Getting the itch...

[Scott Free]

...because I don't like using protection.


Hearing protection, that is! Although I know I'm probably still going to be advised to use it when shooting suppressed, I probably won't, unless it actually hurts my already scarred eardrums.

So, I looked around (and even used the search function) but didn't find a thread similar to what I'm trying to figure out. I understand that some suppressors can be used for more than 1 specific caliber, despite lowering the effectiveness of the suppression on some (smaller?) rounds.

What I'm trying to do is start planning now, and get all my questions answered before I begin the long paperwork process (and the even longer waiting process) that way I can decide if it's even worthwhile for me personally.

So here are the questions:

1. Is there a suppressor that works on .223/.556 as well as .22lr? I understand the .223 will be louder regardless, but .22lr is actually .224 in diameter, and I didn't know if the .001 difference matters. (If I'm wrong about any of this, please educate me.)

2. I also would like to suppress 9mm. Having fallen in love with the CZ-75 P01, I'll likely pick up another CZ that is suppressor ready. What determines the effectiveness of a suppressor (aside from the loaded cartridge, I'm focusing solely on the can itself) Does having a longer can with more baffles make it quieter, or does it eventually just become "wasteful?"

3. Self-Rebuildable cans. I see a lot of complicated responses in what I can find for these, so I'm going to assume it's an overall waste of thought. Is there such a thing as a suppressor that you can send back to the manufacturer to be rebuilt, without complications in the serial number issue and parts definitions? How often to they actually wear out past the point of effectiveness?

4. This should be my last one (at least in this initial post) but why are some suppressors $100'ish but others are well over $1,000? Is it just paying for their R&D or what, because there's no way something that is effectively just a muffler costs anywhere near that to manufacture, unless it's made of unobtanium.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Batsignal up
@BigWaylon
@TARHEELSTATE
@jkupp2000

 

[Flashpoint]

Don't have all the answers but I'll share what I know. A 223 suppressor will work for 22lr, but make sure it is one you can break down and clean. Rimfire is notoriously dirty. A larger suppressor than necessary is typically quieter, but there are some damn effective small 22lr suppressors out there so you wouldn't gain much by using a 223 on a 22lr. My 9mm can does a great job on 22lr even though the opening is wider than it needs to be because of its increased internal volume, but at some point an overbore suppressor will be louder than one designed for that specific caliber. Most 9mm cans will do 300BLK subsonic, but are not rated for full power rifle cartridges, even 223.

 

[Scott Free]

Don't have all the answers but I'll share what I know. A 223 suppressor will work for 22lr, but make sure it is one you can break down and clean. Rimfire is notoriously dirty. A larger suppressor than necessary is typically quieter, but there are some damn effective small 22lr suppressors out there so you wouldn't gain much by using a 223 on a 22lr. My 9mm can does a great job on 22lr even though the opening is wider than it needs to be because of its increased internal volume, but at some point an overbore suppressor will be louder than one designed for that specific caliber. Most 9mm cans will do 300BLK subsonic, but are not rated for full power rifle cartridges, even 223.

I will likely never fire any full power cartridges through a can. If I can't find subsonic, I won't use it.

 

[BigWaylon]

I will likely never fire any full power cartridges through a can. If I can't find subsonic, I won't use it.

You'll be greatly missing out on the benefits of a silencer if you don't ever fire supersonic ammo through it.

Suppress everything...

 

[BigWaylon]

What I'm trying to do is start planning now, and get all my questions answered before I begin the long paperwork process (and the even longer waiting process) that way I can decide if it's even worthwhile for me personally.

The paperwork process isn't really long, or difficult.

So here are the questions:

1. Is there a suppressor that works on .223/.556 as well as .22lr? I understand the .223 will be louder regardless, but .22lr is actually .224 in diameter, and I didn't know if the .001 difference matters. (If I'm wrong about any of this, please educate me.)

