Does a suppressor affect rifle accuracy?

A good quality suppressor shouldn't affect accuracy at all assuming its perfectly lined up with the barrel.

To the contrary, the lack of noise/recoil would help the shooter with concentration and follow through.
 
From what Ive been finding out over the past couple of months, the answer is a definite "maybe, maybe not".

I recently picked up an AAC M4-2000 for my AR's and have been having varying levels of success and frustration with it.

With my S&W M&P15T, I see little if any difference with the can on the gun. Groups are about the same and POI is what it is without the can on the gun. Shoot 5 or shoot 30, and they are all in there.

With my Armalite M15A4(T), its been a little different. Without the can on the gun, it will shoot 1/4-3/8" groups with my reloads at 100 yards. With the can on, using the same ammo, its anywhere from 3/4" to a couple of inches at the same distance, and nothing is consistent. As the gun heats up, things tend to get steadily worse too. One minute its shooting tight groups POA, the next, 2" groups somewhere else. With the "can" zero, the cold shot, and next four of five shots are usually spot on, after that, if you continue to shoot, things start to fall apart. Allow the gun to cool, and youre back to zero.

POA/POI is also different when the can is on, and POI is usually about 2" left and 2" below where it is without the can on the gun.
 
Everything affects accuracy, it seems.
You won't know on this particular rifle until you try it.
Just the weight of the suppressor could change the harmonics or whip of the barrel and point of impact.
Or not.
Maybe in a consistent manner, or maybe not.
It might require a different load than without the suppressor.
Rifles are fun.......
 
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