Best AR-15 Suppressors

I bet every person reading this owns an AR-15. At this point, the NRA should just give them away with memberships. The weapon dominates the market and will continue to dominate the market. It’s affordable, available in tons of calibers, and easy to suppress. Suppressing an AR-15 doesn’t affect its reliability, accuracy, or anything inherently with the gun. It cuts the noise, it cuts recoil, and it just makes shooting a more pleasant experience. 

So, what’s the best suppressor for the AR-15? Ooof, that’s tough to answer. You see, the AR-15 comes in so many calibers and configurations that I can’t just pick one. We’d have to set up specific guidelines. Suppressors aren’t just caliber sensitive but barrel length sensitive. Some are multical, and some are not. There is a lot to dig into, but we’ve picked seven of the best options for suppressors. 

How Did We Make Out Picks? 

There are a few factors we considered. One of the most important is actual sound suppression. How much noise does a suppressor eliminate from a gunshot? I don’t have the equipment to test and catalog noise suppression and suppressor companies can be a bit like two-way radio companies. It’s not that they’re lying, but they are using optimum conditions to get their numbers.

We can look at a website called PEW Science. The team there catalogs and records sound suppression to an extreme degree through very scientific means, which I don’t quite understand. Luckily, they break it down to the point where crayon eaters like me can understand the process. Check them out for some of the best suppressor data on the market. 

Beyond noise, we have to consider the external factors. This includes durability. Shorter barrels require greater durability, and so does full auto. We also have to factor in weight and length. If you strap 8 inches to the end of your barrel, you’ll notice it quickly, and the same goes for 20 ounces strapped to the end of your gun. Oh, and let’s not forget the price, multiusage capability, and more. We’ll dig into it and deliver you the seven best suppressors for the AR-15. 

The Best AR-15 Suppressors 

The Best AR-15 Suppressors

1. SilencerCo Velos LBP 556K		Editor’s Pick Low Blowback Design Charlie Flash Suppressor End Cap  Charlie ASR Compatible	Check It Out
2. Energetic Armament ARX 556 Silencer		Lightweight Super Lightweight Design  Compatible With Numerous Mounting Options High Tech Construction	Check It Out
3. Surefire SOCOM300 SPS		Best .300 Blackout Low Gas Blowback Quietest .300 Blackout Can  Extremely Well Made	Check It Out
4. Knights Armament NT4		Most Proven Proven with Military Users Around the World Extreme Durability Excellent Sound Suppression	Check It Out
5. Carbon Research CR9		PCC Options Carbon Fiber Design  Crazy Lightweight  Works with 9mm and .300 Blackout	Check It Out
6. SilencerCo Omega 36M		Hunter’s Delight Modular Design Swappable Endcaps  Multicaliber Design	Check It Out
7. Griffin Armament Bushwhacker 46 Universal Suppressor		Best MultiCal Extreme Multicaliber Design  Low Gas Backpressure Tons of Mounting Options	Check It Out

The Best AR-15 Suppressors Specs 

The Best AR-15 Suppressors

SilencerCo Velos LBP 556K 

SilencerCo remains a cutting-edge company that’s embraced a variety of manufacturing techniques. This includes 3D printing, which is how they manufactured the baffles of this suppressor. The Velos LBP 556K aims to provide a professional-grade suppressor that makes your AR or other 5.56 rifle a true kitten at the range. 

The Velos LBP 556K, a shooter version of the earlier Velos LBP, maintains its rugged design. It features a 3D-printed Inconel baffle system securely housed in a fully welded can, making it one of the most robust suppressors available. The ‘LBP’ in its name stands for Low Back Pressure, a system that minimizes back pressure.

The gun has no minimum barrel length and is fully auto-rated. This makes it tougher than most of us will ever need it to be. The fully welded design adds another layer of durability and simplicity to keep the can running and gunning into the higher round counts. The Velos LBP 556K will likely last longer than the rifle you strap it to. It’s belt-fed rated, for Lord’s sake. 

The flow-through design allows gas to push through the suppressor and reduce rearward gas travel. This helps with a lot of things. First, it prevents port pop, and less gas means less violent recoil and less wear and tear on your gun. A suppressor can often make a well-gassed gun feel overgassed. The other big benefit is that less gas is thrown into your face. It makes your eyes water, and all those chemicals aren’t good for you. 

The Velos LBP 556K has a trim 4.76-inch length and weighs 12.4 ounces. It’s short and fairly light. You’ll notice the weight on a full-length 20-inch rifle, but the shorter you go, the more balanced it feels. The can uses Charlie ASR mounts and comes with the Charlie flash hider cap. Suppressors do a good job of flash suppression, but with shorter barrels on 5.56 guns, they can even beat all the flash. This cap makes flash a forgotten experience. 

The downside comes with the $1,164 MSRP. It’s not a budget-friendly can, but the high-tech design and durability don’t come cheap. 

