With the drop of the $200 tax and the greatly reduced wait period, I’ve decided it may be time to get suppressed before this state (WA) decides to ban them along with all the other dumbass gun laws they are always trying.


I’ve already lined up a local FFL for the transfers, have been “shopping” online but have a few questions before committing. Here is what I’m looking for info on…

In a perfect world, I’d like to have the following suppressed firearms:

.22lr handgun (P322, already owned with threaded barrel)
9mm handgun(P226, P365, P320, P30 all available options)
9mm MPX 8” barrel
5.56 AR Pistol 7” barrel
5.56 AR Rifle 16” barrel
.308 AR 16” barrel/M1A


I’m curious about the difference in effectiveness of using a .30 on a 5.56 vs having both .30 and 5.56

Same question about using 9mm on a .22 vs separate.

I know .22 and 5.56 should be swappable, assuming built for 5.56 won’t be an issue on .22lr or would larger size/weight of 5.56 rated can be an issue cycling a .22 pistol?

AR’s are all gas pistons, same stated barrel length restrictions apply or is that just on “regular” gas operated models?


I expect I’ll need at least two, maybe three to be covered. FFL will give me a “quantity discount” on the transfer/processing fee if I do all at once though.


Info as well as specific models and sellers greatly appreciated.

I'm sure you will get lots of answers and opinions. But here's my initial thoughts.
You probably want a dedicated .22lr can that can be disassembled so it can easily be cleaned if you do a lot of rounds. And you want it to be light weight, so you don't want to use 5.56 capable suppressors with .22lr. having said that my current favorite .22lr can is sealed but I get really light weight for that and tolerate the huge PIA to clean it. But if I'm not so concerned about weight, I always run a traditional can since the cleaning it so much easier. if I had to just pick one I'd probably pick the one that I can disassemble. But everything in suppressors is a tradeoff.
You can easily cover the 9mm stuff with one can, but again if you are using it on pistols you want to watch the weight and probably spend extra money to get construction that does that.
Go look at the annual Thunderbeast suppressor testing of a zillion cans and what I think it tells is the tale that shooting 5.56 through .30 cal cans is less than optimal on sound and maybe other parameters.
I don't own any barrel shorter than 10.3 so this is a bit of conjecture, but I think a 7" barrel is going to probably limit the number of choices you have (I don't think any of many ones I own are rated for it) and its going to conflict with other things that you might value like weight since it will likely be made of haynes 282 or some other supertough but relatively heavy alloy. but there are certainly choices that permit it.
The .30 cal is easy on its own but if you want it to also tolerate 7" 5.56 you might have to search a bit, its not something I can comment on from experience. But I started life using a .30 cal can for 5.56 because my dealer said it wouldn't matter much, but that didn't last very long as I quickly figured out that a dedicated 5.56 can is so much better in every way.
So I can easily give actual use advice on the .22lr, 9mm, 5.56 and .30cal options, but can't really help on what to choose if you want a .30cal can to also run 5.56 on a short barrel.
All FWIW>
EDITED to add, there are also a new generation of these one and done suppressors that advertise shoot anything you want as long as its less than the bore size. but relative to the stuff dedicated to a specific caliber they carry a lot of excess mass to make that possible, but they do exist .

Whatever you do, I suggest you suppress the impulse to go cheap. If these are supposed to last you for your duration in Washington, you may as well do it right.

Suppressing a 7" AR is going to be on the bleeding edge of the ratings of most of the cans I would consider, if even. Suppressing a 16" AR kind of sucks in general for a number of reasons. My suggestion? Rebarrel both. Everything worth paying attention to in 5.56 is rated 10.3" and up, so I would start there. A pin and weld anything is not your friend if you're moving to suppressors, so if you want a longer barrel, the sweet spot stops from there are 11.5", and 14.5". There are advocates for 12.5" and 13.5" but I don't see the point, really. A 10.3" or 11.5" with a duty-grade can in either .30 or 5.56 is basically the same overall length as your 16" gun, with more weight out front. You already have one 5.56 pistol right now anyways, you may as well do it right and built up a suppressed 10.3 and what you'll gain as far as length will be far offset in the sheer reduction in concussion to your brain every time you pull the trigger. Seriously, shoot suppressed long enough and shoot any AR unsuppressed and it'll astonish you the amount of shock and blast you've been dealing with.

