For more information visit HushPuppyProject.com.
The Hush Puppy Project is looking to suppress handguns just a little bit better than possible with a locking system made for self-loading pistols. Inspired by the Smith & Wesson Model 39 used by specialized military units, the Hush Puppy Project is working with 9mm Glock and S&W M&P pistols and optimized suppressors to make the handguns quieter than ever.
The original Hush Puppies were used to put down enemy sentries during the Vietnam War, and while the new Hush Puppy Project has plenty of military use potential, it’s also a novel way to solve an often overlooked, or just widely accepted, suppressed shooting shortcoming.
Noise from firearms comes from three sources. There is a sonic crack from the bullet passing through air, the report of the expanding gasses from firing and lastly, the mechanical sound of the firearm operating. Using subsonic ammo helps mitigate the noise to a degree, but not as much as using a suppressor.
Adding a suppressor also helps, but only at the muzzle end. That’s where the Hush Puppy system comes into play. The Hush Puppy Project converts semi-automatic pistols to locked-breech firearms to mitigate the rest of the escaping gasses and prevent the gun from cycling.
By combining three components, subsonic ammo, a modular suppressor system and their Slide Locking Device–SLD–Hush Puppy wants to make the quietest possible handguns.
See Also: OSS Redesigns the 22LR Suppressor: The RAD22 Full Review
Their SLD is available on two handguns for now, each using a slightly different locking mechanism, one for Smith & Wesson M&P pistols and another for Glock handguns. In practice, they work the same way.
Both guns feature an added thumb lever that enables or disables the SLD. With the selector down, the guns function normally as self-loading pistols. With the selector up, they work as locked-breech guns that only cycle manually.
The Hush Puppy Project is selling both models as complete suppressor-ready firearms with raised suppressor sights and threaded barrels. They also offer suppressors separately and subsonic ammo through their sister company, Super Vel Ammunition.
Hush Puppy suppressors can be configured for different lengths and uses. The Model 1 has three modules, including a conventional baffle core and two wipe cores. The Model 2 is the shorter suppressor and uses just two wipe modules.
While the Hush Puppy project is just getting started their products aren’t vaporware. Pistols are currently offered through dealers at a slight markup over standard Glock and M&P pistols.
For more information visit HushPuppyProject.com.
It seems like it would be easy to modify the safety on a 1911 so that it would fire in the “safe” position and keep the slide locked. But then of course it would have no safety unless a three-position safety was configured.
We just held the slide firmly in place (battery) with the support hand (several methods, less for exposed hammer) on locked breach designs. Pistol stays locked in battery and does no apply rear force to the slide because….. its “locked” through the entire pressure wave. This method also allows you to retain the case, if that’s a concern and requires manual cycling of the slide prior to a second shot if needed. All thats being done is holding mechanical locking in place. Your not creating excessive chamber pressure, infact: by design iduring normal operation the slide/barrel does not unlock until pressure drops.
Though I say “locked”, if you observe any of the videos performing this, you will see in most cases the slide has actually moved slightly to the rear. It will however, stop cycling noise and retain the casing.
There are too many caliber and pistol designs to make a blanket statement on Blowback Action pistols.
Just because it can be done/demonstrated, doesn’t mean it’s safe to do or attempt. Too many physical differences between people and also gun designs.