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Do silencers change a rifle's preferred load?

haftime

haftime

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2018
Messages
75
Location
Mansfield,PA
Looking to purchase my 1st silencer and am wondering if you have had to change a rifle's favorite load? POI shifts I expect but starting over for several rifles has me spooked. What are your experiences with old handloads and adding a suppressor?
 
My opinion is no within reason. I have worked up loads suppressed and have the rifles shot braked with consistent groups but with the obvious POI shift. The opposite true as well. We are talking SC deer hunting distances of max 600 yards. If looking for a 1000yd load then work up the load how you will shoot the gun ie. suppressed, not suppressed, braked, etc.
 
Absolutely it will most likely change the POI because it completely changes the harmonics of the barrel, in addition a suppressor can also change velocities and corresponding pressures.

Since you asked this question and even for others this is a pretty good synopsis and when shooting 1kBR it is all about the details if you want to get wood. ;)

gundigest.com

Ballistics: Understanding Barrel Harmonics and Accuracy

"Barrel harmonics refers to how a barrel whips, torques and contorts. The idea of accuracy is simply a set of repeatable barrel harmonics.
gundigest.com gundigest.com
 
haftime said:
Looking to purchase my 1st silencer and am wondering if you have had to change a rifle's favorite load? POI shifts I expect but starting over for several rifles has me spooked. What are your experiences with old handloads and adding a suppressor?
Click to expand...
Yes, as with anything else, YMMV. I have a couple of loads that only have the POI shifts but not the group size; I get lucky occasionally. For another load, I had to tweak them. In short, it is best to do load development with whatever muzzle device you use. Good luck, and have fun with your new toy.
 
Last edited:
Boss Hoss said:
Absolutely it will most likely change the POI because it completely changes the harmonics of the barrel, in addition a suppressor can also change velocities and corresponding pressures.

Since you asked this question and even for others this is a pretty good synopsis and when shooting 1kBR it is all about the details if you want to get wood. ;)

gundigest.com

Ballistics: Understanding Barrel Harmonics and Accuracy

"Barrel harmonics refers to how a barrel whips, torques and contorts. The idea of accuracy is simply a set of repeatable barrel harmonics.
gundigest.com gundigest.com
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^^^

Maybe not guaranteed…….but, darn likely! memtb
 
Shane Lindsey said:
All are different. SOME of my loads only change POI, same group. Others won't shoot anywhere close to the small group.

By the way @Doc88, that 300 WM does not change the group, just POI :p
Click to expand...
I have similar experience. A great load with out a can on it. Put the can on and it wouldn't shoot for crap. Changed powder from IMR 4350 on that load to H1000 and it cleaned it up nice.

I'm sure it's different for everyone. I am not a fan of cutting my length off of my barrels. But regardless of cutting or not the harmonics change. So each rifle and load will be different.
 
This topic drives me a little crazy.

Speaking strictly about bolt action rifles:

Suppressors can impact a rifles accuracy and precision regardless of load.

Why? Barrel harmonics change dramatically. In some very rare instances you might need a change in charge if you have any exceptionally high back pressure can.

Long, skinny, fluted barrel with a heavy steel can now hanging off the end? Yeah, you're going to see a huge POI shift and likely some degradation in groups.

Thick profile, short barrel with a titanium can on the end? You might notice no difference at all.

My 20" 300 PRC with a 9oz titanium can has absolutely no change in accuracy or precision between can or no can.

A change in load could solve the issue, but it's important to note the distinction in cause and effect here.
 
I've never seen a load shoot worse through a suppressor than it did through a naked barrel, and that's over a fairly large sample size.

I've also had a fair number of loads shoot slightly better through a suppressor than they did pre-can.

I've certainly never had to create an entirely new load for the suppressor.

Admittedly, I tend to run shorter stiffer barrels (18-22"), so that could have some bearing on the results.
 
I have a 300 PRC and a 338-378 that I've started running cans on. These rifles are different in every aspect possible. I load for both. Both shot little low and little left. Other than that they are good.
It's possible your will shoot differently, but IMO the cans are definitely worth the effort of a new load.
 

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