So I have decided to jump on the wagon with the rest of you guys. I do not know why I waited so long, other than being lazy. I am going to purchase multiple cans the first time, so no waiting one at a time. My current guns are SR-15, m&p9, 6.5 CM, and 22lr. I have been reading and searching for what I am looking at in features. My hope is to buy right the first time.
SR-15 - I run a mams so getting a KAC QDC can kind of goes without question, good reviews and built like a tank. I do like the surefires, but I will not give up the mams.
M&P 9mm - I have the full size M&P 9mm with stormlake threaded barrel installed from Grant. I was thinking the Osprey 9 since it sits lower in relation to the gun sights, although I know it will not clear them completely. Good build quality and CS. Not set in stone on this one.
6.5 CM - The biggest thing I want out of it is minimal POI shift. It will be screwed on a bolt gun, so there is no need for a quick connect. I shoot this gun out to 1200 yards, so Accuracy is the most important. It’s a toss up between Harvester and one of the new Dead Air cans in Ti. The latter looks to be made well, but they are a new company. I know who the owner is/was with. I actually handled these yesterday, they look very nice. Heavily built cans for sure. I got recommended the Ti can for better accuracy. I have not found much on this subject yet.
22LR - Dead Air MaskHD. He has several of these and some sparrows and Gemtech. Ease of cleaning and all SS most important. After watching several vids on these, seems like a top can for the fun gun to have on it. Second choice is the Spectre 22. I would put the new Ryder 22 from surefire in here, but currently its Alum, SS not out yet.
I’m not on the Dead Air band wagon. I realize these are new and have yet to be proven. Seeing them and researching the company makes me feel like they will end up being a good product over time. All cans except the KAC he has in stock. I am open to suggestions since this will be my first round of purchases.
Rimfire suppressor is nice because .22lr easy to get as effectively subsonic ammo.
If you buy a rifle can and shoot supersonic ammo thru it (most all rifle ammo is supersonic) it’s still really loud , so IMO there’s no point in it (for a plinking/paper-punching scenario).
SilencerCo sparrow is a good can , but is one of the heaviest .22lr cans, only the Spectre is Heavier. On a rifle it’s not a big deal, but for pistol it makes pistol too nose-heavy.
I have a Sparrow and a AAC Element. Now my Sparrow is only used on my Rifle, Element does everything.
The SF Ryder can: I don’t own one but have been following the story… I don’t understand what the appeal of this can is. It’s not the lightest, it’s not the best at any category (quiet-est ???). AAC Element is lighter and it’s Stainless so more options for easier cleaning.
For the Creedmoor I’d look at the Thunderbeast Ultra 7 in either 6.5 or 7.62. If you know you’ll only want 6.5 you should also look at the SAS Barricade.
For the precision rifle can, you might want to check out Thunder Beast Arms as well. I have a 30P-1 which was their flagship model until the Ultra series came out and they also now have a 6.5 mm specific model (vs 30 cal). Zak Smith and Co. are no strangers to the long range precision community. Send an email or call if you have questions or concerns about their products.
For rimfire, I have a Sparrow and TBAC 22L-1. I skipped the Spectre because I hate the way it looks as I prefer the classic aesthetics of a round tube. There are so many choices for a .22 suppressor and I would say they are all pretty similar as far as sound. Steve Boelter said in one of his essays that the Tactical Solutions Axiom is the “best rimfire silencer made.” He didn’t say why and I haven’t asked but he has a lot of time behind shooting rimfires (over 100,000 rounds a year) so his opinion does hold some weight, at least for me. He’s also the president of ANSCHÜTZ North America.
I have looked at the Thunderbeast 6.5 ultra 9 and will say that it does look very nice. What is $300 more actually getting me ? This is the hardest can for me to buy. In truth I shoot it more than any other gun currently. So it would make sense to get one for it. Can we even tell -3DB when shooting ? The overall tone would seem more important to me. I like the lower tone cans the best, not the tinny sounding ones.
I’m not really hung up on any name brand for a 22 can. The hosts are sig 1911/22 and a M&P 15-22. getting stainless is a priority as well as take down/cleaning. I would rather take a chance on the Dead Air for a new brand, but I do not really see anything outstanding over any of the others. I did take it apart and it looked well put together. The surefire was just a thought because They make pretty good products.
Don’t forget the osprey 9, is there another I should take a serious look at ?
I respectfully disagree,
It’s almost the heaviest Rimfire suppressor on the market at almost 7 oz. Try to put it on a pistol and the fun will quickly wear off.
Unless it’s a dedicated .22-rifle only can, Plenty of other options that are much lighter.
I used to think this, “it’s a mature technology is there any difference”? Well someone at our range won a free silencer at a match (~2012, it was from an off-brand which is now out of business). Well that Aluminum monocore design looked fancy and was light, but it was LOUD. So it is possible to make a bad Rimfire suppressor. But among leading (high-end) brands, I can’t tell the difference between my Sparrow(1), my Element, or my friend’s Prodigy (on warm-bore shots).
1: except that on a Pistol a monocore will have first-round Pop on a cold bore. Doesn’t happen on a Rifle.
You can disagree all you want to, and it’s ok with me if it’s not even respectfully.
Good thing for you, and others, is there are plenty of cans on the market.
I use my three Spectres on pistols and rifles. I don’t think there’s an easier to clean rimfire can on the market. Sure, there may be one as easy, but not easier. You can also pay less for one. You can find one marginally quieter. But, to me, there’s not a better one on the market for a first purchase. Multi-caliber rated, CTA design, and if you’d bought one for $225 the other day from Tar Heel State Firearms, it’s a heckuva deal. I also have lightweight cans (Warlocks) and a shorter monocore (Sparrow). Definitely branch out and fill in the gaps (shorter, lighter, etc) when you start adding to the collection if you want.
