5.56/22lr suppressor

NCLivingBrit

NCLivingBrit

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I've got 2 ARs I'd like to suppress. One in 5.56 and one in 22lr. Both are 1/2x28 threaded.

Can I:

a) get any real benefit from a suppressor using standard steel case 55gr ammo? I don't need "movie quiet", just a reduced signature and the option to go to minimal earpro.

and

b) get decent performance with a 5.56 can with 22lr?

If so is there a reasonably priced option out there for a suppressor noob Poor?
 
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NCLivingBrit said:
I've got 2 ARs I'd like to suppress. One in 5.56 and one in 22lr. Both are 1/2x28 threaded.

Can I:

a) get any real benefit from a suppressor using standard steel case 55gr ammo? I don't need "movie quiet", just a reduced signature and the option to go to minimal earpro.

and

b) get decent performance with a 5.56 can with 22lr?

If so is there a reasonably priced option out there for a suppressor noob Poor?
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My 5.56 / 223 can works great on 22LR. A good 5.56 / 223 can will reduce the noise but you will still want ear pro. (Maybe you will think it is ok but 16" barrel with suppressor is still too loud for me.). Have not shot a lot of steel case but what I have could not tell the difference in noise.
 
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Steel cased vs brass cased is a non-issue with regard to performance of the cans.

I regularly shoot my suppressed 10.3" 5.56 with only plugs. If you're under a roof or encloure of any kinds, it's not hearing safe but it is greatly mitigated. In the open, no roof/walls, I'm OK to go without ears for a couple shots but would still prefer foamies.

I'll let @BigWaylon weigh in on the details, but you're gonna want to get a dedicated .22lr/rimfire can.
 
GaryS said:
My 5.56 / 223 can works great on 22LR. A good 5.56 / 223 can will reduce the noise but you will still want ear pro. (Maybe you will think it is ok but 16" barrel with suppressor is still too loud for me.)
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Is it disturb the neighbours loud or just rough on the ears loud?
 
You're going to want a dedicated rimfire can. Rimfire is nasty, and you want a can you can take apart to clean. The majority of 556 cans, you cannot take apart to clean.

556 suppressed is still fairly loud. My Dead Air Nomad L, which is very effective at suppressing the sound, bring 556 noise down to about what a unsuppressed 22lr pistol sounds like...maybe a little quieter, but not significantly so. Same can on a 300 blackout AR makes it very quiet. Even on a 6.5cm bolt gun it's very quiet.
 
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Ditto on the rimfire can.

Rimfire cans need to be able to be disassembled for cleaning because of all the crap that builds up inside. Centerfire cans don't typically. Get a dedicated rimfire can for rimfire. That and 22lr is probably the best round to suppress. You'll be able to hear the hammer hit the case if you are shooting subsonics.
 
I use a .30cal can with 5.56/223 with no issues, as described above - not hearing safe with anything to bounce sound off of. out in the open I don't use ear pro with it but I might be a little more deaf than your average bear to begin with.

22lr, I use a dedicated 22lr can and a .45cal can with piston or spacer for fixed barrel. The .45 can is 3x the diameter and 2x length of my 22 can, and is loads more quiet regardless of being bigger bore. That can on a bolt gun with subsonic 22lr is more quiet than my Daisy air rifle pumped 10 times.

All of my cans are user serviceable so I don't blink about putting my 45 can on a 22lr. No issues at all shooting tula 223 through my cans, I would say there is absolutely no noticeable DB increase or decrease with brass vs steel.
 
Rather than quote any of the other answers I’ll just toss out some thoughts.

Suppressed 5.56 is still loud, but it’s mainly the sonic crack. Reducing the sound from 165dB to 140dB is a massive reduction…but 140dB is still loud. Where you’re shooting (indoor vs outdoor, out in the open vs under cover, etc) makes a huge difference.

You can shoot 22LR through a 5.56 can, but there are two “problems” with that:
1. A 5.56 can is gonna be way bigger/heavier than a rimfire can. This will be way more obvious on a pistol that rifle.
2. 22LR is nasty, and you’ll need to clean that can at much more frequent intervals than you would a 5.56 can (which is practically never). Most centerfire rifle cans aren’t user-serviceable.

If you could meet me at PHA one day, I’d be glad to let you see (hear) the difference.

