Subsonic Ammo

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AngelFire loads five calibers that run genuinely subsonic, under the ~1,125 fps speed of sound, with match-legal power factor:
.38 Special (900 fps), .380 ACP (800 fps), 9mm 147gr (950 fps), .45 ACP (850 fps), and 300 Blackout 220gr (1,000-1,050 fps). All five stay subsonic from any barrel length. One more, the 9mm 124gr, is subsonic from a pistol but crosses into supersonic from a 16-inch carbine. Here is every load, chronographed and published, so you can pick the right one for your suppressor or your match.

AngelFire Subsonic Loads - Published Velocity & Power Factor

Load Muzzle Velocity Power Factor Subsonic From
.38 Special 158gr FMJ / HP 900 fps 142 any barrel
.380 ACP 100gr FMJ 800 fps 80 any barrel
9mm 147gr FMJ 950 fps 140 any barrel (this is your suppressor pick)
9mm 124gr FMJ 1,060 fps 131 pistol only, supersonic from a 16-inch PCC
.45 ACP 230gr FMJ 850 fps 196 any barrel
300 Blackout 220gr HP 1,000 fps n/a any barrel
300 Blackout 220gr FMJ 1,050 fps n/a any barrel

All velocities are chronographed in factory, unmodified firearms and published on our product specifications. Your results will vary with barrel length, firearm, and conditions. Any load over 1,125 fps is not subsonic.

Is .38 Special subsonic?

Yes. AngelFire's 158gr .38 Special runs 900 fps, well under the ~1,125 fps speed of sound, with a 142 power factor. It stays subsonic from any barrel length.

Shop AngelFire .38 Special subsonic ammo

Is .380 ACP subsonic?

Yes. Our 100gr .380 ACP leaves the muzzle at 800 fps, one of the quietest, most suppressor-friendly loads we make.

Shop AngelFire .380 ACP subsonic ammo

Is 9mm subsonic? It depends on the load.

Three answers, because 9mm spans the sound barrier:

  • 9mm 147gr - yes, from any barrel. 950 fps. This is the suppressor load: heavy enough to stay subsonic even out of a 16-inch PCC.
  • 9mm 124gr - yes from a pistol, no from a carbine. 1,060 fps from a handgun (subsonic), but it gains 100-250 fps out of a 16-inch barrel and goes supersonic. See the next question.
  • 9mm 115gr - no. 1,150 fps. Over the sound barrier. Not subsonic.

Is 9mm 124 grain subsonic?

From a pistol-length barrel, yes: 1,060 fps, a 131 power factor that clears USPSA minor. From a 16-inch PCC, no: the longer barrel adds roughly 100-250 fps and pushes it past 1,125 fps into supersonic. The same box of ammo is subsonic in your handgun and supersonic in your carbine. If you want subsonic from any barrel, a suppressed PCC for instance, choose our 9mm 147gr at 950 fps, which stays subsonic everywhere.

Is 9mm 115 grain subsonic?

No. Our 9mm 115gr runs 1,150 fps, above the ~1,125 fps speed of sound. It is a supersonic load. For a subsonic 9mm, choose the 147gr (950 fps) or the 124gr from a pistol (1,060 fps).

Shop AngelFire 9mm 147gr subsonic ammo

Is .45 ACP subsonic?

Yes. .45 ACP is inherently subsonic. Our 230gr load runs 850 fps at a 196 power factor.

Shop AngelFire .45 ACP subsonic ammo

Is 300 Blackout subsonic?

Our 220gr 300 Blackout is subsonic: 1,000 fps (HP) to 1,050 fps (FMJ), built heavy for suppressed rifles. Our lighter 300 BLK loads (110gr, 150gr, 168gr) are supersonic, running 1,550-2,250 fps, so the bullet weight sets the job: 220gr for quiet, the lighter loads for speed. One thing to know: switching between them isn't always as simple as swapping ammo. A rifle set up for supersonic loads may need tuning to cycle subsonic reliably, which is the next question.

Will subsonic 300 Blackout cycle my rifle?

Not always without tuning. 300 Blackout spans a wide pressure range, and a rifle's gas system set up for lightweight supersonic ammo, for example a 110gr at 2,250 fps, may not reliably cycle heavy 220gr subsonic at 1,050 fps, which generates far less gas. Running suppressed changes it again. If you shoot subsonic 300 Blackout, an adjustable gas block lets you tune the rifle to cycle it reliably.

Shop AngelFire 300 Blackout 220gr subsonic ammo

Does barrel length change whether ammo is subsonic?

Yes, and it's the single most misunderstood thing about subsonic ammo. Published pistol velocities are measured from pistol-length barrels. A load chronographed at 1,060 fps from a handgun can gain 100-250 fps from a 16-inch carbine and cross into supersonic. That's why our 9mm 124gr is subsonic in a pistol but not a PCC, while our 9mm 147gr (950 fps) has enough margin to stay subsonic from either.

What makes ammo subsonic?

Muzzle velocity below the speed of sound, about 1,125 fps at standard conditions. A subsonic round never breaks the sound barrier, so there's no supersonic "crack" downrange, which is what makes it the choice for suppressed shooting. The shooting community also expects a subsonic load to make match-legal power factor, which every load on this page does.

Do I need subsonic ammo for a suppressor?

For the quietest possible shot, yes. A suppressor muffles the muzzle blast, but a supersonic bullet still cracks as it breaks the sound barrier downrange, which the suppressor can't touch. Subsonic ammo removes the crack entirely. For a suppressed setup, start with the 9mm 147gr, the .45 ACP, or the 300 Blackout 220gr, all subsonic from any barrel.

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