Silencers – What to Buy and What’s the Process?

Silencers are growing in popularity. Once you shoot a buddies, you realize how great it makes your shooting experience. And so my biggest question lately is what silencer to get and what’s the process?

Here are some brands to look at. I prefer sticking with the major brands, and checking out their videos, stats, and reading what the silencer can do and what it can handle. Keep in mind pressure and caliber. Also, many of the newer cans can handle various calibers so starting with a can that can go on a few different guns is a good way to get started.

Make sure you check out the newest and lightest technology, called “flow-through” or “low toxicity.” They’re lighter and have less gas blowback, so you get less toxic gas to the face.

  • Dead Air Silencers – The newest flow-through designs with Dead air are the Sandman X (30 cal), Lazarus (6mm), Mojave 45 & 9, and the Ruger cans called RXD (for Ruger and Dead Air collaboration) in rimfire and 30 caliber.
  • Sig Sauer Silencers
  • Banish Silencers (Available only through SilencerCentral.com. They also offer free gun trusts too.)

Paperwork Process

You’ll need a login with the ATF for e-filing your paperwork.

  • ATF eFile Login Page – Create your own account with the ATF. You’ll need to know your login, password, and PIN when doing paperwork with your gun store.
  • Electronic Encrypted Fingerprints – Some gun stores have the right equipment to do this for you as part of the process, but if not, here’s a great place where you can get your Electronic Fingerprints done, and perhaps a passport photo while you’re at it. YUP (Your Unique Prints)
  • Passport Photo – You’ll need an electronic passport photo. It can be as easy as an iPhone photo with flash against a white wall. Your gun store should be able to do this too, but again, you can get it at YUP if you live in Utah.

Install and Align Silencer Muzzle Attachments

If you don’t put your muzzle breaks and flash hiders on correctly, you could destroy your can with a baffle strike. Here’s Mike from Dead Air explaining the do’s and don’ts. One big tip – Never use a crush washer!