#SubsonicAmmo

Last month, our man Hrachya discussed the debut of factory subsonic 7.62×39 loads that are designed to cycle semiautomatic firearms like AK47 patterned rifles. The move is a tear-inducing moment for me, to take an iconic gun and set it up as a suppressor host, seasoned with quieter ammo. Just in to retailers is the PPU Subsonic Line that includes 7.62×39 as well as 7.62×51 and 9mm offerings. Featuring brass cases, these rounds are loaded with FMJBT projectiles (FMJ for the 9mm) and heavier bullet weights for suppressor, lower-recoil use.

K-VAR Corp. has announced that the new Brown Bear 7.62x39mm Subsonic ammunition is now available in the US. As in the case of other Brown Bear branded ammunition, the new subsonic 7.62x39mm ammo is also made in Russia by the Barnaul Cartridge Plant. Their plans to introduce these subsonic loads to the US market were announced at SHOT Show 2019.

As much as I love the quiet bliss of subsonic 300 Blackout in a suppressed carbine, given the choice, I’d still pick a supersonic round for a defensive situation. In short, I’ll sacrifice ultimate sound suppression for nearly twice the muzzle velocity and energy all day and twice on Sundays. However, even most of the supersoninc 300BLK ammo is designed for barrel lengths of 9-12”, personal defense weapons (PDW) like the Sig Rattler, get the short  an end of the stick.