Best AR15 Suppressor [Easy ATF Application Guide]
Owning a suppressor is not as hard or uncommon as you may think. For the longest time, the only time people saw suppressors was in the movies, but not anymore. The suppressor market, although small, is growing. When looking for the best AR15 suppressor, it is about availability, multi-gun, and weight/build.
How to Buy a Suppressor.
Buying a suppressor can seem like a daunting task. But Silencer Shop has made it a much easier process. Because suppressors are classified as NFA items, you will need to purchase a tax stamp in order to possess one.
You can file for and receive your tax stamp through an ATF form 4.
However, the easiest option is to go through Silencer Shop. They have conveniently placed kiosks in many gun shops that will allow you to submit the paperwork, get fingerprinted, submit your photo, and sign the paperwork all from one kiosk.
You can submit your fingerprints using a FD-258 fingerprint card, but the kiosk makes it very easy.
Silencer Central will also help you with your whole application and ship your suppressor to your door if you buy it through them.
Once all the paperwork is submitted, then the hardest part. Waiting. The ATF has an expected wait time for processing of 90 days, but it could be sooner. You will be notified once your paperwork has processed and then you can pick up your suppressor.
Should you get a trust?
When filing paperwork with the ATF, you have a couple options for filing. The two most common are filing as an individual or filing as a trust.
Filing as an individual means that the NFA item is tied only to you. You are the only one who can posses it, and if a family member wants to borrow or use it, they can not unless you are present.
However, a trust gives you a little more flexibility to add and remove responsible parties/trustees. I recommend always using a trust, even if you are the only person on the trust currently, it is nice to have options later.
The easiest way to file for a trust is through Silencer Shop’s Single Shot Trust at $25, it really is the easiest and cheapest option out there.
What to look for when choosing the best AR15 Suppressor.
Availability
In the post-COVID era, gun parts have been scarce. It is starting to get easier to find parts, but you never know when another event is going to trigger supply chain shortages.
This was especially true with suppressors. Some times it is good to have a back up in case the suppressor you want is 6-12 months out from supply availability. Things are getting better, but just a heads up.
Multi-Gun Capability
There are lots of single caliber suppressors out there that can be permanently welded or threaded onto your rifle. However, there are tons of multi-gun or multi-caliber suppressors on the market that can be easily moved from gun to gun.
This is a nice feature, especially when buying your first suppressor.
Size and Weight
Weight and size are large factors depending on the length of the barrel and caliber of the gun.
If you are buying a multi-gun suppressor, it is important that the suppressor is not too long for some of the smaller rifles/handguns that you plan on putting the suppressor on.
Also it is common to get a really short barrel that then put the suppressor inside your handguard. If you plan on doing this, make sure that the size of your suppressor is compatible with your handguard. You will more than likely need a larger handguard.
What is the best AR15 Suppressor?
Here are my top picks for the best AR15 Suppressor.
- SilencerCo Omega 300 (Editors Choice)
- Banish 30 Gold (Best Overall)
- Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T2 5.56 (Best Budget)
- Surefire SOCOM556 RC2 (Used by SOCOM)
- Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N20 (Most Versatile)
- Elite Iron Delta (Most Sound Reduction)
- Dead Air Sandman-S (Best Mounting System)
- OSS HX-QD 5.56K (Best Short Suppressor)
- SilencerCo Saker ASR 556 (Best Short Barrel Solution)
SilencerCo Omega 300 (Editors Choice)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 32 dB
Caliber : .223 REM/5.56 NATO to .300 WM.
Weight : 14.8 oz
Length : 7.08 in
Diameter : 1.57 in
Mounting : QD and Threaded
Minimum Barrel Length for 5.56 NATO : 10 in
My Take
The Omega 300 is one of the most popular suppressors on the market for good reason. It hits all right notes for weight, length, and sound reduction.
It is definitely not the the lightest or the quietest, but for all around performance without sacrificing any one quality, the Omega 300 is exactly what it needs to be.
Not only that, but it is full-auto rated up to .300 WM, so durability is not a problem. A great all around suppressor especially if you are looking at getting a multi-gun option.
Banish 30 Gold (Best Overall)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 36 dB
Caliber : Rimfire to 300RUM
Weight : 13.2 oz
Length : 8.2 in
Diameter : 1.593 in
Mounting : QD and Threaded
My Take
You are definitely going to be paying a premium for this option, but it delivers on all fronts. It won Guns & Ammo’s Silencer of the Year for 2021.
Weight to sound reduction it is hard to find another suppressor that will compete with the Banish 30. The original Banish 30 model is threaded only and will save you a little bit of money, but for the usability of a QD mount, I would recommend getting the Gold.
They also have a Banish 223 model that is specifically for 5.56 NATO and .223 if you are trying to save a little money on your suppressor, or looking for dedicated mounted option.
Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T2 5.56 (Best Budget)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 29 dB
Caliber : 5.56 NATO
Weight : 12.8 oz
Length : 6.5 in
Diameter : 1.5625 in
Mounting : QD & Threaded
Minimum Barrel Length for 5.56 NATO : 10.5 in
My Take
It’s rare to find a quality suppressor for $400-$600, but if you get the right deal, you may be able to find the YHM Turbo T2 for that price. And it is a great suppressor at that price.