I'd suggest titanium if you really want the weight savings, but if you want something that's absolutely going to hold up to everything, you want an inconel can. The temps where Haynes starts to pull away in performance over inconel is GunTuber meltdown-for-clicks shit.

If it were me, I'd get a titanium .30 cal can because you're probably not going to punish it enough for it to matter, and the weight savings on a heavier rifle will be welcome. Inconel 5.56 can on short barrels to offset the weight from the can, and because it's the smart move anyways. I strongly suggest flow-through or "low backpressure" designs for the 5.56 can. Maybe the .30 cal, but absolutely the 5.56.

For 9mm, the Cat Street Crack (yeah I know... I know it, they know it, we all know it, but hey... points for being edgy) and the Dead Air Mojave 9 are the current winners in terms of suppression to backpressure to weight and that whole ratio. No, they are not cheap, but you could use either one on a PCC or a pistol. If you wanted to totally ball out, pick up either of those as a pistol can plus the Cat Mobster as a dedicated PCC can.

Hrcjon is definitely on the money about a lightweight .22 can vs using a 5.56 can. I've put a fair number of .22 rounds through my Polonium and wouldn't hesitate to keep doing it, but that's still a lot of weight to contend with for anything that isn't trying to be an AR trainer. It's hard to overstate the weight thing, really. So far, I'm really pleased with having a one-piece 3D printed titanium .22 can. Honestly haven't cleaned it yet, and I've got probably a thousand rounds through it since December, but when I do, it's just going to soak in a jar of Breakthrough Suppressor Cleaner for a couple days, then take an hour or so heated bath in my ultrasonic. What does or doesn't come out, oh well. Supposedly cleaning .22 cans is a total nightmare, but I'm lazy and there is such a thing as good enough. A 3oz titanium can on a lightweight .22 pistol is a joy you simply have to experience to understand. My current favorite gun for just putting a smile on my face is a S&W M&P 22X with a B&T Print-X Tiger with an O-Sight SE. 20 round magazines, "high velocity" ammo is enough to cycle it and remain subsonic, and it's that famed "Hollywood Quiet" everyone talks about. Get an actual .22 can, whatever it is.

I've recommended Cat twice now, and Dead Air once. A year ago, I wouldn't have believed that, but there it is. They're currently the in-class winners on those suggestions according to my ears, at least. I have a relationship with Stealth Additive Works, and a number of their cans, but I think their wheelhouse is solidly just really fantastic performing cans for the size. I think their 5.56 Tisha is still the top rated 5.56 can, and if not, it's for sure the quietest one under 6". They make it in a 9mm as well, and on my Stribog and the post-sample MP5 I got to try it out on, it was comfortable to shoot with subs without ears on, and I have pretty sensitive hearing. It is astonishingly quiet, but I also didn't get to compare it 1:1 against the Cat and Dead Air cans I mentioned, so maybe they're quieter, but they definitely aren't for the size, that's for sure. It's one to look at, anyway.

my experience on 9mm has been the DA Majove9 is the current champ. I like it a lot and its distinctly better than the maybe 10 other 9mm cans I have.
I would normally recommend the B&T Tiger as its the best .22lr can I own but the situation at the moment at b&t makes buying anything of theirs way too risky. But my second best one is the DA Mask and its a really decent .22lr can well proven and well liked. But I'm sure there are other ti ones that might be better but I haven't used them to recommend. To me if you really aren't shooting a ton of .22lr the mask would be just fine.
Again nothing I know anything about personally from use would apply to your 5.56 situation.

I REALLY like my Rugged Occulus in 22LR. It’s a heavy little thing (it’s still a .22 can, we aren’t talking a huge amount of weight) but it’s quiet, built like a tank, and user serviceable. On my CZ 427 it sounds like a kinda loud air rifle.

