How To Attach a Suppressor
How To Attach a Suppressor
Travis Pike
Owning a suppressor is the beginning of your journey in shooting suppressed. The next step is attaching it to your firearm. In this article, we are going to explain how to attach a suppressor to your firearm. We’ll walk through the most common methods, and we’ll also take a look at a few oddball means of suppressor attachment that might come across your radar.
How to Attach a Suppressor with Direct Threads
The direct thread is exactly how it sounds. You have a threaded barrel and a direct thread suppressor. The threads have to match to work. For example, if your barrel has a thread pitch of 1/2×28, then your suppressor needs to match that pitch. This is the most common means to mount suppressors on handguns and the second most common for rifles. It’s typically an easy process that just involves spinning the suppressor onto the barrel
Threaded barrels are becoming more common on stock firearms, but until they are as common as Picatinny rails, you’ll likely need a new barrel for your handgun. You have to be picky. If the thread pitch is poorly done and lacks concentricity, you might not be able to correctly mount your can. You also risk a baffle strike with a poorly threaded barrel.
Fear not. You’ve come to the right palace. SilencerCo produces an entire line of threaded barrels for the most popular handguns. We are the suppressor people, so we know how to thread a barrel to make sure it works right with our cans.
If you have a rifle with a non-threaded barrel, you will either have to change the barrel or take it to a qualified gunsmith and have them thread the barrel to your specifications.
How To Attach a Suppressor with a Muzzle Device Mounting
These are occasionally known as QD mounts, and QD stands for quick detach. These have become the defacto standard on semi-auto rifles. While you can still most certainly direct thread a silencer to an AR-15, it’s easier to use a QD-style mount. These are muzzle devices that often act as flash hiders, compensators, or brakes when the can is not mounted.
Devices like the ASR Muzzle Brake or ASR Flash Hider allow you to have a usable device when the suppressor is not mounted. They also allow you to attach the silencer to the device quickly and efficiently. They often work for multiple suppressors with variances in caliber and barrel thread pitches.
For example, if I attach the ASR Flash Hider to my AR-15, I need to ensure I use the mount designed for my rifle. This means it needs a 1/2×28 thread pitch and needs to be a .223 caliber design. I then need to ensure my suppressor has the correct mount for my muzzle device and caliber. I’m using a Harvester Evo, so I know I need an ASR Bravo Mount. When combined, I have a rifle with a muzzle device and a suppressor that attaches with ease.
How To Attach a Suppressor to a Shotgun with a Choke Tube
Attaching a suppressor to a shotgun can be a bit tricky. SilencerCo uses an innovative system that utilizes the internal threads designed to accept chokes. This allows you to attach a suppressor via the choke threadings. The adapters themselves are setup up for different constrictions, so you don’t lose the capabilities of a choke when using an Echo series adapter.
If your shotgun is not threaded for chokes, you have two options. You can purchase a barrel threaded for chokes or take it to a qualified gunsmith to have the barrel threaded for chokes.
How To Attach a Suppressor to the Oddballs
There are a few oddball means to mount suppressors I’ll briefly mention. They aren’t common, and while they may work, it’s often simpler to use one of the above options.
Rail Mounted
A rail-mounted suppressor attaches to your pistol’s picatinny rail and places the suppressor in front of an unthreaded barrel. It appears to only work with a very specific suppressor and is not a multi-mount option.
Clamp On Thread Adapters
Clamp-on thread adapters were popular coming out of the 1994 AWB when rifles were often sold without threading. They’ve faded from popularity but still pop up every now and then. To be clear, this is not a recommended method for attaching a suppressor to a firearm. They work, but shooters have to be very careful in attaching the mount to ensure it aligns perfectly with the end of their barrel. Barrel profile also plays a role in attachment. It’s easier and better to just have your barrel threaded.
Good Mounts Matter
Suppressors are not cheap items, and the ATF’s wait time isn’t short. When it comes time to mount your can to your gun, you should be picky. This isn’t the time to cheap out. I’d always suggest using a mount either built by or approved by the company that built your suppressor. If you are purchasing an aftermarket barrel, purchase from a reputable company, and if you are having your barrel threaded, make sure it’s by a qualified gunsmith. That guy you know with some tools might not be the best choice.
If you want to enjoy your suppressor for years and years, use a quality, well-made mount. Luckily mounting the can is pretty easy once you figure out exactly how you plan to mount it. Happy hunting, and let’s keep it down out there.
