At Gunwerks, precision shooting is more than just hitting a target - it's about understanding every variable that affects your bullet's flight. One common question we get is: “Can adding a suppressor change my ballistics?” The answer is yes - and we’ve got the data to prove it
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We ran a straightforward test to find out just how much a suppressor can alter your velocity and point of impact. The test was performed on one of our LRU school guns chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. With the 6.5 Creedmoor being on the low end of ballistic performance for big game hunting rounds, these results are on the extreme end of the spectrum. Effects would be even more pronounced with a ballistically inferior .308 or less pronounced with a ballistically superior 7 PRC.
With the 6.5 Creedmoor, we first shot a 10-round group using a muzzle brake and recorded an average velocity of 2,573 ft/s. Then, we switched to a Gunwerks 8IGHT suppressor and measured again. The suppressor group averaged 2,586 ft/s, giving us a 13 ft/s increase in velocity with the suppressor. This matches closely with commonly observed muzzle velocity increase of 10-15fps depending on suppressor and host rifle.
That change in muzzle velocity might sound minor (and to some degree it is given natural shot to shot variation in muzzle velocity), but at 1,000 yards in this particular 6.5 Creedmoor, this change in average muzzle velocity translates to a .5 MOA difference in point of impact, a measurable shift of just over 5 inches - enough that long-range shooters should consider accounting for.
It’s worth noting, however that the same muzzle velocity change in a 7 PRC may only make .25 MOA difference at 1000 yards depending on conditions. Still worth considering where possible for extended ranges, but often within the noise of the various other variables in the system.
So if you're running a suppressor, it’s never a bad idea to ensure your ballistic profile is compensating for muzzle velocity with your suppressor installed to eliminate as many variables from the system as possible.
Of course, if you’re in the market for a suppressor, the Gunwerks team is here to help — just give us a shout or check them out at
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