Is suppressing a .45 ACP pistol worth it?

[Armed012002]

I'm considering buying a Silencerco Osprey to suppress a .45 ACP pistol. I will be using a Colt 1911 with a Stormlake threaded barrel.

My primary purpose for it will be home defense. Less sound and flash make for much improved night vision and situational awareness. My secondary purpose for it would be competition and target shooting.

Concerns/Questions:

It looks awfully cumbersome. Unlike a rimfire pistol with a rimfire suppressor, a 1911 with an Osprey looks very nose heavy and long.

Would a carbine with a suppressor be better suited than a pistol with a suppressor?

Does anyone make a holster for it? I figure across the chest like how people carry .454 Casulls, .500 Magnums, and other big revolvers.

I assume people do buy them and there is a market considering Silencerco made a pistol suppressor BEFORE a rifle suppressor. I think a rifle suppressor makes more sense, but evidently, pistol suppressors are the cat's meow at Silencerco

 

[kimbershot]

no

 

[Rail Driver]

Not to detract from the previous post in any way, but I would like to answer one or two of your questions...

It isn't as heavy as it looks. The osprey is also offset so you're able to still use your sights (a big bonus to me). It's quiet (one of the quietest on the market for .45ACP). It's long, no denying that. Tough to find a holster that will fit. I know several people, however, that use QD attachments and carry the suppressor in a flashlight pouch on their weak side. Check your local laws regarding the carry of NFA items.

A carbine with a suppressor would be MUCH quieter and more effective (terminally speaking) than a pistol, and for home defense you want the most effective weapon that you can shoot (effectively). A rifle (even in a pistol caliber) is always going to be more ballistically effective than a handgun.

Also, you may want to look into some of Thompson Machine's offerings... Their cans are supposed to be shot wet, but I've heard several of them dry and they are comparable to about anything out there and superior to some.

 

[thorazine]

Is suppressing a .45 ACP pistol worth it?

Yes.

I have an older AAC Evolution.

Without the suppressor -- hearing protection is absolutely needed.

With the suppressor and about three to four cc's of water -- hearing protection is not needed.

The difference is amazing.

-and-

You'll see a little better results with the Osprey.

 

[GoingQuiet]

I'm considering buying a Silencerco Osprey to suppress a .45 ACP pistol. I will be using a Colt 1911 with a Stormlake threaded barrel.

My primary purpose for it will be home defense. Less sound and flash make for much improved night vision and situational awareness. My secondary purpose for it would be competition and target shooting.

Concerns/Questions:

It looks awfully cumbersome. Unlike a rimfire pistol with a rimfire suppressor, a 1911 with an Osprey looks very nose heavy and long.

Would a carbine with a suppressor be better suited than a pistol with a suppressor?

Does anyone make a holster for it? I figure across the chest like how people carry .454 Casulls, .500 Magnums, and other big revolvers.

I assume people do buy them and there is a market considering Silencerco made a pistol suppressor BEFORE a rifle suppressor. I think a rifle suppressor makes more sense, but evidently, pistol suppressors are the cat's meow at Silencerco

I don't think I'd defend my house with it unless it were a last resort. My cans are not on my guns unless I am on the range.

The Osprey is a solid choice though, I do stock and sell a lot of them.

Nobody makes a holster that works - I checked.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

It's more expensive, the cans are bigger, the gun/suppessor combo is usually heavier, and the suppression is generally not as effective as 9mm. You be the judge.

 

[wally]

I'm considering buying a Silencerco Osprey to suppress a .45 ACP pistol

I hope its worth it! I'm scheduled to pick mine up on Saturday.

Initially its going on my FNP Tactical, but I plan to get the adapter to use it on a 9mm pistol and SBR. I'm willing to give up a few db in suppression for flexibility since the $200 for the transfer and the wait is painful.

Silencerco has some nice videos on youTube showing the 45 Osprey on a 9mm vs. a 9mm Osprey on a 9mm with 10 shot noise reduction averages.

 

[jawn]

They get pretty quiet. You get used to the front-heaviness. My buddy has a Ti-Rant .45 on his 1911 and it's really not all that bad to get used to shooting.

 

[Armed012002]

How front heavy is it?

I've shot an 8.38" barrel S&W 500 Magnum which is the heaviest handgun I've shot. Comparable?

 

[GoingQuiet]

How front heavy is it?

I've shot an 8.38" barrel S&W 500 Magnum which is the heaviest handgun I've shot. Comparable?

It isn't heavy at all. Pistol cans barely weigh anything, rifle cans on the other hand....

 

[Armed012002]

Thanks

According to S&W, the 500 Magnum I shot weighs 72 oz. and has an overall length of 15".

A 1911 with Osprey will weigh 51 oz. and have an overall length of 17".

21 oz. lighter and 2" longer.

 

[hub]

I would also recommend you look into a Thompson Machine can, the Poseidon .45 specifically. The Poseidon .45 is a micro suppressor that is only 4.5 inches long and only weighs around 4 Oz.

I own two Thompson cans, a Zephyr XL and a CHD and I am really pleased with both. They are quiet and well made.

