Gun Silencers: Separating Movie Myths from Reality

Do silencers truly silence gunfire like in the movies, or is it just another Hollywood exaggeration? Let's delve into the science and history behind these devices to uncover the truth.

A Brief History of Silencers

The concept of reducing a gun's sound dates back to the early 20th century. In 1909, American inventor Hiram Percy Maxim, son of the machine gun inventor Hiram Stevens Maxim, patented the first commercially successful silencer. Since then, films have depicted silenced gunfire in various ways, ranging from somewhat realistic to downright absurd. From the bizarre 'puff' noises in 1933's Corruption to the iconic 'pew' sound effect popularized in the 80s and 90s, Hollywood has taken many liberties.

How Silencers Work: The Science Behind the Sound

To understand how silencers work, we first need to understand what causes the sound of a gunshot. The loud bang comes from two primary sources:

Expanding Gases: The rapid expansion of gases exiting the firearm.
Sonic Booms: Tiny sonic booms created when bullets travel faster than the speed of sound.

Silencers, also known as suppressors, come in two main types:

Detachable: Screwed onto the muzzle of the gun.
Integral: Built directly into the gun.

Regardless of the type, silencers operate on the same basic principle. The inside of the device contains baffles, which are internal walls with a central hole for the bullet to pass through. When the gun is fired, the bullet travels through the silencer, while the gases are redirected into the chambers created by the baffles. This process decelerates the gases, causing them to exit the silencer at a slower speed and over a longer period, thus reducing the noise.

The Limitations of Silencers

While silencers can reduce the sound of a gunshot, they cannot eliminate it entirely. Here's why:

Sonic Booms: Silencers can't do much about the sonic booms created by bullets traveling faster than the speed of sound.
Mechanical Noise: The internal mechanisms of the gun also produce noise, which is difficult to eliminate.

As a result, it's nearly impossible to completely silence a firearm. Silencers typically reduce the sound of a gunshot to a quieter, but still noticeable, crack.

Unsuppressed gunfire can reach volumes of 150 to 170 decibels, loud enough to cause hearing damage. Silencers can reduce this by around 30 decibels, bringing the volume down to approximately 120 decibels. While quieter, this is still far from silent.

Silencer vs. Suppressor: What's the Difference?

The terms 'silencer' and 'suppressor' are often used interchangeably, but 'suppressor' is considered a more accurate term. The original name, 'silencer,' was coined by Hiram Percy Maxim. The term 'suppressor' gained traction as it more realistically reflects the level of noise reduction achieved.

Alternative Methods for Quieter Gunfire

Some firearms are designed to be as quiet as possible, utilizing alternative methods such as:

Subsonic Ammunition: Prevents bullets from breaking the sound barrier.
Captive Piston Silencing: Uses specially designed rounds with a piston that traps the propellant gases inside the cartridge.

Even with these specialized techniques, the sound reduction is limited. For example, the British-made De Lisle Carbine, which combines an integrated suppressor with subsonic ammunition, fires at around 85 decibels, about as loud as a car wash.

The Purpose of Silencers

If silencers don't make guns silent, what's the point? They offer several benefits:

Sound Reduction: Even a moderate reduction in noise can make a gunshot unrecognisable or difficult to pinpoint.
Hearing Protection: Silencers can significantly reduce the risk of hearing loss associated with frequent gunfire.
Improved Handling: The added weight of a silencer can reduce recoil and muzzle lift, making the weapon easier to control.

Conclusion

While Hollywood often portrays silencers as devices that can reduce a gunshot to a near-silent 'pew,' the reality is far different. Silencers can reduce the sound of gunfire, but they cannot eliminate it entirely. The stereotypical, muted sound effect is largely a myth. While truly silent weapons may exist, they are not readily available to the public. So, the next time you see a movie character using a silenced gun, remember that it's more fiction than fact.