Suppressors have risen in popularity in recent years. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, over 2 million silencers are in civilian shooters’ hands, and the numbers are rising each year.
Federal law regulates silencers under the National Firearms Act. A silencer is considered an NFA item, which requires a $200 tax stamp and submission of paperwork to the ATF (notably, an ATF Form 4 and fingerprints).
Suppressors may still be illegal at the city or state level, depending on where you live, so always check your local laws.
5 Best .300 Blackout Suppressors
1. SilencerCo Saker ASR 7.62
The SilencerCo Saker ASR 7.62 is a .30-caliber suppressor designed for heavy-duty use, part of SilencerCo’s Saker suppressor series.
SilencerCo’s Active Spring Retention (ASR) technology allows this suppressor to function as a quick-detachable unit. The Saker ASR is compatible with any ASR muzzle device (ASR Flash Hider, ASR Muzzle Brake, ASR Charlie direct thread mount), as long as the firearm and mounted muzzle device are both .30 caliber or smaller.
The Saker ASR 7.62 effectively suppresses any firearm from .22 Hornet to .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (.300 RUM). When installed on a .300 Blackout firearm, you can expect an average muzzle sound pressure level of about 119 dB, making it approximately as loud as a suppressed .22 LR rifle or a police car siren.
With a stainless steel body and Hoplon baffles made of Stellite (a highly durable cobalt-chromium alloy explicitly designed for wear resistance), this suppressor is virtually maintenance-free. All that is required is periodic cleaning of the mounts.
As a full-auto-rated suppressor, the Saker ASR 7.62 can be installed on any bolt-action, semi-automatic, or fully automatic firearm with a .30-caliber bore diameter or smaller. All the Saker ASR features make it one of the most modular and convenient suppressors on the market.
2. Q LLC Trash Panda
Q LLC knows how to make products that stand out from the competition. The company’s efforts to move away from overly serious marketing are reflected in its products’ name and packaging.
The Trash Panda comes in a distinctive box featuring its namesake – a raccoon. Despite the unserious, almost cartoonish branding, Q suppressors are among the best on the market.
This suppressor is quick-detachable and designed for mounting on the supplied Q Cherry Bomb muzzle device, which mounts on standard 5/8-24 threading.
The Trash Panda is one of the lightest and most compact .30-caliber suppressors on the market, with an overall length of just 6.9” and weighing only 13.8 oz. (11.8 oz. without the Cherry Bomb). It is the ideal suppressor for keeping your .300 Blackout rifle (or any other .30-caliber firearm) light and quiet.
Constructed entirely out of titanium and protected with a PVD finish, the Trash Panda is as durable as it is light. Q LLC states that there is no need to disassemble this suppressor for cleaning or maintenance.
This suppressor is full-auto rated and capable of suppressing up to .300 Winchester Magnum. Although it is a compact suppressor, the 1.75” width provides it with a larger internal volume, increasing its sound reduction effectiveness compared to suppressors of similar length, which usually feature a 1.5” diameter.
3. Surefire SOCOM7.62-RC2
Surefire muzzle brakes and suppressors are among the most well-known and valued in the industry.
In 2017, the company won an USSOCOM contract to supply American special forces with some of its products for the next 5 years. Among these products is the SOCOM7.62-RC2 suppressor, mounted on the .300 Winchester Magnum Mk13 mod 7 sniper rifle.
The SOCOM7.62-RC2 is a multi-purpose, full-auto rated 30-caliber suppressor, capable of effectively suppressing up to .300 Winchester Magnum, just as the special forces do. It is quick-detachable and fits Surefire Fast-Attach muzzle devices.
This suppressor is relatively long and heavy, at 8.4” of overall length and weighing 19.5 oz. If you want to maximize sound suppression over compactness, this is the item for you.
The RC2’s stainless steel body possesses a corrosion-resistant Ionbond coating, Cerakoted in either black or Flat Dark Earth.
Inside, the core and baffles are constructed out of Inconel 718, a nickel-chromium superalloy designed to maintain strength even at extreme temperatures.
This material is also used in the automotive and aerospace industries to build parts such as turbochargers, race car exhausts, and rocket engine parts. These materials and construction ensure that the SOCOM7.62-RC2 does not fail even under the most extreme circumstances.
4. Advanced Armament Corporation SR7
Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) is the company that developed the .300 AAC Blackout cartridge. AAC suppressors are among the best suited for suppressing firearms in this cartridge.
The AAC SR7 is a quick-detachable .30-caliber suppressor rated up to 7.62x51mm NATO but is ideal for .300 Blackout, especially with subsonic ammo.
Measuring 7.6” in overall length and rated to provide between -25 and -39 dB of sound reduction (depending on caliber), the SR7 is a medium-sized suppressor with the effectiveness of a larger model.
