Silencers 101
The Best Multi-Caliber Suppressors of 2024
The phrase “do more with less” is normally one you don’t want to hear. It usually means that management wants you to accomplish more but with fewer resources. Or, in today’s economy, it means stretching every dollar a little bit more than before. Either way, it often leads to frustration and headaches.
In the world of suppressors, though, it’s actually a phrase that you want to hear. Buying a silencer is a big investment in both time and money. Plus, if you want more than one, you’re stuck paying Uncle Sam an additional $200 each time.
Instead of shelling out extra tax stamp money, what if you could buy one silencer and use it for multiple calibers? Well, you absolutely can! We’ll go over some of the different ways you can evaluate what suppressor is right for your multi-caliber needs.
ONE SUPPRESSOR FOR MULTIPLE CALIBERS
While there’s really no such thing as one suppressor for all the calibers, there are multiple ways you can utilize one suppressor for multiple calibers.
If you’re going to be shooting a variety of different handgun rounds that top out at 10mm, then you can likely get away with just one silencer for your pistols. The same is true for rifles. Figure out the calibers that you’re most likely to be shooting and then start your search for a can that will be able to handle all of them.
We broke it down into a list of common uses for a multi-caliber suppressor, so without further ado, let’s get into it!
Category | Make/Model | Weight | Length | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | BANISH 30 Gold | 13 oz | 8.2 in | $1,699 |
Best of the Money | Dead Air Sandman-S | 17.7 oz | 6.8 in | $1,049 |
Most Versatile | SilencerCo Hybrid 46 | 17.3 oz | 7.8 in | $999 |
Best Modular | SilencerCo Omega 36M | 16.3 oz or 13.6 oz | 7.6 in or 5.75 in | $1,187 |
Best for Rifles | CGS Helios QD | 19 oz | 6.5 in | $1,159 |
Best for Pistols | BANISH 45 | 19 oz 9.6 oz or 11 oz | 6.7 in or 8.6 in | $949 |
Best for Big Bore Rifles | TBAC 338 ULTRA | 16.9 oz | 10.4 in | $1,795 |
The Quietest | Rugged Obsidian 45 | 12.8 oz or 10.7 oz | 8.6 in or 6.7 in | $850 |
BEST OVERALL: BANISH 30 Gold
We may be a bit biased, but we think our BANISH 30 Gold is the best overall multi-caliber suppressor on the market today. If you’re looking for one suppressor to handle all of your rifle needs, then look no further. You might think it’s cheating to put our own product here, but since we literally designed them to be the best overall .30-caliber suppressor, we feel confident putting them where our engineers intended.
The most versatile suppressor in our BANISH lineup of suppressors, the BANISH 30 Gold is rated rimfire to .300 RUM. In fact, it has been shown to bring .308-caliber rounds down by a whopping 34 dB, making it hearing-safe. Like all the other offerings in the BANISH lineup, it is made of lightweight titanium and is user-serviceable for cleaning, etc.
What distinguishes the BANISH 30 Gold suppressor from our other BANISH 30 is that it comes with some added design changes and included accessories. Unlike the regular BANISH 30 suppressor, the BANISH 30 Gold is a quick-detach that comes with two different muzzle brakes, a suppressor cover, a suppressor pouch, a baffle removal tool, and some Silencer Central swag: a shirt and sticker.
While swag is always nice, the cost savings from not having to purchase separately the included muzzle brakes, cover, pouch, and baffle removal tool is extra nice.
Features/Advantages:
- Quick-detach instead of direct thread
- User-serviceable
- Lightweight titanium construction
Disadvantages:
- Costing $1,699, it may be out of the budget for some people
- May not fully safely suppress the most powerful .30 magnum rounds, still requiring ear protection
Specs: BANISH 30 Gold
Caliber: Up to .300RUM
Weight: 13 oz
Length: 8.2”
Price: $1,699
BEST FOR THE MONEY: DEAD AIR SANDMAN-S
When first-time prospective suppressor buyers ask what suppressor will get them the best bang for their buck, a lot of responses come back with one thing: the Sandman-S from Dead Air. There's a good reason for this, too.
