Suppressors

[Booze Zombie]

Did you know that suppressors (silencers), aren't quite as effective as the video games designers think they are?

Here's some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZU5TGljAmw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewtfy68HhTY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRk8DNMizw4&feature=fvw

According to an article I read, a suppressor lowers the sound of a conventional firearm using standard ammo to "only" 140 (give or take about 4-6) decibels, that's louder than a Marilyn Manson concert, I do believe.

After learning this, I can't help but feel that video games are misleading people.
Though it is possible to have an almost silent firearm, it's still quite rare, apparently.

How do you feel about this, do you even care about silencers on guns?

 

[quiet_samurai]

It also depends on the ammo and the quality and size of the supressor itself.

 

[3rd rung]

They don't make them that quite, but I have seen an MP5 silencer fire at full auto and it is scary how quite it is

 

[Wyes]

I think you mean 'by' 160 decibels, because I'm fairly sure that 160 decibels is very much in the 'ear-bleeding-brain-mush' range, with very minimal exaggeration (I believe the loudest sound ever heard, Mt Krakatoa erupting, was something around 180 dB).

It also depends a lot on the firearm; silencers for handguns are for the most part very effective, having reduced the sound to something more akin to a staple gun (a loud click). Apparently, the MP5SD makes more noise from the bolt ramming home than from the bullet itself firing. But, things such as automatic rifles, sniper rifles and shotguns don't have nearly as effective suppressors. For example, shotgun suppressors only lower the volume by something close to 4 dB, give or take.

However, hollywood's popularised this idea of the 'swoosh' sound from silencers, when in fact they tend to make a clicking sound (the aforementioned staple gun sound).

 

[fix-the-spade]

How do you feel about this, do you even care about silencers on guns?

To be honest, I refer you to Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

It's just a show, you should really just relax.

Everybody knows that game and movie silencers are complete bollocks. But that's not the point, they're a gameplay mechanic, they'd be no good if firing a silenced rifle attracted everyone in 300 metres.

Although to be fair some games have a reasonable take on it, like STALKER only gives you 'silent' fire if you're using subsonic ammunition and have quite some distance to the target, then they'll go apeshit when a bullets bounces off the wall next to them.

Besides, it's notlike operating a silencer is a practical skill you're ever going to need. If it was misleading first aid maybe it would be worth getting wound up over, but it's not.

What I'm trying to say in a long ramblimg way is my feeling on the subject is...

Meh.

 

[GreyWolf257]

Well, yeah. Think about it. Guns are loud. The only thing dampening the sound is this simple tube with a few extras to help make it more quiet. Video games will never and SHOULD never make their guns as loud as a real gun, as it will hurt your ears to play it.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I agree. I find it stupid that game devs use them as a 'make more awesome' device.
They also reduce the velocity of the bullet significantly.

They do increase the accuracy, though, in their defense.

Well, you did say "Conventional suppressors" and "Standard ammo". Wouldn't a SF guy use more advanced ammo/suppressors for missions?

I know video games always had it wrong, but I was wondering about that

A convential weapon, which, last time I checked, the army used.

The point is, with a silencer you're sacraficing bullet speed, range and power for what actually seems like little gain.

 

[Wyes]

I agree. I find it stupid that game devs use them as a 'make more awesome' device.
They also reduce the velocity of the bullet significantly.

They do increase the accuracy, though, in their defense.

I had something written here until I realised I was just repeating what the original quote said, awesome.

 

[darkless]

Yeah they also only last 3 or 4 shots before becoming useless.

 

[Wyes]

Yeah they also only last 3 or 4 shots before becoming useless.

That depends on the silencer. The most effective silencers only last a few shots, yes. More 'generic' silencers however have a longer usage time (though still, it isn't long).

 

[shadowelancer]

Generally silencers on guns wont get rid of the sound the slide makes as it goes back
and submachine guns are fairly loud still because the bolt is going back rapidly

 

[fix-the-spade]

I think you mean 'by' 160 decibels,

No he means 160db, the pressure difference in front of the barrel would easy be equivalent to that. Even a paintball gun will burst your eardrums if you get to close to the end of the barrel. The doppler effect makes a massive difference, it's much quieter behind or to the side of the barrel.

