Sound moderator for an air rifle - design and subtleties of choice

Why do you need a sound moderator for pneumatics?

It’s worth noting right away that the sound moderator and silencers developed for firearms have very little in common. In addition, the legislation of the Russian Federation prohibits hunters from using a silencer, even if the power of the pneumatic does not exceed 7.5 J. However, a sound moderator is a completely different matter. This mechanism is not prohibited, since it primarily serves the following purposes:

1. Improved barrel accuracy. Due to the fact that most sound moderators have a design similar to a rifled barrel and are also quite large in size, when using weapons with such a mechanism, the accuracy of combat at long distances increases significantly.
2. Increased service life. The sound moderator is also designed to combat premature wear of the weapon, since it takes away part of the muzzle energy. Without it, the rifle barrel becomes unusable 2 or even 3 times faster. And if you use a high-quality sound moderator, you can deal with other common problems.
3. Improved combat accuracy at medium and long distances. Due to the fact that rifles with a sound moderator have an increased barrel length, ballistic projectiles extremely rarely deviate from a given course. For example, when shooting at a distance of 50 meters, the difference between hits is no more than 1 centimeter.

Well, don’t forget about one more quality, because of which a sound moderator is often confused with a muffler. This mechanism significantly muffles the noise of the shot. However, it cannot be said that the owner who has installed a sound moderator on the weapon has the opportunity to use the rifle absolutely silently. The shot is still audible, but the pop effect disappears. The sound of a shot travels approximately 150-170 meters maximum.

What is a sound moderator and why is it needed in an air rifle?

Let us immediately make a reservation that modern Russian legislation prohibits the use of a muffler. To reconcile pneumatics with this fact, a sound moderator was developed. A logical question arises - why does an air rifle need to muffle the sound? The shot is already practically silent.

The soundproofing function is important for any type of weapon, but pneumatic sound moderators also have other useful qualities. Let's list the main ones:

• increasing barrel strength;
• combating premature wear typical of air rifles;
• positive effect on shooting accuracy.

The listed qualities have turned sound moderators into a popular accessory among fans of air guns. Sound moderators are used by professional athletes and hunters, but you need to choose this device wisely.

Principle of operation

Now it’s time to talk in more detail about what the sound moderator’s operating principle is. To understand this, you need to clearly imagine in your head how a shot from an air gun occurs. Experts identify four stages of sound propagation:

1. Impact of the piston on the compressor wall (as a result of the action of a mechanical spring or compressed gas). Usually the sound from this is heard only by the shooter himself or a person who is in close proximity to him (up to 15 meters).
2. The bullet leaves the barrel and produces an air pop - the main source of noise during a shot. This phenomenon is associated with the physics of a sharp pressure drop, so sound travels over a fairly large distance (up to 300 meters).
3. The bullet moves through air molecules and makes a barely audible hiss. This phenomenon can be compared to turbulence. However, hearing the bullet itself is almost impossible for human hearing.
4. Hitting the target. Do not forget that when hitting a hard or soft surface, a ballistic projectile also produces a lot of noise (especially if the surface is metal).

Of course, a sound moderator cannot eliminate all side effects from a shot. However, it is quite capable of coping with the pop - the loudest effect of a shot. However, we repeat once again that the shot does not become silent and does not resemble the sound from Hollywood blockbusters. The rifle fires quieter, but the sound of the shot is still not weak.

Sources of sound and what can be drowned out?

The sound heard after a shot has three sources:

• The first is the impact of the movable parts of the weapon against each other; this sound is not so loud and dissipates at a fairly close distance.
• The second is the shock wave that occurs when a bullet leaves the muzzle, mainly appears if the initial speed of the bullet exceeds the speed of sound, and the higher it is, the louder the sound from the shock wave.
• The third is the gases coming out of the barrel. It is they, when expanded, that produce a loud sound audible at a very long distance.

And you can only drown out the sound from the expansion of gases. This is what silencers for firearms and sound moderators for pneumatics are designed for.

Pros and cons of devices

So that the reader can better understand whether he should purchase a sound moderator for his air rifle, we have compiled a small block that lists the main pros and cons of such a device. All information is compiled based on the words of experts, as well as the opinions of owners of weapons with a device that is popularly called a “silencer for pneumatics”:

Is it worth purchasing a sound moderator for air guns? This is a question that each client must answer for himself. However, one thing is clear - such a system is an excellent addition to a rifle used for hunting, and will also perform well in expensive weapons. If you purchased some MP-512 for 5 thousand rubles, then think twice about whether it makes sense to buy a sound moderator for another 2 thousand.

