Finding the Best 5.56 Suppressor for the Money – Your 2024 Guide
April 30, 2024By Brandon Maddox
Finding the Best 5.56 Suppressor for the Money – Your 2024 Guide
Popularity of the 5.56 NATO cartridge (and the .223 Remington) has risen meteorically. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a gun owner today who doesn’t have at least one gun chambered for it. Shooters of all kinds use the 5.56 for self-defense, hunting, fun, and so much more.
Another thing that has risen meteorically is the cost of guns, ammo, and accessories. Thankfully, there are still some things out there that aren’t outlandishly expensive, and one of those things is a suppressor. Sure, there’s the $200 tax stamp, but there’s a wide range of suppressors on the market that can allow you to suppress your 5.56 caliber firearm while still having money left over for more ammo – and who doesn’t need more ammo?
There are a variety of different suppressors at different price points and with different purposes. Don’t believe me? I’ll prove to you that suppressing your 5.56 doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
The 5.56 NATO is a rimless, bottleneck cartridge that was officially adopted in 1980, but its roots stem back to the .223 Remington cartridge that dates to 1957. When fired from a 20″ barrel, the muzzle velocity of standard M855 ammo is 3,025 fps. It’s still traveling at a respectable speed of 2,900 fps when fired from a 16″ carbine length barrel. A 10″ pistol length barrel clocks in at 2,600 fps.
This is what makes the 5.56 so popular for competition, home defense, and hunting. It can be used on medium-sized game animals in North America with ease and is often chosen by varmint hunters because of the ammo’s relatively inexpensive cost and easiness to find in stock.
Since the cartridge has solid military applications, it only makes sense that it is equally suited to home defense situations, and countless millions of Americans use it for that exact purpose.
Why Suppress the 5.56?
There are a large number of reasons why suppressing your rifle is a good idea, and we could go on and on forever about them, but here are the three biggest reasons for suppressing the 5.56: noise reduction, recoil management, and muzzle control.
Noise reduction is important because you’re not always shooting a 5.56 in a scenario where traditional hearing protection is common. The two big scenarios are home defense and hunting. There’s often not time to put on hearing protection during a home defense scenario and most hunters don’t wear it because they want to be able to hear the game animals around them. When you shoot 5.56 suppressed, you’re knocking down the decibels and saving your hearing when you’re out in your hunting grounds or when you’re inside the four walls of your home.
Even though the 5.56 doesn’t have a reputation for being a hard-recoiling round, it still produces recoil nonetheless. With a suppressor, you can reduce some of that recoil and make it easier to get back on target and more comfortable for the person shooting. Even the most seasoned shooters can sometimes flinch with recoil, so the reduction provided by a suppressor is a winning byproduct no matter how you look at it.
In line with recoil reduction comes muzzle control. Less recoil makes it easier to get your muzzle back down and on target faster for any follow-up shots that may be necessary.
Factors to Consider when Choosing the Best 5.56 Suppressor
Everyone has a budget of some kind, but that doesn’t mean you have to forgo a high-quality suppressor if you have a smaller budget. To prove that point, we’ve put together this list of suppressors that come in at a variety of different price points and still check all of the different boxes for people’s various needs in a suppressor.
The suppressors chosen here take into consideration the weight, length, build material, potential use, and – of course – the price of each one. You should carefully consider all of these things before deciding which suppressor you’re going to purchase.
Category
Product
Caliber
Weight
Length
Price
Best Overall
BANISH 223
.223/5.56
11.4 oz.
7"
$849
Best Value
YHM Turbo T3
5.56
12.8 oz.
5.59"
$649.95
Shortest
BANISH Speed K
5.56
14.1 oz.
4"
$1,199
Best for Clones
Surefire SOCOM55 RC2
5.56
17 oz.
6.4"
$1,199
Best Premium
HUXWRX FLOW 556K
5.56
12.9 oz.
5.5"
$1,306
Our Top Five 5.56 Suppressors
We’ve handled, shot, and sold a lot of different suppressors over the years, and that helps make it a little easier to narrow things down. When picking the suppressors for this list, we looked at things like weight, length, construction material, durability, ease of cleaning, decibel reduction, and, of course, cost. The result is this list of our top five 5.56 suppressors.
The AR15 has quickly become one of the most popular rifles on the market, and the BANISH 223 suppressor is optimized to run on that platform as well as on traditional bolt-action hunting and target rifles. As an added perk, it’s even rated for limited full-auto fire. This means it is right at home on any rifle you own that can fire 5.56 or .223 ammo.
The BANISH 223 is a direct-thread silencer that mounts on conventional 1/2×28 threads, meaning that there’s no extra expense of buying different kinds of mounts. Made of lightweight titanium, this 7” suppressor weighs a mere 11.4 ounces but is incredibly durable because of the build material.
Like all suppressors in the BANISH lineup, the BANISH 223 is easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance. Use a tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, or a nylon brush; the method of cleaning is up to you. The seven baffles are designed to easily stack and index in any order, making reassembly a breeze. All of this adds up to mean that you’ll spend less time cleaning and more time shooting.
Advantages:
Titanium is both lightweight and incredibly durable
Easy to take apart, clean, and reassemble
Low amount of blowback on a semi-auto rifle
Drawbacks:
At 7″ in length, it’s the longest option on this list
A full-feature suppressor built on a budget is what YHM had in mind with the Turbo T3, and that’s exactly what they delivered. In a world where most suppressor accessories cost extra, YHM ships the Turbo T3 with a QD flash hider and a Phantom QD adapter so that you can switch between suppressed and unsuppressed shooting right out of the box with no extra cost.
