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DB ratings: They don�t tell us the whole picture, but they do give some indication of how the sound is perceived by the human ear. Our most effective .223 and .308 War Tech Varmint cans are currently listed at the very top in their category on silencertests.com. This could change as more manufacturers change their designs to conform to new standards set by Silvers, but our centerfire rifle cans are currently the quietest available.

DB Numbers: There are many kinds of dB numbers that can be used for comparison, but the simplest is decibel reduction, or dBR. This is usually taken on a B & K meter set to peak hold, on A weighting, with the special microphone placed a meter from the muzzle of the firearm or silencer. This measurement takes an average of the loudest unsuppressed sounds and compares it with an average of the suppressed sounds from firing at least ten shots. The graphs on the silencertests.com website are very complex, but the most uniform bottom line is decibel reduction, or dBR. Almost anyone can get 14 to 18 dBR with any can, but it is a real challenge to get far beyond 30 dBR (reduction of sound by roughly 1,000-fold) in .223 and .308. For most purposes, a 25 to 30 dBR is good enough. It takes more volume and length to do much better.

Measuring Sound Numbers: Measuring sound accurately is both a science and an art. It takes good equipment combined with knowledge and a lot of experience to use it effectively. The human ear is still more sophisticated than an electrically driven meter. Comparing two cans, side-by-side, is a very effective measure of performance. A dBR of 25 or more will take enough of the sound out of firearm discharge to prevent hearing damage with most firearms. A silencer can suppress the sound of a muzzle blast, but it will do nothing for the sound of a supersonic bullet moving through the air faster than 1,100 fps, which creates its own ballistic crack. On a military battlefield this property is very useful, since the unenlightened often think that the bullet came from where it struck, as long as the rifle that fired it was effectively suppressed. The same thing is true for those who hunt varmints with a suppressed rifle, since many varmints tend not to know which way to run after being fired upon. If a coyote is missed, it will often try to snap at the sound of the bullet as it passes by, rather than run.

Thread Sizes: A brief word about thread size is in order. Starting with the M16/AR15, the standard thread size has been �-28 � which in English means �" in diameter, with a count of 28 threads per inch. While this small thread works to a degree, those who want extreme accuracy are better served with a slightly larger diameter thread. It turns out that most barrels are button rifled in today�s world, and turning a button rifled barrel down to a small diameter has the effect of relieving stress and opening up the bore by a thousandth of an inch or more at the muzzle. Since the last thing a bullet feels is the muzzle before it is launched downrange, it is important that the muzzle be tight for accuracy, not loose. Some European rifles carry a clubbed barrel, with the muzzle as thick as the breech, for this very reason. For those snipers and varmint hunters who are picky about accuracy we try to reduce the diameter of the muzzle as little as possible � and we carry an extensive line of taps and dies that are pitched at 24 threads per inch, in diameters ranging from 3/8" to 1-3/4". Oddly, threads pitched between 20 and 24 per inch tend to be stronger than either thicker or finer threads. Heavy barreled rifles are usually more accurate because a heavy barrel vibrates less, and also tends not to heat up as quickly.

Size: The size of a suppressor is important to many, with the trend always moving towards smaller and lighter. Smaller often means less effective, with more heat gain per shot. Heat buildup, at from 6 to 11 degrees F per shot, is not important with one or two shots, but it can get to be a problem with more than 100 rapidly-fired shots in .223 and .308. Some in military and law enforcement are willing to take a less effective can that is more convenient to handle and carry, but they need to be more careful with their management and use of ammunition in order to prevent a heat-ruined barrel. In .50 BMG and 12.7mm one should expect a temperature increase between 25 and 65 degrees F for every shot fired.

Cleaning Suppressors: Cleaning, when and if required, is best accomplished with a strong solution of water and a detergent, such as Simple Green. An ultrasonic cleaner is useful. Plug one end of the can, and let the solution stand overnight. Then rinse out with plenty of hot water the next day. Blow out with compressed air to dry. Introduce a little anticorrosive oil into the rear of the can, and fire a few rounds through the suppressor to atomize the oil and recoat internal surfaces. Water works very well in enhancing the performance of centerfire pistol cans. To clean after use, simply hold the can under a stream of hot water, and then allow the internals to dry.

Integral Cans: These look like simple bull barrels, but they hide complex suppressors with many little pieces inside. No one in the industry likes to make integrals because of problems associated with manufacture, cleaning and callbacks. We charge more for an integral on a rifle than we do for a normal muzzle can. The only thing an integral really does is look better. If you really want an integral we will make one, but be prepared to pay more for it than you would a traditional muzzle can.

