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45 ACP which is already subsonic, and the 9mm.
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For handguns, your two biggest, and most common contenders are the. If you’re thinking hunting, cartridges like the. The 7.62x39mm is another that can be made to be a great subsonic cartridge (but most factory ammo is supersonic). 300 blackout, designed specifically to accommodate both subsonic and supersonic loads in the same rifle with minimal adjustments. Probably the most prolific in recent years is the. As a rule of thumb, you want to think heavy bullets and limited case capacity. This isn’t a cut and dry list, rather some common and effective options, compatible with many of the suppressors and hardware that’s out there. When you’re getting started, it pays to know some of the more ideal cartridges for utilizing subsonic loads as seamlessly as possible. 22 LR shooters have the wisest variety of subsonic options, with loads from just about every manufacturer. 308 bolt action is perfect for subsonics, but if you use them in a standard AR-10 they will be quiet, but you must cycle the action manually for every shot. Finally, understand that unless designed to function specifically with subsonics, many semi-autos will not cycle if the ammunition is simply loaded down. 460 end cap on the same suppressor with the same load and it’s much louder. For example, a 200 grain, 10mm subsonic load is very quiet with the correct end cap. An under-pressured subsonic cartridge may sometimes not quiet down well in an over-bored suppressor. 223), and they work great with supersonic loads, but a cartridge must generate enough gas pressure to pressurize the can in order to slow and quiet the gasses down. It’s common to use an over-bored suppressor (think. Another thing to consider is the suppressor itself. A few shots through paper are an easy way to verify stabilization. This can cause a baffle strike, causing serious injury and damage. Subsonic loads typically use heavier bullets that may not stabilize with some slower-twist barrels. The most important, is to verify that your gun is stabilizing the subsonic bullets before shooting them through a suppressor. If you’re dipping your toes into the world of suppressors and subsonics for the first time, there are a few things to be aware of when selecting your gun, cartridge, and suppressor.
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