I don’t have a really lightweight host like a 22/45 Lite, so the extra couple ounces over something like an Element 2 hasn’t mattered.
Guys, please do not turn my thread into a pissing contest. I am trying to make a good purchase decision. My requirements for a 22lr can is pretty straight forward. Stainless and easy take down/cleaning. The can will more than likely end up on the 15/22 more than the pistol. Multiple cals, 3 lug, and length are not really a concern. The Spectre II has good reviews as well as the sparrow. To my knowledge so far, the Spectre looked liked the better of the two.
Bigwaylon, Can you give me the +/- of the Spectre II and Warlock ? Your pics make me jealous also.
No one has replied on getting a Ti can either for the 6.5 CM. Still wondering if they hold up well over time vs other material.
For the 9, I’d look at the griffin rev9. Looks great on paper. Thats what I chose, but I don’t have it yet and it’s my first one so I can’t really provide an opinion.
It is very quiet per online tests (under 130db)
Convertable length
Low cost
Coated baffles/user serviceable
3 lug option that doesn’t add length
Not a problem. I’ll even toss in some Sparrow opinions.
Warlock has two advantages over the Spectre/Sparrow:
Cost (in general, Spectre is $75-$100 more than Warlock, and add another $75-$100 for the Sparrow)
Weight (3oz vs 6.8oz/6.5oz)
Spectre/Sparrow have a couple advantages over the Warlock
Multi-caliber rating (up to 5.7x28)
Cleaning options (the Dip, rotary tumbler, etc)
Usually meter a double dB quieter (although Warlock and Spectre are same OD and length, and similar CTA design, the Spectre baffles are slightly shorter so there are two more than the Warlock)
So, you can kind of group the Spectre and Sparrow together when comparing them to the Warlock
Then, to separate the Spectre and Sparrow, I don’t see anything the Sparrow does better than the Sparrow.
Cost (Sparrow is $76-$100 more, without any obvious advantage to me)
FRP (Sparrow usually has it, Spectre usually doesn’t)
Cleaning (while same methods can be used, the Spectre baffles fit easier into the small rotary tumblers than the Sparrow monocore)
The Sparrow is .3oz lighter and an inch shorter, but I haven’t found that to matter with any of my hosts. It just isn’t $100 better to me.
When I bought my first Spectre, I chose it over the AAC Element 2 and Mack Brothers Lima because neither of them were rated for 5.7x28…which may not matter to most, but I had two hosts for it.
If I decided to buy another rimfire can, the Dead Air Mask and the Element 2 would definitely be in the conversation, along with a couple others.
As I mentioned in my last post (which was not intended to be argumentative in any way, hence the smilie), the suppressor market is full of quality products these days. There’s something for everybody, whether design or cost is your biggest factor. There’s no many segments of the market that prove that more than the user-serviceable rimfire category.
I recommend the Thunder Beast Ultra series for precision rifles. The Ultra 9 6.5mm should be amazing. You will not wear it out. If you do, TBAC will take care of you.
The thing about titanium is that although they’re lighter, they can’t sustain a heavy firing schedule so it’s best to keep the temp under 800*F. I haven’t read of anyone having longevity issues with a Ti can otherwise. I don’t understand how/why a Ti can would inherently be more accurate compared to something made from another material other than having less weight hanging at the end of the barrel.
Best bet would be to talk to long range shooters about the Dead Air Ti and see how they like it. You said accuracy is the most important so it’s hard to recommend them because they only came out recently. The price is attractive vs others though.
Thanks Chris, the gunshop owner is trying to talk me into the 30 cal Dead Air Ti. While it may be a good can, I believe it is only 7" and could be used for possible purchases on a 30 cal platform. The TB is way more expensive, but after looking around, there are lots of shooters using them of long range work. Caliber specific and 2" longer would be the deal maker imho. I have not found much in the way of negative reviews on any of the TB sups tho.
I think for the 22lr I will go with Dead Air Mask HD. I do like the vids I have seen on it and would like to give a try on a new brand. It’s built like a tank Ti/SS.
The Dead Air isn’t a proven performer, although I don’t think there is a reason not to expect it to be. The Ultra 9 is about 4-5 oz lighter than the DA at 16-17oz and about $300 more. DA is 8.3" vs. the U9 at 9".
Out of everything I am going to purchase, the 22lr is the least important. I have taken several 22 cans apart at the store and the build quality looks good. I will admit it does nothing over and above what say a Spectre II does. But what would I be giving up also ? I do not normally buy into the “New brand” items. I like a more track proven design. This is why the 6.5 CM needs the best one possible.
If it was a no name Owner/Co as a start up I would choose Spectre all the way. I do not see anything it gives up over the Spectre, the only exception is track record. This is the one thing I do not like about delving into the unknown. I like to buy once cry once. Most of the 22 supps are within 1% of one another and there are way too many to choose from. What makes a big difference is the construction materials and ease of cleaning. The cheaper cans have more POI shift, but most of the high end ones look to be very consistent. Part of me says…just buy a gemtech its a 22 for heavens sake !!
Bigwaylon is right. Look at Griffin for your pistol can. I have a Revolution 45 and I am very happy with it.
I own a Spectre II and don’t have a problem with using it on a handgun. It is heavier but doesn’t bother me. I purchased a Dead Air in August and am very excited. Some reviews are out and they are all good.
Another option for 7.62 cans is SAS. Capitol Armory and Mile High had these on sale recently, to include demo models.
I have a Templar Tactical Firearms aka Crux 7.62 can with a brake, which is touted as a high accuracy setup.
Lots of options! It’s a golden age for suppressors. I need a 22 can and thinking about something with steel baffles I can clean in my mini Harbor Freight wet tumbler.
