Velocity decrease after suppressor

ADA

EINHERJAR
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 28, 2007
124
18
Banana Republic of Louisiana
I was chronographing a new suppressor today. My muzzle velocity dropped when compared to shooting without a suppressor. At first I could not see the obvious, that the temperature was about 15 degrees cooler than when I obtained my velocity readings for shooting without the suppressor. This led to the following questions:

1. Generally, what are you getting in velocity changes between shooting suppressed and non suppressed?

2. Generally, what velocity changes are you getting when the temperature drops by 15 degrees?

Yes, I know that there are more variables. I am just curious how these variables have affected you in whatever conditions you shoot in. I obviously have to get more data for my rifle and load, which is what I will do.

Thanks.
 
Re: Velocity decrease after suppressor

Unless you didn't compare the numbers until you got home, why not shoot a few rounds without the suppressor to eliminate the temp variable? I have noticed maybe a 10-15 fps increase with my 30 cal suppressor on a 16" 762 OBR.

You velocity loss is almost certainly due to the temperature drop. Some powders are fairly temperature sensitive, what powder are you using?
 
Re: Velocity decrease after suppressor

I am using varget, pretty stable stuff. Nevertheless, my velocity went down. And yes, shooting some without the suppressor is what a smart man would have done. I was fresh out of common sense at the time.

Thank you both for your input.
 
Re: Velocity decrease after suppressor

Relatively limited experience in this particular area; First I would have to say that when shooting either of my AAC suppressors and several rifles they attach to, I have never witnessed a decrease in MV with the suppressor attached <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">WHEN FIRING ON THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME LOT OF AMMUNITION.</span></span> I have seen virtually no change, and the most I have seen is 30 ft/secs in a load that was over 3,000 ft/sec at the muzzle. MaNy times the small velocity difference is actually within the loads stadard deviation and as such requires a larger sample to verify what you have "witnessed."