Subsonic 5.56?

I don't understand all I know about suppressors and suitable ammo. If a suppressor doesn't actually suppress supersonic bullets, wouldn't loading 5.56 down to subsonic make it about the same as using a .22? Aside from an extra 15 grains and ballistic coefficient anyway.

I don't understand all I know about suppressors and suitable ammo. If a suppressor doesn't actually suppress supersonic bullets, wouldn't loading 5.56 down to subsonic make it about the same as using a .22? Aside from an extra 15 grains and ballistic coefficient anyway.

That's a good question I never thought of! I don't own a suppressor because I can't afford them. Ear muffs are much cheaper, 

Terry

With the larger grain weight, it still produces about double the kinetic energy of a decent .22lr round. Even comparing a basic 5.56 55 gr. round to a 40 gr. .22lr, the 55 is roughly 140 lbs vs 100 for the .22. That's still a 40% jump just with that. But it really jumps with grain weight increase. With all that said, that's why the .300 blk came to be. Specifically, for a supressed, SBR.

Yes, I'm beginning to understand the fascination with .300 blackout. And of course, that would require another set of dies, another batch of .30 bullets because they're somewhat bigger than my .30-'06 bullets already in stock, and brass.

You don't necessarily have to go subsonic, a suppressor will muffle the blast but the crack of the bullet going down range would still be there.