Do you enjoy shooting a wide variety of calibers ranging from as small as .17HMR as well as calibers as large as .300 Win Mag? Say no more – the Sandman-S has you covered for both of those and everything in between.
With all quick detach suppressors, you need a special muzzle device to allow you to attach the suppressor to your rifle, and this one is no different. Unfortunately, some manufacturers view this muzzle device as an accessory to be purchased separately - as if you didn’t already just spend a ton of money on a suppressor. Thankfully, Dead Air sees it as a necessity (and it is!) and they include it with your new can. That’s a cost-savings right there!
The baffles are welded into a solid core for added strength and durability, but the unit as a whole is not completely sealed like others on the market. The front cap is detachable and also doubles as an integrated flash hider.
Once you add the cost of the tax stamp to your Sandman-S, you’re still looking at a hefty investment, but like all investments, you’re in this for the long haul. Thousands of rounds down the road, you’ll be happy that you balanced performance and price and went with the Dead Air Sandman-S.
Features/Advantages:
- No minimum barrel length restrictions
- Comes with a Keymount QD muzzle brake
Disadvantages:
- Still costs more than $1,000
- Weighs a little more than a pound
Specs: Dead Air Sandman-S
Caliber: Up to .300 Win Mag
Weight: 17.7 oz
Length: 6.8”
Price: $1,049
MOST VERSATILE
If you’re flush with cash, then you might not mind buying a bunch of different suppressors that are use or caliber-specific/caliber-restrictive. If you’re like the rest of us, you want to get a silencer that will handle just about any caliber – be it rifle or pistol – that you have in your safe.
With the SilencerCo Hybrid 46 suppressor, that’s exactly what you get. As the name suggests, this silencer allows for the hybrid use of both rifle and pistol calibers with the convenience of just one can and one tax stamp.
And we’re not just talking 9mm and 7.62. No, we’re talking 9mm, .45ACP, .300 Blackout, .338 Lapua, .458 SOCOM, .45-70 Government, and more. The performance speaks for itself. Test results have shown ratings in the low-120 dBs with .300 BLK while still remaining hearing safe with the mighty .45–70 GOV. You won’t find that versatility anywhere else!
Made of titanium and stainless steel, the Hybrid 46 is both full-auto and magnum rated, so don’t be afraid to take it out and really put it through its paces!
Features/Advantages:
- Unmatched rifle and pistol caliber compatibility
- Uses Octane, Osprey, and Omega K pistons
Disadvantages:
- Mounts are sold separately
- Barrel length restrictions on larger calibers
Specs: SilencerCo Hybrid 46
Caliber: Up to .45-70 Government
Weight: 17.3 oz
Length: 7.8”
Price: $999
BEST MODULAR SUPPRESSOR
The SilencerCo Omega 36M really has the whole modular concept down pat. Constructed of highly durable stainless steel, it can be run on magnum rifles, 9mm pistols, and sub guns. It can even accommodate up to .338 Lapua, making the Omega 36M unique and highly versatile.
The ability to change sizes from under six inches to just over seven and a half inches means that you can configure this suppressor to fit your specific application. Need it to be as quiet as possible? Run it in the full-length configuration. Working in tight spaces with size constraints? Shrink it down to the shorter size. It’ll be more mobile but still have great sound suppression.
Modularity also carries over to the 36M’s mounting options. Featuring a durable lock-ring, this suppressor is compatible with the Charlie mounting systems, including the ASR, direct thread, 3-lug, and piston housings.
Having a suppressor that boasts modularity in weight, length, and mounting options isn’t something that you encounter every day, so if you want something that is really and truly modular in every sense of the word, then the SilencerCo Omega 36M is what you’re looking for.
Features/Advantages:
- Rated for full auto and magnum calibers
- Lots of barrel mounting options
Disadvantages:
- While you can use it with a wide variety of calibers and host guns including rifles, it’s best suited for pistols and PCCs.
Specs: SilencerCo Omega 36M
Caliber: Up to .338 Lapua
Weight: 16.3 oz or 13.6 oz
Length: 7.6” or 5.75”
Price: $1,187
BEST FOR RIFLES
The CGS Helios QD was designed for rifles. Period. (OK, well, rifles and carbines if we’re being specific). As a result, it takes the rifle spot on our list.