.30 cans work Ok on 5.56. Not great, but ok. Think to keep in mind though is Ok might be good enough for your needs. 5.56 is loud even with a good suppressor. Not much you can do about the supersonic crack and action noise.

My first center fire can was a Rugged Alaskan. It was actually pretty quiet on my 556, even if it generated a silly amount of back pressure and gas. That can did give me the flexibility to shoot everything I own up to 9mm in caliber, including center fire rifle cartridges. I still use it on several guns and it works really nice on a .308 bolt gun. Sounds great on a SP5, but I’ve for other cans that aren’t quite as quiet, but don’t beat up the gun or my lungs as much.

My first dedicated 556 can was a B&T and if they get a new importer who can produce the same printed cans, I highly recommend them. I’ve got the same can in 30 as well and run it on my SCAR and 300 Blk. They are quiet to the shooter, even if the supersonic crack is loud to observers. Outside they are hearing safe. Inside you could probably get off a few rounds before your ears started ringing. Not advisable, but way better than unsuppressed.

Important thing is with center fire cans, especially rifle cans, have reasonable expectations. Even hearing safe is fairly loud.

If I was going to have only one center fire pistol can it would be .45 so I could shoot both. I can’t tell a difference shooting a 45 TiRant or 9mm TiRant with sub sonic 9mm. Yes, the 9mm can controls gas flow better, but the 45 can has more internal volume. To me it’s a wash.

If you want the quietest can possible, you’ll want traditional baffles. If you are shooting a semiautomatic gas powered rifle, you might want to consider a flow through can. Slightly louder, especially to observers, but much less gas to the face and wear on the gun. Bigger cans suppress better than smaller cans. I have a Flow 556k on the way for my house rifle, but that is with the understanding if its limits. It’s a short handy can that does an ok job of lowering the sound at the shooters ear. I’ve cranked off 556 inside an enclosed space without earpro or a can. I’d like to never repeat that experience.

Ok, after reading replies, googling and ChatGPTing I think I have settled on starting with a Rugged Obsidian 9 for P226, MPX, and P322.


I’m on the fence about an Oculus as well for dedicated .22. For now, I’m shelving the idea of putting a can on the AR pistol. Seem to be more complicated and more $$$.

Realistically, having the MPX with a can would be the better tool for intended use anyway. If I go with a 5.56 can, it might be better on my 16” upper.


So before I give up the CC info, any concerns on an Obsidian 9 for P322, P226, and MPX? Seems the P226 and MPX use the same M13.5X1 LH piston, MPX with a spacer instead of spring. Can comes with a 1/2x28 piston, so should be good to go on the P322.


Thoughts or concerns?

You might want to look at the number of reports out there of end cap strikes with the Obsidian 9. Don’t know if that’s still a thing, or something that’s been fixed. Also, does your MPX have the tapered barrel shoulder? If so, you may need a taper adapter.

Have to question the value of a 9mm can on .22lr, especially if shooting subsonic ammo. It’s going to be better than no suppressor, but I don’t think it’s going to be anywhere near as good as a .22 suppressor.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Thoughts or concerns?

Obsidian would be a solid choice if it were 2023, but you can do way better for the money these days, and that goes for the Oculus as well. I also agree with Dwill that while a 9mm can on a .22 is quieter than unsuppressed, it's also not great.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
Don’t know if that’s still a thing, or something that’s been fixed.

12.6% of respondents had an endcap strike. While that's not what I'd call an overwhelming majority, it's also not statistically insignificant. The "all I did was take it out of the box and shoot it" meme is the top comment and it gets a lot of mileage in that subreddit, and for good reason. I don't know what it is about that design, but it does it more than any other pistol can I've heard of, and nobody's been able to pin it down on mounts, walk-off, alignment, or any of the other usual culprits.

