August 19, 2015
By Paul Rackley
For decades, suppressors have been called silencers and labeled assassin and poacher tools, despite a lack of evidence outside of the world of movies. Besides, there is no way to "silence" a firearm — suppressors simply reduce the amount of noise, like a car muffler.
Suppressors are excellent tools for reducing noise pollution and protecting the hearing of shooters and hunters.
However, choosing a suppressor is no easy task. There are numerous factors to consider, such as caliber, or calibers, to be suppressed, materials, weight, dry or wet, and direct thread or quick detach.
I've always felt that a suppressor should be lightweight, fairly easy to use and maintain, and reduce enough noise to completely eliminate earplugs or muffs when shooting.
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Here are a few I think you should consider when filling out that NFA paperwork.
ACC | 556-SD Compact and lightweight, the 556-SD is a quick-detach suppressor for 5.56mm caliber rifles.
ACC , the granddaddy of uses a ratchet-mount system for installing or removing it in just a few seconds, along with Inconel baffle to reduce sound. Fusion welding means you'll get years of service from your investment.
MSRP: $649
Dead Air Armament | Mask-22 This suppressor isn't just another can for reducing noise when plinking. The
Mask-22 is a 'dry ' can that reduces noise to around the level of wet cans.
Its size, 5.25 inches in length and 1.070 inches in diameter, also means that the sights can be seen when popping rounds downrange, even on a handgun. And as with most .22 suppressors, the Mask can be easily dismantled for cleaning.
MSRP: $599 Gemtech | Arrow While few hunters will ever own a rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Mag., it doesn't mean that a suppressor designed for such a gun isn't a want.
The Arrow is big and heavy, even though it's made of titanium, but the 12-inch system also reduces felt recoil and sound by 32 dBs. Of course, it doesn't really matter, as anyone shooting a 27-ounce suppressor, even on a .308 or .300, will probably be using a bipod.
MSRP: [imo-slideshow gallery= 329],895 Griffin Arament | Sportsman 300 With both taper-mount and direct-thread versions, the Sportsman is designed for hunters, plain and simple.
It's light enough to carry all day, but powerful enough to handle .300 Win Mag. The taper-mount
Sportsman weighs only 12 1/2 ounces, while the direct-thread 11.9 ounces.
What is really nice, though, is that a muzzle brake thread insert is included on the direct thread Sportsman, which is probably the one most hunters would choose for a bolt gun.
MSRP: $749 Huntertwon Arms | B22 Imagine being able to teach the mechanics of shooting, or to plug rodents, without disturbing the neighbors for less than $500, including the federal-mandated $200 tax stamp.
The
B22 is less than 4-inches long and weight only 2.7 ounces. Also, it can be broken down using a 1-inch socket or wrench, which is pretty important since the .22 is one of the dirtiest cartridges made.
And you've got to love a company that claims it's warranty covers 'everything but stupid. '
MSRP: $249 SIG Sauer | SPD762Ti-QD When
SIG decided to get into suppressors, the company didn't just dabble a toe, it jumped in with both feet and brought out some of the most revolutionary rifle suppressors every seen.
The company's Taper-Lock ensures proper mounting and eliminates loosening during use, and they have more internal volume than standard suppressors of the same size.
This means more noise reduction with less heat, all at a nice price point that includes the muzzle brake.
MSRP: $895 Silencer Co | Omega The Omega is a combination of the best features of SilencerCo's .30-caliber suppressors. The company used titanium, stainless steel and stellite to build one of the shortest and quietest suppressors on the market.
The Omega is rated for calibers from 5.56mm up to .300 Win Mag, and can mounted on an AR-15 via the ASR mount or quickly screwed onto the favorite .30-caliber deer rifle.
MSRP: [imo-slideshow gallery= 329],100 SilcnerCo | Salvo The idea of suppressing a shotgun is so farfetched that currently I know of only one company that's ever been able to roll one out.
The Salvo is the only suppressor that hunters can use to reduce noise when hunting dove, quail, pheasant and even turkey.
But even better, the Salvo is modular in design to allow shooters to customize it for weight, length and even sound reduction, depending the situation.
It's big — 12-inches and 34 1/2-ounces — but it reduces noise at the muzzle to 136.4 dBs.
MSRP: [imo-slideshow gallery= 329],400 SureFire | Genesis-762 SureFire is known for its quick-detach suppressor system that shrinks groups, so the introduction of the company's first direct-thread suppressor is news.
The Genesis-762 is built for hunters and can be used on everything from 5.56 to .300 Win Mag, and it is tested for both a 1-MOA group and less than 1 MOA impact shift.
This means the rifle will have an extremely close point of impacts both with and without the suppressor.
MSRP: [imo-slideshow gallery= 329],075 Yankee Hill| Sidewinder 45 Making a
.45 ACP handgun 'hearing ' safe is not easy. The Sidewinder is quite ingenious with its monolithic baffle.
Shooters don't need muffs or plugs when shooting. However, the can adds almost 9 inches to the gun's length, but it is just a little bit over an inch and a quarter in diameter and weighs only 10 3/4 ounces.
Also, the baffle is user-serviceable (shooters can take it apart) and incorporates a
Nielsen Device to enhance cycling on most semi-auto pistols.
MSRP: $699 Dead Air Armament | Sandman Ti Sure, Dead Air makes a great .22 suppressor, but most hunters prefer chasing big game. The
Sandman series are designed for rifles up to .300 Win. Mag., and both quick detach and direct thread versions are available.
Those planning on ripping rounds through an AR-10 should consider either the S or L, but stick to the direct thread Ti if you're planning to use a bolt gun.
MSRP: $849
