There are more suppressors to choose from right now in 2023 than ever before. It truly is a buyers’ market, but the sheer number of options can be intimidating if you’re new to the world of suppressors.
First and foremost, there’s no one suppressor out there that can do everything. Suppressors are broken down into categories of the type of gun it attaches to, the caliber compatibility, and so much more.
It’s important to know the applications and limitations of different types of suppressors. Broadly speaking, that’s what we’re going to go over in this piece, and you’ll learn all about it as we delve into our top suppressors of 2023.
Here’s what we’re going to cover:
Know the Different Types of Suppressors
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with a Rifle
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with a Shotgun
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with a Pistol
Our Picks for the Top 5 Suppressor Models
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Suppressor
Take the Leap (and the Shot) –Shop Suppressors Today!
Know the Different Types of Suppressors
Broadly speaking there are three different types of suppressors based on use and the guns they’re mounted on: rifle, shotgun, and pistol. Rifle suppressors are built for the higher pressures and the demands of centerfire rifle use. Pistol suppressors are designed around lower pressure handgun rounds and sometimes the lower pressure subsonic .300 Blackout round. Shotgun suppressors make skeet shooting, hunting, and tactical shotgunning much more comfortable and quiet.
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with a Rifle
Helps tame recoil on even the heaviest of calibers, making it more pleasant to shoot
With less noise and less recoil, it makes for a more comfortable shooting experience
Less recoil can allow shooters to use bigger calibers that they might otherwise not be comfortable using
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with a Shotgun
Makes shooting more comfortable if you’re shooting a lot of shells
Reduced recoil can help the shooter make a more accurate shot, either while hunting or playing for sport
Completes the “final frontier” of suppressors since shotguns are the most recent type of firearm to be able to be used with a suppressor
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with a Pistol
Less recoil makes it faster and easier to get back on target for a follow-up shot
Great for introducing a new person to the world of pistol shooting by making the experience less intimidating
Protects your hearing if you have to use your pistol indoors during a home defense situation
Catergory
Name
Caliber
Weight
Length
Price
Best Overall Rifle Suppressor
BANISH 30-Gold
.30
13.2 oz
8.2"
$1,699
Best Affordable Suppressor
Dead Air Wolfman
Multi
9.8 oz or 14.4 oz
5.13" or 7.5"
$899
Best Pistol Suppressor
BANISH 45
.45
9.6 oz or 11 oz
6.7" or 8.6"
$949
Best Rimfire Suppressor
SilencerCo Sparrow
Up to 5.7x28
6.5 oz
5.08"
$349
Best Big Bore Suppresor
Bowers VERS 50
.510 and smaller
20 oz
11.25"
$895 - $$995
Our Picks for the Top 5 Suppressor Models
It can be hard to pick just one suppressor as a clear winner overall, so we made it a little easier by breaking them down into different categories and picking the best one in each of those categories.
So, without further ado, these are our top 5 suppressor models of 2023.
Best Overall Rifle Suppressor: BANISH 30-Gold
If you’re going to go all out and spend the big bucks, you might as well splurge on the BANISH 30-Gold. Now, this can is specially made for us at Silencer Central, but there’s a good reason for it taking this spot on the list.
Made of lightweight titanium, the BANISH 30-Gold has 11 baffles in a tube that’s just barely over eight inches in length and weighs just 13 ounces. This means you’re getting a suppressor that is as light, short, and quiet as possible, and will make your range day with your rifle one of the most pleasant you’ve ever had.
This QD suppressor is rated for full-auto fire and can be completely taken apart by the user for cleaning. Yeah, we know you’re not supposed to have to take a rifle suppressor apart for cleaning, but it’s nice to know that you have the option to really get in there and get it super clean if you want to.
To round out the BANISH 30-Gold, it also comes standard with accessories that normally cost extra from other companies. Along with the suppressor, you’ll get two muzzle brakes – 1/2×28 and 5/8×24, a limited-edition gray Devour suppressor cover, BANISH suppressor pouch in black, BANISH baffle removal tool, a Silencer Central t-shirt, and a Silencer Central vinyl sticker.
