Do silencers change a rifle's preferred load?

[haftime]

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.

Carbon wrapped barrel, 300 RUM with a Ti can, fingers crossed. Did you see signs of pressure? I know I'm already on that jagged line.

 

[med358-boise]

I looked at this issue a different way:

1) Will I ever buy a new rifle?
2) Will I ever try new bullets?

if the answer to either of those is "yes", then I am going to do load development anyway. Therefore, adding a suppressor is really no different than buying a new rifle or trying new bullets.

Personally, I first start with powders and bullets have a very good reputations for accuracy and research to see if there are "known good loads" for my cartridge. After that, I use the Optimal Charge Weight Method for load development. Using the preceding approach, I can have the load developed, confirmed, and the rifle zeroed in three range sessions or four at the most.

Granted, I don't shoot beyond 600 yards and I am satisfied with a sub .8 MOA group. I also don't worry about 100 fps in a velocity.

Sorry for the somewhat long winded and slightly off-topic answer, but many "challenges" in life can be mitigated by viewing the issue in a different light; i.e., don't worry so much about load development; embrace and improve your load development process.