Help me choose a .22 suppressor

When it comes to suppressors and other NFA items I am woefully ignorant. I have plans on starting the process for a .22 suppressor over the summer and kind of have an idea on what I want, but I really don't know where to begin.

For the suppressor, I want one of decent quality and preferably the ability to take apart and clean myself. I know the sealed ones can be had for less, but knowing how dirty rimfire can be it seems wise to find one that the user can strip apart.

Right now I'm looking at either the SWR Spectre or the Silencerco 22 Sparrow, but if anyone has any alternatives please let me know.

Further, what are some good online retailers for suppressors?

Sorry to sound like such a noob, but when it comes to these things that's exactly what I am.

i recently got an AAC Pilot 2 and really happy with it. Can take apart for cleaning and built pretty solid. Got mine through a local dealer for $350. A good online retailer that I've found is major-malfunction (http://www.major-malfunction.com/). I do have to warn you, I got mine back from the ATF a month ago, and it took them 5 months to process it (from pending to approved), so the wait is going to be a pain......

The sparrow is the easiest to maintain. However it does have more First Round Pop than the K baffled supperssors out there. You need to pick your trade offs.

You won't be sorry with a K-Baffle .22 suppressor. A nice K-Baffle is really hard to beat in the .22 world, but the Sparrow is easier to take apart for cleaning.

I don't know if you can get an ASE Utra in the US. I have one and it is great. There is no first round pop, you can take it apart and clean the baffles individually.

Here's some info about mine:

http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=78682

With rimfire ammo how often does one have to clean a suppressor? Is the k baffle design that much more difficult to clean?

I am fully aware of the wait time on these guys. I understand the process and have a local transfer dealer set up.

With rimfire ammo how often does one have to clean a suppressor? Is the k baffle design that much more difficult to clean?

I am fully aware of the wait time on these guys. I understand the process and have a local transfer dealer set up.
It's not so much the baffle design as the material that determines how easy it is to clean. Stainless steel and titanium can be thrown in an ultrasonic, bead blasted, or thrown in "the dip." With aluminum your only real option is a mild solvent like CLP and scrubbing with a nylon brush, but that doesn't help much with the lead build-up. I just had my Gemtech Outback II baffles sent off to be hard coat anodized for this reason.

SS Sparrow

I have an older Tactical Solutions Cascade that I am really impressed with.

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4505322441868247&id=9fafae48011edc14f661621e46ecf734&url=http%3a%2f%2fi798.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fyy267%2fssnfa%2fTactical%2520Solutions%2fpix2476015.jpg

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4505322441868247&id=9fafae48011edc14f661621e46ecf734&url=http%3a%2f%2fi798.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fyy267%2fssnfa%2fTactical%2520Solutions%2fpix2476015.jpg

They have changed the design to one that cannot be taken apart since I have purchased mine.

Mine has some first round pop that is worse with a short barrel like on the Walther. The suppressor is incredible, approaching Hollywood quiet on a Ruger 10/22 with subsonic ammo.

If you guys could also list where you purchased and for how much that'd be a great help. I'm having trouble finding a street value for most of these.

For instance, what would be a fair price for a SS Sparrow? My Google Fu comes up with around 500 but I have no idea if that's fair or not.

Take a look at the ones from Thompson Machine in FL. They are very easy to clean and very quiet. I have been to a shoot and was impressed.

We sell alot of the Thompson Machine Zephyr Xls. Another very impressive can is the silencerco Sparrow.

Never heard of Thompson Machine, have to check them out, thanks.

Mr M4, you need to get ahold of Alan Mack of Mack Brothers in Sturgis. They've got a whole lineup of suppressors coming out and they are absolutely fantastic. Their production is just ramping up, but I know they've got models ready to go.

Other than my form 1 .22 cans the one I like most is a Checkmate monocore with QD. Quite fast on/off and easy to clean.

I have tried contacting Mac Bros, 2 or 3 times. No answer and they have not returned my calls. I have customers with cash in hand who want their cans but I have not been able to reach anyone at Mac Bros.

Local Class III dealer stocks a handful of different 22 suppressors, one of which was the Huntertown Guardian. Price was right at $200 so I did some research, and it meters very similar to the Silencerco Sparrow.

Went to the LGS and they offered to demo the can for me on a Savage FV-SR (which I have) using CCI SV ammo. Hearing it be noticeably quieter than a break-barrel .177 air rifle sold me on the can.

2 months since pending, hopefully just 3 more to go...

I wish everyone that went to purchase a can had the opportunity to listen to all makes and models in their caliber.

The sparrow is very unimpressive. I own a guardian, it too is unimpressive. The guardian is quieter than the sparrow, yet both suffer badly from first round pop.

