Silencers 101
The Top 5 Suppressors of 2025
There are more suppressors to choose from right now in 2024 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 2024.
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. These are our top 5 suppressor models..
Best Rifle Suppressor: BANISH 30-V2
If you're headed out to the range or the woods with a .300 PRC rifle, the BANISH 30-V2 has got you covered. The BANISH 30-V2 is a fantastic multi-caliber, lightweight suppressor that you can take apart and clean yourself. It takes all the great things established by the original BANISH 30 and takes everything to a new level of performance and features.
The 100% titanium 30-V2 is an adaptable .30 caliber suppressor capable of handling anything from a .17 HMR up to a .300 WBY. Being modular, the full-length configuration is 8.17 inches long with 11 baffles and weighs 12.4 ounces. For a lighter, more compact profile the tube extension can be removed reducing the length down to 6.4 inches, the weight to 9.5 ounces, and retaining eight baffles. The BANISH 30-V2 offers a maximum average decibel reduction of 34.5dB, tested using a .308-caliber rifle.
WHAT WE LIKE:
- User-serviceable
- Can be used with a wide variety of calibers
- All titanium construction means lightweight
BANISH 30-V2 SPECS:
- Caliber: Up to .300 WBY
- Weight: 9.5 OZ (6.4”) OR 12.4 OZ (8.17”)
- Length: 6.4”-8.17”
- Sound reduction: 34.5 dB
PRICE: $999
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 1/2x28 direct thread mount and features a wipe-compatible front cap (tool included). Wipes are user-replaceable with commonly available rubber washer sizes.
What we like:
- Wipes make it extra quiet
- Welded stainless steel is super durable
- Not too heavy for use on handguns or long guns alike
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.
What we like about it:
- Self-serviceable
- Lightest in its class in the short configuration
- Full auto rated
BANISH 45 Specs:
- Caliber: .45
- Weight: 9.6 oz or 11 oz
- Length: 6.7” or 8.6”
Price: $949
Best Rimfire Suppressor: FN CATCH 22 Ti
We have been very impressed with the new FN Catch 22 Ti. This suppressor is compatible with .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR.
The Catch 22 Ti is a lightweight, tough, and quiet rimfire suppressor. It reduces muzzle blast from all .22 LR firearms and is a perfect pair with the FN 502™ Tactical. It gives you reliable feed and extraction across most ammunition types. Our testing has shown it to maintain outstanding accuracy, cycling reliability, and the high durability you would expect from FN.
Mounting to rimfire hosts is fast and repeatable with the direct-thread ½” x 28 mount. The user-serviceable blast baffle and baffle stack delivers a quiet and smooth shooting experience.
Coming in with a 1.1-in diameter, the Catch 22 Ti clears most suppressor-height sights. It uses a titanium tube that weighs just 5 oz. too. It is an easy-to-maintain design that breaks down quickly with the included tool and carries a limited lifetime warranty from FN.
What we like about it:
- Self-serviceable
- Lightweight
- Very high quality
FN CATCH 22 TI SPECS
- Caliber: .22
- Weight: 5 oz.
- Length: 5.25 in.
Price: $499
Best Big-Bore Suppressor: BANISH 46=V2
We are pretty fond of just how versatile the BANISH 46-V2 is. It is a big-caliber silencer designed for use with a wide assortment of rifle calibers including 8.6 Blackout and .338 Lapua up to the mighty .45-70 Government as well as pistol calibers including 10mm and .45ACP.
Made of titanium, the extremely durable Banish 46-V2 is lightweight at just 15.3 oz. It is only 8 inches long and 1.59 inches in diameter, making it a very compact suppressor for big-caliber rifles. Don’t let the smaller size fool you, as the BANISH 46-V2 offers a 30-decibel reduction in sound output.
Like other BANISH suppressors, the 46-V2 is a user-serviceable suppressor that is easily disassembled for cleaning. Being made of titanium, you can easily clean the baffles in a tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, or by hand with a brush and solvent, making it simple to keep operating at peak performance. Reassembly is just as easy, thanks to the keyed and indexed baffles. This guarantees that each one will line up perfectly with the others. The BANISH 46-V2 was designed to be the perfect all-in-one suppressor, making it a great choice for shooters looking to buy just one silencer to use on multiple firearms.
What we like about it:
- Versatility – One can to silence them all!
- Price is great for all it can do
BANISH 46-V2 Specs:
- Caliber: .46 on down.
- Weight: 15.3 oz.
- Length: 8 in.
Price: $1,299
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 shotgun 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
- The biggest issue with shotgun suppressors is form versus function. Many current models work ok, but aren't truly great options. Look for that to change very soon. (wink, wink)
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
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.
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!
