Subsonic Ammo Round-Up
By: "Shooting Times" Staff Report
(Photo courtesy of "Shooting Times")
Keep quiet by feeding your suppressor the right ammo
You finally break your new hush tube out of jail. After picking it up from solitary, you get it prepped and strapped to your weapon of choice. You just can’t wait to not hear it. You slap in the mag, charge your weapon and pull the trigger. It’s not exactly a “boom,” but you find that your ears are ringing a bit. Well, that wasn’t very quiet, you think. What happened?
More than likely you brought the wrong ammunition. Most suppressors will bring a firearm’s report under the hearing safe 140 dB with standard ammo, but you’ll still be dealing with the supersonic crack as the bullet breaks the sound barrier. Subsonic ammunition uses heavier bullet weights and keeps the projectile’s velocity under the 1,100 fps supersonic threshold, eliminating the crack and thus maximizing the suppressor’s capabilities.
Subsonic ammunition is available in many calibers, but not all will allow a semiautomatic firearm to properly function. For instance, subsonic .308 ammo should only to be used in a manually operated gun. With the reduced velocity, of course, comes reduced effective ranges. Going into suppressed shooting with the proper expectations will ensure your enjoyment.
Several manufacturers provided Suppressor magazine with subsonic ammo for review, and they’re listed here. Keep in mind that this is a small sampling. There are many other manufacturers and calibers on the market.
.308 Win.
RUAG SWISS P
.308 Win., 200-gr. HPBT
$69/20 rd.
ruagswissp.com
9mm Luger
HPR EMCON
9mm Luger, 147-gr. FMJ/ JHP
$24 – $40/50 rd.
hprammo.com
22LR
GEMTECH
.22LR, 42-gr. LRN
$60/500 rd.; $550/5,000 rd.
gem-tech.com
300 BLK
GORILLA AMMUNITION
.300 BLK, 220-gr. Sierra MatchKing
$29/20 rds.
gorillaammo.com
REMINGTON
.300 BLK, 220-gr. OTM
$25/20 rd.
remington.com
SIG SAUER ELITE PERFORMANCE AMMUNITION
.300 BLK, 220-gr. Sierra MatchKing
$21/20 rd.
sigsauer.com
SILENCERCO
.300 BLK, 220-gr. Sierra MatchKing
$24/20 rd.
silencerco.com
HORNADY
.300 Whisper, 208-gr. A-MAX
$35/20 rd.
hornady.com
BLACK HILLS
.300 Whisper, 220 gr. OTM
$30/20 rd.
black-hills.com
NOSLER MATCH GRADE
.300 BLK, 220-gr. Custom Competition
$44/20 rd.
nosler.com
GEMTECH
.300 BLK, 187- and 220-gr. HPBT
$22 – $25/20 rd; $3/5-rd. sample pack
gem-tech.com
HPR EMCON
.300 BLK, 220-gr. HPBT
$28/20 rd.
hprammo.com
RUAG SWISS P
.300 Whisper, 220-gr. HPBT
$38/20 rd.
ruagswissp.com