Types of Weapon Silencers

All silencers and sound moderators are divided into two main types - integrated (they are part of the barrel) and tactical (attached to the edge of the barrel using a thread or other fastening).

There are also several types of tactical silencers:

• the simplest (cylindrical expansion chamber, with a connecting nut and a slot with a rubber membrane)
• with seal (expansion chamber and two rubber or ebonite seal plugs with a spacer sleeve)
• two-chamber eccentric (chamber with partition)
• with heat absorption (heat absorption using copper or brass wire, or aluminum shavings)
• multi-chamber - (unlike the simplest, it has several chambers with partitions)
• with flow breaker – (consists of a perforated bushing and a flow breaker helix)

Design and difference from a silencer for firearms

As mentioned earlier, a sound moderator differs in many ways from the jammer used by special forces or hired killers in action films. The main difference is that these devices have a completely different effect on the noise made during the shot. If the sound moderator has a simple cylinder that only reduces the noise level, then the muffler has a huge number of partitions that almost completely absorb the noise.

It is also worth understanding that the design of the sound moderator may vary depending on who exactly produced the device. In most cases, the manufacturer sells one-piece "silencer" options. However, it also happens that the structure has to be assembled in parts. This is done so that the size of the sound moderator can be adjusted to individual requirements. If you want an extended service life, but don’t want to sacrifice power, be so kind as to install one of the sections. Well, to make the noise of the shot minimal, you will have to assemble all the parts that come in the kit.

For which rifle is the sound moderator best suited? Of course, for the one that has a thread on the end of a weapon barrel. Most often, a similar element is present in multi-compression and PCP pneumatics.

Also, gas-cylinder and other types of pistols, the cost of which exceeds 10 thousand rubles, may be a good choice for a sound moderator. My only advice is to not try to install a “muffler” for aesthetic purposes. It's usually not worth it.

High quality moderators...

Contacts

PARAMETERS OF OPTIONS with a diameter of 31mm: Diameter=31mm, body tube length=161mm. (it is impossible to change these dimensions) The overhang of the barrel is approximately 160-170mm (varies slightly depending on the type of fastening part). Weight = about 130g (very light). The landing diameter can be made to any size in the range from 10mm to 18mm. You can also make it for M10, M12*1, M13*1, M14*1, M15*1, M16*1, M18*1, M20*1, 1/2 UNF-20 or 1/2 UNF-28 threads. For all moderators with mounting screws, the screws are included. Standardly recommended for energy up to 50 J.

PARAMETERS OF OPTIONS with a diameter of 39mm: Structurally similar to Options with a diameter of 31mm - 3 chambers with sound-absorbing material. In this case, they have the following differences: - diameter = 39mm , body tube length = 159mm. — the internal volume is 1.8 times larger than in Options with a diameter of 31 mm — sound-absorbing material is installed in 2 rows . — efficiency is noticeably higher . The overhang beyond the barrel cut is approximately 160-170 mm (varies slightly depending on the type of fastening part). Weight = 145-175g. Standardly recommended for high energy/calibers over 60 J and up to 145 J. (CANNOT BE USED AT HIGHER ENERGY) For all moderators with clamping screws, the screws are included.

When ordering, you must indicate the caliber and energy at which the moderator is intended to be used.

NOTES: - IF YOU DON'T FIND AN OPTION THAT SUITS YOU - Ask about the possibility of making it. — if there are wrinkles/marks on the barrel from the front sight fastening screws, then they need to be sanded down to an even diameter of the barrel. Also, on some Dianas and Vayraukhas, you may need to independently sharpen the dovetail grooves on the barrel that protrude beyond the main diameter of the barrel (for which the standard front sight is attached) to an even diameter of the barrel

website development UfaStudio

Features of choosing a sound moderator

If you decide to install a sound moderator on your weapon, then first you will have to decide on the choice of a specific model that will not only fit the rifle, but will not expire in a few months. Here are the basic tips that most professionals use:

1. Please note the manufacturer. It is believed that the best sound moderators are models made in Britain or Japan. The Americans also perform well in terms of manufacturing mufflers.
2. Barrel caliber. It is important to understand that the sound moderator for a 4.5 caliber air rifle is different from the one designed for a 5.5 caliber. And the point is not only in the diameter of the bullet, but also in the size of the mounting hole itself.
3. Total length. The larger it is, the better the accuracy and the lower the noise level. However, this is a double-edged sword, because a large sound moderator does not have the best effect on the speed of the bullet and the power of the shot.

Well, don’t forget that most silencers are made for rifled barrels. If you need to purchase an option for a smoothbore rifle, you will have to spend a lot of effort to find a suitable model. It is also worth paying attention to the price of the device. It would be pretty stupid to buy a sound moderator that costs more than 30% of the price of the rifle.

