Silencer Sound Standard™
SSS.1 - Technically Correct Data (the best type of correct)
Forget everything you think you know about gunshot noise.
Well, maybe not everything.
You know that gunshots are loud. How loud? Well, that depends. Loudness is a function of:
Peak sound pressure
Duration of sound pressure
Wave frequency of sound pressure
And finally… the physical response of your ears to sound pressure.
Seem overwhelming? It should. There are various methods by which humans have characterized “loudness” over the years, and we do it pretty well. However, not everyone does it the same way, especially when the sounds happen very quickly.
As a freedom-loving American, scientist, engineer, hunter, shooter, and firearms enthusiast, I decided that I wanted consistent and meaningful characterization of firearm sound signatures that could be applied to the measurement of both unsuppressed and suppressed firearms. To be clear, the decades of effort of those in the acoustics and blast community (private, public, and academic) are to be lauded and recognized. Rather than “throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” I have chosen to build upon the current state of practice by:
Using existing nomenclature and terminology, where appropriate
Improving upon existing methodology, where possible and practical
Introducing new methods and combining them with established and peer-reviewed science to improve the state of practice.
All data that you obtain on this website has been physically measured by the PEW Science laboratory. All testing and measurement is performed with custom software and hardware that PEW Science has written and configured for the express purpose of providing the firearms industry with accurate sound signature information. This software and hardware combination is named PEW-SOFT™.
PEW-SOFT is a tool. The Silencer Sound Standard™ is PEW Science’s contribution to the community of a living data set and analytical methodology using that tool. All empirical data presented on this website is experimentally reproducible by anyone who chooses to put forth the effort to do so. There is no subjectivity or opinion presented herein, unless explicitly stated as such.
Now grab your favorite beverage, relax, and take a look at some data. Start with SSS.2 - Methodology Introduction.
Warm Regards,
Jay I.
Technical Director
PEW Science, LLC
To protect the integrity of the data, the reliability of the results, the trust of the public, AND OUR intellectual property, ALL WEBSITE VISITORS SHOULD note the following:
No silencer manufacturer or third party has influenced or controlled anything published on this website. No firearm or silencer distributor, sales team, organization, or any industry affiliate has or had any influence or control over the data, technology, methodology, or results presented in this Standard.
All opinions expressed are those of PEW Science LLC, who is not responsible for the use or misuse of any data on this website. Firearms allow you to control energetic combustion events and ballistics when used properly and in accordance with manufacturer guidelines; therefore, your safety depends on your adherence to those guidelines, as applicable.