From that era, I would take an Omega 9K or YHM R9 over an Obsidian all day long, and I've shot enough out of all three to say it's a qualified opinion. The short config isn't all that quiet, nobody I know really bothers with it. I basically never see complaints about the 9K or R9. Check the six minute mark for the 9mm video I embedded below, he does both of them around that mark. I've also got some time behind the Flow 9K and the Rex Silentium MG7K and they're pretty decent choices also.

There are a lot of things I would consult ChatGPT or Grok about, but picking my first suppressors isn't on that list. Sure, it can search and aggregate user feedback, but there are a lot of intangibles it cannot see.



No Rugged Oculus in that video, but if you consider how close the B&T Tiger and SAW Katan are there, you can sort of extrapolate how the SAW Katan would compare with the Rugged Oculus in this video:



Here's a pretty decent shootout between a bunch of 9mm cans. I've chatted with this guy a little bit in the comment sections and my impression is that he's a decent sort and this is just a shared passion thing for him as well.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
For now, I’m shelving the idea of putting a can on the AR pistol. Seem to be more complicated and more $$$.

Maybe we can help simplify it for you if you'll tell us what part of it seems more complicated and more expensive? I'm no expert, but I have enough experience in this for that statement to be confusing, and my gut reaction is that you read some bad info, or you got overwhelmed with too much info that you didn't know how to sort through. I promise you it can be incredibly simple and cost no more than suppressing a 16" gun.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
If I go with a 5.56 can, it might be better on my 16” upper.

Of the guys I know who suppressed AR's and started with 16" guns, all of them complained about the length, the weight, and exactly none of them kept a suppressed 16" gun as a main config for very long. The suppressed 5.56 SBR is the meta for a reason. Jljones has stated on at least two occasions that I've seen that the standard in law enforcement that he's seeing for guys that do anything more serious than patrol are mostly using 10-11" guns with 5-6" cans, effectively bringing it back to that 16" of stuff sticking out past the receiver. Trust me when I say that of all the things you can suppress, you may get the most use out of suppressing a 9mm and .22, but you will get the most benefit from suppressing 5.56. For the reduction in blast alone, it's absolutely worth it.


I strongly suggest looking through Silencer Analytic's videos. I've met and talked with Rob Orgel. He's a good guy, he knows his stuff, and he's not getting anything out of this except trying to give back to the community and help people new to NFA stuff pick out the best cans for their purpose. Same thing with Eric Anderson, who shows up in a lot of his videos. He's my NFA FFL here, and he's done more for the NFA community as a whole in recent years than anyone I know of offhand.

My CMMG Zeroed22 is just as quiet as the Shaw ThunderCan for half the cost.

Boss sounds like you are doing your homework. I did a ton of online research and went to a couple of demo shoots thru Capitol Armory in Austin that helped me decide.

.22 and 9mm are the most fun for me because you can get them quiet enough to shoot without ear protection and ammo is the cheapest. I'm also in the dedicated .22 suppressor camp. Yes I could save some money up front and shoot .22 down a 5.56 tube or a 9mm tube, but the lead will accumulate in those cans and eventually they will get heavier and louder.

I've done business with my local FFL with Silencer Shop handling the forms in the background, bought directly from Silencer Shop and had it sent to my FFL, and gone thru the Capitol Armory ship to you front door program. All the purchases have gone relatively smoothly and once you have your account setup and have done one purchase thru either SS or CA the additional purchases are really easy.

My tiny tidbit as compared with the experts’ advice:

I have one Thunder Beast suppressor, the now discontinued 30P-1, upgraded to sort-of Ultra. I use it on bolt action rifles chambered for 223 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 308 Winchester. A couple of the 223 and 308 rifles have 20 inch barrels. Because of my devastated hearing I must use foam plugs when shooting any of the rifles with the can mounted, but plugs are enough and I don’t need muffs as usual. I also use plugs when shooting my 22LR rifles. So for me the .30 can works well enough with the 223 at whatever sound reduction level it proves, even if not the best available.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

Obsidian would be a solid choice if it were 2023, but you can do way better for the money these days, and that goes for the Oculus as well. I also agree with Dwill that while a 9mm can on a .22 is quieter than unsuppressed, it's also not great.

