Silencer Central Buck 30 Suppressor: Full Review

Any firearms-­related trend that survives for several years occurs for good reason. An example would be the trend toward heavy-­for-­caliber bullets. These rose in popularity because rifleshooters had tools such as ballistic calculators and rangefinders that made shooting targets at longer ranges possible. It’s only natural that these same shooters would seek out the most aerodynamic bullets to optimize success in hitting distant targets.

Another trend that’s been building for the past 20 years is the rise of suppressor (or “silencer”) ownership. This is the only firearms-­related example, of which I’m aware, that is undeniably healthier for the shooting community. For years I’ve been a proponent of suppressor use because it’s the best and most convenient way to protect a person’s hearing. The challenge has been addressing our community’s lack of familiarity with suppressors.

When I was a youth, nobody I knew had even seen a suppressor. They were something only seen used in movies, frequently associated with assassinations. I wasn’t planning on getting into that business, so I didn’t see a need for owning a suppressor. Fast forward a few years and I was in the military fighting a war. Uncle Sam saw fit to loan me a suppressor or two during my time in. This is when I decided I needed suppressors in my life. Many of those I served alongside came to the same conclusion.

Suppressor use certainly has tactical benefits on the battlefield, but the two biggest attractions are the ability to shoot without needing to wear hearing protection and the elimination of muzzleblast. Shooting, even in a war, is a social event; ongoing communication with those around you is beneficial. Whether this communication involves issuing instructions in a timely manner or just chatting away with a friend, it’s nice not needing to yell.

The second significant benefit, which sees little discussion, is the removal of a rifle’s muzzleblast. Recoil on a rifle comes in two forms: The first is the blow to the shoulder. There is not much we can do about that. The second is the blow to the head that comes from the pressure wave generated by the muzzleblast. This is like a light jab to the brain that occurs every time the rifle fires; it is the main reason why shooters learn to flinch. No one enjoys having a small explosion occur a couple of feet from their face. One way to illustrate this theory is to watch how much someone flinches when shooting a braked versus non-­braked rifle. Flinching, in this example, is defined as closing the eye just prior to firing. The muzzlebrake reduces the recoil on the shoulder, but significantly increases the muzzleblast. New shooters will frequently flinch more with a muzzlebrake than without. It’s pretty easy to film this with a cell phone in slow motion and then review the footage at your leisure.

The last 20 years have seen a meteoric rise in suppressor use. However, there is still a sizeable portion of the shooting community that doesn’t own or use suppressors. The barriers to entry have historically been high. The first and most egregious barrier is imposed by the U.S. government; it comes in the bureaucrat’s preferred form of warfare: Paperwork. After paying for a suppressor, this used to mean getting fingerprints taken at the Sheriff’s office and then sending them and another form off to the feds for review. Anywhere from several months to a year-­ish later, the government allowed you to take possession of your property.

Then along came Silencer Central. CEO Brandon Maddox built the company around the idea of making suppressor ownership as painless as possible. Silencer Central can do most of the work for you and talk you through what you need to do on your own. The best part is that everything the individual needs to do can be done from the comfort of home. The “paperwork” can all be done online — including payment — and then, once the federal government approves the sale, your suppressor ships to your front door. It has never been — and will likely never be — easier than that.

In keeping with the “easy suppressor ownership” theme, Silencer Central recently released a new suppressor: Buck 30 by Banish. The effort was a joint project between Silencer Central and the folks at Buck Commander, including Willie Robertson, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Adam Laroche, Ryan Langerhans, Tombo Martin, and others. They are helping to educate the public on the advantages of suppressor use. The idea was to create the ultimate introductory suppressor for anyone hunting deer, hence the price, but along the way, they developed a great “first suppressor” for anybody shooting a rifle. The materials and manner of construction reflect its simplicity, durability, and sound economics. The Buck 30 is exactly what I’d recommend for someone thinking about suppressor ownership.

The Buck 30 is a tubeless design constructed of precipitation-­hardened stainless steel. This suppressor is made by stacking the stainless-­steel baffles on top of each other and then welding them together. Suppressors used to be made by stacking the baffles, welding them together, and then sliding the stack inside a tube before welding them together. Welding technology has improved. Testing has shown that welding the baffles together without an external tube is every bit as durable — but lighter and quieter. It’s lighter because there is no longer an external tube surrounding the baffles. It’s quieter because the baffles can be made slightly larger and there is more internal volume.

Silencer Central’s choice of using stainless steel instead of titanium was wise because stainless steel is easier to weld correctly than titanium. Titanium is lighter, but it is also more expensive. Additionally, the complicated process used to weld titanium properly would have driven up the cost of the Buck 30. I’m thankful they chose a tubeless design made from stainless steel because it’s the best way for almost anyone to acquire an affordable, quiet, light, and strong suppressor.

The Buck 30 also uses the 1.375x24 thread pitch at the suppressor’s base, which allows for the use of removable direct-­thread adaptors to screw onto most muzzles. Should you possess a rifle without a threaded muzzle, Silencer Central can send you a padded case so you can have their full-­time gunsmiths thread it and return it to you. Since Silencer Central is a licensed firearms manufacturer, you can send the rifle from home and receive it the same way.

Suppressor ownership is becoming more mainstream every day, and I’m glad because it benefits the shooter the most. Rifles become more enjoyable to shoot, it’s easier to talk to your family and friends when shooting, and it’s now more convenient and less expensive than ever. If you still haven’t taken the plunge into suppressor ownership, Silencer Central’s Buck 30 is the easiest way to dip your toe in. Come on in, the water is fine.

Silencer Central Buck 30 by Banish

• Caliber: .30
• Attachment: Direct thread, 5⁄8x24
• Mount: 1.375x24 (hub)
• Overall length: 6.9 in.
• Weight: 13.8 oz.
• Diameter: 1.54 in.
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Finish: Cerakote, black
• MSRP: $699
• Manfacturer: Silencer Central, 866-­891-­4494, silencercentral.com

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