[CodeToad]

The crack of the supersonic bullet is very loud. Suppressors help with the blast noise, taking it down to about 106db from 118db, but 106db is still loud and still leads to hearing loss.

A suppressor is also weight. Grunts already have heavy weights. Suppressors also need maintenance and get real dirty real fast.

I just measured the sound at the range various weapons and calibers. Suppressors are good but their use really needs to be weighed against their negatives.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The muzzle blast of an M4 is about 160dB. A very good suppressor will reduce it to about 130dB (about the same as a jackhammer at very close range.

[Chainmail]

At ease, boys: the suppressor adds a pound or two, reduces the muzzle signature enough to allow battlefield commands to be heard while making it far easier to differentiate the enemy from friendlies. The suppressor also reduces the dust at the muzzle and muzzle flash which would give the enemy more cues to detect our firing positions. (Some of the primary methods of locating enemy firing positions are dust, muzzle flash, or movement)

The supersonic crack is off angle from the direction of fire and while it will let the enemy know that they are being fired upon, it will confuse them about where the fire is coming from.

The only problem I had firing the M-16-based weapons with suppressors was with the direct impingement gas system funneling noxious gases back in my face while firing. Hopefully, they've solved that issue.

[jeffersondem]

“A suppressor is also weight. Grunts already have heavy weights. Suppressors also need maintenance and get real dirty real fast. . . Suppressors are good but their use really needs to be weighed against their negatives.”

This. Add a white light to the rifle. Add an infrared illuminator. Add a laser. Add a forward grip. Add a suppressor. Soon you have the equivalent of two five-pound bags of sugar in your hand.