I Need Suppressor Education Please

[17CalFan]

Never owned or shot through a suppressor. Now considering one or more and have no clue where to start but I can tell you my concerns.

The rifles I would consider buying a suppressor for are small caliber light / fast cartridges built on bolt guns.
i.e. 17 Fireball 4000+ FPS, 17 Remington 4200+ FPS, 221 Fireball 3600 range FPS, 22BR 3600 range 3600 FPS.

Don't want a suppressor if I need to reduce FPS or if they reduce accuracy.

I shoot a lot of Prairie Dogs and a lot of Coyotes

If it's not worth the trouble, I'm ok with that. Been shooting rifles for 1/2 a century without one.

Looking for the straight scoop.

Thank you in advance.

 

[omicron1792]

Look at airlock nano 22.

They usually cause a mild speed increase and have no effect on accuracy.

 

[Formidilosus]

Look at airlock nano 22.

They usually cause a mild speed increase and have no effect on accuracy.

How do they do with rapid fire, long strings of fire- aka prairie dog shooting?

 

[omicron1792]

How do they do with rapid fire, long strings of fire- aka prairie dog shooting?

They wouldn’t do worth crap for that I bet.

Why don’t you hurry up and build your OG22 and I’ll buy it. I still use an Ab-10 5.56 on my AR based on you recs when you called it about the perfect can.

I actually within the last five minutes recommended to a friend to get the OG6.5

Of note I do “own” a nano22. But haven’t gotten it yet

 

[Formidilosus]

They wouldn’t do worth crap for that I bet.

That was my thought as well for the use.

Why don’t you hurry up and build your OG22 and I’ll buy it.

Well it’s not “my” OG22…. But I have one to test now.

I actually within the last five minutes recommended to a friend to get the OG6.5

Of note I do “own” a nano22. But haven’t gotten it yet

Prairie dog shooting is a thing where the normal ultra light suppressors we normally talk about, aren’t the best option potentially.

 

[omicron1792]

That was my thought as well for the use.




Well it’s not “my” OG22…. But I have one to test now.




Prairie dog shooting is a thing where the normal ultra light suppressors we normally talk about, aren’t the best option potentially.

I’ve never done that being a southerner but invite me next time and I’m in. Also next time down in south let me know and I’ll take you coyote or deer hunting.

 

[ShakoMako]

Never owned or shot through a suppressor. Now considering one or more and have no clue where to start but I can tell you my concerns.

The rifles I would consider buying a suppressor for are small caliber light / fast cartridges built on bolt guns.
i.e. 17 Fireball 4000+ FPS, 17 Remington 4200+ FPS, 221 Fireball 3600 range FPS, 22BR 3600 range 3600 FPS.

Don't want a suppressor if I need to reduce FPS or if they reduce accuracy.

I shoot a lot of Prairie Dogs and a lot of Coyotes

If it's not worth the trouble, I'm ok with that. Been shooting rifles for 1/2 a century without one.

Looking for the straight scoop.

Thank you in advance.

The only velocity reduction I’ve heard associated with suppressors is because people generally shorten their barrels to accommodate the added length of the suppressor, and to get sufficient metal to thread the barrel if it is a thin sporter profile. If you already have a threaded barrel amongst the calibers you listed, no need to shorten it and no accompanying velocity loss. I’ve also not experienced any change in accuracy among the cartridges I’ve suppressed over the years- 22LR, 223, 6.5creed, 308 win, 6.8 SPC, 300Blk.

Depending on where you live, consider finding a SilencerShop Kiosk at your local gun shop as this makes the process dead simple. My opinion. You can scan your ID and fingerprints right into the kiosk machine and from there it’s not much more complicated than filling out a regular 4473. You’ll need to create a profile with ATF.gov to validate your Form 4.

Edit to add- it’s a little bit of extra admin burden but purchasing a suppressor has gotten far better in the past few years. And, the benefits are very worth it, in my opinion. I have little interest anymore in unsuppressed guns.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Never owned or shot through a suppressor. Now considering one or more and have no clue where to start but I can tell you my concerns.

The rifles I would consider buying a suppressor for are small caliber light / fast cartridges built on bolt guns.
i.e. 17 Fireball 4000+ FPS, 17 Remington 4200+ FPS, 221 Fireball 3600 range FPS, 22BR 3600 range 3600 FPS.

Don't want a suppressor if I need to reduce FPS or if they reduce accuracy.

