A good story on suppressors . . . . from NPR?!?!

[monkeylizard]

I caught the audio version of this on the radio this morning. Well presented by NPR. I'm shocked. I think the audio can be played via the blue button at the top left of the article.

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/26/539438864/military-tries-to-cut-through-the-noise-of-war

It was nice to hear them describe and then demonstrate that "silencer" is a misnomer. In the audio version, they demonstrate an M4 fired unsuppressed and suppressed. Well done.

Quote

Suppressors are probably familiar to anyone who's seen a James Bond movie. In firearms law and popular culture they're called "silencers."

That name's not really accurate, though. Up close, they turn a painful, deafening noise into simply a loud one, making it more of a "thump" than a sharp crack.

"We're taking the M4 carbine from about 160 decibels at the shooter's right ear, if he's right-handed, down to about 130," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade. "130 decibels is still quite loud."

Edited July 26, 2017 by monkeylizard

[E4 No More]

It's about damned time!

[Whisper]

Yeah, this is a remarkable story for NPR, since they have to be aware that greater acceptance of suppressors/silencers in the military will likely spread into the civilian world also.  Maybe they're going to start reporting more honestly on firearms related issues...naw, stop dreaming.

Cheers,

Whisper