Is there a suppressers for dummies thread here? elsewhere? I am new to the game and I have read so much I have muddied the waters to the point you could plant corn in it.
Is there a suppressers for dummies thread here? elsewhere? I am new to the game and I have read so much I have muddied the waters to the point you could plant corn in it.
Searching for "supppressors for dummies" returned some pages from legit sources (I haven't read them myself):Originally Posted by Crazy Dane
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...essors-part-1/
https://palmettostatearmory.com/blog...ppressors.html
https://www.alloutdoor.com/2023/11/0...e-suppressors/
https://silencerco.com/blog/template-ready-copy-6/
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...ide-silencers/
past that, rimfire, pistol, or rifle? On a bolt gun or AR? etc...
I found the learning curve to be quite steep, but luckily we have a good base of knowledgeable people right here. I don’t recall any Suppressor 101 threads, but maybe someone else will. One issue is that suppressors iterate so quickly that specific recommendations have a definite shelf life.
I remember when I thought I only needed one…
Ken
BBI: ...”you better not forget the safe word because shit's about to get weird”...
revchuck38: ...”mo' ammo is mo' betta' unless you're swimming or on fire.”
Suppressors (with an 'o' ) for dummies is actually kind of a challenge. As I'm sure you noticed, there's been a wild amount of changes and development in the industry in the past 5 years, so options that were once the 'go to' are surprisingly obsolete now.
IMHO, the 'easy button' is this:
If you're going to get one and only one 'can' (suppressor), get a .22LR can. My next can is likely to be the Otter Creek Labs 'Titanium' rimfire can, after shooting a friends I am very impressed with it. Light, quiet as heck, makes .22LR a truly zero recoil and very quiet hearing-safe experience. Suppressed .22LR is just about as good as it gets especially for beginners or for simple afternoon plinking without bothering neighbors, etc.
If you're going to get two cans - the second one should be a quality .30 cal rifle can. LOTS of options in the industry for that right now. Happy to go down that rabbit hole if needed, but the best option will depend on your intended rifle(s) you want to suppress and what you prioritize most (overall suppression, durability, light weight).
Going for a third can, IMHO make that a short 'K can' for a 5.56 if you intend to suppress a 5.56 AR. Lots of options there and there's tons to consider, especially with modern low-backpressure/vented suppressor designs vs oldschool designs. Happy also to go down that rabbit hole if you're interested.
If you don't own an AR or want to suppress one, I'd go for a centerfire pistol/PCC suppressor. That's an easy choice IMHO, the Ecco Machine TLX is a 100% Ti suppressor that is so light it cycles without a booster on a lot of pistols and it's surprisingly quiet for its size and weight. It works especially well on Beretta 92's and other hammer guns. Striker pistols tend to be more sensitive and often need a booster anyway, but that's dependent on the gun, ammo, and other variables involved.
Sorry, blame it on me being bilingual. I speak bad english and incoherent babble...
Thanks, I have been googling my individual questions which I think has led to the muddy waters and causing me much frustration this morning. I would like to try to get a better understanding before I turn into that guy and ask a bunch of question that is easily answered. Never thought about searching __ for dummies.
As for which cans, at this point I would like to understand all the rule, regs and laws before I decide on the "which can(s)" but I do have some idea in the direction I want to go.
I see something for .22 rimfire, my .357 lever gun and maybe a something for bolt gun rifles.
A big thanks to all, CD
"rule, regs and laws"
-the easy button is one of the per-can trusts from Silencer Shop, Capitol Armory, etc. Those are easy enough I wouldn't do individual anymore
-store the approved form or scans securely somewhere.
-I have never been asked, but having a copy on your phone isn't a bad idea
-hunting regs vary by state
-the only perhaps new thing is that unlike a gun in most states, you can't just loan it to anybody (unless you add them to your trust)
".22 rimfire, my .357 lever gun and maybe a something for bolt gun rifles"
My goto rimfire can is the Sparrow, for ease of cleaning. Cleaning rimfire cans sux. Disclaimer: I've had it for a while and haven't been tracking things.
