Questions About A Suppressed .45 ACP

Aqeous · February 7, 2008, 12:41 PM

So: do to the diameter of the .45 ACP bullet itself, I hear that the decibel suppression of a .45 ACP isn't that great. My question is to whether or not the recoil jump of the handgun would be noticeably reduced? Can anyone help me out?

chris in va · February 7, 2008, 03:04 PM

Might want to try this question in the NFA section.

I've only shot one supressed 45, out of a HK MP5 looking weapon a guy had at the range. All you could hear was the clacking of the bolt mechanism, no report that I could tell.

James K · February 7, 2008, 03:18 PM

That good a suppressor would be fairly large, probably too large for a pistol. A suppressor on a moving barrel pistol can't be so big or heavy that it will keep the gun from functioning. The pistol suppressors I have seen in .45 only reduced the sound, to about the level of a .22 short.

The bullet diameter itself is not that important an issue. The amount of gas generated is, as is the bullet velocity (sub-sonic).

(The suppressors used in the movies that look like a piece of hose, often are a piece of hose. The "phit" sound is dubbed in or a primer is fired.)

Jim

evan1293 · February 26, 2008, 06:57 AM

My .45 can is very quiet shot wet. Dry, its maybe a little quieter than a .22 but it still sounds like a gun shot. When it wet, though..boooyyyy....its pretty sweet. It sounds more like an airnailer or paintball gun rather than a firearm. I like the .45 can because standard 230gr ball ammo is subsonic, which is much better for suppression. My 9mm can I have to reload for (using 147gr bullets typically), to keep the velocities below the supersonic level.

VUPDblue · February 26, 2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

My 9mm can I have to reload for (using 147gr bullets typically), to keep the velocities below the supersonic level.

IME, virtually all factory 147gr and heavier loads are subsonic. The only consistant exception to this guideline I have found is Fiocchi and CCI aluminum cased ammo. I have been known to load some 124's to subsonic velocities, and those are about the quietest I can come up with.

evan1293 · February 26, 2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

IME, virtually all factory 147gr and heavier loads are subsonic

Thats true, most 147gr rounds from the factory are subsonic. I have to reload them because with the amount that I shoot, the only factory rounds I can afford to keep buying are the cheap 115gr WWB rounds from walmart.

I can load 147gr subsonics for a little less than these.

VUPDblue · February 27, 2008, 09:13 AM

I've been pretty lucky here lately. I picked up 3 cases of Fiocchi 147's at the last funshow for $199 each OTD. I also picked up a case of factory reloads from Outdoor Marksman for a little less than that. I've only fired about 2 mags worth of those, but they seem to be very consistent and shoot clean.

James K · February 27, 2008, 04:04 PM

I noticed that no one ever responded to the question about recoil.

Sound has nothing to do with recoil and gas escape ahead of or behind the bullet contributes only about 10% to recoil, so a can or a muzzle brake has a limited effect. Recoil is the result of bullet motion, so most of it occurs while the bullet is in the barrel, before it even reaches the can or the brake. A brake diverts some of the gas upward or backward to counter the recoil, and a can slows and reduces the amount of gas coming out of the muzzle. Both have an effect on recoil, but not a lot. If the goal is recoil reduction, that can be achieved at a lot less cost and trouble than the hassle of buying a suppressor.

Jim

VUPDblue · February 27, 2008, 04:49 PM

Yes, Jim is right. Sorry I didn't try and answer your original question, I thought I answered it recently. Must have been another thread. Anyway, yes, your recoil will be diminished, but just barely. Maybe even not noticeable. The only thing that will factor-in to that is that the suppressor will add length and weight to the front of the firearm.

Ledbetter · February 27, 2008, 09:24 PM

Note that you either have to pin the slide from recoiling or suffer the noise from the breach, which is pretty significant.

Pinning the slide actually increases felt recoil.

WoofersInc · March 3, 2008, 01:11 AM

I have the HK Tactical with a CCF-Swiss Impuls II. I can notice a reduction in recoil but I have attributted that to the extra weight hanging off the front of the gun. As for the sound I have been impressed with it shot wet. You will not need hearing protection if you are outdoors.

waterhouse · March 3, 2008, 11:51 AM

My experience mirrors WoofersInc. I've got an SWR H.E.M.S. on my Tac, I've attributed any recoil reduction to the weight on the end of the gun. It is pretty quiet when wet, not nearly as quiet dry.

