Accuracy

Accuracy

One of the most common problems for shooters is decreased accuracy caused by flinching in anticipation of the firearm’s discharge and recoil. By containing the explosion of the gunpowder at the muzzle, suppressors reduce recoil, and help decrease muzzle flinch. These benefits lead to improved accuracy, better shot placement, and more humane hunts.

Less blast, less flinch

A flinch is the body’s startle reflex at work. The sharp blast of a gunshot is one of the main triggers, and over time many shooters learn to tense up before the shot even breaks. A 2021 U.S. Army Research Laboratory report on the human factors of suppressors identifies muzzle blast as a stimulus that can trigger the startle reflex, and proposes that by reducing blast, suppressors may lessen startle and improve marksmanship.¹

Firearms instructors see the same thing on the range. New shooters, youth hunters, and anyone moving up to a larger caliber are far less likely to develop a flinch when the report is softer and the gun is more comfortable to shoot. That makes suppressors one of the best tools available for teaching good fundamentals.

Reduced recoil and muzzle rise

Suppressors reduce felt recoil in two ways: they slow the escape of propellant gases that would otherwise push the gun rearward, and they add weight at the muzzle, which helps keep the barrel down. With less recoil and muzzle rise, shooters can keep their sight picture through the shot, see their own hits, and make faster, more accurate follow-up shots.² Less fatigue over a long range session also means more consistent shooting from the first round to the last.

Suppressors help shooters keep their eyes on target and their focus on fundamentals

What the testing shows

In a 2026 test by Outdoor Life using 20-shot groups, two centerfire hunting rifles grouped about 25 to 30 percent tighter with a suppressor attached. The 6.5 Creedmoor’s group shrank from 1.45 inches to 0.95 inches at 100 yards.³

An earlier test by Shooting Sports USA, the NRA’s competition journal, found lower muzzle-velocity variation with suppressors on all three rifles tested. Consistent velocity is a key ingredient of long-range precision. The authors concluded that a suppressor can improve precision and performance rather than restrict it.⁴

Proven in the field

The U.S. Marine Corps put suppressors on every rifle in a series of infantry experiments beginning in 2016. Along with better communication and hearing protection, the Marines found suppressors improved marksmanship. The division gunner overseeing the test reported Marines were “using far less ammunition and gaining far more hits.”⁵ The Corps went on to field suppressors to its infantry, with a goal of about 30,000 by fiscal year 2023.⁶

Getting the most from your suppressor

• Re-zero with the suppressor on. Adding weight to the muzzle changes point of impact. A quality, repeatable mount should return to zero when you remove and reattach it.
• Keep it tight and aligned. A loose or misaligned suppressor is the most common cause of accuracy problems.
• Practice the way you hunt. Confirm your zero and shoot your rifle suppressed before heading to the field.