The quietest mod on Lelya

It's no secret that the regular moderator on the Lelya rifle from the Edgan company is very loud and does not cope well with his duties. Actually, you can count on one hand the truly successful factory moderators from manufacturers.

Either we hear differently, or the manufacturers don’t want to once again tease the certifying and law enforcement agencies... In a word, it is almost impossible to achieve the coveted “blow” from an air rifle out of the box. This is where engineers, turners and simply fans of their craft come to our aid.

Many are trying to improve the characteristics of the factory Lelin modder by installing the so-called additional modder. The manufacturer even accommodated the problem; in new models of its rifles, it cuts threads to facilitate their installation. There are many options for additional moderators: sausages, sausages, whole milled, according to the “St. Petersburg scheme”, etc.

when removing the protective cap, it always hits the additional moderator, and you can definitely forget about the reservoir extensions; if you often screw/twist the additional moder in a hurry, the thread will break and the alignment may be disrupted; and in general, in my opinion, the aesthetics of the rifle are violated. I found a wizard who offers a simple and effective solution.

Using a regular moderator plus the “St. Petersburg circuit” with coils and cones that cut the air stream and bleed it through the holes in the moderator’s body.

The idea is great: the moderator is screwed onto the place of the casing of Lelin’s own moderator. The regular moderator remains in his place, breaking up the main thread. Unfortunately, the volume of a regular modifier is not enough, and this is where the second part of the moder comes into play: three coils according to the “St. Petersburg scheme”, which suffocate the remaining air flow.

Review of the best models

Well, now we come to the main question - a review of specific models of sound moderators for air rifles. In the table below you will find not only the names of the best “silencers”, but also their rating, as well as the average cost in gun stores:

VOP-209 A

VOP-209 AK is the best sound moderator model from a Russian manufacturer, which has a device that is fundamentally different from English models, but at the same time is practically not inferior to them in terms of technical characteristics. Despite the fact that the name contains the letters “AK”, the “silencer” can be used not only on an air rifle, but also on other 4.5 mm rifles. True, due to the high cost, this sound moderator is rarely purchased.

Hatsan CMK

Hatsan CMK is one of the best and most inexpensive sound moderators for pre-loaded rifles. The model quite significantly suppresses the noise of a shot, and also has excellent build quality, which significantly increases the service life of any rifle. Available in two versions - with a hole diameter of 5.5 and 6.35 millimeters. Suitable for both amateurs and professionals.

Ataman M2R

Ataman M2R. The best budget-class sound moderator, manufactured by a well-known Russian arms company. A distinctive feature of the model is that it has a small “tail” at the rear end, which allows you to adjust the tone of the shot. Well, thanks to the relatively low price, the device is suitable for almost everyone.

And these are just those sound moderators who are most popular. Why are there not a single British or Japanese model among them? Yes, all because products from foreign companies (Turkey does not count) have, as a rule, too high a price (from 8 thousand and above).

A little bit of history

For the first time, the need to use a silencer for weapons arose after the beginning of the use of “smokeless” gunpowder, at the end of the 19th century. The first registered patent for the production of such a device was received on March 20, 1894, by the Swiss Christoph Eppli. At the same time, other scientists in different parts of the world were also engaged in development. Thus, in 1898, the Frenchman Humbert patented his version of the muffler, and in 1899, the Danes J. Borrensen and S. Sigbjørnse.

But the most famous and the first to become widespread and mass produced were the mufflers designed by the father and son H.S. Maxim and H.P. Maxim. It was their developments that gave impetus to the further development and production of this device.

In the modern world, one of the leaders in the production of PBS, both for firearms and pneumatic weapons, are A-Tec and Ase Utra, which we recommend to all buyers of Hunting Products. We have already sold dozens of models from these manufacturers and have yet to receive any complaints about quality.

How to make a muffler with your own hands

If you cannot afford to buy a sound moderator, and you still want to muffle the sound of a shot from your favorite rifle, then we suggest that you take advantage of the opportunity to make a “silencer” at home. Just follow the instructions below:

1. Step 1 - determine the diameter. The diameter should be the same as that of the trunk.
2. Step 2 – purchase a muzzle guard. Sold in almost any gun store.
3. Step 3 - make partitions. You can use washers or lids for this purpose.
4. Step 4 – grind the holes. We smooth the washers and place them inside the cylinder.
5. Step 5 – glue the tubes. The inner surface of the muzzle must be covered with rubber.

After this, all that remains is to screw the “silencer” to the barrel and fire a few test shots. If the noise level remains high, it is recommended to add several additional baffles to the muzzle.