Animal Control: More and more municipalities and individuals are getting into the growing field of animal control. Parks, airports, fish farms, timber holdings, farms and industrial complexes are having more than their share of problems with wildlife. Liability is always a big issue, and insurance and bonding are getting to be the most expensive aspects for individual municipalities. Contractors usually have very capable personnel, while municipalities often relegate animal control to their least competent workers. Municipalities have deep pockets, and city lawyers will usually try to talk their municipality into using a professional animal control contractor in order to reduce the risk of liability. For a contractor, it is usually best to incorporate with an LLC. This protects you as a professional, and gives those who hire the service out a little more peace of mind. A name, like Wildlife Solutions Ltd., sounds fairly innocuous but relates the intent of the business without sounding boastful or arousing animal right activists. For removing smaller animals the .22 rimfire in a suppressed bolt-action rifle is the tool of choice, as it is cheap to run and very quiet if subsonic HP ammunition is used. Many use suppressed.223 bolt rifles because they usually do the job in the right hands and are also cheap to shoot, but .223 bullets are going to make a lot more noise as they move through the air supersonically � so the area of use needs to be less densely populated. Moderately light varmint bullets are used to reduce the risk of overpenetration, since they usually break up regardless of whether the target animal is struck or not. If the .223 won�t do the job on larger animals, the next move upwards is often to the .243 Winchester � a 6mm bullet driven out of a .308-size case. Smaller diameter bullets make less noise associated with ballistic crack, when fired from suppressed rifles, so an 80-grain bullet out of a .243 suppressed rifle often works very well in experienced hands. Those who want to use a variety of loads often go to the .308 cartridge, with a slow-moving 150 to 180-grain subsonic bullet driven at 950 fps, for extreme silence. Special subsonic bullets that tumble after hitting are often used. Few subsonic rounds will expand after striking a feral hog. The contractors usually drive around at night in an electric golf cart and use night vision or an infrared light. Where knockdown power is important they switch to a swiftly-driven 110 to 125-grain bullet for longer shots, in areas where the noise emanating from a bullet with ballistic crack won�t be as much of an issue. In most cases, fairly light bullets are used, letting velocity do the work instead of mass. This usually works well, and turns out to be safer.

10/22 Rifles � These are inexpensive and plentiful, but can be problematic. Most rimfire ammo is supersonic out of anything longer than a 4" barrel. The search is on for rimfire ammo that is subsonic, but will cycle the 10/22�s heavy bolt. Some drill the bolt out to lighten it a bit, but the steel is very hard to drill or cut with anything but an abrasive wheel. Slightly slower, Winchester Dynapoint ammunition can be found at Wal-Marts across the country, and this works fairly well out of a 10" barrel, in the subsonic mode. Bolt rifles are more reliable, but do not offer semi-automatic fire. Marlin�s Papoose rifle is also used for subsonic semiautomatic fire. We still make "Pocket Rifles" out of 10/22s, with folding stocks, bipods and short barrels. These and other "folding rifles" fit into small pouches and are very portable. They are well liked because they are compact, portable and user friendly.

Offerings:

What we currently offer is listed below. The past two years have been extremely productive in terms of original research and development. Our new welded cores and armored blast baffles have made our cans the lightest, toughest and longest-lasting in the industry. We offer a lifetime warrantee, which covers problems that we may have caused, but does not cover deliberate abuse, ignorance or neglect. We have developed quite a number of new products that will be coming on line as soon as our patents clear. The recoil reduction aspect of large bore suppressors has been enhanced, and many are excited about what that can do for the ability to actually see their shots strike the target. We prefer to work directly with dealers rather than individuals. Our move to New Mexico is not totally completed yet, so please be patient if you can�t reach us. We will update our website as soon as we get the time. Stay tuned . . .

Fat Boy Sound Suppressor tm -- .223 -- 2" x 5", wt. � 20 oz., dBR � 25 Price -- $495

Subsonic Loads: As an aside � we do not recommend commercial subsonic rounds in .223 because of the recurrent problem of bullets becoming lodged in the rifle�s bore. Subsonic rifle rounds loaded in .308 caliber do not normally suffer from this problem. Also, note that the special 77-grain military .223 rounds need a 7 or 8" twist to properly stabilize, while most civilian rifles carry a 9 to 14" twist.

