Suppressor Design - What's next?
American inventor Hiram Percy Maxim, the son of Maxim gun inventor Hiram Stevens Maxim, is usually credited with inventing and selling the first commercially successful models circa 1902 (patented March 30, 1909). Maxim gave his device the trademarked name Maxim Silencer and they were regularly advertised in sporting goods magazines. The muffler for internal combustion engines was developed in parallel with the firearm suppressor by Maxim in the early 20th century, using many of the same techniques to provide quieter-running engines (in many English-speaking countries automobile mufflers are called silencers).Former president of the United States Theodore Roosevelt was known to purchase and use Maxim Silencers.
Fast forward to 2017...current designs are strikingly similar to the original invention from over 100 years ago. There have been some evolutionary engineering developments such as lighter weight e.g. the use of Titanium, modular design for easier cleaning or adjustable length, more stable mounting interfaces and recently 3D design such as DD Wave. Overall, the db reduction appears only slightly improved in the last decade or two. The boom of the hypersonic sonic detonation wave in front of the exothermic reactions of the muzzle will be a monumental physics challenge to address.
So - what do you think the next evolutionary or revolutionary step for suppressors will be? Integral designs like the SilencerCo Maxim? Lighter weight via heat tolerant plastics/ceramics such as: Vespel ® which can withstand 350 hours of 748* F heat? Will it be the ammunition itself?
Politician's Prefer Unarmed Peasants
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