AbstractThe problem of attenuating the noise from weapons firing is studied experimentally and numerically. As a possible method of attenuating the noise significantly, a silencer with no internal baffles is attached to the M242 cannon. The internal pressures inside the muffler are measured. The near‐field overpressures outside the muffler at various polar angles are also measured. A numerical simulation of the flow through the muffler is performed, using Harten's shock‐capturing method to solve the Euler equations of ideal compressible flow. The numerical simulation yields a detailed picture of the flow field as displayed by the pressure and Mach contours. Pressure–time curves at selected locations are obtained and compared with experimental data. There is good agreement, except that the numerical simulation generates more vigorous oscilla