Silencers are provided for a weapon having a combustion chamber and a
barrel. The weapon is configured to launch a projectile with combustion
gases generated in the combustion chamber. An exemplary silencer includes
a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured for
mounting the silencer to the barrel, the distal end being configured to
allow the projectile to pass therethrough, and at least one vortex
chamber disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The at
least one vortex chamber includes a circular peripheral wall for inducing
a vortex on a portion of the combustion gases expelled from the
combustion chamber during launch of the projectile. The vortex impedes
flow of the combustion gases from the barrel such that acoustic energy
associated with the launch of the projectile is dissipated.