To date the quietest 22LR cans I've heard is the Gemtech Alpine and mack brothers 22lr. Alpine does not have first round pop. Perhaps it does if you meter it, but it is not audible. Especially when compared to other suppressors. I can shoot it indoors with no hearing protection on a buckmark or walther, and it won't ring your ears. Guardian, sparrow, mite, etc etc etc... ring your ears on the first shot.

I shot a sparrow next to the mack brothers 22lr can, and the sparrow was loud in the extreme in comparison. The mack brothers can was as quiet, if not quieter than my alpine, with no first round pop, and cheaper than my alpine. They've got a stainless version that is rated for up to 5.7, and a 22lr aluminum one. Stainless weighs 7oz while the aluminum is just under 4oz. What's not to like?

If you are looking to order or have questions, call Alan Mack @ 605-720-4476.

I wish everyone that went to purchase a can had the opportunity to listen to all makes and models in their caliber.

The sparrow is very unimpressive. I own a guardian, it too is unimpressive. The guardian is quieter than the sparrow, yet both suffer badly from first round pop.

To date the quietest 22LR cans I've heard is the Gemtech Alpine and mack brothers 22lr. Alpine does not have first round pop. Perhaps it does if you meter it, but it is not audible. Especially when compared to other suppressors. I can shoot it indoors with no hearing protection on a buckmark or walther, and it won't ring your ears. Guardian, sparrow, mite, etc etc etc... ring your ears on the first shot.

I shot a sparrow next to the mack brothers 22lr can, and the sparrow was loud in the extreme in comparison. The mack brothers can was as quiet, if not quieter than my alpine, with no first round pop, and cheaper than my alpine. They've got a stainless version that is rated for up to 5.7, and a 22lr aluminum one. Stainless weighs 7oz while the aluminum is just under 4oz. What's not to like?

If you are looking to order or have questions, call Alan Mack @ 605-720-4476.
I have never heard a Sparrow in person, but I personally know a few that have, and they claim the Sparrow is one of the quietest.

Can't say the need to shoot a handgun, indoors, without hearing protection, ever factored into my purchase decision.

I have never heard a Sparrow in person, but I personally know a few that have, and they claim the Sparrow is one of the quietest. As I've said, it's too bad they can't fire them next to actual quiet suppressors. The mack bros and gemtech alpine EMBARRASSED the sparrow, and neither have audible first round pop.

Silencerco does a great job at marketing though. So statements like that often fall on deaf ears.

Being able to shoot it inside is a testament of how quiet a suppressor is. That is all. If you'd rather have a louder suppressor, go for it. No one will stop you.

As I've said, it's too bad they can't fire them next to actual quiet suppressors. The mack bros and gemtech alpine EMBARRASSED the sparrow, and neither have audible first round pop.

While I've never heard of Mack Bros suppressors before this thread (I'm sure they're very good), independent testing shows the "actual quiet" Alpine EMBARRASSED the Sparrow all right...

(apologies for formatting)

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/armorgod/GemtechAlpineonP2221Jun11.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/armorgod/SilencercoSparrowonP2221Jun11.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/armorgod/GemtechAlpineonRem5042Jul11.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/armorgod/SilencercoSparrowonRem5042Jul11.jpg

I have both the alpine and the sparrow. The FRP on the Sparrow is louder. But the ease of cleaning is so much easier on the sparrow it gets the lions share of the use.

I don't much care about sound meters. A can can meter quiet, and seem loud, or vice versa. I'm talking from direct personal experience with can's that I own.

I don't much care about sound meters. A can can meter quiet, and seem loud, or vice versa. I'm talking from direct personal experience with can's that I own.
Sound meters don't lie, i'll trust them over an Internet poster's perception.

Sounds like you're all set then. Do you have your sparrow on order?

Ive played with alot of 22 cans, and in my experance everyone has their favorites. The Alpine is a OK can but I definatly wouldnt put it at the top of the list. Tacsol has a titanium can the same size that is rated for 5.7 that is quiter for about the same price maybe a bit higher.

I have zero complaints about the Sparrow. If you want to talk about poor sounding cans I have come to find over time that YHM stuff is at the top of the list and surefire is not far behind in the .22 department. Shooting Surefires .22 can next to a Thompson XL and a OutbackII the surefire is a paper weight. There are people who will defend their over priced surefire .22 cans all day long, I wont fight over it, I am just going by what my ears told me. I suggest people to try them side by side with other cans the noise level will speak for itself.

