What is Subsonic ammunition, and why might you need it in your firearm stockpile? There is a lot of hype behind these bullets, but if you are not up to date on trends it can be easy to miss the memo. With the rise in suppressor popularity, it is being noticed that subsonic ammo is the perfect match if your goal is a quiet shot. While the difference may not be noticeable without a silencer or suppressor, there is a big difference in sound produced versus supersonic ammunition when triggered. (Soruce)

What is Subsonic Ammunition?

Subsonic ammo by definition is a bullet that fails to travel faster than the speed of sound, preventing it from breaking the sound barrier (this creates the loud crack that you typically hear when a round is shot). When combined with noise suppression, subsonic ammunition will create a noticeable change in noise, preventing unnecessary sound while shooting your firearm. This can be a huge benefit for adding stealth and discretion to your shooting when used safely.

What are the Benefits of Subsonic Ammo?

The main benefit of subsonic ammunition is the lack of noise produced when shooting compared to supersonic ammo. When combined with the correct firearm and noise suppressor, this ammo can make for a reliable and quiet shot, potentially leading to an improved hunting experience and self defense usage. This makes it a great addition to any arsenal if you are a serious collector and user; however, you will need the right firearm and suppressor to avoid misuse.

What you need to know about Subsonic Ammunition 

Not all firearms are made to cycle subsonic ammunition. Some calibers are too small or lack the power to effectively use the heavier, slower rounds. Other weapons do not have the barrel rifling that subsonic rounds need to stabilize in the barrel of your firearm. If you want to learn more about types of ammunition and their usage, you should check some quality reviews that can help you with this.

Aside from having to verify that the ammo and gun are compatible, a suppressor/silencer will also have to be added to see the actual benefit of subsonic ammo. While it may not have the same crack, like any other ammunition it will naturally still be loud when shot. On the other side of things, a suppressor will quiet your shot, but supersonic ammo still produces that crack. 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 1100 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. This can cause some serious damage to property and to yourself, so researching how your firearm’s rifling and caliber responds to different ammo is a very important part of the decision making process. When researched and applied safely, this type of ammunition can be a great tool for your future shooting.

How to choose Subsonic Ammo

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 much powder is used, the casing space and load size/material, you may find that some rounds will work far better in your particular gun. 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. While this might sound great if you are looking to add discretion to your shot, firing this type of ammo from a weapon that can’t efficiently stabilize the round can actually be dangerous to you, your surroundings. and your rifle.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.