Nothin's more fun than long range subsonic .22 gong ringing. Shooting from the rear upper deck and the family doesn't even notice.
If you have a BATFE Form 1 and tax stamp you can legally build a suppressor using ebay 'flashlight' and 'filter' suppressors. You typically buy an aluminum threaded tube with two end caps. One end cap is threaded to screw onto the barrel muzzle. The other cap will either have a hole pre-drilled or be solid and ready for you to drill to the bullet path diameter. There are even lightweight titanium flashlight and filter tubes available on ebay. Complete suppressor kits are now on walmart.com (online only). The kits include the aluminum tube, threaded end cap, 'filter cup' baffles, spacer and end cap. Just drill the cups and end cap and you're done. The spacer creates the 'blast chamber' at the barrel end of the suppressor. Search for '1/2-28 filter' or '5/8-24 filter'. It's super easy to complete these kits but you can still do hard prison time if you don't have a Form 1 and tax stamp.
You can purchase 'C Cell Maglite' tubes that have a 1' inside diameter and can be purchased with a pre-threaded 1/2x28 end cap. These work well as 22LR suppressors. An ebay search for 'C Cell tube 1/2x28' or 'C Cell storage cups' or 'C Cell filter cups' will work. Dorman 555-097 steel freeze plugs are 1' in diameter and should fit.
One end cap is threaded for 22LR at 1/2x28.
There are also 'D Cell Maglite' tubes that are suitable for up to 308 Winchester (subsonic only) which can be purchased with many different barrel threads. For 308 or 300 Blackout you need a 5/8x24 thread. An ebay search of 'D Cell tube' or 'D Cell solvent trap' or 'D Cell storage cups' or 'D Cell filter cups' will work. I have also seen D cell Maglite M baffles referred to as 'D Cell hiking stick storage cups'. The tubes have a 1.350' inside diameter. NAPA Sealed Power SEP 381-3179 steel freeze plugs fit.
The larger diameter NAPA 4003 and WIX 24003 filters can be purchased with various barrel threads. An ebay search of '4003 filter 5/8x24' or '4003 filter cups' will find them. They're probably good only up to 308 Winchester but I've never tried a more powerful cartridge so I'm not sure. These filters have a 9' internal length. The inside diameter is either 1.8 or 1.75'. Real NAPA or WIX filters have a 1.8' inside diameter. Some of the ebay clone filters have an inside diameter of 1.75' so verify what you have before you order freeze plugs or filter cups. The Dorman 555-098 freeze plug is 1.77'x.44' and will fit in the real NAPA or WIX 1.8' filters. The Dorman 555-034 freeze plug is 1.75' in diameter and .43' thick and fit well in the 1.75' clone filters.
This filter comes with an end cap threaded for 308 or 300 Blackout at 5/8x24.
To build a flashlight or filter suppressor you may need to make baffles. Dorman steel automotive freeze plugs can be formed into baffles with some work and the cost is low at about 80 cents each. Call ahead and most auto parts stores can get you a box of 10 overnight. With a lathe you can spin the plugs and center drill a 3/16' hole. Drill from the cupped end so the concave shape will keep the drill bit centered. Then place the plug over a wrench socket that fits and use a large punch and hammer to enlarge the hole to the desired bullet path size. As you enlarge the hole the punch will also bend the plug into the desired 'M' shape to make the baffle more efficient. The baffle will stick to the punch but you can tap alternating sides of the baffle with your hammer to knock it free. Use a bullet path size drill bit to verify the hole size as you enlarge the hole with the punch.
Freeze plug is draped over a socket and a large punch is driven through the pre-drilled center hole. As you enlarge the hole, check its size occasionally with a bullet path sized drill bit.
I recommend putting four 3/16' holes around the bullet path hole in the first baffle (blast baffle). These holes allow some of the very high pressure blast wave to pass through and bleed some of the wave's energy.
The notch in the bullet path hole keeps the gas from shooting straight down the center of the suppressor.
You can also purchase 'flashlight storage cups' or 'filter cups' that come in the form of an M baffle and work extremely well but they cost much more than freeze plugs. They come in C cell, D cell and 4003 filter sizes. You just have to drill the bullet path holes into the M baffles, notch the hole and slide them into the tube. There are even storage cups made of steel which will hold up better than aluminum to supersonic rounds.
Just drill the bullet path hole and add a notch. I like to drill a hole about half the size needed to clear the bullet then use a punch to enlarge the hole to final size. The punch will push metal outward to form a sharp edge to catch gas. They come in C & D cell and 4003 filter sizes. C size works well for 22LR. D is big enough for 9mm and similar size rounds and 4003 is good for 308 Winchester.
A filter or flashlight spring can be used as a spacer to form the blast chamber area (first chamber the rifle gasses encounter). You can also cut aluminum tubing to form spacers to separate the baffles or you can simply fill the tube with baffles but that does add weight when using steel freeze plugs. Mixing freeze plug and M baffles can also work very well for sound suppression. If you plan to shoot supersonic rounds greater than 22LR I recommend a steel blast baffle (first baffle). You can add one steel freeze plug blast baffle to a suppressor full of aluminum storage cup M baffles to ensure longevity.