Phantom, with Internal Flash Hider � .223 -- 1.6 x 7", wt. � 23 oz., dBR � 28 Price -- $535

This system is available in two parts � A Yankee Hill Phantom flash hider with both internal and external threads and a retention device, and a War Tech (Phantom) sound suppressor. The unit comes as a set. This variant is designed to fit on either the M16 or AR15 family of self-loading rifles. This can comes threaded for the special flash hider that screws on to standard AR15 threads. While the can may be used by itself, it is designed to fit over and attach to Yankee Hill Machine�s special Phantom flash hider. The flash hider works extremely well as a flash hider, and it also adds to the suppression of sound inside the rear of the War Tech can. Additional flash hiders retail at $75 ea. The flash hider is simple in appearance, but it has several patented features that seal gas and make it easier to use. The system is made by YHM, in cooperation with Sound Tech. Simple YHM Phantom cans, without the flash hider and threaded �-28, retail for $460.

War Tech Standard Varmint � .223 -- 1.5 x 7", wt. 21 oz., dBR � 31 Price -- $625

The Phantom Dark Star takes an internal YHM Phantom .30-caliber flash hider threaded for the industry standard 3/4-24, .30-caliber muzzle threads. This flash hider/muzzle brake works well in the stand-alone mode, and remains on the barrel when used inside the fitted suppressor. Mass-produced at YHM�s facility, this system is designed for military and police applications where it is desirable to hide the flash of discharge from the enemy, regardless of whether the weapon is suppressed for sound or not. This system is not recommended for civilian use, unless the buyer simply wants a unique toy that few others possess. The cost savings available with mass-produced items can be substantial. We do not know how much longer the price will hold for the .308 Phantom.

While supersonic bullets produce one sound, special subsonic loadings are available for military, police and wildlife control officers that are extremely quiet when used in combination with the War Tech Dark Star. Black Hills Ammunition Co. offers these rounds, but again, they are only available to military and police. Engel Ballistic Research and HJ Ballistic Research both offer subsonic .308 rounds. We occasionally stock special purpose .308 subsonic rounds that are designed to work well in wildlife control � just remember that a subsonic round only contains about 15% of the energy that a standard .308 round would deliver. The sound of a subsonic .308 bullet traveling through the air is considerably less than that of an arrow discharged from a bow. Subsonic .308 rounds are incredibly quiet when fired through a good suppressor, and normally will not be noticed at a distance beyond 30 yards from the source of fire.

War Tech Black Star -- .308 & .300 Win. Mag. � 1.6 x 9", wt 31 oz., dBR � 31 and 35.6

Tactical .338 Lapua Magnum � 1.6 x 9", wt. 2 lbs., dBR � about 30 & 34, Price -- $865

This can is similar to the above .30 cal, but with a somewhat different internal configuration. It comes with or without additional recoil reduction features. For really heavy rifles in .338 Win Mag, RUM or Lapua Mag. recoil reduction may not be necessary. For relatively light rifles we do recommend purchasing additional recoil reduction � which will make the can a little louder for the shooter, but not for those at any distance away. The beauty of additional recoil reduction is that the rifle doesn�t buck and rise as much when fired, allowing the shooter to actually see his shot strike the target. Recoil from the .338 has been likened to that from a .243 rifle. Subsonic .338 loads can launch a bullet as heavy as 300 grains, wielding about 660 ft. lbs. of extremely quiet energy.

Tactical .50 BMG & 12.7mm � 2 x 12", wt. 3.3 lbs., dBR � about 30 & 35, Price � $1,540

The .50 BMG and 12.7mm Russian cans have recently been downsized, and we have managed to take about 2.2 pounds off the weight. In addition, we now have additional, patent pending technology that allows us to reduce recoil about 80% with carefully tailored, multiple modifications. These modifications make the suppressors a little louder to the shooter, but not to those standing a moderate distance away. A little ear protection is recommended for the shooter when shooting inside a building or under a metal shed, but you won�t need much. Nor will you get kicked off an outdoor range for making too much noise � as often happens with .50 and 12.7mm rifles. The 12.7mm rounds are peppier than the .50 BMG rounds (a little more bullet, 731 & 790-gr. v/s 660-gr., and more powder). Velocity is about the same. If you want us to make a heavier, more robust can for the 12.7mm round we will be happy to do so for little additional cost. With .50 BMG and the modified can you should expect recoil to be diminished about 80%; about equal to a 20-gauge shotgun.

