What is a Suppressor?
Suppressors have been called a lot of things. In the movies, they’re often called silencers – a bit misleading as they are hardly silent. A suppressor is like a muffler, but they don’t work the same way. Mufflers simply bounce pressure and sound waves inside a chamber to reduce the noise that comes out the tailpipe.
A suppressor is similar but must overcome the enormous volume and pressure of a gunshot. Most rifle cartridges generate around 50,000 PSI; your vehicle’s engine generates around a hundred times less pressure.
The deafening noise of a rifle going off will make your ears ring because of the supersonic wave created by all this pressure leaving the muzzle. The job of a suppressor is to slow the expansion of all that gas, so that when it leaves the muzzle of your firearm it is no longer creating the sonic boom. This is done by slowing the high-pressure gas as it exits the muzzle using various chambers, letting the bullet escape untouched on its way to the target.
Related: Top Reasons to Own a Suppressor
As all this high-pressure gas is slowed within the walls of the suppressor, the energy has to go somewhere. The result is a rapid increase in heat. Essentially, all the energy of the expanding gas is turned into heat instead of noise.
Construction
For a long time, suppressors were mostly made with the same idea in mind: a sequence of baffled chambers that would capture the expanding gas. Enough of these chambers would be stacked until the exiting gas was slowed enough to be sufficiently quiet for its owner.
“K” cans, as they are often called, are a compromise of putting just enough of these chambers to reduce the report of the gun. “Just enough” means that they are usually louder than larger suppressor designs.
The baffles between these chambers have a hole just big enough for the bullet to pass through, while trapping much of the gas behind it. Many of these baffles and holes have features to increase the turbulence of gas as it passes through.
Clipped baffles have offset ports in them, and as gas passes through them, it creates turbulence. This further restricts the straight flow of gas to the muzzle, much like a Tesla valve.
Related: How Does a Suppressor Work?
Different suppressor designs might vent pressure through only the muzzle or from multiple points at the front of the can. Some designs even incorporate a muzzle brake at the front of the suppressor to help reduce recoil.
Pistol suppressors often use a booster piston assembly, as these are necessary to allow many semi-automatic pistols to function. The booster piston allows movement in the barrel/suppressor assembly, which is needed for the pistol to unlock the barrel and slide during operation.
Other designs use different methods of slowing the expansion of gas. Many of the baffle-less suppressor designs use what appears to be a reverse turbine design to direct the flow of gas. Much the same way the fan blades of a turbine compress air, these suppressors decompress the air, spreading it out to slow its escape. Some shooters feel one way is superior to another, but we aren’t debating that today.
Materials
As I mentioned, all this pressure generates a great deal of heat. Using appropriate materials for construction of suppressors is important to increase durability. Rimfire suppressors, for example, operate under far lower pressure and heat and are often made at least partially from aluminum. Most centerfire rifle suppressors are made from steel, stainless steel, or another robust metal.
Different suppressor designs and materials allow them to meet different standards. Another metal extremely resistant to heat and abrasion, Inconel is often used in suppressors that are expected to undergo heavy fire rates, whereas a suppressor designed for a bolt-action hunting rifle might be made of simple steel due to the expected rate of fire.
Related - Silencer or Suppressor: Which Way is it?
Depending on this anticipated rate of fire and use, suppressors typically are rated for a maximum cartridge. For example, of two .30-caliber suppressors, one may be rated for .308 Winchester maximum, while the other is rated for a .300 WM or .300 RUM. Using robust materials like stainless and Inconel typically give a suppressor more durability in this aspect, while others are made from metals like titanium to reduce weight.
New technologies like direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and 3D metal printing are allowing manufacturers to create ever more interesting designs. Designs that were once difficult and expensive to manufacture are now easier through technology, allowing these new materials to be incorporated into the design and saving on costs to boot.
Mounting
There have also been technological advances in the ways we mount suppressors to host firearms. Simply threading a suppressor to fit the barrel of the host used to be the only way, but today we have many more options. We still often use the simplicity of direct threads and screwing the can to the muzzle, but we also have a wide variety of muzzle brake mounting systems.
Great suppressor mounts that double as a muzzle brake or flash hider when used alone also allow quick attachment and removal of suppressors, as well as swapping between a variety of host firearms quickly and easily. Most of these suppressor mounts include a locking device to keep the suppressor attached through extended shooting and high volume.
The suppressor industry has also done us the favor of moving toward universal hubs on suppressors. You will find suppressors that use common sizes and thread pitches from one manufacturer to another, so you can put a Dead Air hub mount on a SilencerCo suppressor, etc. This allows more modularity for the owner to use the system they like.
Caliber modularity has also become common in suppressors. You can get one suppressor that does 9mm, 5.56, 6.5CM and .308 all in one can. All these different configurations are worth looking into to cover all your needs.
Practical Use
Obviously, a suppressor can be applied to any shooting purpose, but some are better than others for any given purpose. Direct-thread titanium cans are great for your hunting rifle, due to their light weight and the low round count of most hunting trips. Inconel 5.56 cans are great for your carbine AR rifle, and if you use a QD mount, you can swap the can quickly back and forth between several different carbines. The rugged design will stand up to high rates of fire and heat.
Pistol suppressors work great on your handgun but also might be useful on a subsonic .300 Blackout because of the low pressure and velocity. Bigger suppressors are often used for smaller calibers, too. For example, a .30-caliber can works great on a 6.5 or 6 millimeter, and the added volume inside the suppressor for bigger cartridges works great for the smaller ones.
Related: Harvesting with Suppressors – All About Safer Hunting
I have cans that are made for 5.56 but also work great on 6mm ARC. Of course, you should always make sure you are using a bullet and ammunition compatible with your suppressor. If there is ever any doubt, contact the suppressor manufacturer.
Last Thoughts
Hopefully we’ve broadened your perspective on suppressors. There are all kinds of options for you out there, so don’t get too fixated on any one thing. There are some great communities and groups you can join to learn more about suppressors and what fits your needs. I would recommend looking into them, as there is likely someone there who has gone through the exact process you have in mind and could surely shed some light on it.
I’d also recommend looking into an NFA trust. In my experience, if you get one suppressor, you will likely get more. Please drop a comment below if you have any questions we can answer – we look forward to hearing from you.
