SIG Suppressors Poised to Grab Attention at SHOT Show 2015
December 8, 2014
If you’re a suppressor enthusiast like I have recently become, you probably have been following Mike Pappas’ (formerly of SilencerCo) reentry into the suppressor marketplace with Dead Air Armament. This enthusiasm seems to be well placed, as an early look courtesy of Silencer Shop indicates that Dead Air’s new Sandman suppressors are likely to be excellent performers. However, since we have covered Dead Air before, I’d rather not spend too much time talking about them today. Instead, there is another, more well-known company that should be set to make a significant splash in the suppressor industry in 2015.
After a long and bitter legal battle with Freedom Group over his separation from Advanced Armament, renowned engineer and founder of AAC, Kevin Brittingham joined SIG Sauer in early 2014. During his two-year absence from the commercial marketplace, Kevin served as a founding member of the American Suppressor Association. They lobbied the ATF over issues such as ATF 41P and the troubled e-forms system. While SIG is not new to suppressors, their SD cans leave quite a bit to be desired and are near unobtanium on the civilian market. Kevin’s experience with AAC should bring SIG up to speed from both a design standpoint and a marketing perspective. When Kevin was at the helm, AAC was a virtual juggernaut. If recent industry gatherings are any indication, it looks like SIG is going to get serious when it comes to suppression.
Last month, Silencer Shop and others posted some intriguing photos from the Texas International Firearms Festival in Liberty Hill, Texas. Among these were a series of images (example below) that seemed to show new suppressor designs from SIG. While I believe these were discussed at last year’s SHOT Show, this is the first time I have seen them featured at a hands-on event. The two examples that appear in the images are bored for 7.62 and 338 Lapua Magnum. The 7.62 model seems to be approximately an inch longer than an AAC 762-SDN6. Based on what looks like weld lines underneath the finish, the cans may be tubeless designs; however I cannot confirm and would rather not be overly speculative at this time.
Some of this new interest in SIG suppressors also stems from their MPX-C carbine and its impressively large muzzle brake. Ruled a silencer by the ATF, the brake has been the subject of ongoing legal strife between SIG and the government. SIG’s persistence in battling this issue out with the ATF may well be indicative of their intention to play a significant, innovative role in the suppressor industry.
With SHOT Show 2015 just over a month away, I think it is safe to say that we will be hearing about these new suppressors from SIG very soon.
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.