General Info:
A sound suppressor is designed to be most effective with a given firearm and cartridge. The main purpose of a sound suppressor is to reduce the muzzle blast, which is the most significant portion of the noise. Muzzle blast is caused by high pressure gases suddenly escaping from the end of the barrel into the atmosphere as the bullet exits. Reducing the pressure results in less sound generated. Pressure is reduced by increasing the volume for gas expansion, reducing the gas temperature (cooling), delaying gas exit through trapping and turbulence, and by a combination of these technologies. How well a given suppressor works on a given weapon depends on how efficiently these goals are accomplished.
Types of Suppressors:
There are two basic types of suppressors. The most common, and oldest, historically, is the muzzle suppressor which is attached to the muzzle of a firearm. The other type of suppressor is the integral suppressor, which is built around the barrel of a firearm. When using an integral type suppressor the barrel is modified
for velocity control.
With today's technology, muzzle suppressors are comparable to integral suppressor efficiency. The prime advantage to the integral type suppressor is velocity control of marginally supersonic projectiles, such as the .22 rimfire or conventional 9mm ammunition. The main advantage of the muzzle suppressor is that it can be moved from weapon to weapon and does not require dedicating the firearm to the suppressor. AWC builds both muzzle and integral suppressors.
Maintenance of Sound Suppressors:
All sound suppressors require some degree of maintenance if maximum efficiency is to be maintained. Those units which are sealed are built from 100% type 304 corrosion resistant
stainless steel and are designed for maintenance and cleaning without disassembly. Suppressors designed to be disassembled for maintenance are supplied with necessary specialized tools. All suppressors manufactured by AWC come with detailed instructions providing complete operation
and maintenance instructions.
All sound level data gathered by our firm is accomplished utilizing the B & K Model 2209 sound level meter with the B & K Model 4135 1/4" pressure microphone. This is a system that is approved by the U.S. Military for measuring firearm noise. We do not publish dB data, nor do we apologize for this policy. We have been frequently deceived by this data. If experts can be deceived, users are likely to be deceived as well.
The problem with the decibel is that it expresses a pressure level of sound, and gives no insight as to the "quality" or frequency of the sound. Very often we have seen cases where the meter claimed that device A was more "quiet" than device B. However, observers unanimously agreed that device B sounded more quiet. We do consider data produced by our meter, but we are more interested in how the device sounds.
We strive to design our suppressors so that they cause the fired shot to sound "unlike" or "not characteristic" of firearm noise. We are aware of several units produced by other companies that do, according to the meter, produce less noise than our device of similar nature. However, when these devices are compared in real world live fire tests our devices are noticeably more pleasant to the human ear. Several well known silencer aficionados have observed these tests and agree with our attitude toward the decibel. They say our suppressors have the "sweet sound". A good example of this "deception" is the comparison of sound between a .308 caliber rifle and a .300 WIN MAG rifle. The meter will tell us that both rifles produce the SAME decibel level of noise. Upon firing these rifles, however, we would all agree that the .300 WIN MAG sounds louder! What the decibel meter doesn't tell us is that although both rifles produce the same peak sound pressure level (SPL), the .300 WIN MAG holds its peak duration longer. In other words, remains at full sound value LONGER! The .308 goes to peak and falls off more quickly!
Our experience has been that a few unscrupulous manufacturers have published false data in order to appear "competitive".
If further explanation is required we ask that you telephone our office. Engaging in Email Ping Pong just makes it difficult to answer your questions.
The bottom line is that we build the strongest, most compact, and highly effective units on planet Earth. We rely on our experience and intelligence for design selection. The sound meter's opinion is considered, but it doesn't get the final word on what we build.