Now, if you think you want to buy one can, and never buy another one, I do think there’s one viable option out there. Maybe more, but this is the one I’m semi-familiar with. Griffin makes a user-serviceable rimfire-sized can that’s rated for 5.56. It is a couple ounces heavier than most rimfire cans, but not unreasonable. You could look at details here: Griffin Optimus Micro

I don’t have one, and have never heard one in person. But the people I know that have them seem pleased with its performance on 5.56…especially non-SBRs.

I still wear plugs when shooting suppressed. But if I was shooting unsuppressed I’d have muffs over those plugs.
 
Hunter600rr said:
The .45 can is 3x the diameter and 2x length of my 22 can…
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Just curious what these two cans are? Most rimfire cans are 1” OD, and most pistol cans are 1.375-1.5” OD.

Rimfire cans are usually 5-6” long…and I don’t know any pistol cans 10” or longer.

Bigger, yes…but not 3x the diameter and twice as long. 🤓
 
BigWaylon said:
Just curious what these two cans are? Most rimfire cans are 1” OD, and most pistol cans are 1.375-1.5” OD.

Rimfire cans are usually 5-6”…and I don’t know any pistol cans 10” or longer.

Bigger, yes…but not 3x the diameter and twice as long. 🤓
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My 22lr can is a total outlier, the Banish 22k. but upon re-investigation, i do retract the 3x diameter & 2x length quote and motion for a flipping of the dimensions lol. It does a stand up job of sound mitigation for it's size, and I am not under the impression that it performs up to par with  most 22lr cans.

20221129_175503.jpg
 
Hunter600rr said:
My 22lr can is a total outlier, the Banish 22k. but upon re-investigation, i do retract the 3x diameter & 2x length quote and motion for a flipping of the dimensions lol. It does a stand up job of sound mitigation for it's size, and I am not under the impression that it performs up to par with  most 22lr cans.

View attachment 553340
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I do have two ECCO Salamanders that are 5”x.75” and only weigh 2.5oz…even most mini cans are bigger OD than those. 😁
 
BigWaylon said:
I do have two ECCO Salamanders that are 5”x.75” and only weigh 2.5oz…even most mini cans are bigger OD than those. 😁
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The only info i can find online pertains to the regular Banish 22, it shipped in a fancy zip lock bag with a folded photocopy of instructions lol. I'll have to dig out a micrometer to get the true dimensions of the 22k but I'm not sure I'd even call it a mini can, borderline micro lol. Being it only cost the stamp, I try not to judge it too harshly 🤣
 
I found a company in NC that builds all types of NFA items. Ballistic Research And Machine in Jacksonville NC on Hwy 24 phone 910-324-4900. They machine suppressors in house from solid blocks of titanium. All cans are rated for full auto and can be taken apart and are user serviceable. They also have a patented by pass channel to reduce the gasses to the users face - which can be an issue on some guns.
They build and modify plenty of items for some of the local military and police. I had them cut an AK barrel , and turn concentric threads on. They will build machine guns- I have seen some really cool items
Give Perry a call , he can make some recommendations based on your needs. I was also able to demo a can on my gun before making a purchase
 
Guess I've got to decide whether I want a 556 can or a 22lr can mostest then lol

I'd use a 22lr can more but I was grokking the idea of my nightivsion AR having a suppressor.

Decisions decisions
 
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One of the larger retailers has a once/year sale that you may want to look into…

You buy a suppressor at retail and receive a free .22 suppressor. You’re on the hook for both stamps, but it may be a cost effective way to get both in one pass.

@BigWaylon - is it Silencerco? And do you recall when that offer comes up?
 
RacerX said:
One of the larger retailers has a once/year sale that you may want to look into…

You buy a suppressor at retail and receive a free .22 suppressor. You’re on the hook for both stamps, but it may be a cost effective way to get both in one pass.

@BigWaylon - is it Silencerco? And do you recall when that offer comes up?
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That does sound like it would work unless the buy one is marked up significantly for the purposes of the sale.....
 
As I recall, it’s not marked up -just full retail.
 
RacerX said:
One of the larger retailers has a once/year sale that you may want to look into…

You buy a suppressor at retail and receive a free .22 suppressor. You’re on the hook for both stamps, but it may be a cost effective way to get both in one pass.

@BigWaylon - is it Silencerco? And do you recall when that offer comes up?
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SiCo has done it twice. I took advantage of it the first time. It wasn’t that you had to pay full retail, you just had to spend a certain amount of money. I think it was $700 to get a rimfire can and $800 to get a pistol can. I got my Maxim 9 and an Octane 45K for $800 total. (Then paid for both stamps)
 
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