Firearms
Can You Put a Suppressor On A Pistol?
Pistols are excellent for self-defense and home protection because they are compact, portable, concealable, and wieldable in tight spaces. You can even hunt with pistols like the Wilson Combat Hunter and Glock 40 Gen4.
Can you put a silencer on a pistol? Yes, you can put a silencer on your pistol to make it more tactical and improve its performance. But do you really need a pistol suppressor? We think so, and in this article, you’ll discover why you should consider a suppressor and how to get the right one.
Are Pistol Suppressors Necessary?
Pistol suppressors can be pricey. Despite the price, you may keep asking yourself, "do I need a pistol suppressor?" Maybe that's because you know you need one but are here because you need some more convincing that a suppressor is worth your while. So, to help you decide, we’ve compiled the pros and cons of using a pistol suppressor.
Advantages of Shooting with a Pistol Suppressor
Regardless of whether your handgun is for self-defense, hunting, or fun, you'll appreciate the benefits of using a pistol suppressor:
- Noise Reduction: Pistols, like every other firearm, can be deafeningly loud, especially when shot in confined spaces. A suppressor will significantly reduce gunshot noise, protecting you from hearing loss.
- Improved Accuracy: Besides reducing the sonic footprint of your gunshots, a suppressor reduces felt recoil. Less recoil allows you to shoot more accurately because you'll experience less muzzle rise. More importantly, you're less likely to flinch when a suppressor lowers felt recoil and gunfire noise, leading to better accuracy.
- Hide Muzzle Flash: The muzzle flash from an unsuppressed pistol can temporarily blind you when shooting in low light conditions. It can cause problems if shooting to take down prey or an assailant. A suppressor can reduce your muzzle flash to protect your eyes and hide your position.
Potential Cons of Shooting with a Pistol Suppressor
While suppressors are generally awesome, you may not like everything about them. For instance, a stainless steel suppressor can make your handgun heavier, which may affect handling. Fortunately, you can avoid this issue by opting for titanium or aluminum suppressors, which are lightweight.
Attaching a suppressor to your pistol also increases barrel length, making your gun harder to conceal or carry in a holster. Luckily, you can avoid having an overly long barrel by choosing a suppressor under five inches.
Choosing the Right Pistol Suppressor
So, we’ve settled that you can put a silencer on a pistol, but you should know that you can’t put just any silencer on your handgun. You need a silencer that is compatible with your pistol and shooting needs. Find the right suppressor for you by looking for the following:
Mounting
Mounting refers to how a suppressor attaches to a pistol. Several mounting options are available, including silencers that use direct thread mounting or an adapter. Direct thread mounting is your best choice because it allows you to screw a suppressor directly onto your barrel with your hands. It’s simple, quick, and convenient.
However, you cannot use a direct thread suppressor if you do not have a compatible threaded barrel. If you don't have a threaded barrel, mail us your barrel to thread it to your specifications. Threading your barrel to work with a direct thread suppressor will provide a more secure fit and reliable performance than attaching your silencer with an adapter.
Caliber
Manufacturers build suppressors to work with specific calibers. A suppressor for a low-pressure caliber like .22 will work well with .22 rounds or smaller. Shooting a higher caliber round out of such a suppressor will damage it. However, you can opt for a multi-caliber suppressor, such as our BANISH 45, which shoots everything from .22 to .45.
Length
The length of a suppressor can affect your handgun’s handling and your ability to conceal your weapon. If you intend on carrying your gun in a holster and want to keep your firearm easy to draw in tight spaces, opt for a suppressor under five inches. However, you can get suppressors over nine inches long if you'd like to maximize your barrel’s length.
Material
The most popular suppressor materials are titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum. You can also get suppressors made with a blend of two or more materials.
Aluminum suppressors are lightweight and affordable but suitable for shooting mostly low-pressure rounds. On the other hand, stainless steel suppressors are suitable for higher caliber rounds because they are heavy and durable.
Titanium suppressors weigh less than their steel counterparts but are more durable. They are also more expensive. The durability and weight of titanium suppressors make them ideal for gun owners who want a highly durable silencer that won’t significantly change their gun’s weight.
Our Favorite Pistol Suppressors
Hundreds of suppressors are out there and scouring stores to find the best one can be tedious. We’ve simplified your search by looking at the best pistol suppressors and picking our four favorites. Each suppressor that made our list has unique benefits, allowing you to pick one that fits your budget, handgun, and other requirements.
BANISH 45
Can you put a silencer on an AR pistol? The BANISH 45 is your answer. It’s a titanium suppressor for handguns and pistol caliber carbines, such as 9mm and .300 Blackout AR pistols. The suppressor can fire calibers ranging from rimfire to .45 ACP and reduce gunfire noise by up to 36 decibels.
The titanium material keeps the suppressor lightweight, and you can modify it to be 6.7 inches or up to 8.6 inches. Also, maintaining the suppressor is easy because you can take it apart to clean the insides.
BANISH 22
The BANISH 22 is a lightweight, titanium suppressor for rimfire pistols that shoot .22 caliber rounds or smaller. The all-titanium suppressor is far more durable than its stainless steel and aluminum counterparts. It’s also one of the quietest rimfire suppressors you can get, and it works with semi and fully-automatic firearms.
Like the BANISH 45, you can easily disassemble, clean, and reassemble the BANISH 22 to keep it working optimally. Lastly, you can get it in lengths between five to eight inches and attach it by hand to your threaded barrel.
ULTIMA 45 ACP
The ULTIMA 45 ACP from Coastal Guns is an aluminum and stainless steel suppressor for .45 ACP, .40 S&W, and 9mm calibers. Even though it’s 9.5 inches long and partly stainless steel, the suppressor weighs roughly ten ounces, making it almost as light as the BANISH 45. Besides lowering gunfire noise, the ULTIMA 45 ACP significantly reduces recoil, thanks to its Recoil Attenuation Device.
Dead Air Wolfman
The Dead Air Wolfman is a modular, stainless steel suppressor that you can customize to achieve your preferred length, weight, and sound suppression. The stainless steel material is durable and has a Cerakote finish that prevents rust.
Since it’s a multi-caliber suppressor, you can attach it to pistols and light-duty rifles that shoot 9mm, .300BLK, and .350 Legend. Also, putting the suppressor on a threaded barrel is hassle-free, thanks to its direct thread mount.
Pull the Trigger and Buy a Suppressor Now!
Now that you are sure you can put a silencer on a pistol, what are you waiting for? Silencer Central offers suppressors for various budgets and calibers and provides doorstep delivery to customers in the 42 states that permit suppressors.
Visit Silencer Central today to find and order the best suppressor for your pistol. Alternatively, contact us to speak with an expert who can guide you toward the best suppressor for your needs.