Suppressors First time buyer and want to only get one or two at most to cover all bases

Draco877

Specialist (U.S. Army)
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 17, 2012
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PA USA
Howdy, I have the itch to buy a suppressor and want the most, or in a this case least, bang for my buck. I am unsure whether to get one or two to cover all my bases. Currently I have an AR-15 in 5.56mm, a savage 10 in .308WIN, and a pistol in .45 ACP that I plan to use it on. I am also planning in a couple years to add a 6.5 CM or two, a .40S&W pistol, and maybe another .308 WIN to the stables too.
The two companies that are really currently standing out to me are Silencerco and Gemtech. Also if any have a veteran discount or such let me know.
 
A .308 can will work for the 5.56 and 6.5 creedmoor. I use my 308 can on all the above and it works great. My 5.56 AR is easily shootable without ear pro wth the can on it.

My recommendation is get one that'll handle about anything. 300 Win Mag down to 5.56 SBR's.

I do do not know much about the pistol cans but I'm sure a 45 would also work for a 40.
 
I bought an omega to be a do-all for ar's and bolt guns. I think you need a dedicated pistol suppressor and not try to make one work for everything. JMHO.
 
SiCo Omega for your rifle can, SiCo Omega K 45 for your pistol suppressor, and the SiCo Spectre II for you rimfire. I own Omega and Spectre. I bought Octane 9 before Omega K’s came out. It would give you 9mm/45 option. These milti-option cans may give up 2-3 decibles over a caliber specific dedicated can, but can you tell the difference? I can’t. And this way you cover broad range with 3 cans
 
My suggestions:

30cal - whatever deal you can find from a reputable maker. TBAC, Crux, SiCo, Dead Air, SAS, etc. All are top notch and rated for 300WM+. I bought SAS and Crux (Templar Tactical at the time) suppressors on clearance/group buys for steep discounts. No regrets at all. 317millhand here seems to have good prices on the TBAC lines but other deals are to be had. As mentioned above you probably should contact the manufacturer for minimum barrel lengths though as once you get into the NFA game, an SBR may not be too far behind.

Pistol - SiCo. I have an Octane 45 (older model) that is used on a 45ACP and 40 S&W. It's also rated for 300 BO subsonic. Love the versatility of the piston system and it performs excellent.

Rimfire - Spectre II. Its rated up to 17wsm and 22 hornet so it will cover whatever you want. Easy to disassemble/clean and excellent suppression.

Over the past few years silencers have boomed and there are a lot of good options available now. Just remember its Christmas so...

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For a do all rifle can, the Silencerco Omega is hard to beat. The Silencerco Octane 45 or Dead Air Ghost will cover all your pistol needs. I have alot of cans in stock, and I can get a good discount to you if you buy both.

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For a one-suppressor solution, you may want to take a look at the SiCo Hybrid... it seems that it was designed for pretty much this exact situation: the person that has a couple of rifles and a pistol or two, and doesn't want to drop a bunch of cash on application-specific suppressors.

The thing about the Hybrid is that it is a compromise... because of its large bore (45-caliber), it'll be louder on your .223 and .308 (and future 6.5) hosts than dedicated suppressors in those calibers. As a pistol can, it's going to be larger/heavier than dedicated pistol cans (because it's built to deal with not just pistol pressures, but also rifle pressures). That said, I've shot a Hybrid installed on a .270 Win, and it sounded great; perhaps not as quiet as it could have been, but certainly a HELL of a lot better than no can at all.

The other option would be to get a dedicated 30-caliber rifle can (I really like the TBAC Ultras and the SiCo Omega), and a dedicated pistol can... there's nothing like having the right tool for the job.
 
I'm using a TBAC Ultra 9 30cal for my 308 and 223, only had to buy a couple brakes and that would have you covered through your switch to 6.5 (I happen to be doing the same thing with my AI AT when I burn out the 308 barrel). The difference in suppression between the calibers is negligible due to the extra volume put toward the smaller guy, unless you're able to discern an appreciable difference of maybe ~1-2dB or more than likely less, then you're Dogman... Great company to work with too, for what that's worth. I have a Surefire Ryder for my 9mm, which doesn't exactly help you, but their stuff is quality too if they happen to have something in 45 ACP. Not sure they have a direct MIL/LE discount as I look for that as well, but sometimes their distributors might.
 
After what people are saying you guys are reinforcing my thought of getting s pistol can and a rifle one and going with Silencerco stuff. fortunately I have lots of time to decide unless you can start the paperwork on the phone as working for Uncle Sam has me a long ways away from anywhere I could go to do it. I like SilencerCo for their SPEQ program. I think I might get their Omega 300 and Octane 45 suppressors to fill my two needs of pistol and rifle while still keeping it light instead of getting the hybrid.
What are my mounting options other than straight to the barrel for them? I was thinking of getting a muzzle break at least for the Omega 300 stuff so I can just screw it onto that and take it off and needed/wanted.
 
Omega will come ready to direct thread to 5/8x24 threads and mount to the supplied 5/8x24 brake. 1/2x28 brakes and flash hiders are available.

Talk to dealers local to where you call home (State of residence or State you’re stationed). They can mail the paperwork to you after they receive the can for you to complete and mail to nfa branch, assuming you have access to places to get passport photos and finger prints.

edit: May be best to use a dealer in your actual state of res unless you know for sure your situation isn’t going to change while waiting on the stamp.
 