Fat Boy 22/45 Pistol Can � 1.4 x 6.3", wt. about 13 oz., dBR � about 40, Price -- $495

We put a lot of R&D into this system, and are very pleased with its performance. It is based on a standard Ruger 22/45 or MK II .22 LR pistol with a 5.5" target barrel. We shorten the barrel to 3.4" and then port and crown it for accuracy. We then mount a 1.4 x 6.3" steel suppressor permanently over the barrel, and use a modified Allen head cap screw for a front sight. The result is a relatively compact system that is tough as nails, very quiet, accurate and extremely reliable. The Fat Boy Pistol Can is used by police and animal control officers nationwide, for quite a number of mundane tasks. It is often used for dispatching poisonous snakes in swimming pools, and putting down animals that have been injured in traffic. It is also used as a reliable scaffold kill gun in slaughterhouses, since it makes little noise and does a humane job very effectively � day after day, year after year. The Fat Boy 22/45 system is heavier than some options, but is currently the Gold Standard in the small animal control business.

Rimfire Silencers, Priced from $365 for simple screw-on cans to $850 for rifle integrals

We make a wide variety of custom silencers for .22 rimfire rounds, in both rifle and pistol. They generally range from 1" to 1.5" in diameter, by from 5 to 7" long. These cans are usually made from chrome moly steel and will handle the abuse typically encountered in hunting environments. Quite a number of competing manufactures produce extremely lightweight .22 cans made from aluminum. While these silencers work well enough at first, a 1 x 5", 2-ounce aluminum silencer can be quite fragile and may not handle the knocks and dings encountered in hunting; nor does such a tiny can contain the volume required to handle the extreme fouling associated with long and heavy rimfire use or full-auto fire.

Our hunting/plinking/target cans are suitable for .22 LR rounds. If you want one for .17HMR or .22 Magnum Rimfire, let us know and we will build it without condensing mesh in order to handle the greater pressure. If you expect to deliver heavy use we recommend a tube of at least 1.4" in diameter to contain the inevitable fouling that will accumulate. The tubes may be cleaned by immersion in an ultrasonic tank filled with a bit of ammonia and Dawn detergent mixed with water (which is far cheaper than commercial solutions). Of course, rinse thoroughly and blow out with air to remove water after cleaning. We can thread your barrel(s) to fit. Rifle barrels should be at least 16" long to comply with federal law. If we permanently mount a silencer by welding, the barrel can legally be as short as 11", just so the overall package is over 16" for the barrel/can combo. Some want a single rimfire can for both pistol and rifle, and our 1.4 x 7" Fat Boy can works fairly well in this role � when coupled with a heavy barrel Ruger 22/45 and a heavy barreled 10/22. Smith & Wesson made a 422 pistol some time ago, and these are popular, now that adaptors are made that allow a 1.4 x 6" suppressor to attach to the muzzle.

The so-called "Pocket Rifle" is still a good seller. We came up with this concept in 1994, and it is usually based on a 10/22 rifle with a folding stock, bipod and a 1.4 x 7" can. We either register the weapon as a short- barreled rifle (with a 6" barrel) or put a 16" barrel on it. The .22 rimfire round is normally supersonic, and that may cause problems for those who want absolute silence. If individuals use subsonic ammo in the long-barreled 10/22 rifle they may have problems with cycling. A better package would result if the Pocket Rifle was based on a bolt-action rifle, but no one currently makes a lightweight, folding stock for a bolt-action rifle. So we continue to live with the 10/22 and try to make the best of it. Some of the Pocket Rifles have been fitted with gen-1 night vision scopes, and these are a lot of fun at night shoots. Accuracy from a light, folding rifle (like the CZ Scout) can be surprisingly good if all of the components are first-class.

Survival rifles for boats and small aircraft fall into two classes, with moderate size and light weight being important. Some use .22 LR rimfire rounds, and for ultimate silence these should be used with subsonic ammunition. Others use the .22 Magnum Rimfire, which is a very effective killer, but carries a ballistic crack with each shot, even when suppressed. Still others use cartridges like the 6 x 45mm or the 6mm BR, which have a corresponding increase in weight.

9mm Pistol Silencers -- 1.25 x 7", weight � about 6 oz. dBR � about 40, Price -- $445

We currently produce a lightweight pistol can � the only one in our entire line made from high- tensile, aircraft grade (not 6061) aluminum. It works on the Beretta, Taurus and Glock 9mm pistols in the semiautomatic mode, if a lighter return spring and a longer, threaded barrel are used. The 1.25" diameter can is small enough that it clears the guide rod for the recoil spring during recoil � an important factor.

