A few questions about silencers.

NFACurious · December 29, 2004, 03:15 AM

I've decided that a silencer is probably going to be my introduction unto the NFA world. I've been looking at the "Dragonfly" by AAC. (I already have a buckmark and love it but not sure if saveing a 100 bucks to have to change barrels out is worth it)

But my questions are...

1) Am i posting in the right forum?

2) Is there an existing owner out there that can report on how quiet the gun actually is, and if the purchase was worth the money to them?
3) I understand that you can not buy a newly manufactured full auto gun, but can you buy a newly manufactured silencer?

Benton · December 30, 2004, 02:03 AM

This forum has handled suppressor discussions in the past, so I'm guessing it is still appropriate to field your questions here.

I have only shot the AAC Phoenix, the Ruger MKII integral suppressor pistol. It is marvelously quiet with all the varieties of ammunition I've used in it. From what I've read about the Firefly, the two models are close in their level of report. Small Arms Review has had articles focused on both models and commented favorably on them. The Firefly is appealing to me in that it seems easier to clean the breech area than in the Ruger. Also the design looks like it would allow more of the crud to blow out before it has a chance to build up as it does in the Ruger.

You can buy newly manufactured silencers in most states, but some places are easier to get transfers than others.

One last thought for you to consider - I bought my own SWR manufactured Ruger integral as my first silencer. It is as fine a weapon as the AAC guns, quiet and nicely finished. Since then I've also acquired an AAC Scarab screw on suppressor. If I had it to do over again, I'd just get the muzzle can. It offers plenty of decibel reduction at less cost and you can move it around to any threaded .22 barrel.

NFACurious · December 31, 2004, 04:23 AM

Thats a good idea. I'm guessing there isn't much paperwork involved in getting a barrel threaded. But does the Scarab offer the same amount of noise reduction as the dragonfly's internal silencer?

NFACurious · February 23, 2005, 04:45 PM

Ok, i've brought my choices down to the AAC Pilot
http://www.advanced-armament.com/pro...fire/pilot.asp
and the Tactical Innovations Tac 67
http://www.tacticalinc.com/sup/suptac67.html

Anybody have any suggestions?

shaggy · February 23, 2005, 05:03 PM

You might want to take a look at Doug Melton's work (www.srtarms.com). I just ordered a Cheyenne XL from him and understand its supposed to be a great suppressor. Gem-tech has excellent products too. I've shot the first version of the Outback and wasn't too impressed, but they've now come out with an improved model - the Outback II. My personal favorite is the Bowers CAC-22. Tom made one run of these and hasn't made another. I paid $375 for mine, but its all steel, very quiet and can easily handle full auto fire. Its heavy compared to other .22 cans, but its an excellent can and built like a battleship. If you can find one, even used, I'd highly recommend it.

FWIW though, I've heard good things about both the Tac-67 and the Pilot. I don't think you can really go wrong with either. If you can find a dealer who has them in stock and maybe a demo unit available to try out, that would be best. Different cans have different sounds and even cans with the exact same decibel sound reduction can sound VERY different to the human ear.

NFACurious · February 24, 2005, 04:10 PM

They look like a good product, but i'm not sure if i want a sealed suppressor. 22's are really dirty and i think i'd like to able to take it apart to clean it

shaggy · February 24, 2005, 04:37 PM

I wuoldn't worry too much about a sealed can. Many people say the gunk that builds up in a .22 can actually makes it more quiet - I can't say I 've ever tested or noticed, so there may, or may not be any truth to that claim. I have seen Doc Dater (Dater is the owner & president of Gem-tech) post online that they have never cleaned their Outback demo model and it still gets excellent supression. From anyone else, I'd still be a bit wary, but Phil Dater has one of the best reputations in the industry and is known to be a straight shooter, no bull**** kind of guy.

444 · February 24, 2005, 11:41 PM

I have the AAC Phoenix, rifle and pistol. Or I should say that I own them and they are at my dealer waiting in the tax stamp.
My only comment about AAC is to be prepared to wait a long time to get your stuff.

abelew · February 25, 2005, 11:24 PM

Couldn't you run solvant through it to clean the gunk out a bit? I dont know anything about suppressors, but there has to be some way to clean it out. Rubbing alcahol maybe, since it dries rather easily. And its cheap.

444 · February 26, 2005, 01:00 AM

So many of these questions that come up in these discussions are easily answered right at the manufacturers website.
Here is a link to AAC's website, frequently asked questions. Click on any one of their suppressor models and it will answer questions such as how to clean them.

NFACurious · February 27, 2005, 01:19 AM

True, I have read the AAC website on how to clean thier sealed suppressors. I understand that the only way to clean them is to soak them in solvent. (I believe they recremend karosene or paint thinner) But in my experience on cleaning really gunked up firearms, soaking them won't do much good with really caked on stuff because it limits them amount of surface area that actually becomes in contact with the solvent. I'm afraid that the voids between the baffels will become filled and eventually the gases will have no where to go but out in the same manner they would with un-suppressed firing. Agreed this may take a lifetime of shooting, but I'm in the philosophy of solving a problem before it occurs.

