Suppressor question

[LMTguy]

I'm going to build a F1 suppressor now that the eForms are back. This will be my first NFA item but definitely will be building/buying more down the road.


For my first suppressor I want to use mainly on 300BO subs. I have a AR pistol with 10.5" barrel and will be purchasing a 300BO bolt gun in the near future. I'd say 90% of the time the host will be the bolt gun.

I would like to also be able to use my build on my 556 ARs using subs and supers.


So should I build a mult cal suppressor that can shoot both 556/300BO or stick with the 300BO and just buy a designated 556 can later?

[Xringshooter]

If you build it for the 300BO it will have a .30 cal opening and as such the 5.56mm can be shot through it. That said, I would make it longer than if you were only going to use it with subsonic 300 BO rounds. Remember a silencer is just a muffler and the more internal volume (either by larger diameter or longer length) the quieter it is. You could also design yours to have interchangeable front caps for both .30 or 5.56 openings.

[jake1191]

30 cal cans work great on 5.56. Read up on http://form1suppressor.boards.net/

[LMTguy]

Thanks for the reply's.

I just signed up today, there is a lot of information I have to read up on haha.

[esh21167]

As others said, a 5.56 bullet will fit through a .30 suppressor. Typical 5.56 is still pretty loud suppressed. Unless you buy/load subsonic, which won't cycle a semi-auto.

[WCMG]

So should I build a mult cal suppressor that can shoot both 556/300BO...

Personally, I'm not a fan of multi-cal suppressors because they don't suppress smaller calibers all that well and that is the point of the whole thing, now with that said, build the suppressor for the caliber you most want to suppress and then shoot whatever smaller calibers it can handle.

[USMC3531]

I built my f1 can to fit 9mm but strong enough to handle 308. Lots of tradeoffs , its longer heavier and may not be as great as a dedicated caliber can but the fact it works on virtually all my calibers makes it worth it to me. I did buy a dedicated 22lr can to have a lighter can on pistols

[esh21167]

I'm not up on all suppression specs, but when I started researching pistol/multi-cal cans, I found that using a larger caliber can on smaller calibers is not a huge loss. I recall a .45 suppressor used on a 9mm only losing like 2dB compared to a dedicated 9mm suppressor. YMMV.

[LMTguy]

Personally, I'm not a fan of multi-cal suppressors because they don't suppress smaller calibers all that well and that is the point of the whole thing, now with that said, build the suppressor for the caliber you most want to suppress and then shoot whatever smaller calibers it can handle.

Maybe down the road I'll have a designated suppressor for each caliber, but for now I'll stick with the 30 cal.

[LMTguy]

I built my f1 can to fit 9mm but strong enough to handle 308. Lots of tradeoffs , its longer heavier and may not be as great as a dedicated caliber can but the fact it works on virtually all my calibers makes it worth it to me. I did buy a dedicated 22lr can to have a lighter can on pistols

That's my thoughts as well.