Thread: Suppressors - Am I missing something

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

recoil is a function of the weight of the bullet and the weight of the powder/primergasses.
over simplifyed if they all go out the front(like most suppressors) then total recoil is the same (over simplifyed)
if the high pressure gasses are ejected at 90degree to the bore then their net effect on recoil is gone.
if those high pressure gasses start being directed rearward they then start to counteract the recoil of the weight of the projectile.

Yes the amount of energy in each direction is the same, but the impact on the shoulder is the speed of the rifle squared x the mass of the rifle. Adding a brake reduces the velocity by directling energy in a different direction. A suppressor slows the speed with which the gas can thrust the rifle back thus spreading the same amount of energy over a longer period of time (Reduces speed of the impact on the shoulder.) As the speed is squared in E=MC2 then reducing speed has a more significant effect on the impact on the shoulder. Total force (work done) remains the same but not as sudden or as violent.