Picking the best 5.56/.223 for Sound Suppression
When polled on what they care about most in a suppressor, consumers put sound suppression at the top of the list. Shocking, I know. The whole point of the thing is right there in the name.
We do warn new buyers not to get tunnel-visioned on dB numbers. The same way new drivers obsess over 0-60 times before eventually asking about cargo space and lumbar support, new shooters chase decibel charts before they start caring about weight, back-pressure, and flash signature. Time and round count have a way of broadening your priorities, whether you're training, hunting, or running a duty gun.
But this article isn't for the enlightened shooter of balance and refinement. This is for the new driver who wants to know how fast it goes. The new shooter who wants to know how quiet it gets. We are chasing mouse fart quiet.
Now, no centerfire rifle round is going to sound like Hollywood tells you it will, but we can get you down into the same neighborhood as a loud power tool. Which, all things considered, is a pretty wild thing to be able to do when we are trying to trap an 55,000 PSI explosion that launches a piece of metal over a mile.
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Super Thug Hub Inconel
Combat Application Technologies
Third Party Sound Studies
Insanely quiet with numbers to back it.
MSRP
$1090
Weight
17.5 oz
Length
6"
Mount
Hub
Construction
3D Printed
Backpressure
hybrid
Included Mount
Direct Thread
Material
Inconel
CAT has been building a reputation as one of the foremost R&D outfits in the game. Volume and sales come second to innovation and a drive to stay at the top of the charts. The Super Thug is their newest release in the 5.56 space and it pulls no punches. This thing is quiet, and CAT knew it when they sent one off to Pew Science for third-party testing. It took the top of the 5.56 charts, and it did not get there by being modest.
One important wrinkle, though. The Super Thug earns its chart-topping muzzle suppression by running a bit more back-pressure than other hybrid flow-through designs. If you're not interested in tuning your host, that alone might be reason to look at a more balanced can. But if you're the kind of shooter who enjoys squeezing the last few dB out of a setup, this is untapped potential. A little tuning to choke off some of the gas coming back into the system, and that already excellent at-ear number gets even better. - Great Pick for the tuner - Great pick for the semi-auto hunter
Tisha Inconel
Stealth Additive Works
Third Party Sound Studies
Conventional wisdom be dammed.
MSRP
$1200
Weight
15 oz
Length
4.1"
Mount
Hub
Construction
3D Printed
Backpressure
high
Included Mount
Plan-B and Muzzle Device
Material
Inconel
A 4 inch K can at the top of our list? We are shocked too. Not only is this one of the shortest cans on the market, it is the second quietest 5.56 tested on Pew Science and the quietest testing on the 10.5" barrel. The titanium version of this can is 4.1" long, weights only 10.5oz, and has very low backpressure. It is clear this was achieved by having a very large outer diameter to make up the internal volume lost to it's short length. -Perfect for the short barreled sei-auto - Perfect for those needing a small package
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Compare the Picks on This Page
| Top PickSuper Thug Hub InconelCombat Application Technologies | Top Short Barrel PickTisha InconelStealth Additive Works | |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $1090 | $1200 |
| Weight | 17.5 oz | 15 oz |
| Length | 6" | 4.1" |
| Outer Dia. | 1.6" | 2.1" |
| Mount | Hub | Hub |
| Incl. Mount | Direct Thread | Plan-B and Muzzle Device |
| Construction | 3D Printed | 3D Printed |
| Backpressure | hybrid | high |
| Material | Inconel | Inconel |
| View All SKUs | View All SKUs |
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