Will a Suppressor Affect My Shooting?
One topic of debate is the effect of mounting a suppressor on accuracy. Many people seem to think that the addition of a suppressor makes a firearm inherently less accurate. So, let’s check and see if that is true.
I took a SIG Sauer M400 SDI X-Series with a Griffin Armament RECCE 5K 5.56mm suppressor and an FN SCAR 17S with a SilencerCo Chimera .30-caliber suppressor to the range to shoot some groups with and without suppressors. It was a cool and stormy day in Minnesota, but there is no such thing as a bad day when you’re at the range.
Related: How Does a Suppressor Work?
5.56 Suppressed vs. Unsuppressed
The first test rifle was the the 5.56 NATO SIG Sauer M400 SDI X-Series with the Griffin can and a 1-8x SIG Sauer Tango MSR optic. I fired two 10-round groups of PMC X-TAC 5.56 55-grain FMJ at a target set at 100 yards.
The first group was shot with the Griffin Armament Taper Mount RI muzzle brake. With a rough zero, the rifle printed about a 2-MOA group at 100 yards.
The next 10-round group on the SIG was shot with the addition of the Griffin Armament RECCE 5K 5.56 caliber suppressor using the same PMC ammunition, scope, and distance. This group printed about the same size as the unsuppressed one, with the only notable difference being a slight drop in point of aim to point of impact.
Considering I rarely shoot for groups, was using inexpensive shelf ammo, and shooting without bags or a bipod, I felt both groups were solid. The results are about as expected: I noticed basically no change in accuracy. The drop in point of impact came as no surprise, as anytime you add a weight to your barrel, there will be an effect on barrel dynamics. This is a good reminder why it’s important to zero or confirm zero after adding a can to a firearm.
.308 Suppressed vs. Unsuppressed
For the second pair of groups, I decided to step up the caliber and platform to the venerable FN SCAR 17S. The rifle is adorned with a Swampfox 1-6x Tomahawk II BDC reticle LPVO, and I used GGG 147-grain .308 FMJ ammo that is comparable to standard M80 ball.
Related Review: Swampfox Tomahawk II Riflescope Delivers Clear Value
The first nine-round (because I am from Alabama and can’t count) group was shot with the SilencerCo three-chamber QD muzzle brake at 100 yards. Including a flier or two that I pulled, the set posted around a 3-MOA group.
In the second nine-round group, the SCAR had the addition of the SilencerCo Chimera .30-caliber can. In an almost comical fashion, I pulled two fliers in this group, causing this group to also print around 2.5 to 3 MOA. Oddly enough, it appeared the group did not see the same shift in point of impact that I saw on the 5.56 control.
Results
Again, considering there were no bipods or bags supporting the rifle and the off-the-shelf grade ammo, I was satisfied with the groups. There was no change in observable accuracy between the suppressed and unsuppressed control groups on either rifle or caliber. While this is an incredibly small sample size, I think it is fair to say that outside of a small shift in point of impact, there is no detrimental change in accuracy when a suppressor is added.
Some suppressors and platforms may produce different results. But in tens of thousands of rounds of experience shooting suppressed, I can honestly say that I have never experienced a noticeable difference in accuracy between shooting suppressed or unsuppressed. On some platforms – especially from the PRS world – suppressors can increase the effective range of the firearm, meaning there is a positive change in accuracy.
Conclusion
Overall, suppressed shooting is the best way to shoot. If you don’t have a can, you should snag a few and add them to all your go-to firearms. It’s the modern age, and it’s time to start shooting civilized. Shooting suppressed will not have a major impact on the accuracy of the firearm, but it may have a positive effect on your personal accuracy. Typically, firearms are capable of much higher levels of accuracy than the shooter.
Shooter accuracy can be improved by several measures, one of which is reduction in noise and recoil. Considering that a firearm produces a controlled explosion in your hands, lessening the effects of that explosion can help the confidence and posture of the shooter – in turn helping to increase accuracy.
No matter what type of shooting you do, the only way you will improve is to hit the range and train. It is so important to exercise your Second Amendment right and master the craft.
