Congrats! You’ve finally decided to buy your first suppressor. Like me when I bought my first suppressor, you probably have a lot of questions, and that’s pretty normal. Thanks to the ATF and the National Firearms Act, buying things like SBRs, machine guns, and suppressors (all NFA items) has been made convoluted.
Today, I can hopefully simplify that process for you and get you well on your way to purchasing your first suppressor. But where do we start? Why even buy a suppressor in the first place? Believe it or not, there are people out there who think that suppressors are simply gimmicks and don’t have any practical or even safety benefits over unsuppressed shooting.
Suppressors or Silencers obviously don’t make all guns “Hollywood quiet.” In fact, in all but the most specific of setups, even suppressed firing should necessitate the use of hearing protection when shooting.
Suppressors do, however, reduce the amount of concussion and sound generated, and with recent advancements in low back pressure designs, generally make it healthier to shoot indoors or to shoot higher volumes without developing a TBI from a range session.
When it comes to teaching new shooters, one of my favorite rigs to bring to the range for a newbie is a suppressed .22LR handgun or rifle. Trepidatious newcomers or even the little ones won’t be scared off by the rather loud concussion of an unsuppressed 5.56 rifle or 9mm pistol, but instead will be better able to focus on and listen to your instructions, and most importantly, shoot the gun safely. So how do you go about getting a suppressor in the first place?
Find the Suppressor You Want
You probably already have something in mind, and it could very well be from one of the most popular places to purchase a suppressor from (at least online): Silencer Shop.
I have been a pretty happy Silencer Shop customer for a long time. Silencer Shop offers an easy online store for browsing all types of suppressors, filtered by gun host, caliber, or even purpose, plus a Kiosk network that allows you to take care of all the important paperwork bits quickly and easily without having to keep track of passport photos and multiple filled-out copies of Form 1s or Form 4s.
Instead, the Kiosks capture one-time fingerprints and photos, while the cell phone app and online Dealer Portal handle your eForm submission for a small fee ($50), and you just have to be patient and wait for your approval (down to about a week at most at the time of writing).
So before you buy, ask yourself: What will you shoot most? Where will a suppressor benefit you the most? There are some that subscribe to the idea that there can be one suppressor that does “do it all,” and although it does work in a pinch, in reality, it tends not to pan out as well as you’d expect. So let’s first narrow down the quite broad selection of suppressors out there into a couple of “main categories.”
For ARs
For the AR-15 owner who has one rifle they really plan on working to the bone, then a simple, low backpressure suppressor like the HUXWRX Flow 556K suppressor is one I’d highly recommend as a “buy once, cry once” option. The HUXWRX Flow 556K is a fairly new, slick, compact 5.56 suppressor. It’s super lightweight at just 12 ounces and only 5.5 inches long, so even on a 16″ rifle it won’t completely unbalance the rig.
The Flow 556s claim to fame is its Flow-Through design that pushes gases forward to cut backpressure, nasty toxic gases, flash, and recoil, dropping noise to a shooter-friendly ~143 dB with barely any point-of-impact shift, all locked in place by a no-tools QD mount. Full-auto rated and built to last 10,000+ rounds, it’s a range beast you can grab through Silencer Shop and will last as long as your rifle.
You can browse a full list of AR-appropriate suppressors here on Silencer Shop.
For 9mm Pistols
For 9mm pistol shooters trying to live out their Metal Gear Solid or James Bond fantasies, eyeing a versatile, no-fuss suppressor for carry guns, PCCs, or range days, the Rugged Obsidian 9 is one of the best pistol suppressors out there when paired with the appropriate booster.
This modular beast shrinks from 7.8 inches long to a stubby 4.85 inches, weighs just right at around 10 ounces in short config, and delivers killer sound suppression with minimal blowback thanks to its sealed piston design—perfect for subsonic loads on pistols or carbines. Full-auto rated on 9mm and handling extras like 300 Blackout, it locks on with user-swappable mounts for quick swaps, keeping your setup reliable and whisper-quiet. Grab it through Silencer Shop and quiet your 9mm world.
You can browse a full list of 9mm suppressors here on Silencer Shop.
