Suppressor Pistons: A Key Component of Handgun Suppressors
In almost every situation where you’ll be running a pistol and suppressor combination, you’re going to need a suppressor piston. This is unique to pistol caliber suppressors because of the way (most) semi-automatic pistols operate.
We’ll take a look at what pistons are, how they work, and more so that you know exactly what you’ll need for a successful trip to the range with your pistol and suppressor.
Table of Contents
What is a Suppressor Piston?
A suppressor piston is a part of your suppressor on the end that attaches to the barrel of your host gun. It gives the gun’s mechanical operation a little extra help when dealing with the added weight of the suppressor and the corresponding change in the overall dynamics of the gun.
How Suppressor Pistons Work
Pistols that have tilting or sliding barrels rely on the recoil of the gun to properly cycle the action. The barrel must move to the rear slightly to unlock the action, which isn’t a big deal when the gun is being fired under normal circumstances.
With the added weight of a suppressor, it can slow down the cycling operation of your gun. Now, instead of just having to deal with the weight of the barrel and slide, your gun has to deal with the suppressor, too. Many guns are not designed to handle the extra weight, and so the action won’t cycle properly. This can result in it failing to eject a spent casing or failing to properly feed the next live round.
A piston helps your host gun offset the added weight of the suppressor. It actually drives the suppressor forward just a small bit while the barrel moves to the rear to unlock the action. This small bit of movement counteracts the suppressor’s weight and allows the gun to cycle properly.
Suppressor Pistons and Recoil Boosters
A suppressor piston is part of the recoil booster unit as a whole, which is made up of the piston and a spring. The spring fits over the piston. The combination of the piston and the spring make up the recoil booster.
The recoil booster does exactly what its name says it does. It briefly boosts the pressure at the muzzle so that the barrel can properly unlock and cycle your gun when equipped with a suppressor.
How to Buy Suppressor Pistons Online
Luckily, pistons and recoil boosters are just parts and are not subject to the same strict regulations as suppressors. So, you can easily buy them online from your favorite stocking dealer – like us! Silencer Central sells a wide variety of suppressor pistons, both for our own BANISH line and other popular models.
Once you order your pistons, you can have them sent directly to your door as soon as your order is processed. No waiting months and months and months for some paper-pusher to sign off on it!
9mm Suppressor Piston
This 1/2 x 28 – 9 mm piston features heat-treated stainless steel construction, is engraved to identify the thread and is compatible with Ti-RANT 45.
For some time now, Advanced Armament Corp (part of Remington) has been unable to supply our customers with this product. So, we hired an OEM Remington firearms manufacturer to make them. We have extra and are supplying the marketplace. This item is a 1/2 x 28 piston for a Ti-RANT 45 and Ti-RANT 45M.
Banish 45 Suppressor Piston
The BANISH 45 multi-caliber and modular suppressor can be used on a variety of host firearms with different barrel threads by quickly and easily swapping out the threaded piston in the rear of the silencer.
These pistons are available in the following pitches: 9/16 x 24, M14.5 x 1LH, .578 x 28, M16 x 1LH, M16 x 1RH, 5/8×24, 13.5x1LH, and 1/2×28.
BANISH Suppressors manufacture pistons to match the barrel threads of many popular factory threaded pistol barrels. BANISH pistons feature heat-treated steel construction and engraving to identify the thread diameter, pitch, and direction of rotation for installation (left-hand threads).
BANISH 45 >>TiRant 45m Suppressor Piston
A single Ti-RANT 45 series silencer from Advanced Armament Corp (AAC) can be used on a variety of host firearms with different barrel threads by quickly and easily swapping out the threaded A.S.A.P. piston in the rear of the silencer.
Silencer Central manufactures A.S.A.P. pistons to match the barrel threads of all popular factory threaded pistol barrels and many aftermarket barrels. All Ti-RANT series pistons feature heat treated stainless steel construction, a matte bead blasted finish and engraving to identify the thread diameter, pitch, and direction of rotation for installation (right or left-hand threads).
There is a “SHORT” model piston, designed only for use on 1911 pistols WITHOUT a full-length guide rod and on the FN FNP Tactical 45.
Need Help Finding a Suppressor or Suppressor Accessory?
If you’re ready to have some fun with a pistol suppressor, give us a call. Our knowledgeable staff has been selling suppressors and suppressor pistons for more than 15 years. If you tell us what kind of gun or guns you’ll be using, then they can steer you in the right direction for a suitable suppressor. They can also make sure you’ve got the right silencer and piston combinations so that you’re range-ready with any and all of the guns you want to shoot suppressed!
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