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If started now uncle sam should have me until well after it is done but my location would still require my home of record to be where it is is done. The is one place near there that I think carries them or at least the brand so I can start there though not sure if they are part of the SPEQ. I know that SilencerCo and a couple other companies make mounts and muzzle devices just trying to get all the options I know area 419 and I think dead air make mounts/muzzle brakes that work with those.
 
Good lock buying just one, it's near impossible after your first is in hand. Personally if I were to do it again I'd go with the light weight cans like the TB Ultra series. I have some Rugged cans and I love them. Great mount, minimal poi shift and repeatable. That plus they are built like a brick shit house so you won't have any warranty issues. You need to pick either light weight or stout.
 
I went the 3 can route:

Silencerco Hybrid for rifle. I do really enjoy the anchor brake for magnum calibers even if it isn't hearing safe on all of them. It's without a doubt more pleasant, i truly mean night and day difference, than the bark of a bare brake. However, if I could do it over, I wouldn't. It's pretty loud on 30cals compared to others and the tone just isn't nearly as good as a lot of the other options. Instead I would get an omega for its size and weight with flat end cap or the ultra 7 which simply feels better built and has one of best tones to my ear. Then I would have added a second supressor for the big bores with more volume and weight than the hybrid since I don't usually transport my elr rigs very far anyways.

Rugged Obsidian for pistol. Debated a few other options, but so far it blows everything I have shot away. Including the ghost and silencerco's. Only real down fall to me is it's a 45cal round can, which means raised sights are pretty much a necessity. Despite liking it better than any other pistol silencer this is my least used can. Simply because I find centerfire pistol cans are inconvenient. The weight and length are somewhat unpleasant for action training in full config and not quiet enough to be worth while in short config. It's the only can I don't use every time I have the opportunity. Another thing I wish I had known before I started as I'm not sure I would buy one again.

Silencerco spectre 2 for rimfire. Having a separate can just for rimfire isn't a necessity, but the size and weight difference between centerfire and rimfire makes them really nice to have if you spend much time shooting rf. Dead air mask is likely the best sounding to me by a hair, but honestly there really isn't much difference between the majority of them I have heard. Admittedly my testing was a small sample size(6 cans on 10 hosts) and not very scentific, but enough so that I'm convinced cone baffles play better for accuracy than mono-core designs. First round pop is overrated, yes it's a little louder, but not nearly as noticeable as many would have you believe.

If you really wanted a do it all can, the griffin optimus is an option. Not too many centerfire rifle can that can be completely disassembled which is a requirement, in my mind, if you want to use it on pistols or rimfire. Personaly, I still wouldn't as it makes too many compromises vs task specific options, but I'm not you.

Similarly I find switching a can between hosts at the range something I rarely do. Gets too hot too quickly and can be a real pain to get them unstuck at times to be worth the effort. You might find it doesn't bother you, but something worth mentioning anyways.
 
The .22 is going to be later on down the line if I bother getting one as my current .22LR is not threaded and cheap and just for amusement though I know the last lends itself to getting one. the one in my future I think I am going to leave it as is and just keep passing it down. And the closest after that is the conversion kit for my AR-15.
And after what people are saying I am leaning towards a pistol and a rifle suppressor and leaning towards the SilencerCo ones as the SPEQ will allow me to get them at a discount. How much of one unsure. The perks of having been in Uncle Sam's shooting club are nice at times. Discounts being one of them the other having been able to shoot all kinds of weapons and not have to pay for the ammo. Though having to burn through ammo especially blanks sucks as I am more accuracy person. That and when you have the SAW and they want you to go through several hundred blanks, and the BFA kept coming loose on me.
On a good note took advantage on holiday deals to scoop up a new pistol barrel for my .45 so when I get the suppressor I will be able to use it on it.
 
Another vote for Omega or SIG SRD 7.62 QD TI or Q Trash Panda + Octane .45 + the .22 can of your choice.

Do you have experience with the Trash Panda? I'd love to hear how it stacks up to other cans in your collection.

Also if I was in the market for multiple cans I would lean mor towards the osprey 45 instead of the octane 45. I own both (actually 2 osprey 45 and a osprey 9) and the only advantage the octane has is it can fit inside the hand guard on a pistol caliber carbine. The osprey has in my experience is the better pistol can, it works with standard sights, is repeatable due to its design, and sound suppression is equal to if not greater than the octane.

 
Jw329 what do you mean by repeatable in this instance? like repeatable POI shift? and yeah the listed sound suppression is slightly better on the osprey and my inclination for the octane is somewhat right now due to appearance and the possibility of using it on a pistol caliber carbine at some point if I ever get around to it. If the Osprey does have a repeatable POI shift while the Octane does not that would be a game changer in decision. Tidbits like that are why I will keep asking and talking here until I pull the trigger and buy the suppressors I decide on.
 
Draco, that is what I was referring to. The osprey's shape ensures that it is in the same position every time you put it on. As far as the shift is concerned this got me to thinking I have never experimented to see how much the poi moves with the two different suppressors. I am off work this week and will try to go poke some paper today and see where they are.
 
Well here it is... not a big deference either way.

edit: about 15 yards (the range I went to is not marked) and I was shooting sig 230 ammo.
 

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and that was consistant shifts each time you took the suppressor? each time with that suppressor it shifted POI to the same place? as an fyi I work IT for uncle sam and have to deal with computer illiterate so it is becoming habit to break everything down barney style. otherwise looking nice the groupings seem the same with each with and without the cans on. just some personal taste in choosing as maybe the lack of high sights for the one.