For the Rimfire Junkie
If you’re like me and you for plinking as a source of catharsis, training, or pest control, the Faxon Firearms Twenty Toucan is a refreshing take on a modular, full-auto capable, all-steel suppressor. The assembly and take-down with the Twenty Toucan is simple, and the suppressor itself in either configuration is insanely quiet on .22 LR thanks to its beefy construction.
Although quite heavy compared to other offerings at Silencer Shop like the 6.6 ounce Dead Air Mask, it balances perfectly with most .22lr pistols and heavier guns like the FN P90 or the Ruger LC Charger chambered in 5.7x28mm.
You can browse a full list of rimfire suppressors here on Silencer Shop.
Big Bore (.45 Caliber) Suppressors
These types of suppressors tend to be the most popular with hunters using large diameter cartridges for hunting purposes. However, my first SBR was paired with a .45 caliber suppressor because it was chambered in .458 SOCOM, so I guess I broke that mold, but what I’ve learned is that big bore shooters hauling .45 caliber or similar-sized cartridges need a tank like the Rugged Obsidian 45 or the SilencerCo Osprey 45, also available on Silencer Shop and a common classic for pistols, and PCCs.
The Obsidian 45 is modular, like its 9mm sibling, and it goes from 8.6 inches to 4.9 inches at about 10.7 ounces short. Made from 17-4 stainless steel baffles and an aluminum tube, it’s full-auto rated for pistol calibers, reduces recoil and gas blowback with its piston system, and maintains point-of-impact consistency so you don’t feel like a chump at the range when you’re showing off your suppressed 1911.
You can browse a full list of big-bore suppressors here on Silencer Shop.
.30 cal – The “Jack of All Trades”
.30 caliber suppressors are a popular first choice for many shooters due to their versatility. While they don’t perfectly suppress 5.56mm, they offer good sound reduction while also supporting larger .30 caliber cartridges like .300 Blackout and some magnum loads. For those shooting everything from 5.56 rifles to .308 precision hunting rifles, the YHM Resonator R2 is an excellent option in my opinion. It measures just 6.9 inches in length and weighs 18.4 ounces, constructed from robust stainless steel for durability and, most importantly, adaptability.
The Resonator R2 features an internal monolithic baffle system that reduces recoil, muzzle blast, and noise while maintaining point-of-impact stability (it also keeps things more affordable). Rated for various calibers up to .30 caliber magnums, the Resonator R2 balances performance and size, making it a solid choice for versatile shooters and buyers who want one suppressor do be able to do (almost) everything for them.
You can browse a full list of .30 cal suppressors here on Silencer Shop.
Let Silencer Shop Help You with The Paperwork
Once you’ve made the decision to purchase a suppressor, you’ve also made the decision to tackle navigating the National Firearms Act (NFA), which regulates the possession, transfer, and manufacture of certain firearms and accessories, including silencers. Currently, under the NFA, purchasing a suppressor requires submitting an application to the ATF. Specifically, since the Silencer is already a manufactured item, you’ll use a Form 4 or the electronic variant, accompanied by a $200 tax stamp (at least until January 1st, 2026).
As I mentioned earlier in this article, the process also includes submitting fingerprints, a recent photo, and passing a background check, just like you would for a Form 4473. Approval times can range from several weeks to months, depending on the current ATF workload, which can be directly affected by both political changes and seasonal purchasing patterns. At the time of writing, wait times are extremely low, with my last approval taking only 2 days when I eFiled through Silencer Shop. Until approved, your suppressor remains at the dealer, where you can pick it up once this process concludes.
Before the days of Silencer Shop, I had to navigate this simple yet still somehow complicated process by myself, and I can’t state enough just how much Silencer Shop simplifies this annoying, literally taxing process.
When you purchase a suppressor or any other NFA product through Silencer Shop, the entire application workflow is digitized and streamlined, and requires no physical paper and no independent mailing of the various forms. And best of all, it eliminates multiple trips to a fingerprinting appointment and or getting photos staged or taken at Walgreens. Probably also eliminates hand cramps from filling out multiple copies of the same form.
Fingerprints and photos are captured once in person at a local Silencer Shop dealer kiosk and stored securely for any future purchases, so you don’t have to repeat this part of the process if you decide to buy another suppressor, even an SBR or transferable machine gun down the road.