Here's a video of the Poseidon .45.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjq_S_E9zhk

 

[gunbuff1]

Don't quote me on this, but if you're looking to do some competition shooting with the silencer setup, it could give you an added advantage as a compensator and improve your aim stability.

Also, you can alway ghetto rig a similar holster, or just make your own and become a little smarter for it

 

[GoingQuiet]

Don't quote me on this, but if you're looking to do some competition shooting with the silencer setup, it could give you an added advantage as a compensator and improve your aim stability.

Also, you can alway ghetto rig a similar holster, or just make your own and become a little smarter for it

I can't think of a single competition that allows silencers.

 

[Utah Shotgunner]

Post #1.

I shoot my suppressed AR at 3-Gun matches quite regularly.

 

[wally]

Just got it!

Back from the gun show where I met up with the dealer and did the transfer.

Can't wait to shoot it! so far I've resisted the temptation to pop off a few rounds into the swimming pool

I've got Monday off and can't wait to get to the range.

Its remarkably light weight and nowhere near as front heavy as it looks.

 

[Mike1234567]

WALLY... Nice combo. The suppressor looks like it was made just for your FNP. how long was your wait for the paperwork to clear?

 

[wally]

how long was your wait for the paperwork to clear?

From the time the BATFE cashed my check, to the dealer calling to say the stamp had come back, was almost exactly four months. Since he was out of Dallas, it was most convenient to pick it up at the next Houston gun show which was two weeks later.

Next on the wish list are extended, threaded barrel for my Glock 22 and the adapters to fit the suppressor to it and my 9mm AR.

 

[mortablunt]

Firstly, it looks like the suppressor might interfere a bit with aiming and balance.
Secondly, you made a good choice of handgun and caliber for suppression. 45 ACP is a subsonic round and will be much more effectively suppressed than a supersonic round. Keep in mind that even when suppressed, a gun is still very loud- think jackhammer tearing up asphalt loud.

 

[wally]

Keep in mind that even when suppressed, a gun is still very loud- think jackhammer tearing up asphalt loud

Having shot it for the first time today without hearing protection I can say this is very wrong, at least for this combination. The impact of the bullet on the steel plates 10 yards away was way louder than the gun! In fact afterwards I shot a bunch of .22LR with earpro and it was much louder with hearing protection than the Osprey was without.

The Osprey is so light, handling is a dream and the muzzle flip is less than I'd ever experienced in a .45ACP before. It doesn't interfere with the sights because the FNP Tactical has very tall sights for use with a suppressor out of the box, and I was using an RMR optic which sits even higher.

I will need taller sights in addition to a threaded barrel for other guns. Anyone know who makes tall sights for use with a suppressor and good suppliers for threaded barrels? Lone Wolf has Glock covered, I'd like to see what other options I might have.

Bottom line, to answer the question in the thread title, H**L yes! It's worth it!

I think a rifle suppressor makes more sense

The problem with a rifle is no matter how good the suppressor you still have the Mach 2-3 supersonic crack of the bullet, unless you go to heavy bullets and sub-sonic velocities, which, rifle or not bring you down to pistol level in bullet energy.

A .308 can is in my future, for sure after how much fun this is on a pistol!

 

[Ranb]

I have heard jackhammers and a 45 suppressed with an osprey. The suppressed 45 is way less noisy. I think it is irresponsible to claim that a work of art like the Osprey is as loud as a jackhammer unless they are compared side by side.

I am also very happy with my suppressed high powered rilfes. A silencer is not intended to deal with anything but muzzle blast.

Ranb

 

[thorazine]

I think both the osprey and the jackhammer fall within the same decibel range (120-130) so technically it is just as loud or approaching the range of a jackhammer.

Wet I think the osprey was tested at low to mid 120's for the 45?

The noise from the suppressor happens so fast and has a significantly shorter duration than the jackhammer.

 

[Alex23]

I did read your rationale for wanting it but not sure it is sensible. Cans are great but for SD? Flash suppression ok I guess but 45 in close quarters will still make a large report add in the handling and uhhh...

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk

 

[Guns&Religion]

My primary purpose for it will be home defense

Not a good idea, in my opinion.

Having a large can on the front of your handgun would make it easier for a perp to grab hold of the pistol in close quarters and direct the barrel away from himself.

A little hearing loss is a small price to pay for defending my wife and kids. That's my opinion anyway.

 

[taliv]

a few comments:

i have the FDE FNP45 tactical and Osprey combo. I love it. Definitely my fav handgun.

I don't believe any "perp" is going to grab hold of a pistol (unless you're an complete idiot and not pointing it at them and firing)

However, you should consider the effect a suppressor may have on "gun shot residue". Ayoob has several threads on here about the cost of defending yourself with handloads due to lack of database of GSR. IANAL but I would think using a suppressor would be similarly expensive if it reduces the GSR and makes it appear that you were farther away from the bad guy than your testimony stated.

More specifically, I'd think it would be an extraordinarily bad move to shoot someone with a suppressor and then remove the suppressor before the po-po shows up