Silencer Mirage: What It Is, What To Do

Shh—silencers do a lot more than reduce the report of each shot you take. Also known as suppressors, these aftermarket accessories minimize recoil and the amount of time that it takes to recover a good sight picture between shots. That makes shooting safer and more fun, so it's easy to take shot after shot. The only trouble is that sooner or later, your silencer will heat up ... and when it does, you may experience an optical illusion known as silencer mirage.

Silencer mirage can be pretty frustrating if you're out long-range shooting for fun. If you're doing something like prairie-dog hunting, however, it can actually make it so difficult to see your target that an ethical hunter must take a break to let the silencer cool. In this episode of Winchester Deadly Passion, columnist Melissa Bachman gives you the full report on silencer mirage, and offers easy tips to resolve any illusions you may have been experiencing—be they around or about your silencer.