Meter readings only account for so much, the tone of the shot is often is very differant, more so in rifle cans than pistol or .22 in my experance. Tone of the shot is something that I cant really explain other then the "ringyness" of the sound, but it does affect what people think about how well a can works judging but customer demos.

I will try and reach Mac Bros, I keep hearing good things about their cans and if their stuff is of good quality and preformance Id be happy to carry some of it.

Sounds like you're all set then. Do you have your sparrow on order?
I do, submitted last week. When I pick it up this fall I'll compare it side by side to my gemtech OBII and a few others friends own.

I will try and reach Mac Bros, I keep hearing good things about their cans and if their stuff is of good quality and preformance Id be happy to carry some of it. What shop you operate out of MrM4?

I'd give it some time and wait for the SWR Spectre 2. It looks as if it's going to be a real neat can.

Apparently I have a LOT more reading to do as I'm feeling a tad bit overwhelmed right now.

Tis a shame one can't actually go and experience first hand all the different offerings out there (well, I can't at least). I'll spend a month over at silencertalk and hopefully that will get me a better foundation on what I want.

When's the new Spectre coming out?

I'll spend a month over at silencertalk and hopefully that will get me a better foundation on what I want.

Don't count on it. One of my first suppressors was a YHM Mite based on glowing recommendations everywhere including there. It's the loudest crappiest 22LR can I own.

You really need to meet up with people. Try to coordinate a meet somewhere that lots of guys can show up and bring their toys. Then you can hear a few side by side on the same host weapon and REALLY make an informed decision. Everywhere on the web, you'll find someone talking up every single make and model suppressor out there, no matter how crappy. Pride of ownership with suppressors is ridiculous... and the info so skewed because of people selling them not really caring.

As MrM4 said, meter results are USELESS. The guy claiming that the sparrow meters quieter than the alpine may be true, but I can tell you my first hand indoor experience will trump any metering result I ever see. I don't care who runs the test or what kind of meter is used. Thus far, the alpine and mack bros cans are the quietest non-integral suppressors I've ever heard... and I know quiet suppressors. My integrally suppressed 77/22 is the quietest I've ever heard. Tactical Operations green hornet is the same thing. A mouse fart is louder than that thing firing with subs.

So make it a priority to go hear various suppressors on the same host gun. Changing hosts will change the sound signature. By doing this, you'll get first hand experience that cannot be replaced by anything people tell you online. It's the only thing that will stop you from being misled by glory hounds on the internet.

I have been thinking about setting up a local event to let people listen to cans side by side with the same host and same ammo. Maybe take 3 or 4 new threaded rugers and bring out the shop demo cans in addition to what ever the public wanted to bring and make an afternoon out of shooting them side by side. Myself and a few other guys have been talking about doing the same with 30 cal cans aswell.

Orkan, my shop is over by Wall. We do Class 3 sales and custom manufacture NFA items. We also make a high volume 1.5in OD FA rated .22 take down suppressor, no dbs numbers on it at this point. We have not had anyone test 1 out with a meter yet.

I still need to get ahold of mack bros and see what we might be able to set up with them.

Sound meters don't lie, i'll trust them over an Internet poster's perception

Absolutely. The "golden ears" of audio will eventually find their way to suppressors with all kinds of subjective "expertise" espousing "oxygen-free" copper baffles :)

I can tell you my first hand indoor experience will trump any metering result I ever see.

Indoors, where you stand relative to the muzzle will have an enormous effect on what you hear.

Indoors, where you stand relative to the muzzle will have an enormous effect on what you hear. Next you'll tell me that wearing hearing protection will reduce the loudness of sound.

My world is just crashing down all around me! :what:

lol :)

Next you'll tell me that wearing hearing protection will reduce the loudness of sound.

Guess you've never heard about standing waves, nodes, and anti-nodes.

Valid testing is done in an anechoic chamber or outdoors in an open area as a reasonable approximation.

This is a potential problem with the Silerenco tests/video although it appears they do seem to have tried to keep the positions of the muzzle and microphone the same.

At the end of the day 3db is not worth arguing about.

Agreed 3 db is not a big deal in my mind when talking about general uses, there are many good quality cans out there. How ever there are millions of post about people wanting the best, which I understand however I dont find it worth fighting over.

Anyone got a link for Mack Bros?

With rimfire ammo how often does one have to clean a suppressor?

The manual that came with my Sparrow recommends cleaning it after about every 1000 rounds, This is 2-3 outings for me so ease of cleaning was a very high priority. I shot 400 rounds through it yesterday so I don't see how the "first round pop" is significant.

Wonderful fun shooting steel plates without needing hearing protection. When I missed and put one above the plate into the dirt (need to hit the top 1/3rd or they don't fall with a 22) it really did sound like the pfft... in the movies :) I've shot pellet rifles that were louder.

