We know the arguments for and against Truck / Trunk guns. And “Bag” guns.
In light of the Idaho gun fight I’ve given more weight to the idea of a suppressor on such a gun. Why?
Less visual (smaller, shorter gun) presence.
Less audible presence.
The benefit is to give you more time to shoot before the bad guy (s) or other good guys (LE & non-LE) shoot at you. I think if another GG sees someone with a gun much smaller than an AK or AR he may hesitate a moment to witness your behavior before engaging you, hopefully.
The down side is mainly reduced terminal effect & range. You’ll probably need more rounds on target. Also, I don’t mean a suppressed 5.56. I mean something actually fairly quiet like subsonic .300 blk or 9x19.
Or, forget discretion and use a rifle & rifle cartridge. One good hit with an expanding rifle round and it’s probably over. As long as you get that before someone thinks you’re a BG & engages you.
As for “bag guns” / PDW i mean something too small to be a rifle cartridge. MP5k With a 15 rd mag on the large end of this spectrum.
Keep in mind that in some cases, as in the Idaho defender with the suppressed FN pistol, he bravely moved through a number of people and across a street to find the BG & engage. If he’d done that carrying a rifle from his vehicle there’d have been a higher likelihood of him getting engaged by other GG’s. Or the BG.
If I were personally doing this I would keep it simple.
5.56mm NATO 11.5” to 12.5” with a newer 3D printed low back pressure/flow through suppressor of around 5” to 6”, I am very happy with my full size CAT JL and might pick up their WB or similar can for an SBR.
If you plan to get involved you are taking a risk, the suppressor is to help you shoot better and not blow your own ears out and lose your situational awareness. I want full powered rifle ammo for this to help get good hits, and deliver fight stopping hits.
^^^ Interesting thoughts on firearm options and why.
All things being equal (rarity) an advantage that I don’t often see mentioned is that a suppressed firearm allows the operator to practice in an environment more similar to the dreaded day if it ever comes, compared to practicing with muffs strapped to the operator’s noggin. Example: I suspect there’s lots of guys at the club who have never practiced without fighting with their muffs for buttstock position. And of course muzzle report considerations and situational awareness as mentioned by @Coal_Dragger
Generally speaking in regard to the Boise case mentioned-- I believe the gas pedal is likely to be the first and best defense for me and my family. Running toward the BG and shooting into a crowded area is likely to be the worst defense for me and my family, suppressed or not.
I don’t know, I don’t go out for Burgers and when I do go to town it’s most likely the Grocery Store and in thet case I would rather make as much noise as possible and get every Grandma in town calling 911.
Some of you Guy’s say “Go Grey,” not me Brother I say “Go Tie Dye’. I’m pretty sure most wItness’s would ask “Was that Jerry Garcia?” and “Where are the Dead Playing?” if I was ever in a public shooting.
No Seriously I don’t have a problem dropping my Glock and raising my hands after the fact, but I would like as much back-up as possible and a loud Gun make back-up come to you.
Unless you’re inside of 35 feet of the Shooter I would guess you’re safe. I would also guess someone shooting like that would “Tunnel Vision” quickly. What they will see they will shoot and what they will see first is movement. Firing in to a crowd funneled in on a narrow door is what they are looking for.
I think this is the area when compact a 300BO or PDW shines. Specifically this area, not “but I can switch to supers and shoot to 300”. Suppressed, ideally.
As much as I want to carry a carbine in 556 in my daily driver, I constantly talk myself out of it:
Cons:
Not always near it.
Can’t leave it in daily driver. Theft issues…
Harder to deploy than pistol
Extra bag to carry for my daily work
Cops here are trigger happy. Long gun will be bullet magnet.
Pros:
Easier hits
Greater terminal effects
Match up better against ghetto assholes with ghetto switches
My solution has been to practice more with my G17 at 5O yards and beyond. G17 is ALWAYS on me. The red dot does provide for me greater confidence at distance.
Edited to stay on topic:
I have a 11.5 SBR in process. It will be suppressed. So I vote quiet despite increased difficulty in deploying and discreet carry.
