Why buy subsonic ammunition

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New Products Introducing the latest products from the worldwide leader in ammunition. Want more from Hornady? Sign up to receive new product announcements, special offers, and the annual product catalog. According to the solicitation, subsonic bullets "experience significant accuracy problems due to excessive deviations in velocity.

This results in bullet that is far and away less accurate, doesn't go nearly as far, and "creates lower pressures which In technical jargon, the failure of a clean "burn" and the resulting lowered accuracy and range is called a failure of "obturation. The melted leading can be a pain in the ass to remove, and can permanently damage the weapon unless it's cleaned.

Likewise, a bullet can't be too light or too heavy, because too much in either direction can prevent the bullet from obturating. Using subsonic bullets also causes a greater risk of jamming, which in a firefight could mean the difference between life and death. Instead, the Pentagon has one idea about how to build a better subsonic bullet.

One solution could be using "polymer cased ammunition" as opposed to brass or steel. By utilizing both the subsonic ammo and a suppression device, rounds can be sent down range much more discreetly. When purchasing subsonic ammo, you also need to make sure that your firearm is able to produce an accurate shot with the added weight. Because this ammunition is usually heavier and fires at a slower rate typically under FPS , a tighter rifling and or more powder is required to make sure the round fires accurately.

Without ensuring this, you could end up with a misfire or botched shot. Not only are some weapons inaccurate when used with subsonic ammo, but it can cause the round to hit your suppressor in certain situations. If the ammunition is unable to stabilize before exiting the barrel, you may end up causing a baffle strike. When researched and applied safely, this type of ammunition can be a great tool for your future shooting.

The quality of the subsonic ammo you are firing may also be a key factor in how well it performs. Not all ammunition is made the same, and subsonic is no exception to tha. Depending on how the round is packed, marksman will experience more or less shot stability. This means that tightly packed ammo has less chance of losing accuracy or causing rifle damage. The charge amount can heavily impact your shot as well.

When paired with the speed reduction of subsonic ammo, a weak charge might only be adding to inaccuracy. By matching your charge to the bullet weight, you can edge the supersonic point and keep accuracy while remaining in the subsonic category. Subsonic ammunition is gaining in popularity because of the outstanding sound reduction when used with suppressors. Suppressors are typically attached while using subsonic ammunition, and if the round exits the barrel without stability, it can cause a baffle strike.

Supersonic ammo is fired fast enough to gain stability early on, so may be a better option to use in your gun. With many weapons, subsonic ammo is too heavy to use, but researching the way your firearm will react to subsonic ammo can help you find out if they will make a good pair.