6 Best .30 Caliber Suppressors [Guide] By: Megan Kriss

A good .30-cal suppressor can totally change your shooting experience.

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Whether you’re at the range or on the hunt, it makes for a much more comfortable time shooting.

Why is that?

Well, glad you asked. We’re going to cover the ins and outs of suppressors in general, including how they work and how you can buy one. Then we’ll deep dive into some recommendations of our favorite .30-caliber models.

Looking for a .30-caliber suppressor to keep your ears safe and your friends jealous? We’ve got you covered.

Let’s get into it.

Summary of Our Top Picks

1. 

   Best Quick Detach Option

   Dead Air Sandman-S

   Monocore suppressor, QD for easy removal/attachment

   $829 at Brownells
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2. 

   Best Full-Auto Rated Option

   SilencerCo Omega 300

   Full auto rated, comes with direct thread and QD mount

   $885 at Capitol Armory
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3. 

   User Serviceable Option

   Silencer Central Banish 30

   Affordable, self-serviceable

   $999 at Silencer Central
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4. 

   Most Compact Option

   Dead Air Nomad-30

   Smaller than other cans on the list, affordable

   $819 at Capitol Armory
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5. 

   Best for .300 BLK

   Gemtech GMT-300BLK

   Best for .300 Blk, user serviceable

   $849 at Primary Arms
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Why Use a Suppressor?

It makes your gun quieter! Next question, please. Seriously, though, this is more important than you might immediately realize.

Yeah, a lot of times, you still wear hearing protection, but a suppressor can actually bring shooting down to a hearing safe level. This is really convenient.

A suppressor can also reduce recoil and muzzle blast. And it’s great for hunters who want a more natural sound when in the woods, as well as those that want to preserve their hearing for years to come.

Finally, there are the other benefits you get during hunting season, assuming your state allows hunting with a suppressor.

Aside from being easier on your ears, you’re also doing a lot less to spook the local game animals, both the ones you might be shooting at and the general population.

I’ve seen hogs shot with suppressed .300 BLK and .308 Win rounds take off running, leaving the herd standing around looking confused. This makes follow-up shots possible where they wouldn’t have been before.

Choosing a .30-Caliber Suppressor

So, if any of that sounds interesting, how do you go about choosing a .30-caliber suppressor?

 There are actually a few things you need to keep in mind.

Caliber Compatibility

First, a lot of people go with a .30 or .45-caliber suppressor because they generally work with smaller calibers as well.

So, most .30-caliber suppressors will also work with, say, .22-caliber rounds like .223.

Small caveat…not all suppressors are built equally, so this might not apply to every model on the market. Sometimes you need a specific adaptor to make this jump to a smaller cartridge.

Long story short, make sure the suppressor you get is actually rated for the calibers you want. This is particularly important with Magnum calibers like .300 Win Mag, for example.

Attachment Method

Next, we need to look at how your suppressor actually attaches to your gun. In most cases, you want something with quick-detach lugs, a.k.a. QD.

These sport a discrete adaptor or muzzle device that threads onto the barrel. Then the suppressor attaches to the adaptor or muzzle device.

This is much faster to set up and take down than a direct-thread option where the suppressor screws straight onto the muzzle.

But a direct-thread option is often cheaper. They also may not require the adapter setup or special muzzle device that a QD option will.

So, you do you.

In general, we feel the QD options are worth the marginal extra expense and the muzzle brake/comp you get as a base still works well even with the suppressor attached.

Sound Dampening Performance

This one is pretty easy. How quiet does the suppressor you’re looking at actually make the round you want to fire? Does it bring it down to a hearing-safe range?

Are you okay with wearing ear pro if not?

Are you willing to pay extra to have more sound baffling for even less noise?

Only you can answer these questions, so just make sure to compare the decibel reduction of each suppressor. Also, don’t trust any suppressor you can’t find a decibel rating for.

Monocore vs. Stacked Baffles

The inside of a suppressor contains structures called baffles. These diffuse and redirect the expanding gases, slowing and cooling them before they leave the muzzle.

This, in turn, makes the gun quieter.

There are two different types, independent stacked baffles and solid monocore baffles.

Stacked baffles consist of individual pieces stacked together to form the interior of the suppressor.

Meanwhile, a monocore suppressor uses one long single piece inside.

Functionally, one isn’t necessarily better at reducing sound than the other. That said, stacked baffles are easier to clean, which is better for you when it comes to maintenance.

Monocores are easier to machine, which means cheaper price tags.

The key is figuring out what means more to you – price or ease.

Buying a Suppressor

It’s worth noting that as you evaluate prices for each of the suppressors below, you also need to factor in the $200 tax stamp.

Yep, because these devices fall under the National Firearms Act, there’s a process you must undertake to own one.

This includes filing the correct paperwork, cutting the ATF a check for $200, and waiting a few months for the ATF’s okay.

For more on this whole deal and how to get everything done, check out our guide on How To Buy a Suppressor Online.

Best .30-Caliber Suppressors

Alright, with all that out of the way, let’s talk about the best .30-cal suppressors on the market.

The following list consists of suppressors we like the most out of all our testing. Many of us here at PPT either have the following models or at least have experience with them via media events and industry range days.

We realize this list does not encompass every .30-cal can on the market, but frankly, there’s not enough space to talk about them all. So, we’ve limited our list to some of our personal faves.

In no particular order…

1. Dead Air Sandman-S

The Dead Air Sandman-S is a monocore suppressor with a QD mount for easy attachment and removal.

It is just a hair under 7 inches in length, weighing in at 18.5 ounces. Rated for up to .300 WM and .30-06, larger .30-cal stuff is no problem for it whatsoever.

Dead Air’s Sandman-S also features a removable front-cap with a built-in flash hider.

Having a replaceable part on the end of your suppressor is great…but why?

Well, if you drop it or otherwise damage it, you don’t have to replace the whole can. You’re only out the end cap, which Dead Air sells and can ship right to your door.

User reports put the Sandman-S at around 140dB. MSRP on the Sandman-S comes in at around $1,069.