Orkan, it sounds like your ears are just hyper sensitive to certain frequencies. I'd stick with that argument. It's a very valid argument there can be a 80db sensitivity change for the human ear between 10 and 5 kHz.

Arguing that sound metering is useless is not productive.

Metering dB @ x hertz is very productive

Metering dB only measures the pressure wave.

Arguing that sound metering is useless is not productive.

Metering dB @ x hertz is very productive

Metering dB only measures the pressure wave.

Absolutely.

The pressure wave is the physics of what makes the noise, when you measure across a reduced (or weighted) bandwidth you are using some model of human hearing to try and make the numbers match "perceptions" of an average from a large number of listeners -- A-weighting, etc.

This is why unless they specify the bandwidth and weighting, if any, maker A's db readings are not strictly comparable to maker B's db readings even ignoring the room acoustics issues (are their any firearms rated anechoic chambers?). The graphs posted don't seem to specify the measurement bandwidth or weighting, if any.


Outdoor testing in a large open area would be the best practical method but has all kinds of instrumentation power supply issues and possible environmental noise contamination.

No matter how good the suppressor how "loud" it sounds will vary a good bit depending on where you shoot it and where you are standing relative the muzzle.

I'm thrilled with my Sparrow, not so much with my Gemtech 7.62 as the supersonic crack is still more than enough to require hearing protection in my shooting environment -- about as loud as a .22 rifle. Its the people at the adjacent shooting stations that get the most benefits from my using it :) When I whipped it out, everyone on the line wanted to stop shooting remove their muffs and hear it. I don't think anyone was really all that impressed. But the QD mount is really cool!

Been doing my reading and I really like the design of the Spectre II.

I also realized that a lot of you who play with suppressors have an ultrasonic cleaner, so along with a suppressor I think I'll pick one of those up as well. Can anyone recommend one in the $100 - $200 range?

My old suppressor is a Tac-65. Anybody know how the Tac-65 compares to modern designs?

I also realized that a lot of you who play with suppressors have an ultrasonic cleaner, so along with a suppressor I think I'll pick one of those up as well. Can anyone recommend one in the $100 - $200 range?


I bought $99 Chicago ultrsonic from Harbor freight. It's just a debadged version of the lyman or hornady cleaner. I forget which company slaps their label on it and charges you extra.

The pressure wave is the physics of what makes the noise, when you measure across a reduced (or weighted) bandwidth you are using some model of human hearing to try and make the numbers match "perceptions" of an average from a large number of listeners -- A-weighting, etc.

Anyone know the algorithm for A-weighted? Google doesn't seem to provide any hits.

Anyone know the algorithm for A-weighted?

Here is a starting point with a graph:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU-R_468_noise_weighting

Its not really an algorithm its basically a transfer function that defines the bandpass in front of the measuring instrument.

Orkan, it sounds like your ears are just hyper sensitive to certain frequencies. I'd stick with that argument. It's a very valid argument there can be a 80db sensitivity change for the human ear between 10 and 5 kHz. Arguing that sound metering is useless is not productive.

I can get behind that.

Sound metering is akin to comparing glass clarity in optics. The individual end user's experience is the only thing that truly matters. That is why I'm a bit harsh toward people that only own a couple suppressors and try to talk as an authority about metered results.

Nothing, and I mean nothing is as important as first hand experience with a product. (ANY product)

I got a super deal on a coastal passport that I couldn't pass up.

It's not the quietest twenty two suppressor but easily hearing safe dry with pistol or rifle.


If you can find one for super cheap I wouldn't discredit it as an option.

Thanks to all who replied here, I learned a lot just from this thread.

So I've been doing my research and settled on a SS 22Sparrow for my first can. Honestly, I could have gone with the Sparrow OR the Spectre II, but the shop had the Sparrow in stock for a decent price so I went with that. Is the Sparrow the end all be all of .22 cans? No, but from what I've read and the features it offers it definitely seems a GOOD choice.

So begins my long wait to play with my new toy. Seems kinda unfair; dropping $600 total only to wait upwards of 6 months to get it.:( Oh well, gives me some time to get my barrels threaded. Thanks again all!

Congrats. You'll like the Sparrow.

So begins my long wait to play with my new toy. Seems kinda unfair; dropping $600 total only to wait upwards of 6 months to get it.

Tell my about it, I'm out $1050 for one can since February that hasn't even been submitted yet because YHM is so far behind on filling orders, and another $600 a month ago for a Sparrow. With NFA stuff patients is key, the best you can do is try to forget about it until fall. I think you chose wisely.