SilencerCo Velos LBP 556K Pros and Cons

Energetic Armament ARX 556 Silencer

Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain, right? A lot of people don’t light the extra weight of a suppressor dangling off their gun. It can get annoying, especially with longer guns. For those folks who want to minimize that weight, a company called Energetic Arms is here for you. Their ARX 556 Silencer falls into that ultra-lightweight category. How light? The suppressor weighs eight ounces, and the direction thread mount weighs .8 of an ounce, so all together, it’s 8.8 ounces. 

Ultralight cans aren’t new, but they tend to be a lot less durable than other options. That’s not the case here. The ARX 556 Sielcner has no barrel restrictions, and it’s full auto-rated. The trick behind being the Sugar Sean O’Malley of suppressors is a mix of different materials that tend to run light and strong. 

This material difference includes a composite C-300 nickel cobalt steel with laser-welded Stellite 21 cobalt-chrome leading edges. The C300 baffles handle extreme pressure, and the Stellite leading edge prevents hot gas erosion over time. It’s a genius mix of materials with high-tech laser welding to seal it all up. 

We also get lower back pressure with all these fancy materials and laser welding. As we’ve established, lower back pressure means less wear on the gun and less gas in your face. This is done through a protected blast baffle and stepwise progressive bore. The can even comes with an optional flash-hiding front cap! 

One of the more annoying things within the suppressor world is all the various mourning systems and muzzle devices. I wish there was a standardized system, but every manufacturer has their own ideas. Energetic Armament using a mounting system compatible with SilencerCo Omega and ASR, Dead Air Key-Mo, Q Plan-B, and quite a few more. You have plenty of mounting options. 

Our downside comes to sound suppression. It’s not the quietest 5.56 can on the market and lags behind other options. With a 5.56 gun, I would also recommend Ear Pro regardless, just due to the supersonic crack. If you want weight savings, sacrifices sometimes have to be made.

Energetic Armament ARX 556 Silencer  Pros and Cons

Surefire SOCOM300 SPS 

When you want a light powerful enough for duty but small enough for EDC carry, the Surefire E2D Defender Ultra packs a punch. It’s slightly big for EDC, but it can work. The Surefire E2D is loaded with 1,000 lumens and over 10K candela. It provides a good deal of light for both indoor and outdoor use. Surefire is the go-to brand for duty lights by both police and military units due to their power and durability.

These are bomb-proof lights, and the Surefire brand has been the most tested light in the world. The all-metal design allows you to turn a powerful light into an impact weapon if need be. The Surefire E2D Defender Ultra comes with an optional 5-lumen mode for admin tasks and allows the preservation of battery life. It’s a very capable light from a well-proven brand.

Surefire SOCOM300 SPS  Pros and Cons

Knights Armament NT4 

If you put a Marine in a padded room with three blowing balls, he’ll break one, lose one, and marry one. That’s the nature of the beast. When the USMC wanted to equip their infantryman and combat arms with suppressors, they went to a well-proven well, the Knights Armament NT4. The NT4 has been around for a long time, and while the can lags behind in certain areas, it’s still a tough-as-nails suppressor. The Marines wanted a can that an 18-year-old infantryman could abuse without destroying. 

The NT4 can take the abuse. The Marine Corps moved from SAWs to the M27 IAR and needed a suppressor that could handle a large volume of fire. The NT4 does that exceptionally well. It’s been used by Special Operations for a very long time in the Global War on Terrorism. The suppressor itself is proven time and time again. This is an extremely durable suppressor. 

Sound suppression is also impressive for its age. It’s not the best, but it’s a good way away from being even close to being the low man on the totem pole. It scores on the higher end of the Pew Science scale for a 5.56 can. The NT4 is also perfect for cloners. Guys that replicate military firearms to a crazy degree of detail. 

When we get to the downsides, we run into quite a few. Knight’s Armament gear and guns are expensive. They are often hard to source, and their age also means it’s not made from space-age materials. At 22 ounces, the can is hefty, but durable cans typically are. It’s a product of its time. 

However, the real reason it makes the list is just because it’s so proven. It’s been every climb and place you can take a gun. They faced terrible, austere conditions, yet it was still the chosen option for a Marine Corps trying hard to modernize and equip the troops for the future of amphibious warfare. 

Knights Armament NT4  Pros and Cons

Carbon Research CR9 

You can’t escape pistol-caliber carbines. They’ve wedged their way into every platform you can think of AKs, bolt action rifles, lever guns, and of course ARs. The AR-based PCC is likely the most popular one available. I own enough that I’m ashamed to admit how many I own. One of the best reasons to own a PCC is to suppress it! It’s the easiest way to achieve a very quiet rifle. The Carbon Research CR9 can provide you with a mighty quiet rifle without a lot of weight. 

Carbon Research produces its suppressors using carbon fiber and titanium, which keeps them super lightweight. The CR9 only weighs 6.5 ounces. That’s it! There are lots of 9mm PCC platforms that keep things short and light, and you don’t want a suppressor that weighs your gun down. For example, my CMMG Banshee with its 5-inch barrel is super light, and I want to keep it that way. 

You might start thinking about durability. How long can these cans last? Well, the CR9 is full auto-rated for 9mm. It’s also rated for .300 Blackout subs and supersonics. However, it’s not rated for full auto fire with the .300 Blackout rounds. 

