Suppressors for air and CO2 weapons
The silencer (also called compensator) is a device used to reduce the sound emissions of firearms. This makes it more difficult to locate the firing position, thereby increasing the shooter’s chances of remaining undetected after taking a shot. Silencers can be screwed onto the barrel or be permanently attached as an integral part of it. Such devices are used primarily by military and police special units.
General information on suppressors
The development of the suppressor can be traced back to 1894, when the inventor C. A. Aeppli patented the first design in this direction. However, it was only the US inventor Hiram Percy Maxim who, in 1908, succeeded in developing a suppressor suitable for mass production. The functional principle was based on preventing the sudden escape of gas into the air – and the resulting bang – by replacing it with a slow release.
When a shot is fired, the propellant gases expand inside the suppressor. Its internal structure is designed to slow the flow of gases. This prevents sound energy from being released into the environment. However, the suppressor’s function is limited to this single source of noise. It has no effect on mechanical sounds, such as those produced by a self-loading mechanism. Nor can a suppressor reduce the sonic crack of projectiles traveling at supersonic speed (more than 330 meters per second). Compensators can also help increase a weapon’s accuracy. The high gas pressure generated when a live weapon is fired also affects the projectile as it leaves the barrel. When a suppressor is used, this influence is reduced accordingly, making the weapon more accurate.
Suppressors for air and CO2 guns
The effectiveness of suppressors on such weapons depends heavily on their operating principle. In traditional air rifles, the required air pressure is generated by a spring-loaded piston that snaps forward and drives the projectile into the barrel. Here too, a compensator can only reduce the sound emissions of the muzzle blast by about 2 decibels. It has no effect whatsoever on the mechanical noise.
A little different with CO2 and compressed air weapons, as they produce fewer mechanical noises. Here, noise reductions of more than 20 decibels can be achieved.
For both spring- or air-powered and CO2 weapons, using a suppressor has no negative impact on their accuracy. In addition to reducing noise, suppressors offer the advantage of better leverage on break-barrel air rifles thanks to the longer barrel.
Compensators on airsoft weapons
For airsoft guns, suppressors play only a minor role in terms of function, as the low volume of the muzzle blast is negligible and most noise comes from the gearbox of AEGs (Automatic Electric Guns). However, it is quite possible that the sound of the gun will change. The situation is similar with spring-powered guns, as the noise generated when firing is caused by the piston and spring rather than at the muzzle. Suppressors are therefore used primarily to meet purely visual or stylistic preferences.
The police generally use bulletproof vests of protection level SK 1, as these provide protection against handgun ammunition while still being light and comfortable – ideal for everyday duty. These vests weigh around 2.0 to 3.5 kg.
Does a sound compensator increase accuracy?
For most weapons, accuracy improves when using a suppressor because it compensates for gas pressure and its influence on the projectile.
