I had my husband answer this,:blushing: I hope you/ws don't mind, he is very knowledgeable in this area and I want people to know the diffeernce.
On the guns found in the truck, LE stated he had both flash suppressors and silencers on them. I can't find which news article it was in but I clearly remember mention of flash surpressors [they conceal the bright flash of fire a gun makes when firing] and silencers. Now, I don't know if he had them on his weapon he used in the cabin because watching video I recall seeing a flash of some sort from the direction of the cabin where he made his last stand....
A flash suppressor is typically a slotted device that attaches to the rifle muzzle. The purpose of the device is to break up the sheet of flame that usually shows when the unburnt remnants of the powder charge exit the muzzle, which reduces the signature and reduces the dust cloud generated if firing close to the ground. The efficiency of the flash suppressor depends on the flash suppressor design, as well as the powder design, but the flash suppressor does not completely eliminate muzzle flash, only breaks it up and diffuses it. Some powders, notably those available in civilian ammunition, generate a huge flash that cannot be concealed and the flash suppressor will have almost no effect.
A "silencer" (sound suppressor, commonly known simply as a 'suppressor') replaces the function of the flash suppressor. The use of a sound suppressor completely negates the use of a flash suppressor, an often the installation of one precludes the use of the other. Some sound suppressor manufacturers make a flash suppressor that stays permanently on the rifle muzzle, and acts as an adapter for the suppressor. Other sound suppressors require that the flash suppressor be removed (unthreaded from the muzzle) so that the sound suppressor can be threaded onto the muzzle.
Sound suppressors vary in efficiency, but a common problem is that supersonic ammunition (such as the .223 used in the fully automatic M16 or the semi-automatic AR-15 copy) cannot be effective suppressed. We can control the muzzle 'pop', caused by residual pressure and unburned propellants, but the supersonic 'crack' is extremely loud (ear damage loud) and unless special sub-sonic ammunition is used, a suppressor has limited efficiency. A suppressed supersonic round (like any normal factory load) from a .223 is still as loud at an unsuppressed .22 rimfire and hearing protection is required to prevent accumulated hearing damage. In heavily populated areas such as the UK, shooting your rifle without sound suppression is considered bad form and rather rude.
There is a joking expression in the world of sound suppression science called "movie quiet". The amount of sound reduction available to Hollywood far exceeds that permitted by physics, and most suppressors only reduce sound levels down below ear damaging levels with sub-sonic ammunition.
...Also, the LE said that they heard a gun shot audibly from the cabin-- the shot many are speculating was fired in the act of Dorner committing suicide. I'm assuming that those outside of the cabin would be unable to hear the final shot if he'd had a silencer on it. I don't know how "silent" a silencer renders gunfire inaudible...
In the circumstances we might *imagine*, a suppressed handgun firing normal ammunition would render an audible report. The same rig using subsonic ammunition would be inaudible over the ambient noise.
...I've never used either of this apparatus in my shooting experiences because of their use in criminal activities I believe they are illegal...
Like fully automatic firearms and true assault weapons, the possession of sound suppressors in the USA has been heavily regulated since the National Firearms Act of 1934 ("NFA 34"). An FBI background check is required, local law enforcement sign off is required, as well as photographs, fingerprints and a 'tax' of $200.00 is levied, on top of the cost of the device itself. The entire process takes months to accomplish and the average machine gun owner or suppressor owner is squeaky-clean and probably as well respected in his community as any internet poster, if not more so.
...I'm sure many of you have heard the recordings of the audio of the gunfight at the last cabin. To my ears, I clearly hear someone firing with an automatic weapon. As I've mention previously, I live with two LEOs who are both firearm instructors for the local sheriff's office. I've been with them numerous times to the range and I've NEVER heard them fire as many rounds as rapidly as it sounds on the video/audio. It sounds distinctly "machine gun"-like. A semi auto will fire a bullet each time one pulls the trigger. What is heard in the video would be impossible for a semi-auto to do both because of how fast you'd run out of ammo and need to reload and because of the rapid-firing of the weapon. I don't believe SBCS carry fully automatic weapons but I could be wrong. Just wondering if anyone knows if fully auto weapons are used by them or their SWAT team? Thanks in advance!
I heard the audio and there were at least three unsuppressed fully automatic (M16/M4/MP5 style weapons). The sustained fire was well above what one man could deliver.
I am terrified of gunfire, needless to say, we all should be.
