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From a CSI episode: How about an empty water bottle?

Not that I would know ANYTHING about this highly illegal manuever, but I have heard that a 2 Liter bottle of soda when emptied and a notch cut for the sight is a slightly larger fit on a BULL BARREL of a Ruger .22 target pistol. Wrapping 100mph tape (duct tape to civilians) at the place where the two overlap MIGHT cause a significant noise reduction especially if subsonic loads are used. MIGHT. Especially for the first two or three shots. KIds....for trained professionals only....DON'T try this at home!!!!

Not that I would know ANYTHING about this highly illegal manuever, but I have heard that a 2 Liter bottle of soda when emptied and a notch cut for the sight is a slightly larger fit on a BULL BARREL of a Ruger .22 target pistol. Wrapping 100mph tape (duct tape to civilians) at the place where the two overlap MIGHT cause a significant noise reduction especially if subsonic loads are used. MIGHT. Especially for the first two or three shots. KIds....for trained professionals only....DON'T try this at home!!!!

I can advise from recent experience with a friend who is a licensed manufacturer of silencers (meaning he can do whatever he damn well pleases without legal consequence). We removed the front sight from a 22 pistol that was already suppressed. We cut off the neck of a water bottle for a snug fit over the muzzle. The bottle didn't even move when fired (no need for cutting a slit or opening at the end. The bullet takes care of that just fine, thank you.

The effect was disappointing. A slightly deeper "tube-y" sound, but no quieter.

Regarding supersonic rifle rounds. The crack of the flight is not changed, but with a 223 or such, the small projectile doesn't make a very loud crack (compare a 50 BMG or an F-15.) The crack doesn't sound to an observer (enemy) as if it comes from the direction of the shooter, so it takes a VERY skilled and experienced observer to guess accurately based on the sound signature.

Silencers are neat, and it is a crime that they are essentially criminal, since they do little but reduce annoyance of neighbors, and hearing loss.