Help pick first suppressed rifle

[j-moose32]

Edited

 

[ddavis]

One of my favorite guns to shoot is a 11.5" home build AR with a SiCo Specwar. Its accurate, light recoil, and cheap to shoot. Whatever you do, get a good adjustable gas block. AR's don't run worth a damn with a standard gas block with all that back pressure. It seems to almost cut the felt recoil in half. Also get one of the charging handles that redirects gas or learn how to use RTV silicon to do it yourself. Other than that, ARs have been very forgiving for me to get to run suppressed. Not so much for the 308 piston gun I've been dicking with for the last couple months.

-Dan

 

[j-moose32]

Gotchya I’ve heard that gas guns can be finicky with a overall. I said maybe on a can for 308 because I’d get it to try it on my bolt 308 for fun haha

And I don’t love the idea of home builds. Everyone I’ve seen that is put together with a plethora of different companies parts never runs well. But point noted on adjustable gas block

 

[loveha]

Gotchya I’ve heard that gas guns can be finicky with a overall. I said maybe on a can for 308 because I’d get it to try it on my bolt 308 for fun haha

And I don’t love the idea of home builds. Everyone I’ve seen that is put together with a plethora of different companies parts never runs well. But point noted on adjustable gas block

Depends on the parts. The AR is a rather simple machine. As long as you buy quality items, then it is no issue to get a gun to run well.
When you start buying cheap barrels with over drilled gas ports, and non adjustable blocks with your basic carbine buffer and spring, then yes you will run into an issue with a gun that does not run well.
There are many ways to go about it, but generally, buy a quality barrel, and you most likely don't need a fancy adjustable block, and an H or H2 buffer will run great. Adjustable gas block wont hurt if you plan to run suppressed though.
Also, you have us to bounce shit off of. We are not afraid to tell you not to buy something because what you are looking to buy is trash.
So if you are mechanically inclined, and not afraid to add a few tools such as a reaction rod, magazine or buffer tube vise block, and armorers wrench, then I would seriously consider building one.

It doesn't hurt to buy factory first though. My first two rifles I bought, the next two I built once I knew what I was looking for in a rifle. I realized you change out rifle parts to what you want that are most simple to replace. i.e. Grip, stock, trigger and safety. All of which can be anywhere from $200-$500 total on top of what you already purchased the rifle for.
Just something to keep in mind.

 

[j-moose32]

Good advice. I like the idea of buying one or two and then building after you know what exactly your looking for.

I was recommended to check out sons of liberty gun works, and also the new rifles from geissele. Both supposedly being high quality for the money

 

[Danco411]

Definitely get a .30 cal can. You can run it on anything less than .30 and they are fine on high volume .223 if you get a good one.

 

[deersniper]

Buy one of those seekins 25% off coupons then get a bunch of uppers/rifles

They all have adjustable gas blocks and shoot well

 

[j-moose32]

Not sure the coupon tour talking about?

I’ve also been tossing around the idea of buying a few KAC complete lowers and then doing em 1 at a time after the fact

 

[deersniper]

Not sure the coupon tour talking about?

I’ve also been tossing around the idea of buying a few KAC complete lowers and then doing em 1 at a time after the fact

Seekins gives out xx percent off coupons and people sell them cheap in the classifieds here

 

[j-moose32]

Gotchya, I just did a search and saw people selling 30 and 40% of coupons. Pretty big chunk right there if I was to buy 3 uppers. I’ll look more info seekins

 

[deersniper]

I just threw this rig together with the 18" 3 gun upper and it looks like it has good potential. I am extremely rusty in shooting ability due to time constraints.
Didn't have a pic/mlok rail to throw bipod on at the time

 

[j-moose32]

Looks pretty damn good to me! What lower is it built on as well? How did it run with the can?

 

[deersniper]

Looks pretty damn good to me! What lower is it built on as well? How did it run with the can?

Just a Bushmaster or PSA lower with a Gisselle NM adjustable trigger and magpul PRS stock

Ran good with the can. I adjusted the gas so it would just lock back on an empty mag

 

[j-moose32]

Good to know. I could get 2 uppers for cheaper light weight sbrs, and then maybe 2 high end KAC uppers...

 

[Darqusoull13]

Small frame (223, 300 blk) are pretty straightforward to run suppressed. Large frame (308) there's some tricks to set them up so they run damn near as well as a small frame, more true with the 6.5 variants. Definitely buy something with an adjustable gas block and I'd strongly suggest a adding a silent captured spring. Here's my buddy's JP duty rifle setup in 223 and a 6.5 Creed JP LRP I'm running suppressed at PRS type matches. Frank might be familiar with the latter

Do you have a can in mind already?

 

[deersniper]

some decent can options:

 

[j-moose32]

Damn both those rifles look pretty good! No cans in mind specifically yet, but I tend to go on the buy once cry once side of things

 

[j-moose32]

Heard back from knights on lower pricing and just waiting to her back from JP rifles now.

