Are Silenced Weapons Really That Quiet as Shown in the Movies?
Are Silenced Weapons Really That Quiet as Shown in the Movies?
Have you ever wondered about how people handle guns in the moves?
They make it look so easily!
Whether they are professional or act as if it were their first time shooting a gun, they seem to have no trouble with it except for a bit of shakiness (but this is all acting). But just like how they act, most of what you see on the television isn’t real. And one of the wrongly-perceived facts when using guns in the movies? How loud they sound!
Yes, what you hear and how people act when shooting a gun in the movies is NOT what you would expect in real life. But what is it supposed to sound like anyway?
Read on as I show you the facts about the gun’s sounds and the wrong perception between gun silencers and suppressors.
How Loud Are Guns?
So, let’s figure out where the gun sounds come from. The primary source comes from the sonic crack of the bullet, then the mechanical action and the sound of your bullet hitting your target.
Even the should as your bullet flies off the gun makes a sound! So with all these in mind, it isn’t exactly the silent sound you have heard in movies, nor is it just a crack. If used without protection or a suppressor, you may actually suffer from permanent ear damage because of it!
That is why people invest on silencers or suppressors, which reduces the noise to up to 43 decibels, which depends on factors such as the type of bullet and length of your gun’s barrel or silencer itself. On average, it would suppress about 30 decibels
Is It a Silencer or Suppressor? What People Get Wrong
No, it DEFINITELY isn’t a silencer! A silencer would make the sound of a gun fully quiet and simply just a “whoosh” sound, which you hear in movies. But silencers do not do that. In fact, they aren’t really called silencers, but are supposed to be known as its real name, which are suppressors.
They do not make the gun anywhere near silent, but suppress the noise because of the pressure wave from the propellant gases, which expands rapidly. So it only reduces a portion of what makes the gunshot defining.
Using a gun silencer is crucial because it would reduce the recoil to up to 30%, which would increase your accuracy and reduce your fatigue from miring. It also helps with its precision and your ear safety. You wouldn’t want permanent ear damage, and a suppressor, though still loud when used, will greatly reduce the risk.
How to Keep Your Ears Safe When Firing a Gun
So now that you know about the real sound of the gun and what to expect, what are the precautions you should make to prevent any injuries and perform well when using your gun?
It all boils down to the proper usage of guns, which takes practice and skill. You can never change the gun’s sound, despite having a suppressor. And since you can’t change that, what you can do is to adjust and get used to how it sounds.
But of course, while you are using it (unless it’s an unexpected emergency), ensure that you have the earplugs and protection to avoid affecting your ears. And as much as possible, invest in a suppressor because believe me, it isn’t just a “whoosh” sound you expect!
In Conclusion
When using a gun, there are things you must take note of. While you think that using a gun for the first time isn’t all that bad, it will take practice and skill to get used to handling it, especially when it comes to the sound! But as long as you have the proper protection for your gun and continue to practice with a suppressor, gaining knowledge on the gun, then you won’t need to worry about any injuries you may sustain while using the gun.
I hope that this article helped you become fully informed on the gun’s loudness levels and the importance of suppressors (they are not silencers!). So now that you’re acquainted with this area of the gun, do read more articles and learn more about its parts and function to further learn about how it works and how to use it.
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on handling a gun and its sound, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.
Author Bio:Hi, my name is Naser, a gun enthusiast who’s always on the lookout for new and exciting weapons to use and gun accessories to improve my skills. As someone who’s had experience with handling a gun since I was a teen, I have the expertise and skills to share with you my ideas and tips on how to handle a gun properly and with style. So come join me as I share my passion!
Did an editor read this before publication?
Gary, our guest author is not a native English speaker.
Actually they are called silencers since that is what Hiram Maxim called them. Plus the law calls them that.
Now there are some silencers in particular with rubber baffles or rubber and felt used by spy agencies that are super quiet.In fact in general a number of silencers used by covert agencies tend to be ones that can only be used for a mag or two then the silencer has to be tossed.
A welrod pushed up against someone is so quiet one can shot someone in movie theater and none of the theater goers would notice it. A DeLisle Carbine the bolt action of ejecting a spent round is louder then the muzzle blast. When the British were testing them out they were firing at the river Thames with crowds of tens of thousands of Londoners not knowing that there were people on the roofs of buildings firing these guns over the heads of the civilians. In fact so quiet are these world war 2 guns that according to the tale of them being tested and shown off to German high command at nighttime the high command was wondering when the demonstration was going to take place despite silencer equipped stens and silenced grease guns being fired right in front of them. The Germans were freaked out since the Americans and British had way better silenced weapons then the Germans had. There are a good number of world war 2 machine guns that when equipped with the silencers of the time all you hear is the casings hittin the floor and the bullets impacting.
I have a silenced gun that when fired wet with the proper amount of gel or water the only sound you her i the impact of the rounds. Dry it sounds like a loud cap gun.
Hi Gary,
I am the writer of this article. I sincerely apologize if my article had any mistakes or the information was wrong. Could you please point them out for me and I will be happy to learn and correct them in my future articles.
As Aaron said, I am not a native English speaker, but I am trying pretty hard to fit in.
@Mr Anonymous, thank you for sharing your views with Weapon Blog. I really appreciate your input.