Pistols that cycle using a recoil impulse are inherently problematic. Set up properly, a recoil- operated pistol is a very fussy thing, and too much weight on the end of a barrel will probably interfere with cycling. Introduced in Europe in 1902, the 9x19mm Parabellum or Luger round is still a world standard. It was unfortunately designed to be supersonic, thus, like the average .22 LR rimfire round, needs to be slowed down a bit in order to be as quiet as possible. So, instead of 100 + or � grains of bullet at from 1,150 to 1,500 fps, the innovative firearms industry in the U.S. has developed a 9x19mm round that uses a 147 grain bullet, driven by about 5 grains of powder, at about 975 fps, which is consistently under the speed of sound. A number of the large manufacturers (Remington, Winchester, Black Hills) make 147- grain subsonic 9mm ammunition, but you often have to work to find it. It is well worth finding, since it is the only 9mm pistol ammunition that works quietly when suppressed. Standard 9mm ammunition will be extremely loud because of ballistic crack. Reloaded 9mm subsonic ammunition also works, but the completed rounds need to be rolled between two plates and cleaned so they are resized properly, or they will stick or jam in the chamber area, and a pistol or sub gun may not cycle properly. When the aluminum 9mm pistol can is used with a clean, lubricated, Beretta or Taurus pistol, with a lighter recoil spring, with the proper 9mm subsonic ammunition -- the system works like a dream. If any one of the variables is changed the system often won�t cycle reliably.

While the aluminum wet can works OK in the dry mode, it works much better in the wet mode, in conjunction with a tiny amount of water (less than a bottle cap full) either poured down the barrel through the open breech, or introduced into the rear chamber of the can. When you are finished impressing your friends, simply rinse out the can with very hot water to clean, and then allow the can to dry. DBR in the wet mode is around 40, and with 147-grain subsonic ammo this can is surprisingly, amazingly effective.

To differentiate, we also make custom submachine gun silencers from steel (retail � about $725) to handle the greater heat and physical abuse that goes with the kind of use that sub guns are subjected to. Uniformed officers may use the can on the end of a rifle to push open a door or move an individual around � actions that could bend the attachment point on a lightweight aluminum can. The sub gun cans are slightly larger in diameter and over twice the weight. They are used dry and are typically fitted to AR15s, M16s or Beretta Storm rifles, chambered in 9mm, used in law enforcement or animal control.

Ownership and the Transfer Process:

Silencers are legal to own in the following 35 states: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MN, MS, MT, ND, NC, NH, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, & WY. Silencers may be owned by Class 3 Dealers and Class 2 manufacturers in CA, IA, KS, MA, MI AND MO. IL, CA, NY & NJ are states that have serious issues with silencers, and residents and dealers in these states are advised to stay clear. Almost any governmental agency or municipality may own and use a silencer in any state. We will update this listing as laws change and as newer information becomes available. If you live in one of the states that prohibit silencers you will not be legally permitted to take a transfer. Law enforcement, some government personnel and military will be permitted to have possession in most states, but in most cases the silencer will be actually owned by a responsible governmental entity.

A customer usually orders a silencer through a Class 3 dealer in his or her state. The dealer then orders and pays for the silencer. We will manufacture or take the silencer from stock, and apply for permission to transfer the item to your dealer. We start the process by filling out a form 3 to transfer, and then faxing that form into the National Firearms Act Branch of ATF in WV. Our policy is that we will not normally cash your check until the day transfer papers have been filed. Since the NFA Branch has been reorganized and newly staffed with quality personnel we find that transfers are being approved more rapidly than ever before. Governmental and military agencies can take transfers directly from us on a form 5, while individuals must use a Class 3 dealer in their state. Once the dealer takes possession of the NFA item, that dealer will help you fill out a form 4, so that you can accept the transfer. Most form 4s carry (you will have to actually pay) a $200 transfer tax, which was mandated by federal law back in 1934. ATF has been periodically trying to increase that dollar amount to$1,000 per transfer, but has so far been unsuccessful. The $200 tax is a one-time payment to move the silencer from the NFA registry to your legal ownership, is submitted in duplicate, and is accompanied by two sets of white, FBI style fingerprint cards and a form certifying that you are in fact a U.S. citizen in good standing. When and if you pass on you may will the item to a designated recipient at no additional charge, although yet another form will be required for that transfer. If you ever decide to sell that item to another individual, they will have to fill out yet another form and pay yet another $200 transfer tax. The tax will have to be paid up front, with the form application. A transfer to a corporation goes more rapidly than one to an individual. Upon approval, a stamp resembling an ordinary postage stamp will be glued to one copy of your form, and mailed to your dealer. Your dealer will then be legally permitted to physically transfer the item to you. The entire process can take as little as a week, or as long as three years, depending on varying circumstances.