Have a few good options Atleast now. I could do KAC with seekins uppers pretty dang affordably, and sounds like JP isn’t going to break the bank and brings a lot of bang for the buck

 

[USMC_JA]

I have slowly acquired a nice little stamp collection. And I love suppressing 556 and 308. However, the most bang for the buck and impressive suppressors are easily the .22 and PCC cans. Running a suppressed .22 is grin inducing. Stupid, stupid quiet. My scorpion 9mm PCC is quieter than a staple gun with 147 gr ammo and an Octane HD. Great fun.

Don't get me wrong. I don't shoot 556 any more without a suppressor. But it is still borderline hearing safe. More times than not, I'm still wearing ear pro with 556 and 762....but not with .22 or 9mm/45ACP and the right suppressor.

 

[deersniper]

No center fire rifle can is hearing safe

Hearing loss is cumulative.

Huh. What did you say

 

[j-moose32]

Haha yea I’m not having pipe dreams that it is action movie type quiet. I will say that if I do subsonic 300 blk rounds that I do want it to be damn quiet though

 

[VegasHKShooter]

As one who is relatively new to running suppressed, I can say once you go, it will be very hard to shoot without one.
I only run 2 rifles unsuppressed, one is my KAC ACC with the MAMS muzzle brake. The other is my match rifle, an AI with an APA Lil Bastard brake.

I own a SureFire SOCOM7.62RC2. It’s not the quietest, but there are many other considerations with suppressors than just pure quiet. First round pop, muzzle flash, mounting system, POA/POI shift, and even durability/full auto rating.

Anyway, not trying to sell you a can, just my thoughts. The guns that I own that will absolutely run, suppressed, unsuppressed, makes absolutely no difference are my KAC carbines. I have 4.5 (the .5 is an upper only, no dedicated lower). The Knight’s guns never hiccup, bobble when I slap my can on. Now, I know not everyone is going to drop $3500-$4500 on a KAC just to run suppressed. But, they work......every time.

Another option is to build. You can buy barrels with gas ports specifically designed to run suppressed. Sionics out of AZ has a reduced gas port barrel that will still function unsuppressed with quality ammo. My REALLY fun Carbine I suppress is a Bravo upper, Bravo ultra light 11.5” barrel. That rifle is my HD/bedside gun. With the can, it’s the same length as a 16” normal rifle, but if I roll out of bed at night for the bad man breaking in, I’m not going to blow my wife’s and my eardrums out. The BCM barrel is NOT overpassed, and in SBR’s my favorite is the 11.5”-12.0”. Still handy, but nowhere near as blasty as a 10.5”.

Sorry, kinda long, but just some thoughts from a fellow that went down this road not a super long time ago.

 

[j-moose32]

Not long at all. The type of input I’m looking for overall. Big picture thinking here, I like it.

I haven’t heard back from JP Rifle yet but also was pointed to lwrc so checking those out as well

 

[RyanScott]

You don’t need adjustable gas blocks just a barrel that’s ported right.

Honestly, just get a KAC and get shooting.

 

[aslrookie]

I think some important questions need to be answered before good recommendations can be made. You said your Chief is on board with new rifles, and you’re thinking 308, 223, and 300blk?

What is the environment you patrol in? Are you in wide open terrain and the only officer on duty for long durations in between shifts?

Will these rifles be used for serving warrants in close quarters or barricaded subjects?

Do you have a designated marksman/sniper role you’re trying to establish with the 308?

It sounds like you don’t have much experience working on rifles. Do you have an armorer at your dept? If not, you should really buy a complete rifle that you can rely on. LWRCI, KAC, PWS, LMT, or even BCM for a more budget friendly option.

Good equipment isn’t cheap, but don’t cut corners just to save a few bucks when it could cost you a lot more on the liability end.

 

[j-moose32]

Sorry guess it wasn’t clear at the beginning. I’m assigned a rifle at work. in my home state gun laws are crap. You cannot personally buy / own an AR15 unless you are LEO and your current chief signs letter of good standing. Trying to stock up personally before I loose the opportunity. My work gear is all squared away. Well as much as department issued stuff
Can be ha

 

[deersniper]

Hmm.

Sure hope/expect you to overlook any "firearms violations " you might come across


LE firearm law exemptions are BS. And complete BS on personally owned firearms.

 

[broncoaz]

To me the most enjoyable stuff to shoot suppressed is something not going supersonic, .300 blackout 187+ gr, 9mm 147 gr, or .22 standard velocity. These are quiet enough to be considered “hearing safe”. Supersonic loadings benefit from reduced noise and recoil, but still require hearing protection.

I’m left handed, so most of my stuff is home built Stag Arms components. AR’s are like Legos, very simple to assemble properly with a minimal outlay in tools by a competent person. I also recommend an adjustable gas block so the rifle can be easily tuned for suppressed or non suppressed. I have one barrel that was custom ported by Ballistic Advantage for me, a 8” .300 blackout, it runs supersonic without the suppressor and 200+ subsonic with the suppressor, about as good as I could ask for. It will short stroke on 220 gr without the can, but that is expected.

My favorite suppressed rifle is a 4.5” AR-22.

 

[j-moose32]

@deersniper “Firearms violations”? Never heard of em

But starting to hear back from a few different suppliers and will keep you guys posted on which way I go ??