December 29, 2004, 03:15 AM	#1
NFACurious Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 77	A few questions about silencers. I've decided that a silencer is probably going to be my introduction unto the NFA world. I've been looking at the "Dragonfly" by AAC. (I already have a buckmark and love it but not sure if saveing a 100 bucks to have to change barrels out is worth it) But my questions are... 1) Am i posting in the right forum? 2) Is there an existing owner out there that can report on how quiet the gun actually is, and if the purchase was worth the money to them? 3) I understand that you can not buy a newly manufactured full auto gun, but can you buy a newly manufactured silencer?

December 31, 2004, 04:23 AM	#3
NFACurious Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 77	Thanks =) Thats a good idea. I'm guessing there isn't much paperwork involved in getting a barrel threaded. But does the Scarab offer the same amount of noise reduction as the dragonfly's internal silencer?

February 23, 2005, 05:03 PM	#5
shaggy Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Posts: 1,519	NFACurious You might want to take a look at Doug Melton's work (www.srtarms.com). I just ordered a Cheyenne XL from him and understand its supposed to be a great suppressor. Gem-tech has excellent products too. I've shot the first version of the Outback and wasn't too impressed, but they've now come out with an improved model - the Outback II. My personal favorite is the Bowers CAC-22. Tom made one run of these and hasn't made another. I paid $375 for mine, but its all steel, very quiet and can easily handle full auto fire. Its heavy compared to other .22 cans, but its an excellent can and built like a battleship. If you can find one, even used, I'd highly recommend it. FWIW though, I've heard good things about both the Tac-67 and the Pilot. I don't think you can really go wrong with either. If you can find a dealer who has them in stock and maybe a demo unit available to try out, that would be best. Different cans have different sounds and even cans with the exact same decibel sound reduction can sound VERY different to the human ear.

February 24, 2005, 11:41 PM	#8
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	I have the AAC Phoenix, rifle and pistol. Or I should say that I own them and they are at my dealer waiting in the tax stamp. My only comment about AAC is to be prepared to wait a long time to get your stuff. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

February 25, 2005, 11:24 PM	#9
abelew Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 778	Couldn't you run solvant through it to clean the gunk out a bit? I dont know anything about suppressors, but there has to be some way to clean it out. Rubbing alcahol maybe, since it dries rather easily. And its cheap. __________________ "Where the choice is between only violence and cowardice, I would advise violence." ~ Mohatma Gandhi

December 30, 2004, 02:03 AM	#2
Benton Member Join Date: June 3, 2000 Location: South Carolina Posts: 81	This forum has handled suppressor discussions in the past, so I'm guessing it is still appropriate to field your questions here. I have only shot the AAC Phoenix, the Ruger MKII integral suppressor pistol. It is marvelously quiet with all the varieties of ammunition I've used in it. From what I've read about the Firefly, the two models are close in their level of report. Small Arms Review has had articles focused on both models and commented favorably on them. The Firefly is appealing to me in that it seems easier to clean the breech area than in the Ruger. Also the design looks like it would allow more of the crud to blow out before it has a chance to build up as it does in the Ruger. You can buy newly manufactured silencers in most states, but some places are easier to get transfers than others. One last thought for you to consider - I bought my own SWR manufactured Ruger integral as my first silencer. It is as fine a weapon as the AAC guns, quiet and nicely finished. Since then I've also acquired an AAC Scarab screw on suppressor. If I had it to do over again, I'd just get the muzzle can. It offers plenty of decibel reduction at less cost and you can move it around to any threaded .22 barrel.

February 23, 2005, 04:45 PM	#4
NFACurious Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 77	Ok, i've brought my choices down to the AAC Pilot http://www.advanced-armament.com/pro...fire/pilot.asp and the Tactical Innovations Tac 67 http://www.tacticalinc.com/sup/suptac67.html Anybody have any suggestions?

February 24, 2005, 04:10 PM	#6
NFACurious Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 77	They look like a good product, but i'm not sure if i want a sealed suppressor. 22's are really dirty and i think i'd like to able to take it apart to clean it

February 24, 2005, 04:37 PM	#7
shaggy Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Posts: 1,519	I wuoldn't worry too much about a sealed can. Many people say the gunk that builds up in a .22 can actually makes it more quiet - I can't say I 've ever tested or noticed, so there may, or may not be any truth to that claim. I have seen Doc Dater (Dater is the owner & president of Gem-tech) post online that they have never cleaned their Outback demo model and it still gets excellent supression. From anyone else, I'd still be a bit wary, but Phil Dater has one of the best reputations in the industry and is known to be a straight shooter, no bull**** kind of guy.

February 26, 2005, 01:00 AM	#10
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	So many of these questions that come up in these discussions are easily answered right at the manufacturers website. Here is a link to AAC's website, frequently asked questions. Click on any one of their suppressor models and it will answer questions such as how to clean them. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

February 27, 2005, 01:19 AM	#11
NFACurious Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 77	True, I have read the AAC website on how to clean thier sealed suppressors. I understand that the only way to clean them is to soak them in solvent. (I believe they recremend karosene or paint thinner) But in my experience on cleaning really gunked up firearms, soaking them won't do much good with really caked on stuff because it limits them amount of surface area that actually becomes in contact with the solvent. I'm afraid that the voids between the baffels will become filled and eventually the gases will have no where to go but out in the same manner they would with un-suppressed firing. Agreed this may take a lifetime of shooting, but I'm in the philosophy of solving a problem before it occurs.