SilencerCo Sparrow / Osprey 45

[pdsmith505]

Looking to round out my NFA collection before it gets harder to do in June and I plan on getting a 22 can and a pistol can. Already have a Form 1'd 30-cal rifle can, and the Form 1 is in the work for a SBR.

That being said, I've kept coming back to SilencerCo's offerings for the following reasons:

Sparrow - Clam-shell inner tube for easier cleaning. My rifle can is hard enough to get the baffles out of, and I can only imagine messing with the results from .22's. Bonus points for being stainless (aside from the outer tube) so I can tumble with pins to clean. Downsides I read about are more pronounced first round pop and generally not being the quietest .22 can out there. Local dealer quoted $450 and has on hand.

Osprey 45: Large internal volume, less sight interference, can swap pistons out for 9mm/.40 down the line. Downsides are aluminum and not user-serviceable. I hear SilencerCo has great support if the can fills up with junk though. Local dealer quoted $725 and has on hand.

Any other suggestions or thoughts? He stocks the following manufacturers:
Advanced Armament Corp
Gem Tech
Silencerco
SWR
Surefire
Yankee Hill
Tactical Solutions
Huntertown Arms
Liberty

 

[wally]

I like your choices, I've both. While the Osprey 45 is great, I still find that few "normal" sights can see over it -- OTOH its not as big a problem as it seems since you are focusing on the front sight and the target will be a blur anyways. Try taping on a piece of black cardboard to block the sight as a can would and give it a try.

Look at the Octane 45HD as an alternative if you want user serviceable, it uses the same pistons as the Osprey. I've both user serviceable and non-serviceable pistol cans and I've quickly turned the serviceable ones non-serviceable as the required cleaning intervals are lower round counts than our usual outings so I've quit taking them apart for fear of damaging them.

 

[pdsmith505]

Really couldnt find any reason not to pick up these cans, and after demo'ing them I was ready to lay down the cash.

Now for the long wait. With the inevitable surge in trust applications, I get the feeling it will be a REALLY long wait.

 

[taliv]

i've had the osprey since it first shipped. great suppressor.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

Have you checked out SilencerCo's Octane 45?

 

[Crawfish1]

Another vote for the Octane 45 . Really good can and easily serviced. Good for 300 BLK subs also.

 

[Vitamin G]

I have an osprey and I love it. It conceals the front site on standard 1911's and standard glock sites only to the point of standard site height anyways. WAY easier to "shoot through" than standard suppressors.

 

[basicblur]

As an owner of an AAC Element 2, Sparrow, and White Sparrow, here's a few thoughts...

Sparrow - Clam-shell inner tube for easier cleaning...Bonus points for being stainless (aside from the outer tube) so I can tumble with pins to clean.

If you're going to tumble with SS pins to clean (which I did on the Element 2 only), I think you might be better off with the AAC Element 2. Since the front cap is built onto the Sparrow's monocore, I feel sure you're going to damage the front cap's finish.

The Element 2 may be a little more difficult to tear apart, but you do have a tool to help you.
My first cleaning for both the Element and Sparrow was at over 1,000 rds., and mine didn't look anywhere near as dirty as the pictures I see online of folks putting 200 to 500 rds. thru theirs.

After my first cleaning, I did the silicone dip 'thang - I don't plan on cracking them open again until I have around 2,000 rds. thru them.
I also don't plan on cleaning them as well as I did the first time - I got 'em looking like new in order to dip them in silicone.

After tumbling, I had to use the SS pick set (Harbor Freight) to get some heavy deposits off the first few cones in the Element 2 - cone #3 and forward came out looking spotless with SS tumbling only.

Next cleaning, I'll probably just use my Ultrasonic (Gunslick) on the Sparrows, and tumble the Element 2 baffles.

I do tend to shoot plated bullets whenever possible, so I can't tell you the mix of plated vs. lead rounds that had been thru each of mine at the 1,000 rd. mark.

Downsides I read about are more pronounced first round pop...

Believe it - my Sparrows are pretty much dedicated rifle cans - they have no first round pop on my rifles, but definitely do on a pistol.

The Element is also smaller and lighter, which suits pistol use just fine, as well as having no first round pop on a pistol.

 

[Crawfish1]

I tumble my Sparrow. No more coating on the end of the mono core to worry about, it doesn't look bad at all.

I do however cover the threaded portion with a piece of a cut off 12 gauge hull to protect the threads. My success with ultrasonic cleaning really left a lot to be desired.

Tumbling with pins works the best for me although takes a while , maybe 12 + hours.

I am curious as to what silicone dip is?

 

[pdsmith505]

Good advice all around.

The silicone oil treatment involves impregnating silicone oil (DOT 5 brake fluid is common) into the metal by soaking the parts and baking them. Prevents the crud from adhering. Im not gonna even shoot the thing before I do it.

 

[basicblur]

I am curious as to what silicone dip is?

Here's the article: http://www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html

I went ahead and got the silicone instead of messing with brake cleaner.
Here's the silicone recommended:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CJNNEJ0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00
OR
http://www.consolidated-chemical.com/Silicone-Oil-Viscosity-350-cSt-25-C-1251.htm?categoryId=-1

Consolodated Chemical also sells on eBay, so you have three places to check for lowest price - I think the only difference may be in shipping from all three locations - the price of the silicone is the same at all three locations (I think).

I cruised the sauces section at Walmart and bought a jar of Classico sauce (don't remember what) just to get the tall, small diameter jar. I measured my Element 2 and Sparrow and found a jar that fit in the grocery / sauces section - $2 even if you dump the sauce, which is cheaper than buying a jar alone in the jar / candle section.
If you have a Hobby Lobby near you, they also sell individual empty Ball jars of various heights.
I also got a short, fat jar for dipping the Element 2 baffles (and storing silicone).

Just dump the silicon into the jar for dipping and slap the cap on it for storage.

I preheated the silencer parts in my microwave (convection setting) then dropped them in the silicone for a few hours.

Those darn Element 2 baffles are slippery little buggers when you try to stack them after dipping! I finally had to just stack them on the counter and slide the baffle down over them - trying to hold and stack and drop into the baffle ended up with me chasing baffles across the kitchen floor more than once.

FWIW, I've attached my notes on my first silicone dipping experience.

 

[MCMXI]

I have two of the AAC ELEMENT2 suppressors and very much doubt that any other .22 can is markedly better and I bet many are considerably worse. I did the silicone treatment on one of them before I put a single round through it and have over 1,500 rounds through it without breaking it apart yet. I didn't do the silicone treatment on the second one and figured I'd compare them to see the difference. Overall I'd highly recommend the ELEMENT2.