The generous internal volume of the Turbo T3 offers a size-to-suppression ratio that is hard to beat in 5.56 suppressors of similar size. As a result, you can shoot quieter, smoother, and cleaner than ever before. The inclusion of an Inconel blast baffle further reduces blowback compared to the previous Turbo T2, and it’s even rated for full-auto fire.
Advantages:
Tubeless design helps keep overall weight down
Comes with a muzzle device and an adapter at no extra cost
Stainless steel and Inconel construction are incredibly durable
At just 4″ in length, the Speed K is the perfect choice when maneuverability and speed are vital to success in whatever you’re doing. The compact design allows for quick and precise movements in tight spaces. Creating a suppressor short in length was a primary focus when designing and building the Speed K, along with minimal blowback and extreme durability.
With clipped-wall baffles and a finned blast chamber, the Speed K ensures maximum sound reduction while maintaining optimal performance. Featuring controlled flow technology and a vented 4th baffle, this duty suppressor minimizes blowback for a better shooting experience.
The silencer is constructed with 100% Inconel for durability and lower heat retention. Passing seven rounds of SOCOM testing, the Speed K is extremely durable and won’t fail when it matters most. One round of SOCOM testing puts 1,440 rounds through the suppressor in a short period. Many suppressors don’t pass one round of SOCOM testing, let alone seven rounds!
Advantages:
At just 4″ long, it’s the shortest suppressor on the list
Inconel construction is durable and offers less heat retention
Uses the industry standard HUB mount
Drawbacks:
At 2″ in diameter, it’s the biggest in circumference on the list
Building semi-auto clones of military rifles from all different time periods has never been more popular. The SureFire SOCOM556 RC2 is a purpose-built suppressor used on M4 and Mk18 carbines by the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which means you can get the exact suppressor needed to make your clone rifle as accurate as possible.
Utilizing a QD mounting system, you can quickly and easily switch between suppressed and unsuppressed fire. When stealth is of utmost importance, the use of the SOCOM556 RC2 boasts virtual elimination of first-round muzzle flash and minimal dust signature. In fact, tests have shown that it suppresses visible flash up to 99.3% over a bare muzzle.
Made of stainless steel and Inconel, you’ll never have to question the durability of the SOCOM556 RC2. In fact, there’s a higher likelihood of wearing out your gun’s barrel before this suppressor even shows signs of slowing down.
If money is the least of your concern but you still want the best band for your buck, then give the HUXWRX FLOW 556K serious consideration. Back pressure and gas in your face are two big problems with many suppressors, but not with the FLOW 556K. Made from 3D-printed stainless steel (welcome to the future!), HUXWRX has designed a compact suppressor that doesn’t sacrifice performance for size. It passed all of the US Government’s official tests with flying colors and is full-auto rated even on short barrels.
Their patented Flow-Through technology directs gas out the front, minimizing the gas that comes back to the shooter’s face from the bolt or the charging handle. The flash cap on the front also mitigates muzzle flash, making it an ideal choice in low-light situations.
At just 5.5” inches in length and 12.9 ounces in weight, the FLOW 556K is in a league of its own when it comes to design, durability, and performance.
Advantages:
Flow-Through technology greatly reduces gas in the shooter’s face
Full-auto rated even on short barrels
Is user-serviceable for easy cleaning and maintenance
Drawbacks:
Other options have slightly better decibel reduction ratings
HUXWRX FLOW 556K Specs:
Caliber: 5.56
Weight: 12.9 oz
Diameter: 1.6″
Length: 5.5″
Mount Type: Quick Detach
Material: Stainless Steel
User-Serviceable: Yes
Full-Auto Rated: Yes
Price: $1,306
How to Confidently Buy a 5.56 Suppressor
Choosing a suppressor is similar to choosing a gun. That is to say, only you can make the final decision as who which one is the right one. You need to consider things like intended use, frequency of use, finances, etc. All of those things will ultimately factor in to the final decision of what suppressor is the right suppressor.
Here’s a few tips on what you can do to make a confident buying decision:
Ask Experienced Suppressed Shooters
There’s a very good chance that you know a shooter with a suppressor. Go talk to them and ask all kinds of questions – and even ask them if you can go shoot suppressed with them. There’s a lot of things you can ask, but here are some good starting questions:
How long have you owned a suppressor?
How often do you shoot suppressed?
What is your primary use for your suppressor?
What was the deciding factor in your choice?
If you bought another one, what would you choose?
How does using a suppressor impact your shooting experience?
Find the Best 5.56 Suppressor for the Money
As was mentioned earlier, everyone has a different budget – but everyone wants to get the most for their money. To determine the best 5.56 suppressor for your money, you’ve got to have a firm understanding of what you want, why you want it, what things you’re willing to compromise on, and what things you aren’t.
If money is the only concern, then just look at price. If weight is your primary deciding factor, then find suppressors that fit in that range and then narrow it down based on price. This process can be applied to any aspect: build material, length, suppression rating, etc.
Buy from a Company You Trust
Once you decide what suppressor you want to buy, then you have to decide where you’re going to buy it. There are a lot of different gun shops and online websites you can buy from, but the most important thing is to buy from a company you trust.
Buy from a company that has an established background in the suppressor community and has been around for a long time. Buy from a company that can answer any questions you might have. Buy from a company whose staff understands the buying process because they’re suppressor owners, too.
Take the Leap – Invest In a Quality Suppressor Today
Buying a suppressor is an investment. It’s an investment in your hearing and in your quality of time spent shooting. When you’re ready to make that investment, get ahold of us here at Silencer Central. We’ve been in this business for almost 20 years, and we’re the only company that can sell a suppressor in all 42 states where they are legal to own, complete the entire process with you online, and mail it right to your door upon approval. You won’t find this kind of complete package from any other company. If you want the best bang for your buck, then Silencer Central is the way to go. Reach out today to get started.
Why Suppress the 5.56?