One potential drawback of the SR7 is the weight of 19.6 oz. Although not light by any means, the SR7 features a 100% welded Inconel 718 core, a 316L chrome-nickel-moly stainless steel body, and a black Cerakote finish, making it exceptionally durable and resistant to abuse.
The SR7 is full-auto rated and capable of enduring multiple successive belts of 7.62x51mm ammunition, meaning it will not fear mag-dumps and fast semi-automatic fire.
5. Dead Air Armament Sandman-S
Dead Air Armament manufactures some of the highest-rated suppressors available on the U.S. civilian market. The Sandman-S is the short version of the brand’s Sandman series of suppressors, offering a balance between compact dimensions and sound suppression effectiveness.
At 6.8” long and weighing 17.7 oz., the Sandman-S is compact without being unreasonably heavy but no less effective than a full-size model. It is rated to suppress anything from .17 HMR to .300 Winchester Magnum.
It even works with 7.62x39mm and 7.62x54mmR, but make sure your bore is concentric with the barrel to avoid baffle strikes because these cartridges feature a .310-.311 bullet diameter instead of .308.
The Sandman-S is a quick-detachable suppressor, designed for use with the provided muzzle brake, compatible with 5/8×24 threading. Its quick-detach system is engineered for 1-handed usage, allowing you to attach and detach the suppressor with a single twist of the wrist.
When mounted to a .300 Blackout platform shooting subsonic ammunition, the Sandman-S will reduce the noise to just below the 140 dB threshold.
This suppressor features Stellite baffles welded into a single unit, providing durability when it counts, no matter the application. The outer shell is protected with a nitride finish and Cerakoted, giving it a pleasant, uniform look and appearance.
Why Use a Suppressor?
The primary legitimate applications for a suppressor are:
- Hearing protection: Suppressors reduce noise closer to safer levels, and combining multiple hearing protection methods (e.g., suppressor and earplugs) can help preserve your hearing for longer. Installing a suppressor on a firearm that shoots subsonic ammunition can silence a firearm to safe levels under the right circumstances, eliminating the need for ear protection.
- Reducing noise pollution: Shooting ranges, especially outdoor ranges, generate significant noise levels, which suppressors help ease.
- Hunting: Suppressors are legal for hunting in 40 states. Hunting with a suppressor has many advantages. These include a slight reduction in recoil, elimination of muzzle flash and muzzle blast, and the ability to preserve the hunter’s hearing without sacrificing situational awareness. Most hunters do not wear earplugs so they can listen to their surroundings.
Suppressor Myths
There are many commonly believed myths regarding suppressors:
- Suppressors make guns whisper-quiet. Perhaps the most common myth is propagated by countless fictional depictions, but it simply isn’t true. According to hearing healthcare professionals, 140 decibels is the average threshold of pain for the human ear. Unsuppressed firearms produce between 145 and 180 decibels, and suppressors reduce noise by approximately 25 to 30 dB. A suppressed gun is still loud and recognizable; it is just less likely to damage your hearing.
- Suppressors reduce muzzle velocity. Video games mostly propagate this myth. Governed by the need for game balance, suppressors depicted in video games offer a tradeoff for the reduced noise, and reducing velocity or damage is one of the most common choices. In reality, a suppressor slightly increases the muzzle velocity. Because it functions as a barrel extension, the cartridge gases have more room to push the bullet before dissipating out of the muzzle. The gains are marginal but enough to change the point of impact.
- Suppressors reduce accuracy. This is another video game-related myth. In reality, the bullet never comes in contact with any of the internal components of a suppressor. A suppressor’s purpose is to trap the gas produced by a cartridge for sound reduction; this function does not impede the firearm’s accuracy.
- Suppressors are only good for a few shots. This myth has some basis in reality but is not entirely true. Inside a suppressor, you will find angular discs with holes in the center called baffles. The bullet passes through the center hole, but the cartridge gases are stopped by the discs, trapping them inside the suppressor. Early suppressors had baffles made of disposable materials, limiting their effectiveness, but today’s suppressors employ durable, all-metal components, eliminating this issue. With proper maintenance, a modern suppressor can last just as long as a firearm.
The Bottom Line
Suppressor testing industry standards employ a precision sound level meter placed 1.6 meters above the ground and 1 meter left of the barrel.
The testing process involves 2 strings of either 5 or 10 shots each, one unsuppressed and the other suppressed. Each shot’s peak decibel value is measured, and each shot group is averaged into one value, resulting in average unsuppressed and suppressed dB ratings.
These tests are how the firearms industry can provide decibel figures for their suppressors, but keep in mind that these values are not absolute. Although most suppressors are effective, particularly with .300 Blackout subsonics, each variable may affect the noise generated by your firearm.
Remember, there is no such thing as a completely silent firearm. If you find that your particular platform averages out at or over the 140 dB threshold, use hearing protection just in case.
