2015: The Year of the Suppressor
January 25, 2015
As of publication, six states (Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah) have passed “shall certify” provisions for individuals seeking CLEO certification for NFA purchases. On top of these success stories, 34 states now allow hunting with suppressors for all in-season game. Even with dangerous proposals such as ATF 41P potentially looming on the horizon, NFA ownership has grown immensely over the last few years. In response, suppressor manufacturers have amped up their development efforts and every company seems poised to make significant additions to their product lines in 2015.
Let’s take a look at some of what is coming:
AAC Illusion 9
As suppressors have become more popular, so too have more interesting, purpose-built cans that are intended to address certain niches in the industry. Often dubbed “eccentric” suppressors, these products frequently feature off-center bores, odd shapes, and unique baffle designs. The trend started back in the early 1900s with Maxim’s first suppressor and its off-center bore, but more recently, the SilencerCo Ospreys seem to have revived this oddball segment of the market, The Illusion is AAC’s answer to the Osprey 9. Unlike the Osprey, it retains a cylindrical shape, but like the Osprey does feature an off-center bore intended to negate the need for raised pistol sights. Because AAC did not alter the overall shape of the suppressor, it surrenders some performance to its stablemate, the Ti-Rant 9.
Caliber: 9mm
Diameter: 1.25”
Length: 7.88”
Weight: 10.4 oz
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel and 7075-T6 Aluminum
Tube Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
Mount: Direct Thread
MSRP: $799
AAC Ti-Rant 45 M
AAC’s new Ti-Rant 45 M is the company’s response to the new modular suppressor trend that seems set to establish itself in the market in 2015. The Ti-Rant 45 M is threaded in the middle of the tube, allowing the suppressor to be shortened by approximately 25% when desired. With essentially the same materials and baffle design as the standard Ti-Rant 45, the M model should offer excellent suppression with the added benefit that users will no longer need to purchase both the Ti-Rant 45 and the Ti-Rant 45S to have both full-size and compact suppressor options on pistol caliber firearms.
Caliber: Pistol up to .45 ACP
Diameter: 1.38”
Length: 8.74”, 6.75”
Weight: 13 oz, 11.3 oz
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel and 7075-T6 Aluminum
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: Direct Thread
MSRP: $849
Dead Air Mask-22
Unfortunately, there is not much information out there on Dead Air’s first .22 caliber suppressors. Two models will be offered, a Heavy Duty Mask-22 with a titanium tube and stainless baffles, and a Light Duty Mask-22 with a titanium tube and aluminum baffles.
Calibers: .22 LR (Light and Heavy Duty), up to 5.7x28mm (Heavy Duty)
Diameter: 1.070”
Length: 5.25”
Weight: 6.3 oz (Heavy Duty), 5.0 oz (Light Duty)
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel (Heavy Duty), Aluminum (Light Duty)
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: 1/2-28
MSRP: $499 (Both models)
Dead Air Sandman-S and Sandman-L
Dead Air’s Sandman suppressors are not exactly breaking news in the same way that some of the other models in this round-up are. Still, none of these are in customers’ hands so they are still “on the horizon” so to speak. Like similar offerings from SilencerCo and Rugged Suppressors, the Sandman suppressors feature Stellite baffle stacks and stainless tubes as well as interchangeable front caps.
Calibers: 7.62mm up to .300 Win Mag
Diameter: 1.5”
Length: 8.9” (Sandman-L), 6.8” (Sandman-S)
Weight: 21.8 oz (Sandman-L), 17.3 oz (Sandman-S)
Baffle Material: Stellite
Tube Material: Stainless Steel
Mount: Dead Air QD System
MSRP: $1,199 (Sandman-L), $1049 (Sandman-S)
Dead Air Sandman-TI
The Sandman-TI is Dead Air’s direct thread option in the Sandman series. It features a titanium tube and the same Stellite baffle stack as the QD Sandman suppressors. The Sandman-TI offers suppression similar to the Sandman-L in a package that is slightly lighter than the Sandman-S.
Calibers: 7.62mm up to .300 Win Mag
Diameter: 1.5”
Length: 8.2”
Weight: 16.8 oz
Baffle Material: Stellite
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: 5/8-24
MSRP: $849
Gemtech ONE
The Gemtech ONE is a highly versatile compact .30 caliber suppressor that also happens to sport a very unique appearance. It utilizes a titanium tube and Inconel baffles, but also features a shrouded blast chamber for additional strength and enhanced cooling. The ONE can be used with Gemtech’s excellent Quick Mounts or directly threaded to the barrel.
Calibers: 300WM (24″ or longer barrel), 7.62, .308, 5.56 (7.5″ or longer), and others
Diameter: 1.625” at the shroud
Length: 7.5”
Weight: 16.3 oz
Baffle Material: Inconel
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: Quick Mount or Direct Thread
MSRP: $1,025
Griffin Armament 30-SD
Griffin’s 30-SD is essentially a .30 caliber version of their well regarded M4SD and M4SDII line of 5.56mm suppressors. It brings Griffin’s SD-QD locking gate mechanism to .30 caliber firearms while also enabling compatibility with standard 5.56mm NATO flash hiders. The 30-SD is the first .30 caliber QD suppressor that can be quickly attached to a standard AR-15 flash hider, but it should be noted that the suppressor will not work with .30 caliber flash hiders that are made to look like the AR-15’s as there is no standard for these muzzle devices.
