Centerfire

Centerfire firearm suppressors are designed to be stronger than their rimfire counterparts, as they need to withstand the higher pressures generated by centerfire ammunition. Centerfire suppressors are also designed to be more versatile, as they can be used on a variety of calibers, from handguns to rifles.

One important consideration when using a suppressor is whether to use subsonic or supersonic ammunition. Subsonic ammunition is generally preferred with suppressors, as it keeps the velocity of the bullet below the speed of sound, which helps to reduce the noise generated by the bullet breaking the sound barrier. This is because the sound of the bullet breaking the sound barrier creates a ballistic crack, which can be heard even when the report of the firearm is reduced by the suppressor.

When using a suppressor with supersonic ammunition, the suppressor still reduces the noise of the report, but the ballistic crack can still be heard. This can be problematic in situations where noise reduction is a priority, such as when hunting or shooting in populated areas.

Another consideration when using a suppressor is the increase in gas pressure that can occur when firing through a suppressor. This increase in gas pressure can cause issues with semi-automatic firearms, as it can prevent the firearm from cycling reliably. Bolt-action firearms do not have this problem, as the bolt is manually cycled by the shooter.

To address this issue, some firearms are equipped with adjustable gas systems. These systems allow the user to adjust the amount of gas that is used to cycle the firearm, which can help to ensure reliable cycling when using a suppressor. However, not all firearms have adjustable gas systems, and some may still have reliability issues when using a suppressor.