LDCs for PCPs

[mrbulk]

After again getting into airguns a little over a month ago (it was supposed to be just CO2 stuff this time) I found myself drawn to PCPs and when I got my first one I realized to be backyard friendly I had to acquire an LDC.

So I got one of them too.

Then I got another PCP, so another LDC and so on. Only to realize today that I now have More LDCs than PCPs...not gonna say how that happened (don't know for sure myself) but I now find myself in the unenviable position of considering buying yet Another PCP gun, just to match up with the number of LDCs I have "in stock". Yikes.

I also tried to figure out a way to test them for performance but still figuring it out. Don't care about the *Actual* db measurement, but just something reliably repeatable so that I can at least test the relative effectiveness of each LDC when compared to one another.

From left to right, the LDCs I currently have are -

Zero db 110
DonnyFL Tanto
Geo (ebay)
Diana/Artemis factory unit
DonnyFL Sumo
Rocker1

They are all surprisingly quiet outside compared to just bare barreled guns, but I would like to set up a better way to test them without any external environmental noise, etc. and get more accurate readings. Testing them indoors with the dollar store sound meter from Amazon had it reading "max" on every shot due to being inside four walls. Oh well...

[mrbulk]

Oh yeah, I also have another DonnyFL Sumo, plus a 3D printed baffle system for inside an Avenger (which I just sent off to someone because I don't even have an Avenger!) plus a one-off, fully machined internal metal monocore baffle made by a dear late friend of mine back in Hawaii, that only fits a modded CO2 gun (my avatar pic), so those were not included in the photo.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I have two LDCs (I just sold my Rocker).
One is for the 1720T/PRod platform (TKO).
Works great.
I have another from AustinB for the Marauder.
I use it for the .177, .22 and .25...
Works great for all three calibers.

[Nomadic Pirate]

That's why I like to work with one platform, I can have way less LDCs then guns because I can just move them around, I can even use the .30 cal LDCs for the .25 cal guns


By the way, I've tried a lot of LDCs and the Neil Clauge is sure one to take in consideration, they  also look great, are light and the deflex design is very clever where you can keep the LDC shorter past the end of the shroud because you can have the deflexed portion go all the way back to the air tube.

[Mole2017]

Outdoors would get you away from objects that reflect a lot sound and get all over the data, but that is a simple way to do it, if you can find the space. Background noise is relative. The fields around me are full of crickets--lots of them. It is background noise, but the shots stand out over the noise. Traffic noise would be more bothersome.

I place a microphone (or my computer) down range and off to the side, making sure it is equidistant to my target/pellet trap and shooting position. Then Audacity (free) gets the recording. Snip out the "dead time" and compare the test shots back to back. Pretty easy.

But, if you want to do it inside...the best substitute I found for a sound studio was a walk-in closet full of clothes. But then you are in a confined space and the mic ends up pretty close to the source, which is still pretty loud and might overload the mic. Now, if you had a full-house basement all to yourself and could put up foam backing and shag carpet...

[Hangtown-Shooter]

It must be National LDC Day... I just got a couple in the mail today too! 

Nice collection Charlie! Yep! You may need  to add a Neil C. in there... and don’t forget a Huggett!

Looking forward to what kind of test and results you come up with 👍🏻

[Frank in Fairfield]

Here is the .25 with the AustinB LDC which I also use on the .22 & .177:

[oldpro]

 How about one with a chronograph built in! https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=177750.0

[Mr.P]

I have a talon p.  Got a $16 moderator ("fuel filter"), $2 shipping from China took a couple weeks to get here.  It's a big one and utterly quiets the TalonP.  Nicely made!

I imagine it would be possible to quiet it further with a different ldc, but not much... the hammer slap and spring and target impact are mostly what I hear.

I am going to keep one as-is, and get another for experimentation with internals. 

[mrbulk]

I have a talon p.  Got a $16 moderator ("fuel filter"), $2 shipping from China took a couple weeks to get here.  It's a big one and utterly quiets the TalonP.  Nicely made!

I imagine it would be possible to quiet it further with a different ldc, but not much... the hammer slap and spring and target impact are mostly what I hear.

