Best AR Suppressors for 2023
- June 16, 2023
Travis Pike
The AR-15 is America’s favorite Rifle. It’s easily the most produced firearm currently on the market, with a seemingly endless supply of rifles in various calibers and configurations, and made for numerous purposes. You can find an AR-15 for hunting, self-defense, competition, and more. With that in mind, let’s talk suppressors and silencers for the AR platform. A common question we receive at SilencerCo is, what’s the best Suppressor for an AR rifle?
We’re going to dive into that, but first, let’s clear up a common misunderstanding about the initials used to identify the platform.
You’ve probably seen this question before:
What does AR stand for?
The most common guess is an assault rifle, but that’s not a true or accurate descriptor. AR might as well stand for America’s Rifle since it’s such a popular and famous rifle. But that’s not accurate either. In reality, AR stands for Armalite Rifle. Armalite was the company that Eugene Stoner worked for when the rifle was designed and prototyped.
What is the best AR suppressor?
This is a tough question with so many factors to consider. Remember when I mentioned there are so many calibers and configurations out there? If we were just tossing a can on the AR-15 designed in the 1960s, this would be easy. However, it’s 2023, and we have to take that into account. I can’t say there is a single best AR suppressor, but I can say there are best AR suppressors. Let’s break down ARs by their most popular category first. Then we’ll dive into the best suppressor for each category of AR-15.
ARs in 5.56 - Velos LBP
SilencerCo built the Velos LBP from the ground up to be the best-made AR-15 suppressor on the market. First, the Velos is purpose-built for the 5.56 caliber projectile, which ensures the best sound suppression possible. SilencerCo calls it the toughest suppressor they have ever made, and it’s not only fully auto-rated but has no barrel length restrictions.
LBP stands for Low Back Pressure, which ensures a comfortable shooting experience with much less gas blowback. The Velos LBP gives users a hard-use, heavy-duty, take no prisoners suppressor for their AR-15 rifle.
Without a doubt, the most popular AR-15 on the market is chambered in the standard 5.56 caliber. These rifles dominate the market, and if a company makes ARs, they most certainly make a rifle that fits this parameter. Most readers here are likely looking to outfit an AR-15 Carbine in 5.56 with a suppressor. For that role, it’s tough to find a better option than the Velos LBP.
.300 Blackout ARs - Omega 300
With subsonic and supersonic options available for .300 Blackout, you want a suppressor that can handle both. With that in mind, the Omega 300 is the clear winner. The Omega 300 can work with cartridges up to 300 Winchester Magnum, so .300 Blackout isn’t going to even test its durability.
This suppressor can be used on .300 Blackout firearms with barrels as short as seven inches, so it works with SBR and AR pistols without a problem. The Omega 300 is as versatile as the .300 Blackout round, and the AR platform, so the combination of all three is a perfect trio.
.300 Blackout is a specialty round created by AAC for a specific government contract. There was a need for a caliber and platform roughly the same size as an MP5SD, with a similar sound suppression profile but with the ballistics of a rifle when needed. Thus the .300 Blackout hit the market. This round was designed to be suppressed and used in short barrel AR platforms.
9mm ARs - Omega K
A suppressed PCC is a fun machine, and the Omega K suppressor fits like a glove. The biggest reason to use a PCC over any other platform is for suppression purposes. They suppress extremely easily, and subsonic ammo is common for the 9mm.
The Omega K fits the AR profile well. It is short at 4.54 inches and lightweight at 7.3 ounces. It cuts noise down significantly from the longer barrel of a rifle but works well on short-barreled AR pistols as well. With the three-lug Alpha mount, the Omega K is easy to twist on and off. The K series offers a tough, full auto-rated option that works just as well on PCCs as it does handguns.
The AR-15 platform was one of the first widely accepted PCC platforms. Ever since the days of the Colt SMG, the AR platform has proven to be a reliable option for a pistol-caliber carbine. These days, ARs in 9mm have expanded in popularity, with companies like Aero Precision, CMMG, PSA, Colt, and many more producing their favored AR platforms in 9mm.
.22 LR ARs - Switchback 22
Finally, we can’t ignore the many rimfire variants of the AR-15, and tossing a Switchback 22 on your rifle is a great way to keep things quiet, and it’s likely the best training rifle you can get. This configuration is quiet and unintimidating for the shooters and makes it easy to hear instructions from a trainer. SilencerCo’s Switchback 22 is perfect for a rimfire AR.
The Switchback 22 is modular, so you can customize its length from 2.8 to 5.75 inches long. Its weight ranges between 3.7 and 6.9 ounces, so it barely adds any weight to the gun and stays out of your sight line. It’s super quiet, and you can shoot a metric ton of ammo through it without worrying. This user-serviceable suppressor makes it easy to clean and maintain even with dirty .22LR ammunition.
People love ARs, and people love cheap ammo. With that in mind, companies like S&W, Wee1 Tactical, and CMMG all produce .22LR variants of the popular AR-15 series. These little rifles are excellent training tools and a ton of fun. Topping one off with a suppressor makes it both better suited for training and for fun.
Suppressing the AR
One of the best ways to make your AR-15 easier to use is to add a suppressor. We all know it cuts down on noise, but it will also help reduce recoil and muzzle flash. The suppressor can be used for hunting, home defense, or just quiet training. A good suppressor can take your AR to the next level.
Travis Pike
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