On Writing Guns - Using a Pillow as a Silencer

I’ve gone into the myths surrounding silencers (aka suppressors) on firearms before. These devices usually receive some goosing up in the physics department when they’re used in fiction. But what about the old pillow-as-silencer trope? Is there any truth to that?

 

Short answer: no. Pillows do a bad job of containing the explosive gases released by a gunshot. Hell, they can barely contain snoring.

 

Here’s an excellent video demonstrating this with live ammo, different types of pillows and a decibel meter.

Also, despite what the movie Postal might suggest, cats don't make for effective silencers/suppressors, either. Not even the fluffy ones.

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