Advantages:
Full-auto rated
User-serviceable
Comes with a premium accessory package valued at more than $500
Disadvantages:
At $1,699, it may be out of reach for some buyers
BANISH 30-Gold Specs
Caliber: .30
Weight: 13.2 oz
Length: 8.2”
Price: $1,699
Best Affordable Suppressor: Dead Air Wolfman
The Wolfman is the next generation in suppression from Dead Air. Like its Wolf-9SD predecessor, the Wolfman from Dead Air is a modular, multi-caliber suppressor that specializes in sub-gun, light-duty rifle, and pistol use, which means it’ll be right at home on a variety of guns in an array of calibers you may own. Versatility helps with the value, which translates to overall affordability.
Because of its modularity, the Wolfman provides ultimate sound suppression in its full-length configuration while still providing exceptional performance when set up in the short configuration. As an added bonus, the front cap can contain a user-provided rubber wipe that can drop sound suppression levels even further.
Made of fully welded 17-4 PH stainless steel, this provides ultimate levels of strength and durability while still keeping the suppressor as light as possible. It’s the perfect balance of toughness and lightweight, which is very important when it comes to adding a suppressor to a pistol.
The Wolfman is designed for maximum muzzle suppression while also maximizing at-ear performance for the shooter by utilizing a large internal volume and generous blast chamber.
The Wolfman ships with a 1/2×28 direct thread mount and features a wipe-compatible front cap (tool included). Wipes are user-replaceable with commonly available rubber washer sizes.
Advantages:
Wipes make it extra quiet
Welded stainless steel is super durable
Not too heavy for use on handguns or long guns alike
Drawbacks:
There are some limitations for rifle calibers
Dead Air Wolfman Specs:
Caliber: multi
Weight: 9.8 oz or 14.4 oz
Length: 5.13″ or 7.5″
Price: $899
Best Pistol Suppressor: BANISH 45
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 those cartridges 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 .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. (We also recommend a dedicated rimfire can, but you can use the BANISH 45 if you can’t swing two suppressors right now.)
Made of lightweight titanium and aluminum and able to change between two sizes means that this modular suppressor can be an incredibly compact can, while sacrificing very, very little. In fact, when shortened to 6.7” it weighs just 9.6 ounces, making it the lightest suppressor in its class.
Advantages:
Self-serviceable
Lightest in its class in the short configuration
Full auto rated
Disadvantages:
Price may put it out of reach for some people
BANISH 45 Specs:
Caliber: .45
Weight: 9.6 oz or 11 oz
Length: 6.7” or 8.6”
Price: $949
Best Rimfire Suppressor: SilencerCo Sparrow 22
SilencerCo’s Sparrow 22 is a super simple rimfire suppressor, which also makes it super affordable. Inside is a monolithic core baffle covered with two half tubes that cover and separate it from the outer tube. This design helps the core stay as clean as possible to prevent buildup or fusion – it also makes it easier and less expensive to manufacture.
Tests for the Sparrow 22 show that the report is brought down to 112 decibels, which is also just a tiny amount louder than a BB gun.
Like most rimfire suppressors, the Sparrow 22 is small. It is only 5.08” long, is just 1.06” in diameter, and weighs 6.5 ounces.
You’re not limited just to .22s here since the Sparrow 22 can be used on calibers as small as .17WSM and .17HMR and up to the 5.7x28mm cartridge. As an extra bonus, it’s rated for full-auto fire.
When it comes to cleanup after shooting notoriously dirty rimfire ammo, you can clean more easily since the SilencerCo Sparrow 22 can be taken completely apart.