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Diameter: 1.5”
Length:7.6”
Weight: 19.5 oz
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel (Unconfirmed)
Tube Material: Stainless Steel (Unconfirmed)
Mount: NATO/A2 Flash Hider or Griffin SD Mounts
Griffin Armament M4SD
The M4SD is a more affordable version of Griffin’s M4SDII. It sacrifices around 3 dB of sound pressure reduction as compared to its more expensive brother, but mounts on all Griffin M4SD muzzle devices as well as standard A2 flash hiders.
Caliber: 5.56mm
Diameter: 1.5”
Length: 6.7”
Weight: 16 oz
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel (Unconfirmed)
Tube Material: Stainless Steel (Unconfirmed)
Mount: NATO/A2 Flash Hider or Griffin SD Mounts
Liberty Regulator
The Liberty Regulator might be the quietest .22 LR suppressor I have ever seen. According to the company, the Regulator has been metered at less than 110 dB. Time and independent testing will ultimately verify or debunk these claims. The suppressor features a titanium tube and stainless steel monocore baffle stack.
Calibers: 22LR, 22WMR, 17M2, 17HMR
Diameter: 1”
Length: 6.5”
Weight: 5.5 oz
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: 1/2-28
MSRP: $499
Rugged Suppressors Surge 762
The Surge 762 is an interesting reflection of a growing trend among suppressor manufacturers. Noteworthy in that it is the first adaptable length suppressor for rifles, the Surge 762 will join the Griffin Revolution, AAC Ti-Rant M, and SilencerCo Salvo as the first adaptable suppressors to market. Those who are unfamiliar with the Rugged Suppressors name might recognize company owner Henry Graham from his time at SWR and SilencerCo. In addition to its configurability, the Surge 762 also has a full Stellite baffle stack which should easily handle even the most intense firing schedules. Like the SilencerCo Saker, the Surge 762 will also feature interchangeable front caps.
Caliber: 7.62mm up to .300 RUM
Diameter: 1.5”
Length: 9” to 7.5”
Weight: 21.5 oz to 17.5 oz
Baffle Material: Stellite™ core
Tube Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Mount: Dual Taper Locking System
MSRP: $1300
SilencerCo Omega
The SilencerCo Omega might be the most intriguing suppressor to be announced for 2015. A compact .30 caliber suppressor, the Omega is SilencerCo’s first offering to use titanium. As a result, the suppressor is incredibly light and published sound pressure levels (SPL) are remarkable even before we consider its relatively compact size. The Omega ships with both a direct thread adapter and an Active Spring Retention (ASR) mount like the ones used in the Specwar and Harvester Big Bore suppressors. The Omega also features a Harvester-style Anchor Brake on its fore end that can be swapped with a flat front cap.
Calibers: Up to .300 Win Mag
Diameter: 1.56”
Length: 7.09”
Weight: 14 oz
Baffle Material: Stellite (Blast Baffle) & Stainless Steel
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: Active Spring Retention (QD) and Direct Thread
MSRP: $1,100
SIG Suppressors
After years of being a relative non-player in the suppressor industry, SIG Sauer is looking to enter the market with an explosion of offerings. Over the next year, the company will be releasing 12 new models. SIG’s new rifle suppressors are interesting in that they are “tubeless” fully welded cans that are also impressively light for their size and performance. SIG has priced these suppressors very aggressively with base models in their centerfire lineup starting under $600. Improved models with QD mounts and titanium construction will carry modest premiums, but even their top-end titanium QD .338 LM suppressor, the SRD338TI-QD, carries an amazingly low $995 suggested retail price.
Surefire Ryder 9
Surefire is in the process of revamping their entire lineup of suppressors and have even announced plans to release a purpose-built 300 BLK suppressor. Still, the Ryder 9 is probably the most compelling of the group. This is partly because it is made of a combination of titanium and stainless steel, but also because it is smaller in diameter than market leaders from AAC and SilencerCo at a svelte 1.25”. Even with this thinner tube, the Ryder 9 still performs fairly respectably according to Surefire’s numbers.
Caliber: 9mm
Diameter: 1.25”
Length: 7.6”
Weight: 9.5 oz
Baffle Material: Stainless Steel
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: Direct Thread (1/2-28 or M13.5×1)
MSRP: $799
Thunder Beast Ultra Series
Thunder Beast has announced that they will be discontinuing their 30CB series of suppressors and will be replacing them with the Ultra series in 5, 7, and 9 inch lengths. The Ultras will come in at around 25% lighter than the older CB cans and will also average around 5 dB quieter. It is almost ludicrous that TBAC can make a 5 inch, 7.6-ounce suppressor that can suppress a .308 rifle to just over 140 dB. While I find these new Ultra suppressors to be very intriguing, TBAC’s excellent reputation among long-range shooters should have that segment particularly excited.
Calibers: 7.62mm up to .300 RUM
Diameter: 1.5”
Length: 5”, 7”, and 9”
Weight: 7.6 oz, 9.7 oz, 11.9 oz Respectively
Baffle Material: Titanium
Tube Material: Titanium
Mount: Compact Brake or Direct Thread
MSRP: $945-$1195
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.