All About Subsonic Ammunition
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over subsonic
ammunition today. This type of
ammunition is prevalent and has been used by shooters of all types for many years. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of subsonic
ammo while delving into use cases, considerations, features, and more. Now, let’s talk about subsonic
ammunition.
What is Subsonic Ammunition?
Put plainly, subsonic
ammunition is
ammo which operates at low velocities and do not break the sound barrier. When firing non-subsonic
ammunition, shooters will hear a distinctive “crack” after the initial report of the firearm. This audible crack comes from the breaking of the sound barrier, a phenomenon common with supersonic velocities. As such, non-subsonic loadings are simply referred to as supersonic loadings. This supersonic crack is noticeably absent on subsonic
ammo offerings as the sound barrier is not being broken.
Subsonic loadings differentiate themselves from supersonic loadings in a variety of ways. Of course, the velocity of the types of loadings are quite different. Supersonic loadings are traveling much faster than their subsonic counterparts. This lack of velocity may lead to some firearms having issues reliably cycling and feeding
ammunition in a semi-automatic firearm. Of course, the addition of a suppressor can aid in cycling subsonic
ammo due to the extra backpressure provided by the device. Additionally, these types of loadings typically feature heavier projectiles than their supersonic counterparts.
Subsonic
ammunition is commonly available in a variety of popular pistol, rifle, and rimfire loadings. Handgun calibers such as
9mm Luger,
.40 Smith & Wesson,
10mm Auto, and
5.7x28mm to name a few. Common subsonic rifle loadings include
5.56x45mm NATO,
.300 Blackout,
.308 Winchester, and
7.62x39 among others. Rimfire loadings will generally be in the form of
.22 Short, .22 Long, and
.22 Long Rifle.
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Is Subsonic Ammunition Hearing Safe?
While subsonic
ammunition is certainly significantly quieter than supersonic
ammo is, it is far from hearing safe. Even if one does not feel a sharp, stinging, sensation if shooting subsonic
ammunition without ear protection, one still runs the risk of incurring hearing damage. Due to this fact, one should still wear proper ear protection even when shooting subsonic
ammunition. Hearing damage is an immediate and irreparable phenomenon, meaning shooters should make every effort to protect themselves. While subsonic
ammunition is not hearing safe on its own, it certainly has the potential to generate a hearing safe report when used with a suppressor.
Suppressed Use
Subsonic
ammunition is well-suited for use with suppressors. Of course, suppressors can be used with supersonic
ammunition, but are unlikely to eliminate the supersonic “crack” when firing. Needless to say, while suppressors may reduce overall signature when firing supersonic
ammo, the experience is far from hearing safe. When subsonic
ammunition is used with a suppressor, one can potentially have a hearing safe shooting experience. This is to say that the decibel output is reduced to a level which will not cause substantial and immediate damage to one’s hearing.
Of course, the level of reduction is ultimately dependent upon things such as barrel length, “port pop,” the specific loading used, and specific suppressor used. In many cases, it is still advisable to use ear protection of some kind, even when shooting suppressed.
What About Naturally Subsonic Calibers?
Notably, some standard loadings, specific loadings, and calibers in general will tend to be naturally subsonic. For example, most standard
.45 ACP ammo of the 230 grain full metal jacket (FMJ) variety will naturally be subsonic. This is also notably the case for
.38 Special loadings, specifically those in 158 grain form. These loadings simply are not traveling fast enough to break the sound barrier and qualify as supersonic.
Additionally, some loadings which are marked as standard velocity will in fact be subsonic when fired out of specific barrel lengths. This phenomenon is most noticeable with standard velocity
.22 Long Rifle ammo when used in short barrels. Generally speaking, if you use standard velocity
.22 Long Rifle ammunition in a 4.4” barreled handgun, you will be working with subsonic velocities. This fact is why Ruger pistols such as the Mark IV are very popular among suppressed shooters.
Can You Shoot Subsonic Ammunition Without a Suppressor?
It is absolutely possible to shoot subsonic
ammunition without a suppressor. As mentioned above, the standard and common loadings for some calibers are in the subsonic velocity range. Of course,
.38 Special and other cartridges utilized in manual action firearms will have zero issue cycling. This is because they do not require inertia or impulse to cycle and rely on the user to accomplish this task. With semi-automatic firearms, there can sometimes be issues with reliably cycling subsonic
ammunition. This is mainly due to lower velocities and the fact that less inertia is generated by these types of loadings.
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Who Makes Subsonic Ammo?
At this point in time, purpose-built subsonic
ammunition is offered by a wide range of companies. Generally speaking, most subsonic
ammunition is only slightly more expensive than typical
ammo offerings. Granted, some specialty offerings will demand premium prices as they are also loaded with specialty projectiles such as
Black Hills Ammunition’s HoneyBadger offerings. Companies such as
Magtech,
Sellier & Bellot,
Hornady, and
Winchester are among the producers of subsonic
ammo. At this point in time, one will be able to find subsonic
ammunition for a variety of calibers with little to no difficulty. Loadings of this type can often be encounter on shelves and is especially easy to find if you
buy ammo online.
Conclusion
All in all, subsonic
ammunition is a popular category of
ammunition which is utilized by many shooters. Everyone from suppressed shooters to casual recreational shooters employ
ammunition of the subsonic variety. We here at True Shot Ammo have a vast inventory of
ammunition for sale. In addition to being able to
buy ammo of the subsonic variety, one can also
stock up on ammo for other types of shooting. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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