How to Choose the Right suppressor
Buying a suppressor is one of the best upgrades you can make to any firearm – but it’s also a long-term purchase that involves paperwork, wait times, and real money. Choosing the right suppressor the first time is critical.
At A-Zone Armory, we help customers every day pick the perfect suppressor for their rifle, pistol, or range toy. This guide will walk you through exactly how to choose the right suppressor and show you real-world examples you can buy from us today.
What Does a Suppressor Do?
A suppressor (also called a silencer) reduces:
Sound signature
Muzzle blast
Recoil
Flash
Benefits:
More comfortable shooting
Less concussion
Better follow-up shots
Suppressors are legal in most states but are regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA).
Step 1: Choose Your Suppressor by Caliber
This is the most important decision.
Common Categories:
.22 LR suppressors – Rimfire rifles & pistols
9mm suppressors – Pistols & PCCs
5.56 suppressors – AR-15s
.30 cal suppressors – Multi-cal rifle use
Multi-caliber suppressors – One can, many guns
Real Examples at A-Zone Armory:
For rimfire fun and training:
Dead Air Mask (.22 LR)
https://azonearmory.com/product/dead-air-mask/For pistols & PCCs:
Rugged Obsidian 9 (9mm modular suppressor)
https://azonearmory.com/product/rugged-obsidian-9/For AR-15 / 5.56 rifles:
AB A10 5.56
https://azonearmory.com/product/ab-a10-5-56/Otter Creek Labs Polonium K (compact 5.56 suppressor)
https://azonearmory.com/product/otter-creek-labs-polonium-k/- Multi Caliber: Otter Creek Labs Infinity https://azonearmory.com/product/otter-creek-labs-infinity/
Step 2: Dedicated vs Multi-Use Suppressors
Dedicated Suppressor
✅ Lighter
✅ Shorter
✅ Optimized for one caliber
❌ Only works on that caliber
Multi-Use Suppressor
✅ Works on many guns
✅ More flexible
❌ Heavier
❌ Slightly less optimized
Examples:
Dedicated 5.56: Otter Creek Polonium K
Modular multi-use: Rugged Obsidian 9 (short or long configuration)
Step 3: Length, Weight & Handling
Suppressors change how your firearm feels:
Shorter = better handling, slightly louder
Longer = quieter, more front-heavy
Lighter = better for pistols and SBRs
Good Examples:
Polonium K = short, compact, excellent for ARs and SBRs
Rugged Obsidian 9 = modular length, great for pistols & PCCs
Dead Air Mask = light & quiet for rimfire
Step 4: Mounting Systems (Very Important)
Direct Thread
Simple
Lighter
Cheaper
Example:
AB A10 5.56 uses a direct thread mounting system, but can also be swapped for QD systems
Quick Detach (QD)
Faster to swap between guns
Better for multi-host setups
Example:
Dead Air Sandman-X uses the Dead Air Key-Mo QD System
Step 5: Serviceable vs Sealed
Rimfire & pistol suppressors should be user-serviceable (can be cleaned)
Example: Dead Air Mask, Rugged Obsidian 9
Rifle suppressors are usually sealed
Example: AB A10 5.56, Polonium K
Step 6: Durability & Use Case
If you shoot:
Short barrels
Rapid fire
Hard training
You want a duty-rated suppressor like:
AB A10 5.56
Otter Creek Polonium K
Step 7: Backpressure & Gas
All suppressors increase gas blowback on ARs, some more than others.
Flow through designs like the OCL Infinity help reduce this while staying very quiet
Step 8: The NFA Process (Simple Version)
All suppressors:
Ship to your FFL/SOT
Require ATF Form 4
As of January 1st 2026, transfers for Suppressors and SBRs are no longer subject to the $200 tax
Approval wait time
A-Zone Armory helps you through the entire process.
What Suppressor Should You Buy First?
Best First Suppressors from Our Shop:
Dead Air Mask – .22 LR fun & cheap shooting
Rugged Obsidian 9 – Pistols & PCCs
Otter Creek Polonium K – Compact AR suppressor
- Otter Creek Labs Polonium 30 – Suppressor for both 7.62 or 5.56
Final Advice
Buy once, cry once. A good suppressor will last decades.
Browse Our Suppressors
View all suppressors at A-Zone Armory
Or contact us and we’ll help you choose the perfect one