SILENCER SATURDAY #283: Buying Suppressor Ready Guns

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM Turbo T3 5.56 rifle suppressor. Last week we listed off ten of the top suppressor myths floating this series of tubes we call the internet. This week we take a look at the characteristics of suppressor ready guns and what makes them plug-and-play. Should you buy a firearm ready to suppress or is it easier to just modify a standard model? Let’s take a look.

It’s rained three out of the last four weekends here which makes for poor silencer testing. I hope to get back out on the range soon with a few new cans.

Above: Ruger American Ranch (5.56×45), MDT LSS-XL Chassis, YHM Turbo T3.

It goes without saying, but there are many firearm modifications that require the services of a trained and competent gunsmith. For example, even though swapping a barrel on an AR-15 can be done with basic hand tools and some online research, it should be completed by a gunsmith. Altering firearms without the proper tools and training can have deadly consequences; please know your limitations. Also know your local, state, and federal laws before buying or modifying firearms. Especially those that involve the National Firearms Act (NFA). If it were up to me, we wouldn’t have these laws, but we do, and you should know the boundaries.

As we discussed above, offering firearms from the factory with threaded barrels has become more and more popular over the years. In the past, some firearms came with course threads that were meant only to mount flash hiders, muzzle brakes, or compensators. Some of the biggest offenders were combloc import guns and kits that included barrels made by people and machines that never considered the need to mount a suppressor. Today, most barrels come with fine concentric threading which are suitable for mounting suppressors. If you stick to the major manufacturers and read the owners manuals, you won’t have any issues.

The recent changes to the pistol stabilizing brace rules have some deep (un)intended consequences that indirectly affect silencer owners. The quietest suppressed firearms shoot subsonic ammunition and many of those firearms take advantage of shorter barrels to reduce bullet velocity and eliminate unneeded barrel length. With firearms laws regulating rifle barrels under 16″ in length, the category of braced firearms with short barrels are now all but eliminated unless you opt for no stock/brace at all. Most of us are forced back into 16″ barrels with the option to apply for an ATF Form 1 for a short barreled rifle at a later date. However, a suppressor ready firearm with a stock and a short barrel will require an ATF Form 4 transfer application which means that buyers can’t take home their new gun until many months later.

The diameter of the suppressor and the corresponding center boreline means that many silencers today will block iron sights of host firearms, especially on pistols. Many of us are comfortable using the ‘shooting through the can’ technique that relies on a correct sight picture and aiming with both eyes open. The result are aligned sights overlaying the target. An alternative setup is taller suppressor-height sights that raise the sight picture over the diameter of the silencer. And another option is using a red dot or optic that elevates the aiming system over the height of the suppressor.

If you are planning on shooting very heavy bullets to reduce velocity to subsonic levels, the rate of twist of the barrel can become important. A heavier bullet usually means a longer bullet, which requires a higher rate of twist for stabilization. It’s a good idea to identify the ammo you are planning to use and pick the rate of twist required for proper stabilization.

Semiautomatic firearms with certain suppressors can create gas blowback that can be uncomfortable or affect the operation of the firearm. As a way of addressing gas blowback, some manufacturers are including adjustable gas systems on suppressor ready firearms.

And if your suppressor is part of your overall signature reduction plan, your host firearms should include a means to attach lasers, illuminators, or other night vision equipment.

I’m sure you all are sick of hearing me say this by now, but it is important to understand your needs and buy the suppressor ready firearm that meets those needs, instead of just buying the most advertised platforms. In truth, there are many suppressor ready guns on the market, even if they aren’t labeled specially as “suppressor ready”.

My suggestions for you today are just a small sampling of those available, with a focus on overall noise reduction (an action/operating mechanism that maximizes the use of a suppressor), accuracy, ammunition availability, and pure enjoyment.

There are many guns that I wish were on this list. For example, my personal favorite pistol maker GLOCK does not have a suppressor ready model, even though I have been hand-writing letters to Mr. Glock for years. There are a few GLOCK distributor releases that include suppressor height sights.

Let’s take a look at the list.

• Manufacturer’s Page:  https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/26968.html
• Suggested Retail: $669.00
• Stock: Flat Dark Earth Synthetic
• SightsNone – Scope Rail Installed
• Barrel Length:16.12″
• Magazine: AR-Style
• Twist: 1:7″ RH
• Weight: 5.9 lb.
• Thread Pattern: 5/8″-24
• Overall Length: 36″
• Length of Pull: 13.75″

• Manufacturer’s Page:  https://www.sigsauer.com/mcx-spear-lt-300-blk-9-pistol.html
• Caliber: 300 Blk
• Barrel Length: 9 In (228 Mm)
• Mag Type: Ar-15
• Twist Rate: 1:5
• Overall Length: 18.8 In (476.3 Mm)
• Overall Width: 2.9 In (73.7 Mm)
• Height: 7.5 In (190.5 Mm)
• Threads: 5/8 In – 24
• Operating System: Gas Piston
• Weight: 5.6 Lb (2.5 Kg)
• SKU: PMCX-300B-9B-LT