April 04, 2016
By Keith Wood
No industry can survive, much less thrive, without growth. In the outdoor industry, suppressors or "silencers" are one of the fastest growing sectors in the current marketplace.
In recent years, public awareness regarding the ownership of suppressors has grown, and individual states have moved to legalize suppressors for possession and even use afield. In turn, consumers have responded and increased the demand. That demand has broadened the number of suppressor models on the market as well as driven companies to reinvest their profits in innovation. Today's suppressors are more effective, smaller and lighter than ever before.
We are in the middle of a period of rapid growth and innovation in the suppressor industry, which is great new for both shooters and their hearing. Let's take a look at the best new offerings in the suppressor market this year.
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SilencerCo Hybrid 46
SilencerCo has been one of the leaders in driving innovation in the suppressor industry and the Hybrid is no exception. One of the obvious challenges to the ownership of suppressors is the cumbersome NFA process which takes time, money and patience. The Hybrid helps combat that challenge by offering a single suppressor for every centerfire firearm in your gun safe: one tax stamp and you're covered from 9mm to 45-70. The Hybrid works on pistols, submachine guns, and rifles alike and is even compatible with magnum calibers up to and including the 338 Win. Mag.
MSRP: $999
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Weight: 13.8 oz.
Length: 7.8 inches
Finish: Gray Cerakote
SilencerCo Maxim 9
The company's first handgun is also the world's first integrally-suppressed production 9mm pistol. Not only is the handgun small enough to fit into a traditional holster, thanks to its cutting edge baffle system, it is quiet enough to be "hearing safe" with all types of 9mm ammunition. The Maxim 9 is a handgun of its own design but uses Glock magazines and sights. It has a 4.38-inch barrel and uses removable baffles similar to those used on the Salvo shotgun suppressor. If the shooter uses only subsonic 9mm ammo, baffles can be removed to shorten the overall length of the handgun. Since this pistol is in the final prototyping phase, final specifications are not yet available.
MSRP: Projected under $2000
Weight: Unknown
Length: Unknown
Finish: Unknown
By the latest count, 37 states allow the use of suppressors for hunting. The Gemtech Tracker is designed specifically with the hunter in mind with weight and length kept to a minimum. The Tracker extends only 7 inches past the muzzle when attached to a rifle. This thread-mounted suppressor is compatible with .30 caliber and smaller cartridges, including the .300 Win. Mag.
MSRP: $599
Weight: 11.3 oz.
Length: 7.9 inches
Finish: Hard coat black anodized
Gemtech MIST-22 G-CORE
The MIST-22 is an integrally-suppressed barrel built to be compatible with the Ruger 10/22 series of rifles. The barrel is designed to maximize suppression without adding to the overall length of the firearm. There are two models: one built to be compatible with 10/22 take-down rifles and one for traditional bull barrel-stocked 10/22s. The suppressor itself uses Getech's G-CORE system which allows for user maintenance and cleaning.
MSRP: $550
Weight: 1 lb., 5 oz.
Length: 17 inches (includes barrel)
Finish: Black Isonite
Dead Air Armament Ghost-M
As a manufacturer, Dead Air Armament is affiliated with both CVA and Bergara, companies well known for quality in their established areas of the firearm market. This handgun/carbine suppressor functions with cartridges ranging from the .22 LR to the 300 BLK with subsonic ammo and includes standard handgun/subgun cartridges including 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. The unique thing about the Ghost-M is that its modular design allows you to manipulate the size of the suppressor to suit the situation. If sound suppression is paramount, all of the baffles can be used. If portability becomes important, a section of baffles can be removed to make the can both shorter and lighter.
MSRP: $949
Weight: 12 oz./9.6 oz.
Length: 8.75 inches/6.2 inches
Finish: Cerakote body, nitrided attachments
You know that things have changed in the industry when the company that brought you such traditionally-styled firearms as the falling block No.1 and the single-action Blackhawk is making suppressors. Ruger's Silent SR rimfire suppressor is made of aluminum, stainless steel and titanium and is user-serviceable. Its 1/2-38 thread pattern is compatible with most threaded rimfire barrels, to include the various Ruger firearms (10/22s, Mk IIIs, 22/45s and others) that are now available with threads.
MSRP: $449
Weight: 6.3 oz.
Length: 5.37 inches
Finish: Cerakote
Thunder Beast Arms 6.5 Ultra
For years, guys shooting 6.5mm cartridges such as the Creedmoor and the .260 Remington have been stuck using .30 suppressors. No longer. The long range-minded guys at Thunder Beast arms have developed the 6.5 model for their lightweight Ultra series. This isn't just a .30 caliber can with a 6.5mm end cap. The entire suppressor is engineered around the smaller bore size. This unit attaches by either direct thread mount or using the company's own muzzle brake or flash hider. The suppressor is made of titanium and measures 1.5 inches in diameter.
MSRP: $1145 (direct mount)
Weight: 13.7 oz.
Length: 9 inches
Finish: Cerakote (Black, FDE, or OD)
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