Suppressors Suppressors in the list of purchase priorities

ericthebeard

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 30, 2013
134
2
Seattle, WA
Just right off, this thread is half gear-whore and half serious purchase discussion (I hope). Nothing wrong with a little circle-jerk-gear-a-thon.

I am wanting to get a sense of others' opinions on this. Given limited-ish finds (I mean, the precision game is expensive. No getting around that.) where does a suppressor purchase lie within all the other possible purchases? Buying a can now moves off other pretty useful purchases down the road a ways...

Right now I've got a solid rifle setup that will outshoot me for a long time and last just as long. Not cutting edge, just rock solid. AIAW, NF NSX, TAB sling, Atlas bipod, Spuhr mount... the works. I've got a databook (and use it!), an old Android phone with Shooter App (and I use JBM charts too), Milldot master, Borka field tools. I just dropped another round of purchases getting a 4 extra mags and a case of FGMM 175 to set me comfortably in ammo for a while.

The decision comes in with things like, suppressor or AB Kestrel? Buy a decent brake/comp for now, or hold out for just a direct attach suppressor (I've pretty much decided on getting a TBAC 30p-1 and be done with it)? Just get a regular 4500NV for atmospherics and put that extra cash toward the 30p-1? I am cry once buy once, and know I need atmospherics of my own soon but really like the idea of a single, rigged source for that and ballistic data. Smartphones are delicate little princesses. Or are there other bits and bops that would take precedence I'm not considering? Decisions decisions...

So, setting this all up... where does a suppressor fall on your priority list after the "basics" are taken care of? ESPECIALLY if you eventually bought a can and realized that you perhaps should have gotten one sooner, or could have done better with the cash elsewhere.

Thanks.

ps- Tactical counter sniper beard already taken care of too.

US_Tactical_Supply-600x448.jpg
 
Depends where you live and how you plan on registering the suppressor(s). If you are using a trust and live some place like many of us who could never get a CLEO sign off it would move to #1 priority. That was my deciding factor in purchasing a few more right now vs other gear.
 
Good stuff, thanks.

I've looked through the "Form 4 wait" threads and other sources about the end-to-end buying prospect of a can, but found nothing about regional tendencies. Any good resources on that?
 
IMHO The 'basics' include a reloading set up. You can look at it as A) 'I can shoot 3x as much for the same cost' B) Part of your SHTF gear C) What allows you to squeeze a bit more accuracy / swap calibers easily and cheaply / make up subsonic loads.

If you want a can, TBAC has a great reputation. If you go with a personal purchase, plan on roughly one year until it is in your possession.
 
Good stuff, thanks.

I've looked through the "Form 4 wait" threads and other sources about the end-to-end buying prospect of a can, but found nothing about regional tendencies. Any good resources on that?

You just have to contact your local CLEO to see if they'll sign off. Given your in seattle i'd imagine he's probably pretty liberal and not likely to sign off but i'd ask. The form 4 wait time doesn't have anything to do with it its the atf 41p date. Getting a form 4 in before that date is just hedging your bet that it does go into effect and you can't get a cleo sign off.
 
I'm taking note that you purchased the case of FGMM 175s and would naturally infer that you don't reload yet. If that is correct, I would invest in getting into reloading and push that towards the front of your priority list. The upfront cost will be more than offset by money saved in the long run in purchasing off-the-shelf ammo which is more expensive. Additionally, you will have the ability to better tune your load to your rifle and try different powder and projectiles. If you are an avid shooter, you will save your self a small fortune by reloading and have the ability to plow that money into high speed kit. One other item that would be good to know is what caliber you shoot. One of the benefits of shooting suppressed on the bigger calibers is that it softens the recoil pulse which will aid in helping you keep sight of your target so you can more easily spot your impacts and make corrections for the next shot. If you are shooting some of the lighter recoiling calibers like 6.5mm/6mm this really isn't necessary because you can get by with a brake or no muzzle device at all, and I would tend to move the suppressor lower on the priority list.
 
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You just have to contact your local CLEO to see if they'll sign off. Given your in seattle i'd imagine he's probably pretty liberal and not likely to sign off but i'd ask. The form 4 wait time doesn't have anything to do with it its the atf 41p date. Getting a form 4 in before that date is just hedging your bet that it does go into effect and you can't get a cleo sign off.

If you can't get CLEO signature you might not be able to get a suppressor a year from now. I'm not convinced 41p is going to pass and even though I use a trust and it will make things more difficult for me, I can get a CLEO signature without problem so it isn't as big of a worry for me. If I couldn't get a signature and thought I ever wanted a suppressor without moving then it would be top of the list.
 
A big plus (+1) one on the reloading. That much FGMM 175 is a lot of pesos. However, through the sales of your "tactical beard" you can stay with the factory rounds. I waited almost 20 years before I moved into suppressors. I then jumped in with both feet. Sadly, the NSA is pulling your fingerprints off that door handle in the pic you posted. Better get moving and don't trip over that beard! Good luck and good shooting!

Doug

P.S. When all that kit takes a dump in the field, and a whole platoon of zombies, with democratic backing, is staggering down your street, how you gonna dial in the wind? :)
 
Thanks for the replys.

On reloading: I have access to a friends reloading bench. I have not delved into that endeavor yet but the gear required is covered, though I'll likely be contributing a nice piece of shared gear to the pool like a stainless media tumbler. I am now only shooting 308, but may get into 6.5CM or some other short-action load later down the road for fun. But I really (as of now) have little interest in long-action calibers (again, so say I now...). *eyeroll*

Also, full disclosure, that not my pic of the tac beard (though I fully support its gumption).