 

[xHipaboo420x]

After learning this, I can't help but feel that video games are misleading people.

But they're only following the example set by films, wherein a silenced gun sounds like a mouse getting stepped on.

There are games which spring to mind which have realistic (ish) surpressor effects, like Delta Force 1 & 2, MGS3, etc. but by and large I'd say there are two seperate worlds to warfare: the Hollywoodised, guns-go-boom-boom, silencers=omgstealth; and the real world, where such things ain't quite so, but also tend to be less enterataining.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

Suppressors only work when combined with a gun firing subsonic rounds.

Also off-topic but I had no idea you went on The Escapist so much Zombie!

 

[CuddlyCombine]

But lower the bullet velocity, so it's a trade off.

What? Suppressors (we're talking real-world ones) increase muzzle velocity and accuracy, velocity by an average of 30 feet per second or so. Of course, those are the high-end ones, which are basically just glorified muzzle brakes.

Anyway, in reply to the topic; Hollywood has fucked up pretty much every aspect of guns, from recoil to suppression. Movie physics are fucked in general.

 

[Wyes]

I think you mean 'by' 160 decibels,

No he means 160db, the pressure difference in front of the barrel would easy be equivalent to that. Even a paintball gun will burst your eardrums if you get to close to the end of the barrel. The doppler effect makes a massive difference, it's much quieter behind or to the side of the barrel.

I don't doubt that, but silencers work by eliminating the sound made by the expanding gas from the barrel, and subsonic ammunition is used to avoid a sonic boom, so I'm not sure that's where they'd measure it. I'm hardly an expert on the subject, but 160 dB for a suppressed weapon is still incredibly loud.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Suppressors only work when combined with a gun firing subsonic rounds.

Also off-topic but I had no idea you went on The Escapist so much Zombie!

Heh, heh.

I don't doubt that, but silencers work by eliminating the sound made by the expanding gas from the barrel, and subsonic ammunition is used to avoid a sonic boom, so I'm not sure that's where they'd measure it. I'm hardly an expert on the subject, but 160 dB for a suppressed weapon is still incredibly loud.

That's the point, man. Guns are loud, silencers ain't silent.

 

[Hiphophippo]

Did you know that suppressors (silencers), aren't quite as effective as the video games designers think they are?

Here's some videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZU5TGljAmw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewtfy68HhTY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRk8DNMizw4&feature=fvw

According to an article I read, a suppressor lowers the sound of a conventional firearm using standard ammo to "only" 160 (give or take about 4-6) decibels, that's louder than a Marilyn Manson concert, I do believe.

After learning this, I can't help but feel that video games are misleading people.
Though it is possible to have an almost silent firearm, it's still quite rare, apparently.

How do you feel about this, do you even care about silencers on guns?

Then I like videogame silencers better. I play videogames for the fantasy of it anyway. Modern Warfare 2, not so modern.

 

[OmegaXIII]

I think to fully convey all of the little nuances that go into making a proper silenced weapon (silencer sizes, ammo used etc etc) would weigh down a game quite heavily. I think in games it is merely an effect, i doubt absolute realism is paramount in this instance.

 

[Wyes]

Suppressors only work when combined with a gun firing subsonic rounds.

Also off-topic but I had no idea you went on The Escapist so much Zombie!

Heh, heh.

I don't doubt that, but silencers work by eliminating the sound made by the expanding gas from the barrel, and subsonic ammunition is used to avoid a sonic boom, so I'm not sure that's where they'd measure it. I'm hardly an expert on the subject, but 160 dB for a suppressed weapon is still incredibly loud.

That's the point, man. Guns are loud, silencers ain't silent.

Yeah, but 160 dB is akin to standing next to a tank firing it's main cannon as far as I know. You would go deaf after one shot.