Such as, and at what price?

I can get the Obsidian, piston, and spacer for about $700. Would like to keep it under $1000 for one that can cover the three guns I’m looking at.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
For now, I’m shelving the idea of putting a can on the AR pistol. Seem to be more complicated and more $$$.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
Maybe we can help simplify it for you if you'll tell us what part of it seems more complicated and more expensive? I'm no expert, but I have enough experience in this for that statement to be confusing, and my gut reaction is that you read some bad info, or you got overwhelmed with too much info that you didn't know how to sort through. I promise you it can be incredibly simple and cost no more than suppressing a 16" gun.

My only options for an AR is my 7” barreled pistol or my 16” rifle. Both are Adam’s Arm gas pistons. Seems lots of function/reliability issues putting a can on 7-8” barrels in general, and as noted putting a can on a 16” barrel makes for unwieldy. Would need to be an additional can pretty much 5.56 only. Just doesn’t make sense cost wise for how little it would be used, especially if it was going to require a lot of messing with to be dependable.

Given I am in WA, no option to legally get another upper with a 10-11” barrel. I will leave WA at some point, once free I will see about a 10” upper and do a proper SBR.

I was wondering what would fit a 7.5" 5.56 barrel and realized SilencerCo Velos does not have a minimum barrel restriction. I have the 556k and the 762 models. The 556k would not go in the quiet category, it is a knock the sound down to a somewhat reasonable level suppressor (I can tell a huge difference from unsuppressed on a 12.5" SBR). The full size 556 and 762 take the suppression to another level with 556 ammo. The 762 works pretty well if you wanted an all in one 556/762 (that's what I bought it for).

I see the Velos models rotate on sale at Primary Arms (paperwork thru Silencer Shop) for $799 (that's including ASR mount & muzzle device). Some folks don't like Velos because they are Charlie thread pattern instead of HUB mount. The ASR system is 3 oz heavier than Plan B setups, but they work well and are tough. If you want to switch to Plan B you can buy an aftermarket Charlie/Plan B mount thru Rearden.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ibanda,

The Velos is also fucking loud lol.

I’ll reply more in depth when I get home. Better 9mm can than the Ohsidian for under a grand all-in is very doable.

I wanted this B&T suppressor but I can't find it separately.

No booster needed. The whole kit is expensive.

B&T Sig 226 hush puppy. Also a Glock 19 hush puppy.


https://www.thefirearmblog.com...g-p226-p365-44824936

https://armsunlimited.com/bt-s...huQAfrguetAZ-VNz7WrK

quote:

Such as, and at what price?

In the 9mm world the rugged obsidian has been passed by. (note I have 3 so I know what it is). At the moment in the stuff you can get from people who you have heard of I would get a DA Majove 9. ITs better in every possible way, and more than enough to justify the price gap.
If you already had a bunch of supressors and wanted to explore what was out on the fringes of developments I'd get a SAW Tisha9 Ti. but that is a challange in terms of getting one and of course they are not a long term player with those risks. All FWIW>
I would personally never run any 9mm can on a 22. Its just way too big, heavy and overkill.
You will hate it I am sure. There are so many great .22 cans just get one. there is nothing wrong with the Oculus and it will work fine (have 2 so I know what it is) no matter what P220Smudge says , but since B&T seems sorted now get a B&T tiger, you will be happier.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
My only options for an AR is my 7” barreled pistol or my 16” rifle. Both are Adam’s Arm gas pistons. Seems lots of function/reliability issues putting a can on 7-8” barrels in general…

It is an older model, but I have used a Griffin Armament Paladin/Alpha 300HD solely on an Adams Arms 7.5” Tac Evo SBR with taper mount for about 8 years. The only function issue I have ever experienced is the gas valve getting stuck in the suppressed setting after going over 600 rounds between cleanings. This setup gets gassy, so I imagine the flow-through models out today would help cut down the gasses hitting your face, but I am happy with the setup’s handling and how well it suppresses.

