OK, I'm finally in a position where I can seriously look at buying a .223 silencer, after wanting one for years.
Problem is, budgetary concerns prevent me from just buying a Surefire or Knights Armament can, so....
I'll try to outline exactly what me specific needs are, and then you can go from there in your advisement.
This can is going to go on a 16 inch Colt carbine. I'm not planning to swap the can from rifle to rifle - just put it on, and leave it on. The carbine will get fairly hard use, and will be carried regularly in vehicles and on foot, so I'm not wanting a can that I need to worry about loosening up on me if it gets beat on fairly regularly. Overall length added, weight added, etc, is not a primary concern for me, as much as getting a rock-solid can. I'm not eager to get into expensive proprietary mounting systems, so hence my interest in a thread-on can (that I would probably loctite so the can wouldn't spin off, if need be) but if I need to reconsider my take on that, to get into a really rugged can, so be it. Basically, I want something that is simple, and rugged.
I'm not expecting hollywood-level quietness out of the can - I do have some passing experience with cans in the past, but not nearly enough to base the purchase of a can on, but I'm pretty realistic about how quiet (or not) the can will be...
As of right now, I have been looking at the Gemtech Trek (the AAC Ranger 3 seems to be unobtainium, and I can't seem to track down a Ranger 2) or possibly a Gemtech HALO, so that you have some idea what I've been looking at.
I do not plan on, nor is it even possible for me, financially, to simply buy a can, try it for a while, and then get somethign better in a year or so if I don't like it, so I'm wanting to make sure I get something decent the first time around.
Thanks in advance!