Top Tips to Know Before Buying a Suppressor, Need to know.
Posted by Veronica Arino on Jul 12th 2019
7 Tips on buying your first suppressor: Top Tips to Know Before Buying a Suppressor, What you need to know if you are considering a purchase.
When guns have been a part of your life, it really doesn't stop at simply owning guns. Once in a while you’re going to think of buying accessories for your firearms. There are a lot of gun accessories out there, but probably one of the accessories you may think of having is a suppressor.
If you’ve thought about getting one, you may be thinking through some questions. How you’re going to choose the best suppressor for your firearm? How much is it going to cost? What are other things you’ll need to do when you get one?
There are a lot of things you’ll need to consider and keep in mind when you’re planning to buy a suppressor and here are some of the things we’ve listed:
Pro-tip #1: Prepare Your Budget
If your rifle is already threaded, there’s little to worry about. However, if you have a pistol, most pistols require a specific piston, another attachment, and a threaded barrel. Some might require you to buy aftermarket recoil spring. With these added considerations, you’ll want to prepare an extra budget for added expenses. This extra budget is estimated at roughly $150-$200 per piece on top of the actual expenses for the suppressor.
Pro-tip #2: Know the 2026 Rules
Buying a suppressor got much simpler in 2026. The federal tax on a suppressor dropped from $200 to $0 on January 1, 2026 (Public Law 119-21). Then, after the court ruling in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, ATF announced on October 9, 2026 that it no longer requires prior approval (the Form 4), registration or a tax stamp for suppressors, nationwide. A suppressor from a dealer now goes through the same Form 4473 and background check as a handgun, with no fingerprint cards and no months-long wait.
Two cautions. This is an ATF enforcement policy, not a repeal of the National Firearms Act, so a future administration or court decision could bring the old requirements back. And state law still applies: suppressors remain banned in several states, and some states tie suppressor legality to federal registration, so check your own state's law first.
Pro-tip #3: Buy From a Suppressor Specialist
A shop that sells mostly suppressors can tell you which can fits your caliber, thread pitch and use. Suppressor.com is one: it stocks the major makers, including the SilencerCo Switchback 2.0 rimfire suppressor for .22 rifles and pistols at Suppressor.com.
Pro-tip #4: Suppressors Can Get Really DIRTY
Your firearm can get really dirty when you’re shooting with a suppressor. Just be prepared to clean your firearm after doing multiple rounds because it can get really messy and there’s going to be a lot of lead. Don’t forget to generously lubricate your firearm threads. You do not want to have your suppressor stuck on your firearm.
Pro-tip #5 Do Not Use Crush Washers!
Crush washers are commonly found on muzzle brakes and can not be used with a suppressor. A crush washer can cause the suppressor to sit out of line. A non concentric suppressor will result in baffle strikes and bullet tumbling. Though these can damage your suppressor a more serious problem is the possibility of a catastrophic failure. The result is the complete destruction of your suppressor and possible personal injury along with firearm damage.
Pro-tip #6: Suppressors Vary in Sizes
It’s a smart idea to buy suppressor with modularity in mind. That means when you buy a suppressor you’ll want to think of a suppressor that not ONLY fits the caliber that you currently have but also consider something that could also fit a different caliber. Who knows, maybe in a few months or years you’ll want to have another gun? Isn’t it great when you do not need to buy another suppressor for it because you already have one that fits?
A multi-caliber can like the SilencerCo Hybrid 46M at Suppressor.com covers calibers from 9mm up to .338 on a single suppressor.
Pro-tip #7: Suppressors Can Get Really HOT
After you do some firing with your suppressor, the suppressor becomes really, really, really HOT. You may think of getting something cool to put on top of it or slightly dip it in the water to cool it down. That is a big NO-NO! You’re just going to end up damaging your suppressor as it can cause the metal to get brittle. It’s best to just air-dry your suppressor and wait for it to cool down. If you need to switch your suppressor to another firearm, you absolutely cannot hold it with your bare hands or else you’ll just get burns. What you can do is to use a heat shield or shroud made for suppressors, such as the KRYON HEX suppressor shroud sold by Guntology, so you can handle your suppressor and easily remove it.
We hope these tips helped you with the purchase of your new suppressor.
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Reference:
https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/06/16/silencer-destruction-bad-things-happen-good-cans/