By using a tapered interface between the muzzle device and the signature suppressor, they ensure that the muzzle device threads will not carbon lock. This is great news because carbon lock is a serious pain to deal with.
A lot of suppressors have barrel length restrictions when it comes to different calibers. This can put a serious damper on the suppressor’s true multi-caliber use and function. Well, you don’t have to worry about that with the Helios QD because there are no barrel length restrictions, regardless of caliber!
This silencer is bored out to .36, which greatly reduces back pressure and muzzle flash. Because the bore is larger, there is more opportunity for the gas to move forward through the baffles and out of the end of the silencer instead of causing the gas to exit through the ejection port causing undue blowback. Like carbon lock, blowback sucks, too.
With a 1/2×28 threaded rear cap, a 5/8×24 threaded rear cap, interchangeable sealed end caps, and an adapter ring threaded in 1.375×24 included, CGS really hit it out of the ballpark with the Helios QD. The fewer extra accessory purchases you have to make, the better. Cents lead to dollars and dollars add up!
Features/Advantages:
- Full auto-rated – send it!
- No barrel length restrictions for maximum versatility
- Comes as a kit
Disadvantages:
- Weighing 19 ounces, it’s not exactly light
Specs: CGS Helios QD
Caliber: Up to .300 RUM
Weight: 19 oz
Length: 6.5”
Price: $1,529
BEST FOR PISTOLS
The BANISH 45 motto is “one suppressor, one tax stamp, many guns” and it definitely lives up to it. As the name would suggest, the BANISH 45 is designed for .45-caliber cartridges, but it isn’t limited to them.
Standard .45 ACP is, by its very nature, subsonic. This makes it a breeze to suppress and a popular choice if you want a quiet yet beefy cartridge. Of course, not everyone shoots .45 ACP. Some people prefer 9mm or even 10mm. The BANISH 45 handles both of them with ease.
With the rise of .300 Blackout as an incredibly popular caliber for AR-style pistols, we figured that the “many guns” part of the motto ought to extend to that caliber as well. As such, the BANISH 45 is capable of handling subsonic .300 Blackout rounds as well.
Whether you’re shooting the small .22LR, stepping up your game to 10mm, or anything in between, the BANISH 45 can accommodate it. Obviously, barrels on a .22 are considerably smaller than those of a 10mm, so you can choose from seven pistons with different thread options so that you can fit your BANISH 45 onto the gun barrel of your choice.
Made of lightweight titanium and aluminum and able to change between two lengths means that this suppressor can be an incredibly compact can, while sacrificing very, very little in the sound suppression department. In fact, when shortened to 6.7” it weighs just 9.6 ounces, making it the lightest suppressor in its class.
To put it simply, if you’re looking for the best multi-caliber pistol suppressor, then the BANISH 45 is it.
Advantages:
- User-serviceable
- Lightest in its class in the short configuration
- Full auto rated
Disadvantages:
- Price may put it out of reach for some people
Specs: BANISH 45
Caliber: Up to 10mm
Weight: 9.6 oz or 11 oz
Length: 6.7” or 8.6”
Price: $949
BEST FOR BIG BORE RIFLES
Lighter, quieter, stronger. Those are all great attributes for a big bore rifle suppressor.
“Big bore” can have a variety of caliber definitions, up to and including .50 BMG. While there are people out there looking to suppress that caliber, it’s far more likely that “big bore” will generally mean a caliber in the .338 family.
With that in mind, we chose the Thunder Beast Arms Corp (TBAC) .338 ULTRA Suppressor for our best option for big bore rifles. Essentially, TBAC took an already great product – their .338BA Suppressor – and made it even better. Compared to the prior 338BA, the 338 ULTRA is 33% lighter, 2-4 dB quieter, and much stronger.
While many suppressors create a louder “first round pop,” that’s a phenomenon that isn’t reported by users of the TBAC .338 ULTRA. That means it’s just as quiet on the first shot as it is on every subsequent one. Nice.