Mixing the CR9 with some 147-grain subsonic 9mm ammunition gives you a hearing-safe platform. It’s uber quiet, and the loudest noise you’ll hear will either be the sound of 9mm on steel or the action of your AR 9 clacking back and forth. The noise of the gunshot won’t ring your ears. The CR9 reduces the volume of a 9mm gunshot by 36 decibels. 

The downside of the CR9 is its length—8 inches—which is pretty long for a suppressor. It’s also not cheap. A mix of titanium, kevlar, and carbon fiber costs the end user close to 1,300 dollars. Innovative isn’t cheap, and neither are lightweight, durable materials. The suppressor does a great job of reducing noise and weight. 

Carbon Research CR9  Pros and Cons

SilencerCo Omega 36M 

The AR comes in a ton of calibers. There are too many to list. The most popular caliber tends to be .223/5.56. There are several alternative calibers that are often chosen by hunters in the AR platform, and a lot of them start with .3 rather than .2. These .30 caliber cartridges include .300 Blackout, 7.62x39mm, and even the larger .350 Legend. To tame these larger bore caliber, the SilencerCo Omega 36M delivers a suppressor capable of suppressing calibers up to .36. 

This makes the 36M well suited for .300 Blackout, the old 7.62x39mm, and even the various 6.8 and 6.5 calibers. Beyond those cartridges, you can even use the 36M for 9mm. The suppressor is durable enough to take on .308, .300 Winchester Magnum, and even .338 Lapua Magnum. Of course, that takes us out of the AR-15 realm, but it’s still worth knowing. 

The 36M comes with a 9mm cap, and the user can swap caps to accommodate .223 and .30 caliber rounds. The proper cap will help with sound suppression, so it’s wise to make sure the cap matches the cartridges for maximum suppression. 

The M in 36M stands for Modular. The silencer can alternate between two different lengths. You can go with maximum suppression and use the 36M at its full length of 6.85 inches or shorten things up to 4.9 inches. This allows you to tailor the can for the length you need and to make it as light and short as you want or as heavy, long, and quiet as you want. 

In its 6.85-inch length, the can weigh 12.5 ounces. In the 4.9-inch configuration, the platform weighs 9.8 ounces. The suppressor can also use various attachment methods, from the simple direct thread and 3-Lug to the various Charlie ASR mounts. The 36M gets SilencerCo’s backing, and you can attach it to your favorite AR-15-based hunting rifle. 

It’s not a cheap suppressor, but it’s also not priced out of this realm for a modular suppressor. Still, at over a grand, it might be a tough sell for some. The Omega 36M delivers a well-made, quiet, and capable suppressor that silences those big, loud, and heavy AR cartridges. 

SilencerCo Omega 36M  Pros and Cons

Griffin Armament Bushwhacker 46 Universal Suppressor 

The AR is a gun of many calibers. We’ve already mentioned 5.56, 9mm, .300 Blackout, and .350 Legend, but we also have to remember the big guys, the .450 Bushmaster, the .458 SOCOM, the .400 Legend, and even the lower powered big bore PCC cartridges like .45 ACP, 10mm, and similar calibers are popular in the AR-15 market. If you’re like me, you might own various uppers to fit into a single lower to handle all sorts of different calibers. 

If that’s the case, then the Griffin Armament Bushwhacker 46 is for you. This big suppressor can take the abuse of these powerful calibers and still suppress your smaller bore calibers with surprising efficiency. I’m not going to lie to you and say it’s just as effective as dedicated one caliber can, but it does work better than I anticipated. While this is an article on AR-15s, it bears mentioning that the Bushwhacker can be attached to a pistol with a booster piston system. 

The Bushwhacker has a ton of mounting options available, so you can have a quick-mounting system through the EZ-Brake design for nearly any caliber and thread pitch you can imagine. The can itself supports everything from .22 to .45-70. The Bushwhacker has this Ratchet-Lok end cap system, so you can match caliber size to end cap size and create better suppression through the .46 caliber baffles. 

The baffles are a Griffin Armament patented ECO-FLOW design that reduces back pressure and helps increase strength and durability. Less back pressure means less gas to the face, which becomes more and more critical as we get into those big-bore AR calibers. I hate gas to the face, and since suppressors are typically one-time purchases, I always go with low gas back pressure. 

The Bushwhacker isn’t even that expensive. The Griffin Armament isn’t breaking the bank at about a grand. It’s a high-tech option with great durability, excellent suppression, and true multi-caliber capability. The downside? It’s heavy at 15.8 ounces and long at 7.75 inches. 

Griffin Armament Bushwhacker 46 Universal Suppressor Pros and Cons

The AR Suppressed 

The AR-15 dominates the market. It’s everywhere, all the time, all at once. With that in mind, the suppressor market loves the AR platform. It works well with suppressors, and you are well served with a variety of AR-centric options. Keeping your AR-15 quiet isn’t just fun, but it’s a great way to help preserve hearing, reduce noise pollution, and just make your shooting more enjoyable. Do you have a favorite AR-15 suppressor? If so, let us know below!