The author thinks “Hollywood Quiet” is reality.
That's it exactly. This is another NYC journalist who has never been near guns in his life and who has no idea that the things he's been shown by Hollywood in the movies and on TV are pure crap. He is writing to an audience that fits the exact same description. These people would be shocked to go to a gun range and hear a .308's report even with a suppressor. I can clearly hear it even though my ear protection. A .308 is not exactly a weak or low powered round. The only ones that sound as quiet as Hollywood makes it out to be is subsonic .22 ammo on a .22 with a suppressor.