I’m sure quite a few of you on here don’t know much about NFA or about suppressors and often wonder what the hell is inside of a silencer.

Simple explanation of what a suppressor does...
A silencer is basically contained empty space. It is a more commonly, a round tube with empty chambers to trap and cool the expanding gasses that propel the bullet out of the gun.

Breakdown of suppressor parts...
Tube:
This is what is primarily the registered part with the ATF is. Commonly, it is round but some companies have tried to come up with different designs called an eccentric design. This has more of a box look to it. (Silencerco osprey and the abandoned AAC blackbox)

Mount:
This is the part that attaches to your host firearm. It can be done by direct threading to the barrel. Quick attach (QA) to a flash hider or muzzle break. 3 lug quick attach mount where the barrel has three machined lugs on the barrel that the suppressor slips over and rotates and is held in by spring tension in the suppressor.

An extension of the mount on pistols is an LCD (linear cycling device. Other companies have different names for it). On most semi auto pistols, the barrel tips just slightly for it to unlock. What the LCD does is act like a piston to relieve the weight of the suppressor on the pistol barrel so the pistol can cycle correctly.

Last, is the baffle core:
These are a series of designed cones and "washers" that trap and hold the gasses inside the tube little by little until they exit the last baffle (which is called an end cap).

I will be a post whore and try and get as many manufacturers in their own sections so you can see who has what designs and give you an idea of how they work.

AAC:

TiRant







Evo9:







Evo40: Note: The white rod is a delrin rod to push out the baffle stack. this is an aftermarket item made for this silencer.



Titan .338 lapua (next to an m4-2000 5.56 on the right):


m4-2000 (mod8): Note: this was fired from a 9" 300BLK in full auto with a full mag. 12 rounds sheared off and made it through the core. the rest piled up on the first baffle


m4-2000 cut apart and before assembly:



AAC 416-sd shorter and 762-sd taller:


copy of an AAC m4-2000 (unknown mod):










X-ray of Pilot on a glock conversion kit:


Prodigy .22:


Pilot .22:





Aviator .22:










While a few are not AAC silencers, the ones that are, are noted:
(from left)1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15.


Closer look starting from left:



This was an ad put out by AAC to show how well the welded core can stand up. Surefire also used this same picture in a lawsuit against AAC for false advertising:


have you ever wondered how hot a silencer will get? this is an AAC m4-2000 that had 5-30 round mags fired through it on full auto.

AWC

Odessy: NOTE: this is a tubeless design.


awc mk9a:


This an older design of the same can


Titan:


Triad:



Not sure if this really is an AWC silencer but it has been suggested that it is:

SWR

Trident 9:




H.E.M.S. 2:








Spectre:


to show how dirty a .22 can will get, this is my personal spectre silencer after 500+ rounds


here it is after i cleaned it



Spectre II baffle stack:



This is a form 1 suppressor but it is a copy of the Spectre:



Brand new from shot show 2011:
The Octane9:
It can be disassembled by the end user to be cleaned.
It comes in two versions, All stainless steel baffles (on left) or stainless blast baffle and the rest aluminum baffles (on right)



Specwar 5.56:


Octane 9:


Octane 45:

SAI

unknown can 2 stage:

Gemtech

Outback II:







SOS-45:



Blackside:


G5-22:




GSG-SD:


HVT 308:

it has been brought to my attention that this is actually a gemtech HVT can and not the SWR Omega 30



Viper 9/45:




multi-mount 9mm:



Stainless Steel Alpine .22:

Silencerco

Sparrow (aluminum):


sparrow (stainles steel):



osprey 45/40/9:






saker 5.56:





I was finally able to find a picture of the Saker baffle stack. It's a still shot from a video Silencerco did highlighting the Saker.




salvo 12: the rods in the first picture, are there to keep the shot wad from expanding in the silencer and blowing up your can.

Thompson Machine

Poseidon 9mm:


Isis 9mm:



Isis 2 (9mm): (courtesy of iron.maden)


WASP .22:




Oprative C intergal:



QMF 2: (courtesy of iron.maden)

DeGroat Tactical

Nano 9mm:

Tactical Innovations

Tac65 (.22):



Quest .22:


Tac16 (5.56):

Tactical Solutions

Cascade:

YHM

Mite .22:


wraith 9mm:


M2 Cobra 9mm/45acp:

Ase Utra

Z-Jet

Knights Armament/Brugger & Thomet

MK23:

Quicksilver Manufacturing (QSM):

QSM 22:


QSM .223:


QSM 45: