With the ATF’s new guidance released, more and more people are looking at their first suppressor. A firearm suppressor reduces recoil, nearly eliminates concussion, and will reduce sound volume to help protect your hearing.
Once you start shooting with silencers you’ll never want to go back. But before you buy one or hit the range, here’s what every new suppressor owner should know.
1. Compatibility Comes First 🫡
Make darn sure that your suppressor is rated for your caliber, barrel length, and intended rate of fire. Check if you have the right mounting hardware for your firearm. If you’re unsure of the rating of a suppressor, check the suppressor’s details and specifications on our website.
2. Mount It Right 🔧
Clean the threads and mounting surfaces. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, confirm the mount is fully locked and verify bore alignment with a proper alignment rod before firing.
3. Zero and POI Shift 💪
A suppressor can shift your point of impact, aka POI. Zero your firearm in the configuration you plan to shoot and re-check it if you change your ammo, mount, or suppressor.
4. Make The Right Ammo Choice 🎯
If you want quiet, you’ll want to shoot subsonic ammunition. Subsonic 22 LR, 9mm, and 300 Blackout typically have the biggest “wow factor” for achieving movie-quiet results. An AR-15 firing .223/5.56 typically has the biggest “this is way louder than I expected” results.
5. Keep Gas In Check 😮💨
Suppressors can increase backpressure on gas-operated rifles, sending more gas toward the shooter and increasing wear and tear. You can accommodate this when shooting suppressed by installing/tuning any or all of the following: an adjustable gas block, a heavier buffer weight, a tunable bolt carrier, a gas mitigating charging handle, a longer gas system (e.g. rifle-length instead of carbine-length), etc.
6. Dealing With The Heat 🔥
Suppressors get hot…like super hot. To handle the heat, watch your firing pace, stay within the suppressor’s limits, and let it cool before handling or storing it with a suppressor cover or wrap.
7. Buy For Your Case 🧳
The dB meter number isn’t the only way to snag your perfect suppressor. Also consider caliber compatibility, size, weight, mounting options, firearm type, and intended use.
8. If You’re Still Unsure…
If you still don’t know which would be the best suppressor for you, take our quick quiz to find the best suppressor for you here. Or check our YouTube channel to see some of the best suppressors in action here. For more information on suppressor owner tips, check here.