Hey guys,
Attempted to use the search function… What are the benefits of using a supressor on a semi auto rifle (an ar-15), in a rapid-fire close-range situation?
Particularly, I am wondering what the advantage is versus a good muzzle brake.
As far as I see now, some of the key advantages are lack of flash and lack of volume.
Is the recoil impulse affected for the better for faster follow up shots?
Is it worth the weight penalty? Is it worth the purported increase in fouling?
I can understand in a precision rig situation the multitude of advantages shooting suppressed, but not exactly in a CQB type situation.
Have you fired a weapon indoors in confined areas with or without ear pro? I’ve had the unpleasant experience of doing both in real and shoot houses, and cans really help decrease the intensity.
Close range+indoors+muzzle brake+ no ear pro= pain.
Actually depending on the muzzle brake I think even outdoors with ear pro some muzzle brakes can be painful. I shutter to think about them indoors.
One of my friends has a 10.5" 5.56, with a muzzle brake. Even with ear muffs, after a couple of shots I told him to wait until I got behind his truck. I was using my Impact Sports at the time. Very short barreled 5.56s are literally brutal unsuppressed. It’s better to use plugs and muffs together with those.
Even suppressed, a 5.56 can be a little uncomfortable with supersonic loads, without ear protection. Kind of why I went with an 8.2" 300 AAC Blackout. No matter what kind of high speed ammo you use, the 300 is great suppressed. Un-suppressed it is quieter too. In a week or so I’ll be trying my SDN-6 with a 6933 upper (11.5"), and I’ll compare the two.
What brake was he using? A buddy of mine had a PWS556 on his 16 inch and that was just horrendous to shoot next to. He removed eye pro from another while doing close contact drills as well. I don’t want to think about that on a 10.5 inch barrel.
The fouling isn’t an issue for defense… unless you’re going through hundreds of rounds in your scenario.
That said… I basically agree with you. The can isn’t worth the extra length and weight for me.
And GOOD LORD it’s still loud to shoot a suppressed 5.56 in a building. That borderline hearing safe shooting you get outdoors goes out the window in an average building.
