This white paper was prepared for the Powell Police Department. It makes the case that suppressors pay for themselves on agency rifles, through officers' hearing, accuracy and the department's liability.
How a suppressor works
In 1909, Hiram Percy Maxim patented the first firearm suppressor, which he called the Maxim Silencer, to reduce noise pollution. No tool can make a gunshot silent, but a suppressor is the only tool that reduces the noise at the source. When a gun is fired, burning powder propels the bullet down the barrel, and when the bullet leaves the muzzle the hot gases escape all at once: the muzzle blast, one of the main sources of a gunshot's noise. A suppressor traps and disrupts those gases so they dissipate slowly. It is the same science as an automobile muffler, another of Maxim's early inventions.
How suppressors pay for themselves
A study published on February 4, 2015 assessed noise-induced hearing loss in 543 police personnel who had periodic medical examinations over a 12-month period. Their mean service was 14.75 years, and 34.2% had noise-induced hearing loss. Lawsuits, back pay and forced retirement over hearing loss cost departments money and manpower.
Officers can't stop a gunfight to put on hearing protection, and they can't wear it for a whole shift. Add the risk of claims from bystanders within range of a shootout, and the cost of early retirements and lawsuits can convince a jurisdiction's risk analyst that suppressors on agency firearms are a good deal.
Accuracy
Flinching in anticipation of the shot and recoil is one of the most common causes of poor accuracy. By containing the gases at the muzzle, a suppressor reduces recoil, flinch and muzzle flash, for better shot placement.
The recommendation
For the Powell Police Department we recommended the Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T3. It adds about 7 inches and 12 ounces to each rifle and is rated at 134 dB on a 10.5-inch barrel. Pathfinder Defense provides installation, training and service.
The original is available as a PDF. Agencies: see our law enforcement services, or call Adam at 307-921-0038.