How do you decide on what suppressor to purchase, whats your main selling point you look for?
Multi caliber for rifle cans which means a 308 to 556. Multi caliber pistol can 45 and lower. Dedicated 22 can. Price point and support.
I’m still learning about suppressors but don’t all the 30 cal work for 5.56 as well? From what I’ve read the down side to buying a 30 cal for 5.56 is the 30 cal cost more and the weight and size is more than a 5.56 can.
I am still firmly in the Rugged/Reliability camp so I chose other. I haven’t changed my mindset away from once you buy one of these, you essentially will keep it forever. Sure if the HPA passes, then I will start changing my priorities, but as of now its still what suppressor can I continue to use for many many years into the future with a bunch of rounds through them. If you don’t shoot or train a lot, then I would imagine your criteria to be difference than mine, but right now I own surefire cans, knights cans, dead air cans, and some of the more robust silencerco cans.
I go with Brand so that they are all the same and I can put them on any of my weapons.
Exactly. Mine wear KAC MAMS or KAC 3 Prongs so I can switch QD cans around easily. Same for the 7.62’s. KAC makes good kit, but I buy KAC for the interchangeability. KAC QD is where it’s at for me. On a side note, brushed a KAC 3 Prong with a brass brush and it left it with a kinda’ cool patina; light bronze over burnt muzzle device.
The main points for myself is versatility and mount type. I prefer a mount that has repeatable POI shift when removing and attaching the suppressor, and I like to stay with the same brand so different cans will work with my current mount.
Almost all modern baffle stacks are made from Inconel, Stelite, or 17-4PH. These materials will give the end user a lifetime of service, so material/durability isn’t much of a concern anymore.
All 5.56 cans are loud, so I value weight and size over DB reduction, but on other calibers its something to think about, and as I’m a lefty blowback is a big thing.
Mine was I wanted a pretty short suppressor and be able to interchange between 5.56, 6.8 spc , and 308. So I when with Wilson whisper. It only adds about 5" to the overall barrel length. Then I put there muzzle breakers on all my ar’s. I hunt from a building so I move from one window to another to scan.
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Sound reduction obviously. If that was not important, I would just run brakes.
Pistol - sound reduction to size/wt ratio. Something well rounded in these.
Rifle- durability, size/wt poi change and qd method. All factored in.
I voted weight. As long as it gets the sound managable, I’m happy
Edit- after the first puchase, brand becomes a huge issue, but I’d still use the same selection methods, just keeping compatable qd.
Mount design, durability, least POI shift, and sound reduction. In that order.
That’s a big consideration for me as well, and it so happened that my selection for it is also durable and quiet. So now I have 2 SpecWars and mounts for them on every centerfire rifle I have except one, which will soon get that mount as well.
Agreed, although I would add backpressure regulation after POI shift.
Since I jumped in at the last minute before the rule change I had to settle on “in stock” for a few. Brand got me on my surefires and thunder beast, was lucky to get put on the waiting list and got a serial number just in time.
Sound reduction and whatever new cool feature it might have is usually first to a point. Secondly, length. For the most part, wheb I buy a second can in a caliber is to get something shorter.
My choice boiled down to the lightest, shortest, most effective auto rated can that didn’t break the bank. I wanted a balance of features, not just a single feature. That’s why I ended up choosing an Omega direct thread for my 11.5" barrel AR
Knowing what I know now, I probably would have gone with a longer barrel and an over the barrel suppressor for better velocity. But I do enjoy what I have
My criteria for a first purchase were versatility, durability, short and light size-wise and , finally, price. I went with a SiCo Omega as it met these points and their Blue Label purchase program made the can cheaper than offerings from Surefire (my other serious consideration). The two cans I have on order are also from Silencerco- a 5.56 Saker K ASR as a dedicated 5.56 can which shares mounts with the Omega and a Sparrow.
Same as gunnerblue above. Multi caliber was my main reasoning as I only plan on having one can. The Omega was the hot ticket at that time and the reviews were good. A local store was getting one in at a great price so it was a no brainer.
ETA: if I were to answer now, knowing what I know, recoil reduction is the biggest thing for me. Makes my magnum bolt action shoot very smoothly with greatly reduced recoil impulse.
The saker K is on my top three list.
Saker K no, full-size Saker and Sparrow yes. I wasn’t bothered by the noise as I was wearing ear protection, anyway. I do not chase the lowest decibels however. I forgot to mention that POI shift is important to me as well. I am not that far off with my Omega but I can’t wait to test it vs the Saker across a variety of platforms.
I was able to disassemble a Sparrow at the dealer and it is built like a tank. I’ll use it all the way up to .22 Hornet.