Advantages:
Very affordable, even after $200 tax stamp
Rated for plenty of other calibers, up to 5.7×28
Great sound suppression
Drawbacks:
Monolithic core harder to clean in nooks and crannies than separate baffles
SilencerCo Sparrow 22 Specs:
Caliber: Up to 5.7x28MM
Weight: 6.5 oz
Length: 5.08″
Price: $349
Best Big Bore Suppressor: Bowers VERS 50
There are a lot of people who categorize anything above .30-cal as “big bore,” but that does a huge disservice to people who like things in .338, .458, and beyond. For the big bore shooter who wants just one suppressor to do it all, this is it. If you want to really step up your big bore game and venture into the world of .50 caliber, then the Bowers VERS 50 has got you covered. Rated for everything up to .510 Beowulf (bet you didn’t even know that existed!), this suppressor will handle every caliber imaginable. Best of all, the VERS 50 weighs just 20 ounces – pretty darn light for what this suppressor is capable of taming.
Advantages:
Since it’s a .50 caliber can, you get even more options in terms of calibers
A variety of mounting thread inserts are available for your preferred form of attachment
Can be ordered with an optional all-stainless baffle stack, which changes the rating to 2,650 FPS
Drawbacks:
Not user-serviceable
Bowers VERS 50 Specs
Caliber: .510 and smaller
Weight: 20 oz
Length: 11.25″
Price: $895-$995
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Suppressor
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a suppressor, and they can vary depending on the type of gun you’ll be using. Here’s some things to keep in mind for different gun types:
Rifle
Weight and length are two of the biggest considerations for rifle suppressors. What works on a backcountry hunting rifle (shorter and lighter) is probably not ideal for a benchrest competition rifle (longer and heavier).
Shotgun
There are far fewer options for shotgun suppressors on the market, so just be aware that your selection is going to be much more limited than if you were shopping for a rifle or pistol suppressor.
Pistol
Since a suppressor interacts with the gases and their forces used to cycle the pistol, the weight of the suppressor and the grain weight of the ammo you’re shooting both have to be taken into consideration in order for your pistol to cycle properly when shooting suppressed.
Sound Reduction Performance
The biggest benefit of using a suppressor is the decibel reduction. How a suppressor is constructed (i.e. type of baffles, number of baffles, diameter, overall length) will have a big impact on the sound reduction performance.
A suppressor that has more baffles and a greater internal volume will provide better sound suppression than a smaller suppressor with less baffles. Still, sometimes you need to trade off on some sound suppression for a more optimal size depending on your intended use. That’s perfectly fine, just so long as you look at the ratings and make sure that you’re still staying within the real of hearing-safe decibel levels, which is 140 and below.
While many suppressors are capable of handling multiple calibers, it’s important to understand that no one suppressor can do it all. For example, you can certainly shoot subsonic .300BLK through a .45-caliber suppressor, but the performance won’t be nearly as good as if it were being shot through a .30-caliber suppressor.
Recoil Mitigation and Muzzle Control
Suppressors operate by dissipating the gases that are generated when a cartridge is fired. Overall, they slow down and cool the gases, which leads to less felt recoil when compared to shooting with a bare muzzle. This recoil mitigation makes it easier for many shooters to control the muzzle of the gun, thereby making it faster and easier to get back on target.
Size, Weight, and Length
Any time you add something to the end of the barrel of your gun, you’re going to affect the balance, maneuverability, and overall usability of the firearm. You have to consider the size, weight, and length of the host gun that you’ll be using with the suppressor so that you don’t make the gun so unwieldy as to be unusable. Essentially, there’s a performance sweet spot that you’re trying to hit that gives you the perfect ratio of size, weight, length, and sound suppression.
Take the Leap (and the Shot) –Shop Suppressors Today!
Now that you understand what goes into choosing the right suppressor for your rifle, pistol, or shotgun, hopefully it’ll be easier for you to pick the right one based on your specific needs. If not, that’s perfectly fine. Silencer Central is here to help! Our staff has been shooting and selling suppressors of all kinds and calibers for more than 15 years. Suffice it to say that we’ve got a pretty good handle on which ones are the top choices right now. If you’re having trouble deciding which one to get, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’ll happily talk you through the options and then, when you’re ready, get you on your way to silencer ownership and suppressed shooting as quickly and easily as possible!
