when a bullet approaches the speed of sound and the sonic boom begins, it generates unpredictable turbulence that can alter its course slightly.

If so, it results in poor groups on target. Engineers have made great strides in minimizing inconsistencies created as bullets go transonic. Improved bullet coefficients and concentricity handle much of it, but the pressure that affects stability still exists on any projectile or jet when it swings past miles an hour. As a result, when precision counts in international competition, shooters on the leader-board go slow.

Manufacturers like Hornady produce subsonic bullet options in popular calibers like. Manufacturers go with heavier bullets as part of their subsonic cartridge design, and because the diameter must remain bore size, the projectile winds up longer.

That improved ballistic coefficient often shows in retained downrange energy, too, a critical consideration for hunters. Figures published by Hornady illustrate the effect. That figure indicates it has foot-pounds of energy at departure. At that distance, the. Retained energy is another story. Both figures are far from ideal for big game at that distance, but they demonstrate another, often overlooked, advantage with subsonic.

A heavier projectile, on average, is less affected by wind.