February 7, 2008, 12:41 PM	#1
Aqeous Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2007 Posts: 646	Questions About A Suppressed .45 ACP So: do to the diameter of the .45 ACP bullet itself, I hear that the decibel suppression of a .45 ACP isn't that great. My question is to whether or not the recoil jump of the handgun would be noticeably reduced? Can anyone help me out?

February 27, 2008, 09:13 AM	#7
VUPDblue Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,981	I've been pretty lucky here lately. I picked up 3 cases of Fiocchi 147's at the last funshow for $199 each OTD. I also picked up a case of factory reloads from Outdoor Marksman for a little less than that. I've only fired about 2 mags worth of those, but they seem to be very consistent and shoot clean. __________________ Silencers have NEVER been illegal !

February 27, 2008, 04:49 PM	#9
VUPDblue Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 1,981	Yes, Jim is right. Sorry I didn't try and answer your original question, I thought I answered it recently. Must have been another thread. Anyway, yes, your recoil will be diminished, but just barely. Maybe even not noticeable. The only thing that will factor-in to that is that the suppressor will add length and weight to the front of the firearm. __________________ Silencers have NEVER been illegal !

February 27, 2008, 09:24 PM	#10
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	Note that you either have to pin the slide from recoiling or suffer the noise from the breach, which is pretty significant. Pinning the slide actually increases felt recoil. __________________ Regards, Ledbetter from thefiringline TFL #4573 NRA for Life Winchester Canyon Gun Club for Life

March 3, 2008, 11:51 AM	#12
waterhouse Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2005 Posts: 169	My experience mirrors WoofersInc. I've got an SWR H.E.M.S. on my Tac, I've attributed any recoil reduction to the weight on the end of the gun. It is pretty quiet when wet, not nearly as quiet dry. __________________ FFL transfers in Pflugerville, TX for $10.00, email me

February 7, 2008, 03:04 PM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Might want to try this question in the NFA section. I've only shot one supressed 45, out of a HK MP5 looking weapon a guy had at the range. All you could hear was the clacking of the bolt mechanism, no report that I could tell.

February 7, 2008, 03:18 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	That good a suppressor would be fairly large, probably too large for a pistol. A suppressor on a moving barrel pistol can't be so big or heavy that it will keep the gun from functioning. The pistol suppressors I have seen in .45 only reduced the sound, to about the level of a .22 short. The bullet diameter itself is not that important an issue. The amount of gas generated is, as is the bullet velocity (sub-sonic). (The suppressors used in the movies that look like a piece of hose, often are a piece of hose. The "phit" sound is dubbed in or a primer is fired.) Jim

February 26, 2008, 06:57 AM	#4
evan1293 Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 783	My .45 can is very quiet shot wet. Dry, its maybe a little quieter than a .22 but it still sounds like a gun shot. When it wet, though..boooyyyy....its pretty sweet. It sounds more like an airnailer or paintball gun rather than a firearm. I like the .45 can because standard 230gr ball ammo is subsonic, which is much better for suppression. My 9mm can I have to reload for (using 147gr bullets typically), to keep the velocities below the supersonic level.

February 27, 2008, 04:04 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I noticed that no one ever responded to the question about recoil. Sound has nothing to do with recoil and gas escape ahead of or behind the bullet contributes only about 10% to recoil, so a can or a muzzle brake has a limited effect. Recoil is the result of bullet motion, so most of it occurs while the bullet is in the barrel, before it even reaches the can or the brake. A brake diverts some of the gas upward or backward to counter the recoil, and a can slows and reduces the amount of gas coming out of the muzzle. Both have an effect on recoil, but not a lot. If the goal is recoil reduction, that can be achieved at a lot less cost and trouble than the hassle of buying a suppressor. Jim

March 3, 2008, 01:11 AM	#11
WoofersInc Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 224	I have the HK Tactical with a CCF-Swiss Impuls II. I can notice a reduction in recoil but I have attributted that to the extra weight hanging off the front of the gun. As for the sound I have been impressed with it shot wet. You will not need hearing protection if you are outdoors.