I chose this model because, at that time, it was one of the few models available that did not have a barrel length restriction on its warranty. I am happy Griffin Armament has grown and expanded their product line.

Ok, “Plan B”…

Looking at comments, links, and some more research along with prices and what is available in stock, thoughts on a HUXWRX Flow 9K TI Suppressor for P226/MPX and a Thunder Beast Arms 22 Take Down for the P322 and Ruger 10/22?

Being very low backpressure, the Hux will be better on the MPX than the Obsidian. The MPX is gassy when suppressed and I only run low back pressure cans on my 8” MPX. The Flow 9K is also light, short, and relatively inexpensive for a 3D printed titanium can. Like most Huxwrx cans, it’s not the best in suppression, but that’s a tradeoff in their high flow designs. I believe it’s a good choice if sound isn’t a number 1 priority.

Have no experience with the TBAC takedown, but from what I’ve heard it’s right up there with the DA Mask, so that sounds like a solid choice.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Such as, and at what price?

If hrcjon says B&T USA got their stuff straightened out with B&T AG, then 100% and without reservation, get a Print-X Tiger .22 (note: There is an older version of this can they simply called the "Tiger", it's a different animal than the Print-X and apparently NOS can be found online, don't get them mixed up). It's what I bought after a ton of research, and I'm glad I did. Again, I have an "in" with Stealth Additive Works, and this is what I got over a Katan. If this wasn't an option, I would've gotten a Katan, and I probably still eventually will, but to start with, this is what I have, and it's phenomenal. The only thing quieter my group of nerds has found in testing is the CAT Short Round A2 (they call it the "Ben" now), but that's several hundred bucks more. Grab a Tiger here for $400:

https://battlehawkarmory.com/p....22lr-fde-suppressor

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Given I am in WA, no option to legally get another upper with a 10-11” barrel. I will leave WA at some point, once free I will see about a 10” upper and do a proper SBR.

Apologies, I keep forgetting you guys got hosed on buying gun parts. Additionally, tuning a piston AR around a can is a complication I haven't messed with, and with the difficulty of buying parts, it's a complication I'd probably be inclined to avoid as well. Maybe a .30 cal can you can use on both of them would be an alright choice, or even a... and I hate suggesting this, but, a "do it all" .36 cal can because of the added considerations you're dealing with. That way you can stick it on whatever and it won't matter.

About your fallback choices ("Plan B" is suppressor mount interface 'round these parts ), you need to know two things:

1) The owner of Thunder Beast has been open about the fact that he designs cans with accuracy being his priority, not decibel reduction. This is why they're popular with rifle match shooters, and why you'll see guys like our Fritz mention them frequently. If you plan to shoot rimfire PRS and NRL matches, then this is a solid choice. If you mainly want a "Hollywood quiet" plinker that's still more than accurate enough, trust me on this, just get the Print-X Tiger.

2) Similarly, Hux prioritizes backpressure reduction over decibel reduction. It's a common thing for buyers of Hux cans to get them home and be unhappy with how seemingly loud they are compared to other suppressors. I have a friend who bought a Flow 9K for his MP5 clone, and was thrilled with it until our first big shoot of the season last year where he got to try out a bunch of other tri lug 9mm cans against it. Comparison is the thief of joy, and absent a 1:1:1:1 comparison, you'll be pleased with the volume reduction over shooting unsuppressed, just know that if you're looking for that "Hollywood quiet" shooting 9mm subs, the Flow 9K ain't it.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwill104:
Have no experience with the TBAC takedown, but from what I’ve heard it’s right up there with the DA Mask, so that sounds like a solid choice.

I know the Mask has a following here on Sigforum, but these have been left in the dust so long ago that I'm frankly surprised they get suggested anymore. I'm shocked that they're still one of the top selling .22 cans on Silencershop. Really, there is far, far better stuff out there for .22's these days. I think it's one of those brand name and recognition things, maybe. So many people bought one when they were head and shoulders above the competition that they continue to get recommended because everyone knows someone who has one kind of thing, must be.