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Sound is energy. It travels as waves, and can only do so through a medium such as air, water, or a solid. That's why the tagline for Alien (1979) is scientifically accurate: "In space, no one can hear you scream" because space is a vacuum. There is no medium there for sound waves to travel through.
The speed at which sound travels through Earth's atmosphere is dependent on several factors. Altitude and temperature are chief among them. At sea level and 68 °F, the speed of sound equals 1,125 feet per second (fps), or 767 mph.
Anyone who has cracked a whip or attended a proper air show has witnessed what happens when an object accelerates faster than the speed of sound. It produces a sonic boom: a shockwave of compressed air, which releases its energy as a thunderous change in pressure.
Naturally, whips and jet engines aren't the only manmade objects capable of breaking the sound barrier. Bullets also produce sonic booms when they emerge from the muzzle faster than speed of sound (which we'll assume to be 1,125 fps for future reference).
We can thus categorize ammunition in two different ways: subsonic, which does not emit a sharp, piercing, cracking report on ignition; and supersonic, which does.
To be sure, one type of ammunition isn't necessarily subsonic or supersonic by definition. It depends on the ammo. For example, some cartridges are exclusively subsonic (i.e. attain muzzle velocity lower than 1,125 fps), such as the 25 ACP and 455 Webley. Others are normally subsonic, but may become supersonic when they are (A) +P (i.e. loaded "hotter" than standard) and/or (B) seated with abnormally lightweight bullets.
For example, a conventional 45 ACP cartridge is loaded with a 230 grain (~0.53 ounce) projectile and attains ~835 fps muzzle velocity out of a 5 inch barrel. But because Liberty Ammunition loads their Civil Defense series 45 ACP +P cartridge with a more powerful propellant charge and 78 grain (~0.18 ounce) bullet, it achieves an astounding (and supersonic) 1,900 fps muzzle velocity.
Many cartridges are normally available in subsonic and supersonic variants. The 9mm is the most popular among them. When a standard 9mm cartridge's bullet weighs 147 grains, its muzzle velocity out of a 4 inch barrel is ~1,000 fps. But when its bullet weighs 115 grains, its muzzle velocity rises to ~1,180 fps. That's inertia in action: when two objects of varying mass are accelerated to the same velocity, greater energy is required to accelerate the more massive object.
To put it a different way, imagine you are pushing two fat guys into a pool. You would rightly expect to expend more effort pushing the fatter guy. If you were to expend identical effort pushing both, then the fatter guy would necessarily travel the shorter distance. (For more information, read Fat Guy Physics by Sir Stephen Hawking.)
Two other very popular cartridges are commonly available in subsonic and supersonic variants: 22 LR, and 300 AAC Blackout. The former is subsonic when it is intended for precision shooting (we'll touch on why momentarily), or marketed toward shooters who want reduced noise while they are target shooting or varmint hunting. The latter is an intermediate combat cartridge that is specifically designed to deliver excellent subsonic, suppressed performance. It is subsonic when its bullet weighs 190 grains or heavier, although supersonic 300 AAC Blackout ammo (which is loaded with 150 grain and lighter bullets) is abundant as well.
Many other cartridges are supersonic by design. Although odd subsonic variants do exist, the 5.56x45mm (the AR-15's standard chambering) and 7.62x51mm (the military equivalent of 308 Winchester) are nearly exclusively supersonic. So too are the 300 Winchester Magnum, 30-06 Springfield, and 30 Super Carry, to name only a few.
We already touched on some of the relative advantages and disadvantages of subsonic vs. supersonic ammunition. Let's reprise by laying out all the pros and cons of subsonic ammo.
Quiet. Subsonic ammo still produces noticeable noise on ignition. But because its report doesn't include the sharp "crack" of a sonic boom, a subsonic cartridge is quieter than a supersonic alternative.
Suppressor performance. A suppressor (also known as a "silencer," although that name is inaccurate because the device does not literally "silence" a firearm's report) is designed to muffle the sound of gunfire. What it is not designed to do is dampen the effect of a sonic boom in any way, shape or form. You can fire supersonic ammo through a suppressor, but the device can only exhibit its fullest potential in conjunction with subsonic ammo.
Accuracy. An interesting phenomenon occurs when an object's velocity transitions from super- to subsonic: "transonic destabilization," which causes said object to wobble. This is why match-grade 22 LR ammo is exclusively subsonic. If it weren't, then the bullet would lose too much gyroscopic stability to remain accurate beyond ~50 yards.
Weak. Subsonic ammunition isn't necessarily weaker than supersonic. For example, a 9mm 115 grain bullet can be just as effective at neutralizing a threat as a 147 grain one. That aside, it often is weaker. For example, compare CCI's supersonic Target Mini-Mag and subsonic Pistol Match series 22 LR cartridges. Both are loaded with 40 grain bullets. Because the former's muzzle velocity is 1,235 fps, its striking energy at 50 yards equals 106 foot-pounds (ft-lbs). But because the latter's muzzle velocity is 1,070 fps, its striking energy at the same range is ~20% lower at 85 ft-lbs.
Bullet drop. The effect of gravity is constant. It pulls bullets downward regardless of how fast they are traveling. Even so, a higher-velocity bullet will exhibit less drop between points A and B than a lower-velocity one. This is precisely because it is traveling faster – effectively giving gravity less time to pull it downward when it reaches any given distance. It's important to note that a bullet isn't necessarily "less accurate" just because its trajectory exhibits steeper bullet drop. In fact, a heavy bullet can be said to be "more accurate," as its greater inertia grants it greater resistance to wind drift. That being said, steeper bullet drop can complicate aiming somewhat. A flatter trajectory requires the shooter to do less mental calculus, and is generally more forgiving of ranging errors.
Barrel length has a significant impact on muzzle velocity. A longer barrel gives exploding propellant more time to exert its energy against the base of the bullet, thereby granting the bullet a higher velocity. Conversely, a shorter barrel may not even allow all of the propellant to combust by the time the bullet exits the muzzle. (Exceptions do apply; for example, a longer barrel may produce a lower muzzle velocity if its bore is more constricted than a shorter barrel's.)
Keep this in mind as you determine whether ammo is subsonic or not. For example, a cartridge that attains 1,100 fps muzzle velocity out of a 4 inch barrel is likely to become supersonic in conjunction with a longer barrel. Also, take note that rimfire ammo manufacturers commonly record muzzle velocity using rifle-length test barrels. If a 22 LR round's muzzle velocity is 1,200 fps out of a 20 inch barrel, then you can be assured it will be subsonic out of a handgun.
To summarize: when compared to supersonic ammo, subsonic ammo is (A) quieter, (B) better suited for suppressor use, and (C) potentially more accurate because its bullets don't lose rotational stability as a result of transitioning from super- to subsonic velocity. Subsonic ammo is also potentially weaker than supersonic ammo, and exhibits steeper bullet drop (which can complicate aiming across farther distances).
Do you own a suppressor? Then you owe it to yourself to see what it's truly capable of. Order some subsonic ammunition from Lucky Gunner, and our lightning-fast shipping will ensure that you are shooting real subtly, real soon.
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