Lets get down to brass tacks. You are more likely to encounter a bad product than a good one. Silencers are no exception to this rule. Silencer companies leave their legacy products on the market and they continue to sell just on name alone, even when the performance is mediocre compared to offerings from current year. The market in 2024 is significantly better than the market even just 4 years ago. The shortening of NFA wait times will also cause the market to surge in reaction, so there will be even more devices on the way. This will not be an overview of every silencer or even every manufacturer on the market, this is just an overview of what YOU should buy, no need to concern yourself with all the devices you DON'T want. So just like every question with a definitive answer, this will be kind of boring. Otter Creek Labs is basically the first and last word in rifle-borne silencers. Their Polonium is a budget oriented silencer which outperforms devices that cost twice as much. The Polonium comes in 3 flavors, the Polonium, the Polonium-K (see Issue 9), and the Polonium-30. The Polonium-30 splits the difference in length between the other 2, and utilizes a .30 caliber bore. The Polonium utilizes a bore diameter sufficient for 6mm cartridges, so rounds like 6mm Creedmoor all the way down to .204 Ruger are totally fine to use. All of the devices in the Polonium range are essentially the gold standard for all AR based goofing. The Polonium-30 is NOT optimized for subsonic ammunition, the gas flows differently for supers and subs, so it works best on supersonic ammo. Anyways, the primary downsides to the Polonium series are high back pressure, which runs the gun harder (unless you adjust other parts to compensate), and heavier weight when compared to titanium silencers. Speaking of which, the Hydrogen series (Available in 6.5mm and .30 caliber bores, and in 3 lengths, Standard, Kurz, and Long) are 100% titanium, which makes them unsuitable for shorter barrels or very rapid fire. Titanium will soften much quicker than steel or inconel and will explode if subjected to pressure while sufficiently hot. OCL ran a 60 round magazine through a 4.5 inch AR affixed with a Hydrogen, blowing it up. | For rifles where full auto isn't a primary concern, and neither is the sparking (titanium silencers will throw sparks when fired), the Hydrogen series are highly effective. Bolt action rifles or ARs more suited to precision work or hunting would greatly benefit from their use. The Otter Creek Titanium (that's the name) is a .22lr silencer. 100% titanium construction, and very good sound performance. If you want a rimfire silencer for either rifle or pistol, buy one of these. There are very few reasons to deviate from these recommendations, reasons like “I'm looking to buy a silencer for my AK”, or “I need a silencer that I can attach directly to my A2 birdcage because I fell for the pin and weld meme”. There are devices out there that fit these criteria. But the best way to handle those situations is to not get yourself into them in the first pace. The only OTHER reason to deviate here is that you are a compulsive clooooner who needs the specific antiquated silencer that some rifle from 2003 used. If this is you then you had no reason to read this guide to begin with. Silencers CAN be a complex topic, but as long as you keep your weapon selection simple, like you should, your silencer selection can remain simple as well. I did not mention any pistol oriented silencers because that's a retarded rabbit hole to go down anyways. Save your time and your money. For a 5.56 AR just ask yourself which you value more, sound performance or length. If length, go with the Polonium-K, if not the Polonium. For a .300 AR either go with the Polonium-30 and be done with it, or try your luck with the Hydrogen 7.62s if you want better sound suppression or lighter weight or whatever else. |