I am going to keep one as-is, and get another for experimentation with internals.

Hey Mister, I kinda LIKE them big ones! Ali Express?

[mrbulk]

How about one with a chronograph built in! https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=177750.0

Travis in addition to the tracer plus chrono, are you telling me it has a suppressor function, too? WHOA.

[oldpro]

How about one with a chronograph built in! https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=177750.0

Travis in addition to the tracer plus chrono, are you telling me it has a suppressor function, too? WHOA.

Deadly quiet as I built it but not from the store.

[mrbulk]

How about one with a chronograph built in! https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=177750.0

Travis in addition to the tracer plus chrono, are you telling me it has a suppressor function, too? WHOA.

Deadly quiet as I built it but not from the store.

A-hah. Got it *wink*wink* 

[mrbulk]

It must be National LDC Day... I just got a couple in the mail today too! 

Nice collection Charlie! Yep! You may need  to add a Neil C. in there... and don’t forget a Huggett!

Looking forward to what kind of test and results you come up with 👍🏻

Dave, you got a couple in the mail just today? Okay man, I showed you mine. So now you gotta show me yours...

[mrbulk]

Outdoors would get you away from objects that reflect a lot sound and get all over the data, but that is a simple way to do it, if you can find the space. Background noise is relative. The fields around me are full of crickets--lots of them. It is background noise, but the shots stand out over the noise. Traffic noise would be more bothersome.

I place a microphone (or my computer) down range and off to the side, making sure it is equidistant to my target/pellet trap and shooting position. Then Audacity (free) gets the recording. Snip out the "dead time" and compare the test shots back to back. Pretty easy.

But, if you want to do it inside...the best substitute I found for a sound studio was a walk-in closet full of clothes. But then you are in a confined space and the mic ends up pretty close to the source, which is still pretty loud and might overload the mic. Now, if you had a full-house basement all to yourself and could put up foam backing and shag carpet...

Thanks for all the tips, David. Will see what happens outdoors. I did try the walk-in closet method (of course I was in a very, Very small closet) so the confined space comments you made all held true. The dang meter just MAX'd out on every shot...

I used Audacity in music projects before, but never thought about using it for this. I wonder if they have an iPhone app...

[rkr]

I and some lads in UK use a laptop with 24 bit sound card (for fast sampling not to miss the peak), a microphone and Audacity for analyzing the results. The preferred method is to use the same environment and compare silencers against each other using 5 shot strings without pellets. HW silencer is usually considered a benchmark that other units are compared against. With Audacity you can plot the dB level and frequency giving you nice comparison graphs like this with standard HW against A&M Marksman (frequency on x-axis, negative dB level on Y-axis):

marksman4 by abbababbaccc, on Flickr

[oldpro]

 Had to delete a post due to rule #12 please keep with in the guidelines in this discussion please. Carry on.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=919.0

[mrbulk]

Had to delete a post due to rule #12 please keep with in the guidelines in this discussion please. Carry on.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=919.0

Cool, thanks...

[mrbulk]

I and some lads in UK use a laptop with 24 bit sound card (for fast sampling not to miss the peak), a microphone and Audacity for analyzing the results. The preferred method is to use the same environment and compare silencers against each other using 5 shot strings without pellets. HW silencer is usually considered a benchmark that other units are compared against. With Audacity you can plot the dB level and frequency giving you nice comparison graphs like this with standard HW against A&M Marksman (frequency on x-axis, negative dB level on Y-axis):

marksman4 by abbababbaccc, on Flickr

rkr, well I can certainly see that you lads across the pond are INTO this big time! Sure helps when it is perfectly fine to use those devices there, unlike us poor hobbyists here in the states. It allows you guys to create truly in-depth analyses of the many complex aerodynamic aspects to "deadening the airflow" of one's airgun exhaust. Thank you and Cheers!

[Mr.P]

Apologies for posting the pic of that "fuel filter" from banggood.  Didn't realize there was an injunction on this, won't do it again.

Works surprisingly well even at 50+ fpe.  At 10" long it's a big 'un but I imagine that's what the talon p needs as it is loud.