Is Your Suppressor Tight?

by
posted on August 21, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
bs_2015_fs.jpg (2)

The Situation
With more and more states legalizing the practice of hunting with suppressors, more hunters than ever will take their rifles afield this year with new devices attached to the muzzle.

The Head-Scratching Moment
While doing some 200-yard shooting with my suppressed AR-10 the other day, I experienced a strange phenomenon—a three-shot group of my .260 Rem. produced an almost perfect horizontal line on the target. Though the vertical dispersion of the group was well under an inch, the horizontal spread spanned several inches. The wind was blowing a bit from my left, but I was watching the wind flag and, besides, it wasn’t windy enough for that much deviation.

undefined

The Culprit
I was out of ammo and done for the day, so once I retrieved my target I started packing up my guns and gear. I glanced at the suppressor and something just wasn’t right. I reached out and gave it a twist and it spun in my hand—not good. It turns out that the suppressor, an Advanced Armament 762-SDN-6, and the muzzle brake that it uses as an attachment point had worked themselves loose of the barrel due to the vibration of repeated firing. Upon further inspection, it was clear that the brake was not Loctited to the barrel: a recipe for trouble. I thought about it for a bit, and remembered that the rifle had been disassembled for a photo shoot before I took possession of it. The photographer obviously didn’t worry too much about the security of my muzzle brake when he put it back together. Additional testing confirmed that the loose can changed the barrel harmonics and produced the horizontally-strung group. The shift in impact was significant enough to have potentially caused a miss, or worse, a wounded animal. Not cool. Once it was back on correctly, the groups returned to normal.

The Lesson
Many of us are new to the suppressor world—though there’s not much that can go wrong with a product that uses no moving parts, one does have to ensure that the device is attached correctly. Just as you should check things like scope mount and ring screws before you head afield, make sure that your suppressor is attached firmly and correctly. As for the shift in impact caused by attached a suppressor in the first place, that’s a test for another day.

undefined

See More Suppressor Content:

• BullShooters: 7 Suppressor Myths
• Video: Q&A With the American Suppressor Association
• Hunting With Dead Air Suppressors

Latest

BTB 7Mm RUM Lead
BTB 7Mm RUM Lead

Behind the Bullet: 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum

Launching a 160-grain bullet in excess of 3200 fps, the 7mm RUM is among the fastest commercially loaded 7mm cartridges available.

USFWS Debuts 2025-2026 Federal and Junior Duck Stamps

The 2025-2026 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp—commonly known as the Duck Stamp—became available for purchase on June 27, 2025.

Tested: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener

Digital Associate Editor walks viewers through the features of the Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener, the perfect tool for a hunter looking to keep all his knives factory sharp season after season.

Recipe: Green Curried Black Bear

Green curry sauce is an excellent base for simmering bear meat, making it flavorful, tender, and safe to consume. Read on for another instant classic recipe from Brad Fenson.

Coyotes to Competitions: An AR-Build for Accuracy

ARs make great coyote guns. But what would the absolute best coyote rifle look like? Digital Associate Editor David Herman builds his take on the best AR for shooters who like to plug coyotes in the winter, and ring steel all summer long.

Pennsylvania Governor Signs Sunday Hunting Bill

Legislation that will fully repeal Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban was signed into law on July 9.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.