When drilling the bullet path holes in the baffles it's a good idea to elongate the hole in one direction. This sends the moving gasses off to the side to strike the next baffle wall instead of just shooting straight down the center of the baffles. This is a common feature of commercial suppressor baffles. A 1/4' rat tail (round) metal file works great for this. For aluminum baffles you can use a 1/4' drill bit to elongate the hole.
Note how the skirt hole is opposite the entrance slot in this XCaliber Genesis suppressor M baffle. Hot gasses entering the slot push the main gas stream into the skirt hole to trap it between the baffle and suppressor wall. The Genesis is a very quiet .22 suppressor.
WARNING: Just because these Maglite and filter suppressors are easy to make doesn't decrease the severity of penalty for illegal possession. You can do hard prison time if you don't have a Form 1 and tax stamp for a suppressor.
I recommend putting three or four 3/16' holes around the bullet path hole in the first baffle (blast baffle). These holes allow some of the very high pressure blast wave to pass through and bleed some of the wave's energy. This is a common feature in commercial suppressors.
You can make a suppressor quieter by putting a few drops of water or oil into the suppressor and it'll really reduce first round pop which is caused by cold dense air inside the suppressor. The downside is the liquid will mix with powder residue and stick to the suppressor interior and hasten the need for cleaning.
Placing a rubber washer between each baffle (freeze plug or storage cup) and between the last baffle and exit hole should help attenuate internal noise caused by reflection, vibration and resonance. Lowe's and Home Depot sell rubber washers in a variety of sizes.
Some silencers of the past used felt washers between the last baffle and the exit hole to absorb the diminished shock wave.
Another technique of old was placing steel wool in the gas chambers but testing seems to confirm this isn't worth the trouble.
A thick piece of rubber sheet can be placed between the last baffle and exit hole to form a 'wipe'. Cut an 'X' slit for the bullet to pass. The rubber will slow the exit of gas from the suppressor exit hole but may reduce accuracy.
I highly recommend you put a little anti-seize compound on the tube and end cap threads to make disassembly easier.
To remove stuck baffles for cleaning a socket on an extension can be used to drive them out.
Don't forget that you must engrave your Form 1 information on the exterior tube of the suppressor.
The first thing I try is simply holding the rifle receiver between my knees and use a long 3/4' wrench on the flash hider and tap the wrench lightly with a metal hammer. About half the time this is all that's required to break the flash hider loose.
Remove all washers and lock nuts from the rifle muzzle because they can throw off suppressor alignment. The best alignment usually comes from seating the suppressor directly against the muzzle thread shoulder.
Cartridge | Diameter Inch | MM | Other Cartridges With Same Bullet |
.22LR | .222 | 5.64 | |
.223 & 5.56 | .224 | 5.7 | (I know it's called 5.56 but it's not) 224 Valkyrie |
.243 & 6mm | .243 | 6.17 | 6mm Creedmoor |
25-20 & 257 Roberts | .257 | 6.53 | |
6.5mm & 264WM | .264 | 6.7 | 6.5 Creedmoor, Grendel, Carcano, Japanese, 264 Win Mag |
270 Win | .277 | 7.04 | 6.8 SPC |
280 Rem | .284 | 7.21 | 7mm-08 Rem, 284 Win, 7mm x57 Mauser |
308 Win & 7.62 | .308 | 7.82 | I know it's called 7.62 but it's not. 7.5mm Swiss (303 Savage is .311) |
7.62x39 | .312 | 7.92 | AK-47, SKS |
32 ACP | .312 | 7.93 | (32-40 is .324) |
8mm, 325 WSM | .323 | 8.2 | 8mm x 57, 8mm Rem Mag, 325 Win Short Mag |
338 Laupa Mag | .338 | 8.59 | 340 Wby Mag, 338 Win Mag |
375 H&H Mag | .375 | 9.53 | |
380 Auto | .355 | 9.02 | (9mm Short, should be called 355 Auto) |
9mm & 357 Sig | .355 | 9.02 | 9mm Parabellum, 9mmx19, |
38 Special | .359 | 9.12 | 357 Mag (should be called 36 Special) |
40 S&W & 10mm | .400 | 10.16 | (40 S&W = 10mm Short) |
416 Rigby | .416 | 10.57 | |
44-40 Win | .428 | 10.87 | |
44 Mag | .430 | 10.92 | |
45 ACP | .451 | 11.46 | |
45-70 | .458 | 11.63 | 458 Win Mag, 450 Marlin, 460 Wby Mag |
470 Nitro Express | .475 | 12.07 | |
500 S&W Mag | .500 | 12.7 | |
50 BMG | .510 | 12.95 | 50 Alaskan |
Warning: You must have a BATFE Form 1 with tax stamp before you begin to legally build a suppressor. National Firearms Act (NFA) rules apply and you can do hard prison time for violating the law.
Major Robinette was a Battalion Marksmanship Champion, Squadron Rifle Team Captain and Range Officer. Rob also spent 10 years as a federal law enforcement officer. He holds a Federal Firearms License and is the CEO of Nolichucky Guns. He enjoys all forms of rifle and pistol use.
Ruger Precision Rimfire with M-LOK Arca-Swiss plate clamped into LeoFoto LH-55 ball head and heavy duty tripod.
Leupold RX2800