Page 11 - Сигурност и отбрана - брой 2 - 2023

Security & Defense, Issue 2, 2023 Scientific journal

Suppressors are generally categorized into two separate groups –
contact and contactless. The main characteristic of the suppressors of the first
group is the use of obturators, which are rubber plugs locked in a metal
bracelet through which the projectile passes. Their function is to reduce the
main amount of gunpowder gases accelerating the bullet, as a result of which
the noise level during the firing of a shot is reduced.
In the second group, constructive solutions do not include the use of
obturators to achieve the desired effect. It is achieved by gradually increasing
the volume of space behind the projectile after it leaves the barrel. This is
accomplished through a series of mechanical elements in the limited volume
of the suppressor. An essential characteristic of this group is the option of
using both subsonic and supersonic ammunition. In modern operations,
systems with contactless suppressors are preferred, because during its
movement, after leaving the channel of the barrel, the bullet does not contact
the components of the suppressor, limiting its influence on the trajectory of
the projectile.
In contactless suppressors, the main phenomenon affecting projectile
movement is the changes (drops) in the pressure of the gunpowder gases in
the last period of the shot. Technical data on the changes in gas pressure in
suppressors is not publicly available, due to the manufacturers’ need to keep
the production secrets. Obtaining such data through experiments outside a
specially equipped laboratory is problematic, and this makes it difficult to
theoretically determine the suppressors’ influence on the results of shooting.
From a theoretical point of view, it is impossible for sudden changes in
the pressure of the gunpowder gases not to affect the bullet's flight, which is
scientifically proven by external ballistics. This publication addresses the
question of whether the impact that contactless suppressors have on grouping
and firing accuracy is essential in real-world weapon use in operations that
seek high precision and performance efficiency.
To find an answer to this question, it is necessary to conduct a practical
experiment. The actions for its implementation are divided into three stages
– planning and preparation, collection of empirical data, and processing and
analysis of the results.
The purpose of the presented study is to practically verify the degree of
influence of contactless suppressors on the accuracy and grouping of hits
when suppressed weapons are used at short distances. A key factor in such
firing conditions is the increased duration of the powder gases affecting the
projectile, which leads to an increase in its initial velocity, changing its
trajectory.

1. PLANNING AND PREPARATION
To achieve a theoretically valid result, the experimental process adheres
to a certain methodology. The first step comes down to choosing a specific

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