Subsonic?

The_Vigilante · July 31, 2008, 05:38 PM

I just purchased some "subsonic" 147g 9mm FP bullets from Missouri Bullets. What are "subsonic" bullets? How are they different from regular bullets? Any advantages? Or is this just a marketing gimmick? Thanks
__________________

Hkmp5sd · July 31, 2008, 05:40 PM

Subsonic bullets travel below the speed of sound. They are generally made for suppressed weapons. When a bullet goes "super sonic" or faster than the speed of sound, you get a loud sonic crack. Given the noise of firing an un-suppressed handgun, there is no real benefit in having them in a normal handgun.

Playboypenguin · July 31, 2008, 05:41 PM

It just means the bullets will exit the gun at less than 1120fps...which is the case in most heavier 9mm bullets.

jmorris · August 1, 2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Or is this just a marketing gimmick?

Yeah, they couldn’t put ultra, magnum, super short or tactical so they just put subsonic.

Quote:

I just purchased some "subsonic"

It appears to have worked.

The_Vigilante · August 1, 2008, 08:53 AM

Not really. I was going to buy some 147g bullets for my 9mm anyway and got a good price on them-$28 per 500. At least I think that is a good price.

darkgael · August 1, 2008, 09:45 AM

Just a note:
There's not a special bullet that is a "subsonic" bullet. The loading/cartridge produces subsonic velocities. It is not a marketing gimmick. If you owned a silenced 9mm pistol, you would want subsonic rounds so as to avoid the sonic "crack" that bullets make passing through the sound barrier.
There is some thought that SS rounds - especially in .22RF - may be more accurate, especially in the 100yd portion of matches.
Pete

444 · August 1, 2008, 11:53 AM

That is confusing: the fact that they are selling BULLETS labeled as subsonic. I guess that is just their intended use, so that is what they call them.

In 9mm, most if not all loads using 147 grain bullets are subsonic.

bluetopper · August 4, 2008, 07:59 PM

Not a marketing gimmick, just the truth. A 147gr bullet from a 9mm will be subsonic.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but bullets at subsonic velocities are best for target/bullseye work not just for supression.

Loader9 · August 4, 2008, 09:09 PM

In addition to what the other have stated about the speed of the bullet, the ammo is loaded with fast burning powder and is most likely Bullseye #3. There will be no muzzle flash with subsonic ammo.

butta9999 · August 5, 2008, 04:17 AM

I use winchester subsonic in my .22 brno, noise is greatly reduced compared to when i shoot powerpoints. When the quiet tool is fixed to the end you basically only hear the firing pin. If i were to shoot powerpoints with the quiet thing on the end there would be no difference to the sound, beacuse they travel faster than sound..

July 31, 2008, 05:38 PM	#1
The_Vigilante Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2008 Location: Far West Texas Posts: 200	Subsonic? I just purchased some "subsonic" 147g 9mm FP bullets from Missouri Bullets. What are "subsonic" bullets? How are they different from regular bullets? Any advantages? Or is this just a marketing gimmick? Thanks __________________ __________________ The_Vigilante Keeping the streets safe! A man can never own enough guns!

August 1, 2008, 08:53 AM	#5
The_Vigilante Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2008 Location: Far West Texas Posts: 200	Subsonic? Not really. I was going to buy some 147g bullets for my 9mm anyway and got a good price on them-$28 per 500. At least I think that is a good price. __________________ The_Vigilante Keeping the streets safe! A man can never own enough guns!

August 1, 2008, 09:45 AM	#6
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	Subsonic Just a note: There's not a special bullet that is a "subsonic" bullet. The loading/cartridge produces subsonic velocities. It is not a marketing gimmick. If you owned a silenced 9mm pistol, you would want subsonic rounds so as to avoid the sonic "crack" that bullets make passing through the sound barrier. There is some thought that SS rounds - especially in .22RF - may be more accurate, especially in the 100yd portion of matches. Pete

August 1, 2008, 11:53 AM	#7
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	That is confusing: the fact that they are selling BULLETS labeled as subsonic. I guess that is just their intended use, so that is what they call them. In 9mm, most if not all loads using 147 grain bullets are subsonic. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

August 5, 2008, 04:17 AM	#10
butta9999 Senior Member Join Date: June 29, 2008 Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 692	No gimmic I use winchester subsonic in my .22 brno, noise is greatly reduced compared to when i shoot powerpoints. When the quiet tool is fixed to the end you basically only hear the firing pin. If i were to shoot powerpoints with the quiet thing on the end there would be no difference to the sound, beacuse they travel faster than sound..

July 31, 2008, 05:40 PM	#2
Hkmp5sd Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2001 Location: Winter Haven, Florida Posts: 4,303	Subsonic bullets travel below the speed of sound. They are generally made for suppressed weapons. When a bullet goes "super sonic" or faster than the speed of sound, you get a loud sonic crack. Given the noise of firing an un-suppressed handgun, there is no real benefit in having them in a normal handgun.

July 31, 2008, 05:41 PM	#3
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	It just means the bullets will exit the gun at less than 1120fps...which is the case in most heavier 9mm bullets.

August 4, 2008, 07:59 PM	#8
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Not a marketing gimmick, just the truth. A 147gr bullet from a 9mm will be subsonic. Correct me if I'm wrong, but bullets at subsonic velocities are best for target/bullseye work not just for supression.

August 4, 2008, 09:09 PM	#9
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	In addition to what the other have stated about the speed of the bullet, the ammo is loaded with fast burning powder and is most likely Bullseye #3. There will be no muzzle flash with subsonic ammo.