Why don't cops use silencers?

[BigFatGuy]

I got into a "why would anyone need a silencer?" conversation... so I talked about hearing protection, not making your children deaf in a HD shooting, being polite at a shooting range, etc...

Then he asked me "So, why don't cops use them?"

The best i came up with was it made the pistol too hard to carry in a holster, and I assume SWAT guys do use them on occasion... but why else?

[MrSlippyFist]

Ammo designed for silencers.

[Lead Waster]

money money money!

Also I think there is a psychological effect from the sound of an unsilenced pistol. The bad guy might give up sooner if he hears that gunshot versus a silenced gun shot.

Cops might also want civilians to duck, cover and run when they hear a gunshot to get out of danger? What better way than loudly announcing that a gun battle has started?

[CAL.BAR]

Silencers generally slow down the rounds and really mess with the accuracy of your shots at ranges greater than 15 yards or so. Also, they are heavy and ungainly. MOST officers will NEVER have to touch their firearms in the line of duty, so why carry the additional weight and bulk every day for 30 years.

[Black Majik]

Heh, if you see how some officers shoot with an non suppressed pistol, imagine the extra forward weight hanging off their handgun. LEOs don't necessarily practice at the range as often as we may, shooting with a suppressor during qualifications would be too much of a disadvantage.

[billybob_jcv]

[Mr310]

Why would they need to? They're not trying to be covert. When an LEO uses their gun, they want everyone to know. They're the only people CONUS that I know of that are trained to run towards gunfire rather than away from it.

[bohoki]

too bulky the purpose of pistols is to be compact

[technique]

Ammo designed for silencers.

You can use any ammo. If you're referring to the mystical and magical subsonic ammo everyone
thinks they HAVE to run with a suppressor, That'd still be incorrect. Is 180gr. .40cal common?
Is 147gr. 9mm common? Yes, yes they are. Guess what? Those are examples of
subsonic ammunition, found at your local Walmart.

Silencers generally slow down the rounds and really mess with the accuracy of your shots at ranges greater than 15 yards or so. Also, they are heavy and ungainly. MOST officers will NEVER have to touch their firearms in the line of duty, so why carry the additional weight and bulk every day for 30 years.

Silencers don't slow rounds, and actually improve accuracy.
I suppose the only way to find any truth to your statement is to
say.. if you're using a silencer constructed of wipes- no one has used those in ages though.

[InGrAM]

I just don't see why a LEO would ever need a suppressor. Suppressors are for taking people and animals out, cops do not kill people they enforce the law. Yes, using them at the range and for fun is practical and I like using mine when I can, but LEO's just don't need them for duty.

[vmwerks]

You can use any ammo. If you're referring to the mystical and magical subsonic ammo everyone
thinks they HAVE to run with a suppressor, That'd still be incorrect. Is 180gr. .40cal common?
Is 147gr. 9mm common? Yes, yes they are. Guess what? Those are examples of
subsonic ammunition, found at your local Walmart.



Silencers don't slow rounds, and actually improve accuracy.
I suppose the only way to find any truth to your statement is to
say.. if you're using a silencer constructed of wipes- no one has used those in ages though.

Subsonic rounds don't break the sound barrier and you won't get that "crack". Typically under 1150 fps is subsonic but there are environmental variables too.

[billybob_jcv]

OP: Your first mistake was getting sucked into a "why do you need them?" discussion. You shouldn't have to justify why you would like to have one - the anti should have to justify why a law-abiding and responsible citizen should NOT be allowed to own one...

Why does a person living in a metropolitan city need a car? You should ride the bus. Cars are very dangerous and kill thousands of people every year.

[Sturnovik]

I dont see why they'd need or want them. They'd need new holsters, it'd be heavier assuming they had them attached, but in any case.

I use 180 grain .40, its a great round, very proven and a sweet round.

[CAL.BAR]

You can use any ammo. If you're referring to the mystical and magical subsonic ammo everyone
thinks they HAVE to run with a suppressor, That'd still be incorrect. Is 180gr. .40cal common?
Is 147gr. 9mm common? Yes, yes they are. Guess what? Those are examples of
subsonic ammunition, found at your local Walmart.



Silencers don't slow rounds, and actually improve accuracy.
I suppose the only way to find any truth to your statement is to
say.. if you're using a silencer constructed of wipes- no one has used those in ages though.

I used a suppressed .45 at our local range not long ago. There was significant bullet drop at a mere 15 yard which had to be accounted for in shooting.

[InGrAM]

OP: Your first mistake was getting sucked into a "why do you need them?" discussion. You shouldn't have to justify why you would like to have one - the anti should have to justify why a law-abiding and responsible citizen should NOT be allowed to own one...

Why does a person living in a metropolitan city need a car? You should ride the bus. Cars are very dangerous and kill thousands of people every year.

Thank you, this is exactly what this thread needed. A good solid answer.