The platform guides customers through completing their Form 4 applications online, checks for accuracy to reduce errors that cause delays, and electronically submits them directly to the ATF and your CLEO. Throughout the waiting period, Silencer Shop provides real-time status tracking and clear updates via your online account, so you always know where your application stands.
Additionally, Silencer Shop offers trust creation services for buyers who want to share their purchases legally with multiple users without repeated paperwork. These trust setups are seamlessly integrated with the Silencer Shop buying platform, which undoubtedly makes it easier to manage multi-user ownership legally.
They cost extra, but by handling the complexity behind the scenes and providing the additional auditing and order tracking support, Silencer Shop takes the stress out of buying an NFA item and puts the focus back on enjoying your new suppressor sooner and a trust makes it much easier for you to share those purchases with your family so that you don’t run into any legal trouble, as rare as that may be with legally purchased NFA items.
Post Purchase: Maintenance, Travel, and General Care
Once your suppressor arrives, you should take some time to familiarize yourself with its specific maintenance interval recommendations as well as cleaning procedures. Not all suppressors can be tossed in ultrasonic cleaners or scrubbed down with harsh chemicals. Even though suppressors are NFA items, you can have a suppressor serviced by the manufacturer and shipped right back to your door without any extra paperwork, so take advantage of the manufacturer’s warranties and cleaning services when you can if you really care about your investment.
Check your suppressor’s manual: sealed rifle cans often need no internal cleaning and last thousands of rounds with just external wipes using non-abrasive solvent like Simple Green or suppressor-specific cleaners (e.g., CAT206). Rimfire and user-serviceable models require disassembly every 500-1,000 rounds simply because the ammo is so filthy.
For these, I soak the baffles in an appropriate solvent, brush off carbon/lead buildup with non-metallic tools, rinse, dry fully, and reassemble. Although super effective, I’d avoid harsh chemicals or metal brushes that damage baffles or finishes, as we have newer, superior suppressor cleaners on the market now that are much less risky and toxic to use.
Traveling With Your Suppressor
Suppressors are NFA items, so just like SBRs and Machine Guns, federal law allows interstate travel with proper documentation—no state lines crossed without your approved Form 4, trust papers (if applicable), or a copy of your ATF approval letter – I typically keep electronic copies on my phone just in case.
You should also take time to always verify destination state laws, as suppressors still unfortunately remain illegal in eight states (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island) and are often restricted in others in specific circumstances (hunting, for example). Apps like Silencer Shop’s ATF tracker help confirm legality, but the best source of information is always the official State Government Website. Traveling with a suppressor is quite easy, and I’ve never run into any issues when filling out Form 20s for travel.
So once you’ve picked up your suppressor, zeroed with it at your home range, and are finally at your favorite travel destination, shoot, you should be aware that not all suppressors are created equally, and not all of them can handle the abuse a lot of YouTubers put them through for proof of concept. You should let hot suppressors cool fully before handling to prevent burns to yourself or damage to non-full-auto-rated suppressors. For your personal safety and sanity, I’d recommend that you use suppressor covers.
For one, they keep you from getting burnt, and secondly, they help stave off the effects of the mirage generated by your hot suppressor. For you pistol operators out there, pistons/boosters need periodic cleaning and lubrication to keep them in perfect working order. Silencer Shop stocks cleaning kits and offers guides—follow manufacturer specs to preserve warranty and performance. Regular care keeps sound reduction optimal and extends service life significantly.
Welcome to Silence
I hope you’ve enjoyed my little written roadmap to owning your first suppressor. I wish there were more guides like this around when I was buying my first suppressor, but these days, we’re pretty fortunate that this article is probably just one of many out there trying to help the average gun owner get in on the real game-changer that is firearms suppressors. Suppressors aren’t just accessories to me. To me, they’re practical tools and even safety devices that make shooting safer/healthier, more enjoyable, and even more accessible for everyone.
So if you’re really ready, head on over to Silencer Shop, find that perfect first can, and get ready to enjoy the sweet sound of silence on the range. Whether it’s plinking .22s (my favorite)with the family, or just getting drills and reps in without the extra noise, I think suppressors are probably some of the coolest and transformative types of products we’re absolutely blessed to have in the firearms world.
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