You just got the email that your suppressor has been approved, congratulations! Now you’re ready to take your new can out to the range and listen to the sweet sound of suppressed shooting, however, you will need to make sure you have some key tools in your range bag to have the best suppressed shooting experience possible. We have put together a list of the best suppressor accessories to have on hand, based on our years of shooting and putting tens of thousands of rounds through silencers.
Table of Contents
Threaded Barrel
Before you’re ready to shoot suppressed you need to make sure your preferred host firearm(s) is able to mount a suppressor. A threaded barrel will be required to attach a suppressor, and make sure your mount (direct thread, quick detach, or piston and booster) matches the thread pitch on your barrel.
Threaded barrels are very common on rifles like AR or AK platform weapons, and most will feature an A2 muzzle brake or similar muzzle device from the manufacturer. Check to make sure that this muzzle device is not pin and welded (this is more common on 13.9” and 14.5” barrels to bring them to the legal 16” overall length). If your barrel is pinned, a gunsmith will be able to remove the muzzle device to allow you to mount a suppressor-ready mount. Threaded barrels are much less common on stock handguns like the Glock 19 or Sig P320 that you may have in your safe. For many handguns, you’ll need to order a threaded pistol barrel for your preferred handgun.
Here is a quick list of common thread pitches:
- 1/2x28 TPI: everything up through .224 caliber (.17 HMR, .22 LR, .223/5.56, .22-250, 5.7x28, etc.) plus 9x19mm (your standard 9mm pistol ammo) and .350 Legend
- 5/8x24 TPI: everything over .224 caliber through .30 caliber (.243 cal, 6mm, .264 cal, 6.5mm, 6.8mm, .28 cal, 7mm, 7.62mm and .30 cal including .308 Win, 300 BLK, .300 Win Mag, etc.) plus 375 Raptor. Sometimes .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, and others will employ 5/8x24” threads.
- .578x28 TPI: most .45 ACP handguns. Also many .40 S&W and 10mm Auto
Open-ended Wrench
An adjustable wrench is among the most valuable tools in your range bag. It will all you to tighten your muzzle device, secure your adapter on your suppressor, and get some extra torque if your can is tough to remove from your rifle after a few hundred rounds. Making sure your mount and suppressor are firmly secured is important for concentricity and to avoid potential damage such as baffle strikes. A good adjustable wrench allows you to check that everything is nice and tight throughout your range day.
Strap Wrench
Similar to the open-ended adjustable wrench a strap wrench is a great tool to have around to make sure your silencer is properly torqued to your host. For example, if you are shooting your handgun suppressed, you’ll want to make sure the piston is secured firmly to avoid the can coming loose under recoil. A strap wrench is a great way to provide extra torque on a suppressor without the risk of galling or marring the can.
Manufacturer's Tools
End cap tools, spanner wrenches, take-down parts, and any proprietary tool or device included in your suppressor packing should be immediately added to your range bag. These tools will allow you to take apart, service, or swap out attachments on your suppressor. If you want to swap from the 7.62 end cap to the 5.56 flash hider endcap on your Nomad, or change the configuration of your Q Erector the included manufacturer's tools make the process simple. You also reduce the risk of damaging your suppressor when using the right tools for the job.
Heatproof Mitt
Suppressors get HOT! After a magazine of 9mm or some 5.56 double taps, your suppressor will be too hot to touch. A heatproof mitt will allow you to take the suppressor off to cool down more quickly, or to swap to a different host without costing you your fingerprints. We’re partial to the Silencer Shop Suppressor Removal Tool, it will save your hand when handling a hot silencer, or when you're taking a slab of ribs out of the smoker.
Credit: @deadairsilencers
Thread Locker
Thread Locker is useful by making sure things stay together. You’re dealing with a lot of threads; your barrel, your muzzle device, your mounting threads, the suppressor body threads, and potentially threaded modules and endcaps. A drop of Rocksett will secure your muzzle device to the host firearm ensuring it doesn’t walk off when your barrel heats up. A dab of blue Loctite on your muzzle adapter threads will minimize the chance of parts coming loose. Be aware that these adhesives create a very strong bond and can require heat or torque to remove. Always check your manual to see which parts may require an adhesive and which parts you should avoid with thread lockers.
Shims
Many muzzle devices need to be timed to get the best results. Timing is to ensure that the ports or tines of your muzzle device are properly positioned on the firearm. Almost all devices should be timed, but some omnidirectional compensators or flash hiders do not require timing. High-quality shims will help correctly time your muzzle brake, compensator, or flash hider, and will retain proper alignment and concentricity, unlike a crush washer.
Cleaning Brush
Suppressors trap the gasses, propellents, and particulates that result from the explosion of gunpowder when firing a bullet. These combustion gasses and particulates can contain carbon and lead which will build up in your silencer over time and eventually reduce its performance. Running a cleaning brush through a warm, NOT HOT, suppressor will break up the buildup from shooting and make deep cleaning your suppressor easier.
Lubrication
As we have mentioned suppressors can make things dirty, including your barrel, BCG, and other important parts of your firearm. Keeping cleaning and lubricating solutions in your kit will help keep your rifles and pistols running well. A little bit of lubricant on the bolt carrier group of your AR or on the booster assembly of your pistol suppressor will keep you on the range instead of field stripping your firearm trying to get it working again.
Silencer Pouch
Similar to how a heatproof mitt protects your hands from a hot can, a silencer pouch protects your gear from burning or melting. Simply remove the suppressor and place it in a suppressor pouch, then store it away or set it on a bench without worrying about melting or damaging your other gear. You don’t want to melt your shooting mat to your new suppressor.
BONUS: Teflon Tape
Teflon Tape can be used to add additional security to your pistol or shotgun suppressor mounts. A few wraps of Teflon tape around the mounting threads, and snugging the silencer down with a strap wrench, will help it stay in place without fear of it walking off under heavy recoil. This is especially helpful on full-auto firearms and shotguns with short barrels.
Additional Suppressor Accessories
It may go without saying but you need ammo to enjoy shooting at the range, but if you’re new to suppressors you might want to look into subsonic ammunition depending on what caliber you’re shooting. Subsonic ammo will maximize the sound performance of your silencer and will provide the most Hollywood-esque shooting experience possible.
An armors wrench and multitool are great to have on hand at the range. Being able to quickly tighten an optic mount, secure a castle nut, or snug up a handguard bolt can be the difference between an awesome day shooting with your friends and packing up early and upset.
Conclusion
Making sure you have the right tools for the job will help keep your suppressed shooting experience as pleasant as possible. Keeping these key items in your range bag will keep you plinking all day instead of sitting off to the side with a gun that isn’t running correctly.
