The video opens at Take Aim Training and Range with a focus on shooting everything suppressed, whether called suppressors or silencers. The host argues that suppressors function like mufflers for firearms and believes they should not be regulated as firearms under the NFA. Suppressors are presented as a safety device that reduces sound for shooters and bystanders, especially in hunting or range environments. Even with a can, the host still prefers to wear hearing protection due to existing hearing damage, but notes that suppressed fire is noticeably quieter and more polite to others nearby. The goal of the video is to explore which calibers perform best when shot through a suppressor.
The first caliber demonstrated is 5.56 NATO on a short rifle, described as a “short boy” Mk18-style setup. Shooting suppressed 5.56 is portrayed as enjoyable, especially on compact platforms. The host then moves to a 9mm CZ Scorpion fitted with a Gemtech .45 suppressor. After a few shots, the Scorpion is switched to a binary trigger mode from Franklin Armory to finish the magazine. Both 5.56 and 9mm are noted as supersonic loads, so even with a suppressor there is still a distinct crack as the bullet breaks the sound barrier. This sets up the comparison with calibers and loads that stay subsonic and therefore sound significantly quieter when suppressed.
.300 Blackout is introduced as a cartridge designed to be quiet and compact, especially from short, suppressed firearms. The rifle shown is a Nemo Battle Light with roughly an 8-inch barrel and a Yankee Hill Machine suppressor that tucks slightly under the handguard. The host first fires 125-grain supersonic .300 Blackout to establish a baseline. Then the rifle is loaded with Remington 220-grain subsonic ammunition. With the subsonic load, the report is dramatically reduced, to the point where the shooter mainly hears the action cycling. The host briefly removes hearing protection to confirm that the subsonic .300 Blackout setup sounds hearing-safe from the shooter’s position, emphasizing how effective heavy, slow bullets can be when paired with a suppressor.
.45 ACP is highlighted as another caliber that is naturally subsonic in many standard loads. The host first fires a few unsuppressed rounds from a .45 ACP CMMG Banshee to provide a reference for sound levels. The Gemtech .45 suppressor is then removed from the CZ Scorpion 9mm. Because 9mm and .45 ACP use different barrel thread pitches, the suppressor’s piston must be changed. The host installs the .45 ACP piston into the Gemtech can, along with its spring and end cap, noting that the suppressor is dirty and due for cleaning. After removing the Banshee’s muzzle device, the suppressor is threaded onto the .45 ACP barrel. Firing the Banshee suppressed shows how quiet subsonic .45 ACP can be, with most of the audible noise coming from the action and bullet impact rather than muzzle blast.
The internal design of the Gemtech .45 suppressor is discussed, described as a monolithic can with a monocore. Although the core is stuck due to carbon buildup, an illustration is referenced to show its structure. The host explains that as a bullet travels down the barrel, it is pushed by high-pressure propellant gases. When those gases exit the muzzle, they normally hit cooler outside air and create a loud report. A suppressor contains a series of chambers and channels that trap and slow these hot gases before they exit. By delaying and redirecting the gas flow, the suppressor allows the gases to cool and expand more gradually, reducing the sharp muzzle blast. Heavier, subsonic projectiles force the gases to work harder to push them out, which can further reduce the amount of gas and noise escaping the muzzle.
The host reiterates the view that suppressors are simply metal devices acting as mufflers and should not be treated as firearms. They are framed as safety equipment that reduces noise for shooters and people nearby, particularly in indoor ranges. Added weight at the muzzle and slowed gas release can also help mitigate felt recoil. The host notes that in some European countries suppressors are reportedly easier to obtain and wishes for similar accessibility in the United States. There is mention of a previous attempt to use a budget decibel meter that failed to register shots accurately. Future plans include returning to the range with higher-end sound measurement equipment to provide more scientific comparisons between calibers and setups than what can be conveyed through video audio alone.
The video briefly shifts to the Barrett M107 .50 BMG, noting that it was designed with suppression in mind. The large muzzle brake on the rifle doubles as a quick-detach mount for Barrett’s own suppressor, and SureFire is also mentioned as a manufacturer of compatible .50-caliber cans. The host references running a SureFire SOCOM 556 suppressor on the earlier Mk18-style rifle. The .50 BMG cartridge shown uses a 660-grain projectile traveling at over 3,000 feet per second, described as roughly an ounce and a half of metal at very high velocity. While this load is not subsonic, the rifle can still be suppressed using the appropriate can. The Barrett M107 in the video is equipped with an EOTech Vudu 3.5–18x optic for long-range shooting.
In closing, the host asks viewers to share their favorite calibers to shoot suppressed. Personal preference is given to .300 Blackout, especially with 220-grain subsonic loads, since the cartridge was intended for quiet, compact platforms and performs well in that role. The earlier demonstrations with 5.56, 9mm, .300 Blackout, and .45 ACP are used to illustrate how bullet weight and velocity affect suppressed sound levels. The host emphasizes the enjoyment of hearing mostly the action cycling and bullet impact rather than loud muzzle blast when using subsonic ammunition with an effective suppressor. Viewers are encouraged to continue the discussion in the comments and to consider how different calibers and loads behave when paired with silencers.
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