I am gathering information and trying to locate local dealers for my first suppressor purchase.
I’m trying to narrow it down from the AAC M4-1000, M4-2000, or the GemTech Halo.
The AAC units both appear pretty close in the length and weight areas, with an edge in sound reduction going to the M4-2000 but at about a 50% price premium.
The Halo looks to fall in the middle price wise (although closer to the M4-1000), and mounts to the standard A2 Flash Hider, so no need to buy multiple mounts.
I’ve also looked at the YHM SS Phantom and it looks to be a good value, with good performace, and similar dimensions to the others.
Whatever can I get will be run on both my 10.5" LMT SBR and 16" BCM Middy, but probably be used most on the SBR.
This can will be used for home defense, classes, training, etc. I’m not .mil and am no longer LEO.
I am looking for the best bang for my buck.
I doubt I’ll have the opportunity to fire all of these cans before deciding, and certainly not side-by-side, so your experiences are appreciated.
Please enlighten me as to why I should consider one of these over the others, or eliminate any models from consideration. As it stands now, I am leaning toward the AAC models.
Try locating people around your way with suppressors and see what you like. If you could, try and wait until Silencer Shoot in OCT and or the next Knob Creek shoot. You can also check out Silencerresearch.com and look at the numbers after you join ($30 fee). The Yankee hills are very good in terms of value. The AAC M4-2000 and SPR/M4 are one of the best cans in terms of noise suppression. The Gemtech cans are very good as well from what I hear. The M4-2000 has inconel baffles where as the M4-1000 only has the blast baffle made out of inconel IIRC. Have you also looked at Surefire? They are more on the expensive side but they have a very nice design and less chance of POI shift. I have a M4-2000 and SPR/M4 pending a stamp at my local Dealer. IMO for cans buy once cry once. As there is no real market for used suppressors.
For a first suppressor I would recommend the HALO. It is not the lightest or the shortest, but it is the most versatile (cross platform) and the price point is really good.
After you play around with that, you can make a much better determination where you want to drop your next $1000.
I have an M4-2000 Mod 8 and really like it, but I wish I’d dropped the extra $$$ and got the SPR/M4 for the MITER system. The POI shift is noticeable. The Surefire cans are supposed to have the least amount of POI shift.
First, do everything you can to get to hear some 5.56 cans in person, with and without ears, on barrel lengths you think you’ll use, before you buy. 5.56 is terribly difficult to suppress well and most buyers that I know who hadn’t heard a 5.56 can in person prior to purchase wound up disappointed. I also know several that heard cans on 16" or 20" guns and then put the same can on a 10" gun only to wind up disappointed too.
Most people also wind up rather surprised at the weight, and the impact that weight has on fatigue hanging out there off the end of the barrel. Not to mention reliability issues they can cause. I’ve never been in a carbine class where someone has started and ended the class with a can on, and most don’t last a whole day.
I’m not telling you NOT to get a 5.56 can, but I am saying be sure that you know what you’re getting into.
Once you’ve done all that, be careful what kind of advice you take and from who. The CIII market and cans especially attract a certain amount of geekiness with guys who are only interested in noise reduction because it’s more about owning the quietest can and firing 15 rounds from a bench once a month (at best). Make sure that whatever advice you’re taking is from people that use their cans the way you intend to, since what a can geek does with his collectors item probably has little to do with what you’ve stated your end-use to be.
Virtually all 5.56 cans from reputable manufacturers are going to fall in the same range in terms of noise reduction. Ops, YHM, Gemtech, AAC, SWR, etc. If you really want to get obsessive about actual numbers pay the money and join silencerresearch.com. You’re talking about a $1k purchase so it’s worth it to pony up the cash and join.
If you come to the conclusion that they all pretty much sound the same, the decision comes down to price, weight, length, mounting system, and company rep.
When it comes to suppressors, often times a new buyer only considers noise reduction and doesn’t consider other features.
Point of impact shift, weight, added length, mounting system, etc. are other features that should be considered. How you are going to use the suppressor (ie. are you going to leave it on one gun all the time or are you going to use the suppressor on several different carbines) should be taken into considertation.
If you are going to leave the suppressor on one gun all the time, point of impact shift may not be an issue. However, if you are going to be using the suppressor on several different carbines, minimal point of impact shift may become an important feature.
If you are going to mount the suppressor on an 18" SPR that you will be shooting from the prone 90% of the time, weight and length may not be an issue. However if you are going to use the suppressor on a short barreled rifle for home defense / SWAT / in confined spaces or use the suppressor on a gun that you will be shooting training classes with (shooting 8+ hours a day), weight and added over all length, may become and important features.
I wrote this article after buying a couple suppressors, explaining what features were most important based on my use and needs:
Figure out what features are most important to you based on how you will use the suppressor and use that as a template to figure out which product best suits your needs.
I’d STRONGLY recommend an AAC product in that case… and specifically the M4-2000… and here’s why.
Over on Barftard several dudes posted pics of their M42000 blast baffles after being shot in the area of 1000 rounds each on 10.5ish length barrels.
All 3 of the pics showed visible blast baffle erosion around the edge of the hole in the baffle. BUT… one of the actual knowledgeable silencer guys over there posted the notion that he’s seen the erosion slow down dramatically with the addition of the Brakeout or whatever that stupid AAC brake is called. (the breakout is only made in 51 tooth which is the M4-2000’s mount - not made in 18tooth for the 1000)
In other words, the brake takes the blast abuse on an SBR. As a side note, my M4-1000 has close to 2000 rounds through it. None of which were fired from an SBR, and my blast baffle, aside from being blackened, looks about as good as new. It’s smooth and the bevel on the hole in the blast baffle is as defined as is was when it was brand new.
Durability, weight, and length are primary concerns for me, and after reading your posts and reccomendations, I’m leaning harder than ever towards AAC, and the M4-2000 in particular. It seems the mounting system, construction, etc make it a good choice for my 10.5". It’s also lighter weight and shorter than many of the others.
I got a quote from a somewhat local dealer for an M4-2000 with mount, tax, etc included for $985. It’s in stock, so all I’ll have to do is fill out the paperwork and send it off with the check and wait. Seems like a pretty good deal. Thoughts?
Thanks again for the comments, suggestions, and guidance!
Sounds like a good price. They do not come with a mount now(:mad:) so factor that into the equation if you shop around. Even if you find it cheaper elsewhere (to me anyway, YMMV) it is worth a little bit extra to have it in stock locally.
I love my can, and it’s going to last me a very, very long time, but if I could go back and do it again I’d get a HALO as my first. No expensive mounts, no special barrel countours, just a peel washer and one of a number of quality, compatible muzzle devices.
You know, I went through this process for months… Since then I’ve had the opportunity to hear numerous cans on numerous rifles. They generally sound the same, and differences are in tone, not loudness, at least to me.
I ended up going with a Gemtech, and haven’t regretted it. It works exactly as I wanted it to. I have a friend with an M4-2000, and it sounds good too. Is it worth twice as much as my can? Time will tell I suppose.
Frankly, at this point I doubt I would buy an AAC, simply because I am sick and tired of reading them deride other company’s products.
If they had been available when I was buying, I would have strongly considered the new surefire shorty cans and the Ops Inc M4s.
If you’re going to run suppressed all the time, or a great deal of the time, reducing overall length first, and weight, second, should be high on your priority list.
In reading and rereading this, I am wondering if this phenomenon is due to the material the Brakeout is made from or the design of the brake? Is the Brakeout made from the same material as the Blackout?
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