Not really looking for a NFA paper work issues- there seems to be a lot of resources on that.
I’m looking more for : I’m sitting at home and I want a suppressor. And…
Online versus Local store: A local store rarely has the exact gun I want, so I assume that they won’t have what I want. And how do you know what is in stock at local stores- I haven’t seen them usually listed on websites. I guess I’m lucky here in CO that there are a lot of dealers that sell them- but that is a lot of places to go looking for what I want. Is there ‘Bud’s guns’ of suppressors?
What I want: I guess there are a lot of resources on first suppressor buys. I actually am looking for one for my MP5s, ARs (in 300, 556, and 7.62), a long range rifle one for 6.5C (but might as well get one rated for 300WIN), one for 9mm handgun, and one for 22lr (rifle shooting). Probably in that order. Probably get the first two now. I’m not a huge fan of one-for-all. I’ve never really done it with ARs- I build what I want and it stays that way.
On the which ones- I’ve tried to read reviews and watch videos, but I have to say, it is hard as crap to figure out what is what. I’m also not looking for the cheapest either. Where is the current best place to research them? I start watching vids and they are 5 years old, and sometimes you can’t even tell when an online article was written, and forum posts are usually not actual comparisions, just discussions about a single model.
I know some re-hash here, but I’ve never seen something about the buying/sourcing side because of the focus on paperwork.
I’ll throw another vote towards Silencer Shop. Did all the paperwork on my phone and went to one of their kiosks for my prints. I’ve also heard good things about Capital Armory as well. I think they have a similar system to SS.
I use Silencershop for the paperwork. Sometimes I order direct from the Mfgr or from a site that has it on sale. They send it to my “powered by Silencershop” SOT dealer. I pay a $20 transfer fee when I do that, which may vary but I think SS sets a maximum. Or maybe that only applies to their website, dunno. Anyway, it shows up, I get a call, click a few things on the internet, and then wait.
I’ve used Capitol Armory for SBRs, and am happy with that experience.
I feel your pain. Buying a can solely based on online research is tough. NFA Review Channel on YouTube has some good reviews and good sounds quality. Pew Science has a measuring and ranking protocol that some love, some hate. I found it to be one in a sea of data points to consider (I will say that of the cans I own, their performance does mimic the Pew Science ranking when compared to each other.)
I was and am extremely lucky in that my LGS is a Silencer Shop platinum shop and also has indoor ranges. And rentals. And employees who are more than happy to demo their personal cans for you. Even then, I didn’t get my first can exactly right. While I still like it if I had it to do over again I would have bought something else. That first can I bought while sitting in the airport waiting for a flight using SilencerShop. When I got home I went to the shop and got my prints scanned digitally and away we go (I also had a passport photo on my phone which helped.) But it is that easy. Now I just either have my LGS get the can or I buy direct from SS and it ships to them.
I would get a flow through and just have it shipped to your preferred class 3 for the transfer. Huxwrx just released another one in their flow through lineup called the Venom.
If you have a preferred place that does class 3 transfers they do all the paperwork for you so its no more involved than normal gun purchase except for providing a passport photo, finger prints, and waiting a few months.
With the flow through you’re not eating toxic gasses and it doesn’t mess up the performance of the gun.
FWIW, it seems like the SureFire RC3 is getting closer to release; I’ve seen alleged copies of the marketing fact sheet, and it claims to be a flowthrough design (claims of 60% reduction in backpressure) while maintaining the same size, weight, and attachment, which tracks given all the rumors.
My first foray into suppressors consisted of DeadAir Sandman S, Sandman K and Wolfman. Those theoretically cover me for pretty much every centerfire caliber up to .300 RUM (Win Mag, etc.). I ordered all three through my local FFL, who did the paperwork, and had them home after 9-10 months.
The reality of suppressors quickly became apparent to me. I shoot lefty, and gas blow back was an issue even on my piston ARs. The Sandman S had noticeably more gas out the ejection port than the Sandman K. The Sandman K, although reducing concussion, didn’t sound like I had a suppressor at all on my 11.5”. Adding a pound, or more, to the tip of a rifle really changes the handling.
I now have ordered a Huxwrx Flow 556k and 762Ti from FFL. Guess I’ll see what the latest suppressor trend has to offer, but I’ve learned that suppressors aren’t magical devices and come with a host of compromises. The purchasing process wasn’t difficult, just a long wait. My FFL also allows use of the suppressors while waiting for the tax stamp approval, but I never took him up on that.
The HuxWrx cans will be a game changer for you. They suppress supersonics very well, and the gas advantages are real. Depending on your expectations, you won’t consider them “quiet” out of an 11.5, but they will both be noticeably better than the Sandman K.
You’re not the first person I heard having that experience with the Sandman K. One buddy said it was about the equivalent of having a blast can on his SBR. Not sure I would call it that bad but definitely not impressive.
Yes, the Sandman K from a weight and size standpoint is where I’d like to be for a suppressor but the suppression is barely noticeable on an 11.5” 5.56. I’d call it “acceptable” suppression on a 14.5” barrel. It does have very low back pressure.
These are precisely the reasons why I’m interested in the Flow 556k.
Are you looking at the Flow because you want the super low backpressure, or because you’re looking for a better performing can than the Sandman K with the same footprint, maybe lighter?
One of the guys at the shop got in a Flow 5.56. Hoping he has it mounted up this weekend because I really want to hear what it sounds like. My Polo K is still in jail there so maybe getting a comparison is in the cards. Basic baffle design can in the OCL and the new hotness with the Flow 556k on an 11.5 might be good…
A buddy has a Flow 556k. Shooting it side by side with a HX556 Ti at an indoor range, it hard to distinguish between the 2 with hearing protection. FWIW.
All of the above. The Flow 556k seems to be about the weight and size of the Sandman K with suppression performance better than the Sandman S. I think the compromise with the Flow 556k is the regular cleaning interval and it’s a 556-specific design.
+1 but will add find a LGS with a range that is also a Silencer Shop Kiosk dealer. This way you can come in and shoot the can while you wait to take possession. Best of all worlds, Silencer Shop inventory availability, Local use while waiting, easy form 4 usage with Kiosk.
I’m confused by the title of this thread but SF’s SOCOM RC3 will be out next month I believe. Weight and length are comparable to the RC2 but apparently much better gas flow properties, though at the cost of sound suppression. Same mounts though that’s a huge plus considering the wide availability of SF MDs.