Suppressor recommendations for new users

[nagibson1]

I cannot find a simple recommendation thread for suppressors.
Maybe this is like asking for recommendations for calibers, and there is good reason it doesn't exist. However, for those of us that would like maybe just one suppressor, can you give some recommendations to narrow down what seems like an insane amount of options?

For me, I'd like something that I won't curse on a mountain hunt weight wise.
I'm assuming if I get just one or two suppressors, I can't cheap out.
From a little looking, this is the list I came up with:

1. Flow range 36 TI
2. Silence CO Scythe TI
3. Gunwerks 6IX TI

I'm not going to shoot hundreds of rounds a year through it.
maybe 150-300. maybe 500 with the new .223.
I'd like to not have to become an expert in this to be reasonably happy with the equipment.
Thanks.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Here is how I went about searching for a suppressor. Check the TBAC summit reports.

https://thunderbeastarms.com/sound/summit2023/

https://thunderbeastarms.com/sound/summit2024/

https://thunderbeastarms.com/sound/summit2025/

I narrowed down the ones in which I was interested after sorting by Shooter's Ear values for db(a) (SE dBA).


I currently own a Scythe - don't get one of these. They are not durable enough. This may also be true of other Dead Air suppressors. I got my Scythe before reports of them blowing up came up.

I am happy with my two AB suppressors and my OG (although it is the loudest on my list). I don't own an Airlock or an OG 6.5 yet, but one or both of those are my next hunting suppressors.

I personally would not look at any suppressor longer than about 7" past the muzzle for any purpose.

Remember that weight is carried at the end of the muzzle, so heavier will feel even heavier than it actually is due to leverage.

Diameter is important because a big fat suppressor with a big fat cover on it may be seen in your scope if you use low rings.

Finally, while I have focused on SE dBA ratings, understand that the new SAAMI specs require including more sound than the db(a) ratings. No matter how that is measured, I personally don't care about the sound ratings for anything other than how I, the shooter, will perceive it. So, the Shooter's Ear ratings are the ones that matter to me.

Edit - the Gunwerks 6ix doesn't look particularly lovely to me. 132.23 SE dBA, 12.55 ounces, 6.16" long, 1.49" diameter.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I cannot find a simple recommendation thread for suppressors.
Maybe this is like asking for recommendations for calibers, and there is good reason it doesn't exist. However, for those of us that would like maybe just one suppressor, can you give some recommendations to narrow down what seems like an insane amount of options?

For me, I'd like something that I won't curse on a mountain hunt weight wise.
I'm assuming if I get just one or two suppressors, I can't cheap out.
From a little looking, this is the list I came up with:

1. Flow range 36 TI
2. Silence CO Scythe TI
3. Gunwerks 6IX TI

I'm not going to shoot hundreds of rounds a year through it.
maybe 150-300. maybe 500 with the new .223.
I'd like to not have to become an expert in this to be reasonably happy with the equipment.
Thanks.

This is why you should scratch the Scythe off your list:

Thread 'SilencerCo Scythe Ti failures'

Dec 17, 2024

If you’ve experienced catastrophic failure of the Scythe Ti, please post the following:

1. Cartridge or cartridges used with approximate round count

2. Barrel length

3. Factory ammo, hand loads or both

4. Details of ammunition

5. Details of failure (to include failure point and pics)

• BjornF16
• Replies: 1,061
• Forum: Suppressors

• 

Mine hasn't blown up, yet. I have it consigned to an 18" 6.5mm Grendel bolt rifle.

 

[Presswood_936]

The airlock industries line is at the top if weight is a priority . There 6.5mm zero g is incredible .

 

[mtnbound]

I cannot find a simple recommendation thread for suppressors.
Maybe this is like asking for recommendations for calibers, and there is good reason it doesn't exist. However, for those of us that would like maybe just one suppressor, can you give some recommendations to narrow down what seems like an insane amount of options?

For me, I'd like something that I won't curse on a mountain hunt weight wise.
I'm assuming if I get just one or two suppressors, I can't cheap out.
From a little looking, this is the list I came up with:

1. Flow range 36 TI
2. Silence CO Scythe TI
3. Gunwerks 6IX TI

I'm not going to shoot hundreds of rounds a year through it.
maybe 150-300. maybe 500 with the new .223.
I'd like to not have to become an expert in this to be reasonably happy with the equipment.
Thanks.

You mention 223 but is this the only cartridge you will be shooting? Your post reads like you have others if so what are those?
Are you wanting one or two suppressors?
Bolt action or semi auto rifles?
What’s your current barrel lengths?

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

What are your priorities for the suppressor?

Length
Weight
Sound suppression
Backpressure (if going on a gas gun)
Mounting options

What do you plan to run them on?

Bolt gun or gas gun
Barrel lengths
Calibers

 

[nagibson1]

What are your priorities for the suppressor?

Length
Weight
Sound suppression
Backpressure (if going on a gas gun)
Mounting options

What do you plan to run them on?

Bolt gun or gas gun
Barrel lengths
Calibers

.223 and .270 bolt tikkas
Weight
Length
Supression
Durability

I do have an ar in .223 and blackout. But thats not the main goal.

 

[ZeroFoxGiven]

.223 and .270 bolt tikkas
Weight
Length
Supression
Durability

I do have an ar in .223 and blackout. But thats not the main goal.

Do the two Tikkas have the same thread pitches? What’s your budget?

 

[4th_point]

.223 and .270 bolt tikkas
Weight
Length
Supression
Durability

I do have an ar in .223 and blackout. But thats not the main goal.

If only one, I'd think hard on whether you'll want to use it on an AR sometime in the future as some of the flow through designs help minimize the blowback. And you can still use it on your bolt actions.

AR with can is a lot of fun to shoot! My son and I were shooting the other day with .22lr rifles and handgun, and bolt action 6.5mm PRC with can. We finished up with a 16" AR with .30 cal can and it brought smiles to our faces. Powerful enough, low recoil, and low report. And no blowback. It was the best part of the day.

But, I sometimes use a 16" AR for hunting in the timber so my needs are little different.

If I had no desire to use it on an AR, I'd check out the Airlock. I haven't shot with one yet, but performance seems great w/low weight, and the owner is active on this site. It's the only thing on the market that has me thinking about another can.

 

[wind gypsy]

There’s a ton of options with their own upsides and downsides thats why there's not a simple recommendation thread.

Assume the flow range 36 isn't going to to suppress that well on bolt guns, especially small calibers, but that's an assumption
Scythe ti is just a no go because they aren't reliable
Dont know much about the gunwerks but i dont think they are top of the heap for suppression.

For the OP use case id say its hard to go wrong with a Dead Air Nomad ti XC. It is a very good balance of light, quiet, short. You can get it from capitol armory, silencer shop, or a bunch of brick and mortar stores. You have to get pretty specialized to outperform it significantly in length, weight, suppression.

Similar options that might not be as simple to find/purchase and with less info/cans out there are the LPM mach S and US Reaper. Another good choice in that size/performance range is the AB raptor 8. I think you could buy any of those and be happy.