Wouldn’t a suppressor that is 3 times larger in circumference than say an M4-2000, while also being say 4 inches shorter, still be just as if not more effective?
I understand length is to facilitate the use of more baffles, the baffles themselves creating pockets of space to allow the hot gas to expand thereby slowing and cooling it. The more baffles the more expansion area, but wouldn’t a suppressor that has a larger internal area, i.e. fatter, require fewer baffles and therefore less overall length to create the same effect or better?
I would gladly run a suppressor on my SBR that was 3"-4" in diameter while also only being 3"-4" long, if it was on par with or better than a suppressor in standard configuration. If even just for the reduced length. I understand there are Mini and Micro suppressors available, but I would think a fat, short suppressor would make better use of the space.
Yes, a shorter and fatter suppressor can be as effective sound wise as a thinner and longer one, but it may not be as effective with regards to flash suppression.
Here is our S series SL5-BL, shorter and lighter than our jet-Z CQB-BL, however the CQB-BL still has better flash suppression:
I can’t really speak for suppressors, but I would imagine that Tuukka is on track. Sound suppression would likely stay the same, but flash suppression would suffer greatly. I also think that baffle erosion would be greatly increased.
As for sound suppression though, and sticking to your question, As long as displacement stayed the same, I think that theoretically “bore” could be increased and “stroke” could be decreased. I would think that a shorter, fatter suppressor would probably be a little bit heavier as well though, or at least have more “felt weight”.
In general, adding length is much (much) more beneficial to performance versus adding to the diameter.
You of course get diminishing returns to both, but there is no replacement for volume out in front of the muzzle, especially like Tuuka said, for flash reduction.
Shortening and fattening adds a lot of weight for minimal performance gains.
I’ve seen the fireball from a short, lightweight suppressor on a 10" barrel AR… that short of a barrel needs more volume inside the can for effective flash suppression.