Yes. But as mentioned, you want one that can be taken apart. There's not really much reason to have a user-serviceable 5.56 can, though. And a 5.56 is gonna be awful heavy on most 22 hosts.

2. I also would like to suppress 9mm. Having fallen in love with the CZ-75 P01, I'll likely pick up another CZ that is suppressor ready. What determines the effectiveness of a suppressor (aside from the loaded cartridge, I'm focusing solely on the can itself) Does having a longer can with more baffles make it quieter, or does it eventually just become "wasteful?"

Baffle design and interior volume are the two main characteristics. Bigger doesn't always mean quieter, but it often works that way.

3. Self-Rebuildable cans. I see a lot of complicated responses in what I can find for these, so I'm going to assume it's an overall waste of thought. Is there such a thing as a suppressor that you can send back to the manufacturer to be rebuilt, without complications in the serial number issue and parts definitions? How often to they actually wear out past the point of effectiveness?

You're probably not ever going to wear one out. You'd probably go through several barrels before the can shows any major signs of wear. A 22LR can may build up with carbon and lead, but none of them are really going to wear out...unless you're shooting nothing but full auto out of a 7.5" barrel.

Almost all major manufacturers offer warranties and will take good care of you.

4. This should be my last one (at least in this initial post) but why are some suppressors $100'ish but others are well over $1,000? Is it just paying for their R&D or what, because there's no way something that is effectively just a muffler costs anywhere near that to manufacture, unless it's made of unobtanium.

Quality of materials is a big part of it. Production quantities will also impact it, along with R&D costs, etc.


I'd buy three:
1. Rimfire
2. Pistol
3. Rifle

You could buy something like a Griffin Optimus that would handle 5.56/22LR/9mm.

 

[BigWaylon]

Have you ever shot anything suppressed? If not, I'd recommend doing so before buying anything.

 

[Scott Free]

Have you ever shot anything suppressed? If not, I'd recommend doing so before buying anything.

I have not, and while I'd love to, I don't know anyone in my area who has one.

One of the main reasons I haven't approached it sooner (a LGS has a few racks full of suppressors) is the fact that I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to suppressors, and I couldn't tell you the difference between a $99 one and a $999 one, aside from fit and finish. I've seen some advertising lifetime warranty rimfire cans for $100, and other places want $700. I wouldn't know if it's actually worth it to pony up for one.

Also, if I'm paying $200 per stamp, it eats into funds for actually buying the suppressor. I'd also likely just see if I can find an attorney to do the trust for me, so I know I'm not at fault for messing something up on paperwork.

 

[BigWaylon]

I have not, and while I'd love to, I don't know anyone in my area who has one.

I'd almost guarantee if we knew where you were in NC, we'd find somebody near you that had some to let you shoot.

Several of the dealers on here offer trusts as well. Silencer Shop has a neat Single Shot Trust deal as well.

Or you could file as an individual.

 

[Scott Free]

I'd almost guarantee if we knew where you were in NC, we'd find somebody near you that had some to let you shoot.

Several of the dealers on here offer trusts as well. Silencer Shop has a neat Single Shot Trust deal as well.

Or you could file as an individual.

I'm out East near Comfort, NC. Tiny place with 1 flashing light.

As for the trust, this may be a completely different thought, but I would want to set it up in whatever manner that I can use the same trust for any future NFA items, as well as any lottery winnings.

Oh, and something that has a cool name when I have it engraved if I ever go SBR.

 

[BigWaylon]

I'm out East near Comfort, NC. Tiny place with 1 flashing light.

As for the trust, this may be a completely different thought, but I would want to set it up in whatever manner that I can use the same trust for any future NFA items, as well as any lottery winnings.

Oh, and something that has a cool name when I have it engraved if I ever go SBR.

Surely we have somebody in Jacksonville, New Bern or Kinston.

You don't want a "cool" name...you want a "short" name.

 

[Scott Free]

Surely we have somebody in Jacksonville, New Bern or Kinston.

You don't want a "cool" name...you want a "short" name.