Shorter than a lot of the options here, and still giving 29 dB of noise reduction, this suppressor packs a punch at decent price range.
When thinking about saving money on suppressor it is also important to note that this suppressor is only rated for 5.56 NATO / .223, meaning that you may be saving some money but in the long run, it may be a more expensive option. Unless you are looking for a dedicated suppressor.
Surefire SOCOM556 RC2 (Used by SOCOM)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 35 dB
Caliber : 5.56mm (.223)
Weight : 17 oz
Length : 6.4 in
Diameter : 1.5 in
Mounting : QD and Threaded
Minimum Barrel Length for 5.56 NATO : 10 in
My Take
Surefire takes great pride in being the US Special Operations Command suppressor trial-winner. This means that Surefire suppressors are the first choice for a lot of special operations groups around the world.
The benefit of the SOCOM556 RC2 is that it does so much more than just sound reduction. It also has Eliminates first-round flash, a phenomenon common in most suppressors. Suppresses visible flash up to 99.3%.
For tactical situations and home defense this could be an important feature.
However, the drawback of this suppressor is that is a single caliber suppressor. For special operators and military officers this is not a big deal, because they have access to a multitude of suppressors, but for you that may be a drawback.
Yankee Hill Machine Nitro N20 (Most Versatile)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 34 dB
Caliber : .17HMR to 9mm, 5.56 NATO, and .308 Win
Weight : 6.5 oz to 10 oz
Length : 5.4 in to 7.5 in
Diameter : 1.562 in
Mounting : QD and Threaded
Minimum Barrel Length for 5.56 NATO : 16 in
My Take
In contrast with the YHM Turbo T2, which is just a single caliber suppressor, the YHM Nitro N20 is the Swiss Army Knife of suppressors.
This suppressor fits almost any gun. Handguns, small rife, all the way up to .308 Win, this suppressor can do it all, and manages to do it will.
The modular design makes it easy to add and remove baffles increasing noise reduction, or reducing length.
Elite Iron Delta (Most Sound Reduction)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 37 dB
Caliber : .223/.556, 22-250, .243, 6mm, 6.5mm and 6.8
Weight : 21.2 oz
Length : 7.5 in
Diameter : 1.5 in
Mounting : Threaded
My Take
“Bigger and heavier” is typically what you will hear about Elite Iron suppressors. Followed directly by, incredible quality and best noise reduction.
There are always trade offs when making a precision piece of equipment. Some lean towards one function rather than the other, and some try to be a jack of all trades, like the Omega 300.
The Elite Iron Delta focuses on durability and noise reduction. At the expense of weight. However, if you have a lighter/shorter barrel or are looking for a precision suppressor, this could be the best option for you.
It depends completely on use your intended use.
Dead Air Sandman-S (Best Mounting System)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 32 dB
Caliber : 5.56 NATO, 7.62, and 6.5 Creedmoor to .300 RUM
Weight : 17.7 oz
Length : 6.8 in
Diameter : 1.5 in
Mounting : QD and Threaded
My Take
An extremely popular suppressor. Known primarily for its durability and secure mounting system. It doesn’t have the same noise reduction as some of the other models. However, for ease of mind and reliability, this suppressor has become an industry favorite.
One downside to the mounting system is that the proprietary Keymo system is required for any QD mounting. This means there are less muzzle device mounting options.
OSS HX-QD 5.56K (Best Short Suppressor)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 26 dB
Caliber : 5.56 NATO / .223
Weight : 15.5 oz
Length : 5.7 in
Diameter : 1.6 in
Mounting : QD
My Take
Depending on your intended use, and current setup, adding an extra 7 inches to your rifle may inhibit your maneuverability too much. In these cases, it may be beneficial to sacrifice some sound reduction for a shorter suppressor.
The OSS HX-QD is perfect for these situations.
This suppressor is more of a special needs suppressor than a one-size-fits-all solution. But sometimes that is exactly what you need.
SilencerCo Saker ASR 556 (Best Short Barrel Solution)
Specs
Sound Reduction : 32 dB
Caliber : 5.56 NATO / .223
Weight : 18.1 oz
Length : 6.7 in
Diameter : 1.5 in
Mounting : QD and Threaded
My Take
Most suppressor solutions are rated for barrels 10 inches or longer. However, sometimes you just want to run an even shorter barrel.
If you are wanting to build an AR15 shorter than 10 in barrel with the suppressor inside the handguard, the Saker is the perfect option. It is built to have no barrel length restrictions.
It does not give you the flexibility of multi-caliber options. However, if you are doing a super short build with a suppressor inside the handguard, I recommend keeping the suppressor attached.
What is the best AR15 Suppressor?
When looking for the best AR15 suppressor, it completely depends on your intended use. The next biggest factor is how many suppressors are you going to buy. You may be in the market for only one, or you may want to stock up on a few different models.
For your first suppressor, I recommend the Omega 300 for it’s versatility. But if you are looking for a more tactical and SOCOM specific setup the Surefire might be a better fit.