Lotsa 357 choices. For a rifle you don't need the Neilsen device. My only pistol can is an Osprey 45. I got that because you can use it for 45, 9mm, whatever, and the low bore axis means you may not need different sights.. 'Overbore' cans, e.g. using a 45 can for 9mm, doesn't always mean it's louder, because the bigger volume *may* compensate for the bigger bore hole. I have a 30 cal can that is quieter on a 223 than my 223 cans, because it's a lot bigger, for example. Or not, of course :-). N.b. that cast bullets may be contraindicated for sealed cans (that you can't take apart to clean).
For a bolt gun, you can use cheaper/lighter aluminum cans. The inconel and other exotic alloys are for high rate of fire semi-autos, or maybe Lee-Enfields :-). You just have to shoot slowly enough the can doesn't get too warm. For normal bolt action pace shooting, IMHE, it's not a problem.
I'm going to be kind of a contrarian here: people really sweat the details of dB reduction. IMHE ... any can is so much nicer than unsuppressed that I don't care about the nuances. I wear plugs with any of them, even rimfire. It's an unmuffled car vs one with a NAPA muffler or one with a Pep Boys muffler to me. Any old muffler works for me. I will now go commit ritual Seppuku to atone for this blasphemy :-).
Great advice. A 22lr can and a 22 pistol or rifle and a brick of ammo is a great way to spend an afternoon.
A 30 cal can will work on an AR. I use mine on my AR for plinking at my buddy's house. It's not as quiet as a proper 223 can, but it's still much quieter than an unsuppressed rifle.
For purchase purposes, consider a trust. A bit more work to set up at the start, but it makes transferring to family members easier. It also simplifies access and possession concerns when all of the adults in the house are on the trust. The fingerprint and picture requirements make trusts less desirable, but it also makes it easier for my wife to take possession should something happen to me. She's not a gun person and I didn't want to subject her to wading through suppressor law. She's on the trust, so the cans are effectively hers as well.
For my own purchases, I ended up with Ruger's 22lr can and Energetic Arms' Vox S. I value durability over weight because I view these as very long term purchases.
While the Ruger doesn't get much attention, I like that it uses stainless steel and titanium in the construction, is serviceable, and has Ruger backing it up. Ruger isn't going anywhere so if I have issues, they'll be around to resolve it. I've owned it for nearly a decade and it goes on every camping trip so I can plink a little without annoying my camp-mates.
I went with the Vox S for the rifle because it looked durable as all heck and I liked the idea of the optional muzzle wipe even though I've never used it. Another feature of the Vox S is putting the serial number on a band that can be moved to another can if the original one is damaged beyond repair. I actually had to utilize this feature when my can broke at a weld during my first range trip ("holy crap, half my can is missing!"). Totally a manufacturing defect and Energetic Arms had it replaced and back to me in a week with no hassle at all. The replacement has been going strong for 5 years. I no longer shoot my 308 without it. Not only is it quieter and with less recoil, but the gun is also more accurate with it than without.
But do you speak Jive?
Chris
I agree. When I first started out, I watched a bunch of videos comparing various 22lr cans and I just couldn't tell much difference. Ultimately, I picked mine because it seemed to be the one most likely to be around long after I bought it and backed up by a company that was also going to be around effectively forever. Given how much use my rimfire can gets, this was important to me.
Chris
I'm about to buy my first suppressor. Lots of visits to websites, YouTube Videos, friends advice and experience, and salespersons. Basically I listed what I wanted and found a suppressor that can do everything I want.
We will find out how good my choice was.
Optimists study English; pessimists study Chinese; and realists learn to use a Kalashnikov.
I think you just have to realize you're not going to find the perfect suppressor.
Someone told me that on a thread I made about suppressors. I ended up with a huxwrx 556 ti. I love it for my AR. But now I want one for a hunting rifle. I could've found a do all 30 cal can but it wouldn't have done what I wanted for my AR and that was low back pressure and sound reduction.
I think make a list of the things that are most important to you and start there.
"Shooting is 90% mental. The rest is in your head." -Nils
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