What is it about shooting a suppressed weapon I should experience before crawling down the rabbit hole? I don't have Hollywood-Quiet expectations.

 

[BigWaylon]

What is it about shooting a suppressed weapon I should experience before crawling down the rabbit hole? I don't have Hollywood-Quiet expectations.

To see how it changes the balance of the host.
To get an idea of how loud/quiet it will be across platforms and ammo types.
To see how much blowback you get, and how you deal with it.
...and probably other reasons.

For that amount of money, and the anticipated wait time, I can't imagine buying one without trying one.

 

[Scott Free]

To see how it changes the balance of the host.
To get an idea of how loud/quiet it will be across platforms and ammo types.
To see how much blowback you get, and how you deal with it.
...and probably other reasons.

For that amount of money, and the anticipated wait time, I can't imagine buying one without trying one.

That's kinda what I told my wife about getting married...

I've shot some pretty low budget .357 wheelguns that had a habit of blasting blowback across my hand, up to my face. I can't imagine it'd be much worse than that, is it?

The report is what I'm most interested in, if they don't bring it down enough to tolerate it without HP, I probably won't bother with the rifle or pistol side, and I'll focus on rimfire.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

That's kinda what I told my wife about getting married...

I've shot some pretty low budget .357 wheelguns that had a habit of blasting blowback across my hand, up to my face. I can't imagine it'd be much worse than that, is it?

The report is what I'm most interested in, if they don't bring it down enough to tolerate it without HP, I probably won't bother with the rifle or pistol side, and I'll focus on rimfire.

I have a 7.5" 5.56 SBR that I shoot with a Griffin Recce 5. I get some blowback from it, bit it's not too bad. A few little black specks on my face and a nose full of gases. I put a SNACH charging handle on it to help funnel it away and it's much better, but I still get some.
The report is still kinda loud. Ive shot it without ear pro, and it's borderline hearing safe but wouldn't do it for more than about one mag full.
Using the same supressor on my 16" AR doesn't really do much overall. The muzzle blast is somewhat reduced but the supersonic crack is still there.
The loss of velocity from the 7.5" vs the 16" is really what makes the difference in supression on mine.
5.56 is inherently loud and can be supressed a good bit, but from my limited experience, not to hearing safe levels for extended shooting.



I also have an AR9 build with an Evo-9 pinned and welded to an 8" barrel. Supression is great, no blowback, and it balances well with the rifle.
That thing is stupidly quiet. I can fire off the deck with the back door open and my wife in the living room doesn't know I've been shooting. Once, just because the timing was right, I dumped about seven or eight rounds rapid fire into the dirt as the po-po rolled down the street in front of the house with their windows down. They had no clue.



I also have a Griffin Optimus. I like this particular supressor a lot. It goes across a lot of my platforms and functions very well on them. 9mm, 300blk, and .22lr are really good. The 300 BLK and .22lr are almost movie quiet.
Because it was marketed as a versatile, multi cal, one solution supressor, it is not without its drawbacks.
Due to baffle machining, it will not shoot a caliber that stars with a 4. .357, anything .30 cal, 9mm and below is good to go. It's longer and heavier than dedicated 9mm cans, so it throws the balance off a little more.
I have no hard data on this, but it also seems like it does not supress quite as well as dedicated 9mm cans. But the difference is barely noticeable. This is strictly from me and a few other folks swapping cans around at the range and giving them a listen.
It also has some parts that must be changed out when going from platform to platform, but nothing major. Usually takes all of five minutes to do (tube extension, another baffle, caliber specific end caps, Nielson device).
All that said, I WILL be applying for a stamp for a dedicated .22lr can soon. Simply because of the size and weight of the Optimus on tbe end of my little Savage bolt action.
Here it is on a P226.



I don't regret any of my purchases, but if I had it to do over, I would follow the advice BigWaylon gave you: get a dedicated, caliber specific rifle, pistol, and rimfire can.
If you were closer, you would be more than welcome to check out, fondle, and try out my stuff.