Suppressors help or hurt velocity?

nebhunt

WKR
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Dec 28, 2018
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Maybe this has been discussed before, but I was wondering if a suppressor helps with the lost velocity of the bullet when the rifle barrel is cut down to install a suppressor? I know some of it would depend on the cartridge.
 
No.

Maybe a touch more velocity due to what has been called “freebore boost”. But, it’s never over 10-12 fps in my limited experience and reports from others.
 
So not enough to make up for the loss in velocity from cutting the barrel down? If a guy buys a 6.5 PRC because it can launch the same bullet 150 to 200 fps faster than a 6.5 Creedmoor can and cuts it down, he now has a PRC that is on par with the Creedmoor. If I'm not mistaken the Creedmoor already has a shorter barrel to start with.
 
So not enough to make up for the loss in velocity from cutting the barrel down? If a guy buys a 6.5 PRC because it can launch the same bullet 150 to 200 fps faster than a 6.5 Creedmoor can and cuts it down, he now has a PRC that is on par with the Creedmoor. If I'm not mistaken the Creedmoor already has a shorter barrel to start with.

A 16 inch 6.5 prc will roughly match a 22 inch 6.5 creed. 6 inches is a lot of barrel.

A suppressor makes it quieter and mitigates felt recoil. It’s not supposed to make it faster.
 
So not enough to make up for the loss in velocity from cutting the barrel down? If a guy buys a 6.5 PRC because it can launch the same bullet 150 to 200 fps faster than a 6.5 Creedmoor can and cuts it down, he now has a PRC that is on par with the Creedmoor. If I'm not mistaken the Creedmoor already has a shorter barrel to start with.
Same barrel length, always more velocity with more powder. Like others said, a 16” PRC is like a 22” Creedmoor.

Below 18” the difference starts to shrink a bit faster, but over 20” the difference holds fairly steady between a magnum and standard, or a .223 and 22 creed.
 
Anecdotal but I have a 7RM that I chronoed with no can, and see zero difference in my dope with the can on. Adjustments are the same with/without suppressor out to 650yds. The 0-12fps is well within ES you'd see from factory ammo anyway, and probably a lot of handloads.
 
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