If we’re completely honest, we couldn’t find a single negative review of this can – or any TBAC can, for that matter. This is both a blessing and a curse. Due to the overwhelming popularity of this suppressor, it can be a hard item to find in stock. As with many items in the gun industry right now, demand is outpacing production, and the TBAC .338 ULTRA suppressor is no exception.
Advantages:
- Very popular can with lots of positive user reviews
- No discernable first round pop
- Great noise reduction: 35 dB
Disadvantages:
- Not user-serviceable
- Frequently out of stock across the board
- At $1,795, it’s not cheap
Specs: Thunder Beast Arms Corp (TBAC) .338 ULTRA Suppressor
Caliber: up to .338 Lapua Magnum or .338 RUM
Weight: 16.9 oz.
Length: 10.4”
Price: $1,795
THE QUIETEST
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that even though it’s acceptable to call the items on this list silencers, they do not make a firearm silent. Truly silent guns exist only in fiction, but quiet guns are definitely rooted in fact.
Of course, the whole point of a suppressor is to make your gun quieter, right? I mean, they’re not called suppressors for no reason! So, it makes sense that you want to get the best sound suppression out of your can.
If you’re looking for exceptional sound reduction, then you’ll definitely want to consider the Rugged Obsidian 45. It has been tested to bring .45ACP down to 129 decibels and 9mm down to 123 decibels. With sound reduction like that, you can safely take your guns and this can to the range and shoot all day without the worry of hearing damage.
Modular in design, you can run the Obsidian in long or short configurations. The difference between the two lengths is just barely shy of two inches, so that’s some serious modularity. You will, of course, sacrifice a few decibels of sound reduction with the short configuration, but that’s to be expected. In the long configuration, “long” is a relative term. It’s still less than nine inches and weighs less than 13 ounces.
As an added bonus, the Obsidian 45 is fully compatible with Obsidian 9 accessories. So, if you already own an Obsidian suppressor, then the pistons, fixed mounts, fixed barrel spacers and 3 lug mounts are interchangeable.
Features/Advantages:
- Exceptional sound suppression
- Full-auto and belt-fed rated
- Parts compatibility with other Obsidian suppressors
Disadvantages:
- Barrel length restrictions with certain calibers
- Slightly heavier than its counterparts – but only slightly!
Specs: Rugged Obsidian 45
Caliber: Up to .300 Blackout
Weight: 12.8 oz or 10.7 oz
Length: 8.6” or 6.7”
Price: $850
WHAT ABOUT .22LR?
There’s one caliber that we don’t recommend utilizing a multi-caliber can for, and that’s .22LR. It isn’t that a larger diameter (caliber) suppressor isn’t capable of firing the smaller rimfire rounds. It’s that most suppressors that are not dedicated rimfire designs cannot be adequately cleaned to rid them of the inherent lead and carbon buildup that comes with shooting .22’s all day long.
A lot of cans are sealed units and are not user-serviceable. This is normally alright, but rimfire rounds are notoriously filthy to shoot. If you cannot properly disassemble the suppressor you’re using, then it will eventually fill up completely with carbon and lead. Not only will that make your suppressor much heavier, it will also be absolutely useless for its intended purpose of sound suppression.
So, while you definitely should buy a multi-caliber suppressor, plan on getting a dedicated rimfire can if you plan on doing some plinking with .22’s.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A SUPPRESSOR
Length, weight, decibel reduction, caliber compatibility, attachment method, and price are just some of the more popular and/or important things to look for when shopping for a silencer.
After you’ve looked over this list, take some time and figure out what’s most important to your search and start narrowing down your options. It might seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually pretty easy.
BUY YOUR SILENCER THE SIMPLE WAY
If you’re still not sure which one to choose, don’t worry! Silencer Central is here to make your buying process as easy and cost-effective as possible. We’re happy to help guide you on your journey to suppressor ownership. We offer free gun trusts, free shipping, free thread protectors with barrel threading, and an e-Z Pay Plan. Our motto is “Silencer Buying Made Simple,” and we mean it!
With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, we’re the nation’s largest silencer dealer. We’re also the only one licensed in all 42 suppressor-legal states that can sell, process, and ship your new suppressor directly to your door. Our experts are ready to help you by phone or email, Monday through Saturday from 8am – 8pm (CT).