I don't see the issue with first round pop unless you always plan to miss with the first shot.

The bullet hitting pretty much anything masks it. I shoot steel plates with my Sparrow and first round vs. second round is never something I've noticed.

And in all the videos I've watched I saw the same thing too. People would call out the FRP, but I had a hard time distinguishing it over the following shots.

There seems to be a very diligent group out there who simply despise the Sparrow, a lot of times pointing to the FRP or the cost or that people only dig em because of their marketing. Quite frankly nothing I've read can back up the dung they're throwing. I think I'll be very pleased with my Sparrow.

I don't see the issue with first round pop unless you always plan to miss with the first shot.

The bullet hitting pretty much anything masks it. I shoot steel plates with my Sparrow and first round vs. second round is never something I've noticed.
A buddy of mine owns a YHM Mite, which is a monocore can, and has very noticeable FRP. He carries a can of compressed air with it and gives it a blast before shooting to tame the FRP, it works pretty well. When the goal is to be as discreete as possible, it matters.

At seven yards my SS Sparrow shoots 2 inches to the left on my Browing Buckmark with a Tactical Solutions barrel. I'm happy with the sound level though.

At seven yards my SS Sparrow shoots 2 inches to the left on my Browing Buckmark with a Tactical Solutions barrel. I'm happy with the sound level though.
You will experience POI shift with almost any can. Zero with the can and it won't shoot left.

At seven yards my SS Sparrow shoots 2 inches to the left on my Browing Buckmark with a Tactical Solutions barrel

That seems an awful lot of shift at 7 yards. I didn't need to adjust either my Walter P22 (Gemtech P22 to 1/2x28 adapter, iron sights) or Ruger 22/45 (factory threaded barrel, red dot) shooting steel plates at 10 yards. Since the plates need to be hit in the top third to fall any significant POA/POI shift would be obvious.


He carries a can of compressed air with it and gives it a blast before shooting to tame the FRP, it works pretty well. When the goal is to be as discreete as possible, it matters. I'm having bit of trouble getting my head around the need here -- carrying a can of compressed air and a suppressed pistol "to be as discreet as possible" doesn't seem to match up with the "for all lawful purposes" we tend to put on the paperwork. What exactly is this "need"?

As I've said I've never noticed any first second shot differences with my Sparrow simply because the noise of the bullet hitting anything substantial masks it. Maybe next time out I'll intentionally put the first two rounds into the soft dirt that piles up below the plates to see if I can notice any difference, hitting the plates or the hard packed dirt around them clearly masks any first round pop where I shoot.

That seems an awful lot of shift at 7 yards. I didn't need to adjust either my Walter P22 (Gemtech P22 to 1/2x28 adapter, iron sights) or Ruger 22/45 (factory threaded barrel, red dot) shooting steel plates at 10 yards. Since the plates need to be hit in the top third to fall any significant POA/POI shift would be obvious.


I'm having bit of trouble getting my head around the need here -- carrying a can of compressed air and a suppressed pistol "to be as discreet as possible" doesn't seem to match up with the "for all lawful purposes" we tend to put on the paperwork. What exactly is this "need"?

As I've said I've never noticed any first second shot differences with my Sparrow simply because the noise of the bullet hitting anything substantial masks it. Maybe next time out I'll intentionally put the first two rounds into the soft dirt that piles up below the plates to see if I can notice any difference, hitting the plates or the hard packed dirt around them clearly masks any first round pop where I shoot.
Same reason it's not uncommon for people to shoot suppressors "wet.". Are you forgetting the point of a suppressor in the first place? There are many legal reasons why people want to be discrete, use your imagination. Lastly, not all of us shoot steel, so the sound of the bullet impact does not always control.

I'm disapointed as I can't quite get my sights adjusted due to the to the Sparrow shooting two inches left at seven yards. On my buddy's P22 it shoots right on. I'm thinking maybe with a cheap red dot I could be able to adjusted it for the Sparrow and with it off when I'm shooting the steel shoot.
Anyone recommend a inexpensive red dot?
Bob

I'm disapointed as I can't quite get my sights adjusted due to the to the Sparrow shooting two inches left at seven yards. On my buddy's P22 it shoots right on. I'm thinking maybe with a cheap red dot I could be able to adjusted it for the Sparrow and with it off when I'm shooting the steel shoot.
Anyone recommend a inexpensive red dot?
Bob
Something isn't right here. Have you tried different types of ammo? Does anybody else you know have a TacSol barrel that you could try your can on? Are the threads on the barrel concentric with the bore?

As for an inexpensive red dot, I would recommend either a Primary Arms Microdot or Bushnell TRS-25.

Hope you get it figured out.