Airsoft Silencers Debunked

[chunknorris]

I’ve seen some information being discussed lately about the use of silencers in airsoft. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from using them in airsoft, but I saw some misinformation being talked about, with out factual information to back up the argument. So in light of clearing up some of that information, I’ve done my research and come up with some facts.

Wikipedia says:
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device either attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. Although suppressors are popularly known as silencers, no suppressor completely eliminates the noise of discharging a firearm.
It generally takes the form of a cylindrically shaped metal tube with various internal mechanisms to reduce the sound of firing by slowing the escaping propellant gas and sometimes by reducing the velocity of the bullet.

This, of course, is how a real suppressor would work, on a real steel gun. I think a lot of people will play airsoft with a real steel mentality, since everything feels so real. But in airsoft, a suppressor can only do three things.
1. SLIGHTY dampen/or change the sound of the muzzle.
2. Give you the ability to put in a longer barrel by hiding it within the suppressor.
3. Look cool.

The barrel gives stability and keeps pressure behind the BB, once it’s fired from the hop up. Once it leaves that barrel, even into a suppressor, the volume of air behind the BB isn’t enough to propel it through a wider cylindrical diameter. Which is why the myth that a silencer can add accuracy and distance is indeed a myth. You can not gain accuracy or range or fps of any sort from a suppressor. Airsoft works on Blowgun Physics and Ballistics.
You also have to think about what you’re shooting. A full auto AEG, with a suppressor, will not sound any quieter than one without. There are moving parts inside the gun that are much louder than any noise coming from the muzzle. The clanking of the piston, the motor sounds are all noisy. So an AEG is not a likely candidate for a silencer due to the other noise factors it has.

The only airsoft gun I was able to find people talking about a suppressor working on, was a NBB rifle. Since the only sound it noticeably makes is the noise from the muzzle. So in some cases, a silencer was effective with a NBB Gas rifle.

Difference in decibels using a silencer
This was a test done at Redwolf Airsoft (http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwol...il?bulletID=77) using different brands of silencers.

All values below are in Decibels.
M4 Birdcage Flash hider Madbull Noise-Maker Madbull KX3 Noveske Amplifier King Arms 30mm Diameter King Arms 40mm Diameter G&P Stubby Silencer G&P Long Silencer Tokyo Marui Tracer Silencer PFI Smoke Cap Silencer Madbull Gemtech G5 Silencer
90.8 88.8 88.6 89.3 87.2 89.6 88.8 89.9 89.2 88.0
89.0 86.1 92.3 88.9 83.4 84.9 87.4 87.7 85.1 86.5
86.2 85.7 94.5 88.0 87.0 87.5 84.2 89.0 89.3 85.2
86.0 91.4 90.1 89.0 84.6 83.7 87.8 88.3 90.2 86.7
89.6 88.5 94.1 89.7 86.4 85.5 83.6 88.7 86.4 85.7
avg: 88.3 avg: 88.1 avg: 91.9 avg: 89.0 avg: 85.7 avg: 86.2 avg: 86.4 avg: 88.7 avg: 88.0 avg: 86.4
The average background noise during the test was 50db and bear in mind that an AEG was used so some noise also came from the motor and gearbox. BIRDCAGE flash hider is the stock gun, no suppressor.

You can see how some are effective, lowering the db level by a couple decibels. When you are talking 1 or 2 decibels, the difference is very minute and the human ear isn’t going to notice much of a difference between such a small variation of sound. Interestingly enough, this is also where you get into legal issues with airsoft silencers.

Most will argue that since an airsoft silencer can’t go on a real firearm, or at least be used by one, that this is B.S. But according to airsoftforum.com, redwolf airsoft, airsoftsociety.com, and airsoftcore.com, in which all forums provided numerous links to ATF and local authority sights regarding the use of silencers.

The legal issue isn’t the look of the silencer. That is fine. But according to federal law, real or fake (including paintball!) an attachment on the end of a muzzle that decreases the overall report by more than 1db, makes it illegal.

The keyword is “mock.” If you have a mock silencer that just is there for looks or to extend your barrel then that’s fine. But if you have a silencer that lowers the report of your muzzle, then that is illegal… even in airsoft.

I can’t say that this law is enforced heavily, but there is no reason it couldn’t be. I found the information while researching airsoft silencers and thought it would be important for people to know. With airsoft kind of viewed in a negative way by the general public, you never know when you could run into the authorities for just playing airsoft, even on private land.

I personally think mock silencers are sweet, and can make a gun look more aggressive. Just don’t expect to gain any performance from one.

I hope this information clears up some questions or rumors. I didn’t write all this for people to come in here and start bashing each other, so please mind what you say. Or at least have the factual information to back up your point in a constructive way. This information is for all of us to learn from! Thanks guys!