I shoot a lot of Prairie Dogs and a lot of Coyotes

If it's not worth the trouble, I'm ok with that. Been shooting rifles for 1/2 a century without one.

Looking for the straight scoop.

Thank you in advance.

For a prairie dog rifle, I would look really hard at an AB Raptor 10 with 5” reflex or 8 with a 3” reflex. The 10 w/ 5” reflex is going to be 16 ounces and 12” long (7” past muzzle). Stupid quiet (sonic crack will be what things hear). The 8 w/ 3” reflex will be about 12 ounces and 9” long (6” past muzzle). It will be very quiet, but not as quiet as the 10.

I own both those cans and really like them. The information below regarding mirage is specific to my experience with those those two cans on a 16” Tikka T3 with sporter barrel in.223:

With a decent suppressor cover, I have gotten 60 rounds of .223 off in 20 minutes without getting excessive heat mirage. I was shooting 10-shot rapid fire strings at 200 and 300 yards using my Tikka T3 with three magazines (I had to reload magazines in the middle of the session).

It won’t lower accuracy or FPS. I would expect a POI about 2” lower depending on your barrel profile and length.

The AB A-10 is another respectable option at a lower price point.

PS - welcome to RokSlide.

 

[huntinfool84]

I can’t say what it does to your speed but I don’t care because I won’t shoot without a suppressor.

You won’t have to slow your loads down so no worries there.

I also can't say if any can has reduced my accuracy where I don't shoot them prior to having a suppressor. but my guns are still accurate enough for me.

You will fight mirage in ultra light weight cans, ie the Nano, I'd look more towards a OCL Polonium, DD Enticer STi, SAW Ekron, DD Wolfhunter, but would still probably get some mirage after 15 back to back shots without letting it cool off.

There are a TON of good cans out there, just need to know your wants out of it. Suppression, weight, length, cost and any other things that are important to you.

 

[omicron1792]

I totally missed the prairie dog in the post! Would def get a more substantial suppressor. My bad

 

[ShakoMako]

With a decent suppressor cover, I have gotten 60 rounds of .223 off in 20 minutes without getting excessive heat mirage. I was shooting 10-shot rapid fire strings at 200 and 300 yards using my Tikka T3 with three magazines (I had to reload magazines in the middle of the session).

I agree with Q on mirage which would be a consideration for OP’s application. I picked up a lightweight suppressor sock from LSWild and it does make a big noticeable difference in mirage.

 

[HuntHarder]

Nano 22 with a cover would be my choice

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Nano 22 with a cover would be my choice

I haven’t used the nano, but if it’s anything like the ZG 6.5, it would be about my last choice for any shooting session where five shots in 2.5 minutes is a realistic possibility. I can barely shoot a 5-shot group of 6.5 CM through my 22” Sauer 100 and ZG 6.5 with an LS Wild cover before the mirage gets excessive.

There are cans that perform better in different scenarios.

 

[HuntHarder]

I haven’t used the nano, but if it’s anything like the ZG 6.5, it would be about my last choice for any shooting session where five shots in 2.5 minutes is a realistic possibility. I can barely shoot a 5-shot group of 6.5 CM through my 22” Sauer 100 and ZG 6.5 with an LS Wild cover before the mirage gets excessive.

There are cans that perform better in different scenarios.

Have you tried different covers? There are far better covers for different applications. Every one of my cans wear a cover. The LS wild covers do great for short shooting sessions. Covers with integrated heat shield material like an Armageddon or something similar would be my choice for higher rates of fire. My T&K cover also out performs LS's cover for longer shot strings.

The nano is on my short list to buy next.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Have you tried different covers? There are far better covers for different applications. Every one of my cans wear a cover. The LS wild covers do great for short shooting sessions. Covers with integrated heat shield material like an Armageddon or something similar would be my choice for higher rates of fire. My T&K cover also out performs LS's cover for longer shot strings.

The nano is on my short list to buy next.

I haven’t tried different covers yet. I have a Cole-Tac that is a bit longer than necessary. I might try it on the ZG but it’s currently holding my Scythe Ti together.

(No, my Scythe Ti hasn’t blown up yet. It’s just a joke.)

Based on the ZG 6.5 I have used, and the other reports I have read, the Airlock cans are great for hunting. Very quiet, very light, minimal length. But they won’t be my first choice for even normal range days for me. Which frankly makes me glad, because it would be a shame if my longer, heavier suppressors were totally obsolete.