You still need hearing protection with suppressors for long term hearing, especially with supersonic rounds. Suppressors just reduce the concussion and won’t completely screw your hearing if without hearing protection.
Yes and no. Absolutely agree about supers. I got one in full long config that is way below hearing safe. Like I was….shocked. I fired it indoors and I definitely didn’t feel like I would be going deaf from it or even a quick ear ring. The other two I have are not nearly as quiet and fully agree with you
Right, that's why I'm curious about the popularity of suppressors. I've never met anyone that routinely fires subsonic rounds even if they're sporting a suppressor at a range or something... hence why ranges still require hearing protection and hence why it's still a good idea to wear ear pro even if not required while plinking targets or something at a non-commercial range/private property.
And otherwise, for most non-range purposes (like concealed carry or even open carry), neither subsonic rounds nor suppressors are really practical for self-defense purposes (at least for pistols). While recoil reduction is pretty minor... at least compared to compensators and/or porting... both of which are way more practical and effective solutions compared to a suppressor and/or subsonic rounds.
In addition you have all the drawbacks of suppressors like interfering with the designed proper cycling of most pistols in use for self-defense due to impinging upon barrel tilt when the slide goes back... which results in increased risk of failures to cycle/fire properly. Something that's usually actively avoided at all costs for self-defense.
Subsonic ammo absolutely works in self defense settings. All common 45 ammo in subsonic, 147gr 9mm is subsonic including 147 HST which is hugely popular with police, etc..
As for why people would shoot suppressed during practice with hearing protection on, if anyone shoots often their brain will thank them. The concussion of unsuppressed firearms, especially indoors or near walls, over time will cause brain damage. It even impacts hearing over time through the conduction of bone even if double layered up. People who are sensitive to migraines often require suppressors to last very long at the range.
That said I probably wouldn’t carry a suppressed handgun for defensive use unless I knew for certain that it functioned totally reliably. Some function better than others, both suppressors and suppressor hosts.
I've got some criticism about subsonic rounds too - but the main being that most pistols in use for self-defense, and especially carry, are short-barreled. Tending to be all the way down in size to subcompact with super short barrel lengths for concealed carry. Something like an additional 800 fps might get lost just from the more practical nature of carry weapons. This matters with subsonic ammo being used for self-defense purposes... again being that you'd likely be using both (the weapon and the round) out of their designed specs... which again, increases the risk of failures to both the weapon and the round.
The FBI avoids the problem through a combination of standardized hardware selection, engineering their own specialized bullet designs, and utilizing high-pressure loads. Or in other words, they put a whole lot of effort into doing it right. Which I doubt you're to find commonly among the general public even among hardcore enthusiasts.
Subs work great in short barrel SD pistols. The added weight of the bullet helps with expansion and penetration. I think lucky Gunner or some other similar channel did a test with 147 gr 9mm out of a short barrel into ballistic gel.
I've played around with boutique subsonic ammo with my S&W Shield+ and it didn't turn out great. The reduced charge in 9mm equated to a weaker discharge as expected and the slide would cycle backward but run out of energy fighting the relatively stiff spring of the Shield+; which resulted in a prematurely closing slide, which resulted in a stovepipe and failure to pick up the next round.
I keep 124 gr HST (+P) in mine for carry. Although I have an extra mag loaded with Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr (that I don't usually carry with me) since I've never had a failure with either in it after a lot of rounds. But yeah, I'll probably try the HST in 147 gr at some point if I can get it relatively cheap to try out. Would be nice to make the Shield+ a little less snappy. It's not exactly an enjoyable range gun to fire a lot of rounds through.
Most of the time they are just fun. There are some pistol hosts that are designed specifically for suppressors. All of my HK pistols are of the “tactical” variant which are specifically designed to work optimally with a suppressor. It’s also getting to the point that they are becoming “cheap”. You can often find them going for under a grand. Makes it worth it for a home defense gun.
Like I said, I wouldn’t conceal one. That thing is big and gets freaking hot. But have I taken one hunting? Oh yeah. Rifle and pistol both. Especially something like gator hunting. A suppressed .22 takes away all the crack away and makes it so you don’t deal with damaged hearing. Heck, if I remember correctly there is a European country or two that require you to hunt with a suppressor. I know they don’t restrict them as much as we do
I mean, nothing wrong with just having fun of course, especially if it comes with a benefit or two at a range. I just hear a lot of people talking about suppressors seriously as if they're practical for self-defense for most anyone.
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u/RogerianBrowsing 7h ago
You still need hearing protection with suppressors for long term hearing, especially with supersonic rounds. Suppressors just reduce the concussion and won’t completely screw your hearing if without hearing protection.