Suppressor

A suppressor, also commonly known as a silencer is a device attached to a firearm (or sometimes an air gun) to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. It is a cylindrical-shaped metallic tube (mostly colored black) that is fitted into the barrel. The suppressor aerodynamically compresses or suppresses the motion of air in and around the barrel in which the bullet exits, causing the gunshot to be muffled or unheard. It usually has a quiet phum sound. Suppressors work much like an automotive muffler, reducing the amount of audible noise caused by the release of high pressure gas when the bullet exits the barrel (see internal ballistics). The term "silencer" is inaccurate as suppressors lessen the sound of a firearm's muzzle blast only, they cannot completely eliminate the sound of firing. The near silent suppressed firearms seen in movies and television are pure fabrication; the most effective suppressors at most reduce sound to the level of a cough, and for all but the smallest rimfire calibers, those suppressors are far larger than those depicted.

Related Topics:
Device - Firearm - Air gun - Cylindrical - Metallic - Muffler - Internal ballistics

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most suppressors can be removed by unscrewing it off the barrel, but some weapons have sound suppressors built into the barrel.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~