Suppressor sound tests / .308 / .308, 20" bolt-action rifle

.308, 20" bolt-action rifle2023

64 suppressors were fired on this same gun, on the same day, with the same ammunition. Fired with no suppressor at all, it measured 155.6 dB, which is what each reduction below is counted from.

The bar above the list places each of the 64 suppressors fired on this gun by how loud the shot still measured at the shooter's ear. Between the quietest and the loudest there is 15 dB. It stays on screen as you read, so hovering a row shows where that suppressor falls.

The shaded band is the tightest 2.25 dB stretch of this strip, holding 21 of the 64 suppressors tested, which this test cannot tell apart from one another. It is a sample rather than a special group, so sweep the strip and the band follows. No 2.25 dB stretch of this strip holds more of them than that, so the field really is spread out: on this gun, which suppressor you fit changes how loud the shot is.

Hover a row or drag the bar
quieter 122 dB136 dB louder
Sort by
SuppressorAt the ear
  1. Otter Creek Labs Hydrogen L121.7 dB
    13.93 oz · 9.365"See this suppressor →
    33.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  2. Abel Theorem L122.2 dB
    15.93 oz · 8.79"See this suppressor →
    33.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  3. AB Raptor 10123.1 dB
    15.22 oz · 10.5"See this suppressor →
    32.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  4. Resilient Jolene123.5 dB
    10.71 oz · 9.087"See this suppressor →
    32.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  5. Radical Defense LS3123.7 dB
    22.71 oz · 8.24"See this suppressor →
    31.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  6. TBAC Magnus CB123.9 dB
    16.76 oz · 9"See this suppressor →
    31.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  7. Dead Air Nomad Keymo123.9 dB
    20.24 oz · 7.75"See this suppressor →
    31.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  8. Dead Air Nomad LT E-Brake .375 endcap124.4 dB
    19.79 oz · 10.755"
    31.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  9. Dead Air Wolverine Keymo to Short FH124.7 dB
    29.87 oz · 8.65"
    30.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  10. Diligent Defense Enticer L Ti124.8 dB
    10.93 oz · 8.555"See this suppressor →
    30.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  11. Dead Air Nomad LT124.9 dB
    18.19 oz · 9.555"See this suppressor →
    30.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  12. TBAC Ultra 9125.3 dB
    11.96 oz · 9.01"See this suppressor →
    30.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  13. Otter Creek Labs Hydrogen S 7.62125.3 dB
    11.09 oz · 7.47"See this suppressor →
    30.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  14. YHM Resonator R2 Phantom125.4 dB
    25.11 oz · 9.32"
    30.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  15. SilencerCo 36M Long125.4 dB
    20.08 oz · 7.885"
    30.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  16. TBAC Dominus CB125.6 dB
    11.85 oz · 6.27"See this suppressor →
    30.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  17. CGS Hyperion125.7 dB
    15.73 oz · 9.625"See this suppressor →
    29.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  18. SilencerCo Omega 300 flat cap125.9 dB
    19.27 oz · 7.1"See this suppressor →
    29.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  19. AAC MK13-SD126.1 dB
    18.06 oz · 9.51"See this suppressor →
    29.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  20. Gunwerks 8ight126.3 dB
    18.59 oz · 8.19"
    29.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  21. JK Armament RCX 30 Full127.3 dB
    13.24 oz · 8.15"
    28.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  22. Energetic Armament LUX 7.62127.6 dB
    9.89 oz · 7.805"See this suppressor →
    28.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  23. Abel Theorem127.8 dB
    13.58 oz · 7.162"See this suppressor →
    27.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  24. YHM Resonator R2127.9 dB
    19.86 oz · 8.28"See this suppressor →
    27.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  25. Diligent Defense Enticer S 7.62128.1 dB
    9.52 oz · 7.175"See this suppressor →
    27.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  26. Nosler SR-30 Ti128.3 dB
    13.16 oz · 8.48"See this suppressor →
    27.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  27. AAC Ranger 7128.4 dB
    23.62 oz · 7.958"See this suppressor →
    27.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  28. TBAC Ultra 7129.1 dB
    10.06 oz · 7.01"See this suppressor →
    26.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  29. AAC Jager 30129.2 dB
    12.21 oz · 9.282"
    26.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  30. Rugged Radiant129.7 dB
    15.71 oz · 7.89"See this suppressor →
    25.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  31. Griffin Armament HRT 7.62129.9 dB
    21.08 oz · 7.7"
    25.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  32. JK Armament SBRX 30 Full129.9 dB
    13.22 oz · 6.165"
    25.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  33. Energetic Armament Peak 30130.0 dB
    11.89 oz · 6.34"See this suppressor →
    25.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  34. Abel Theorem S130.0 dB
    10.56 oz · 5.81"See this suppressor →
    25.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  35. Aero Precision Lahar 30L130.1 dB
    21.03 oz · 7.635"See this suppressor →
    25.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  36. Dead Air Sandman S130.1 dB
    20.58 oz · 7.053"See this suppressor →
    25.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  37. Q Thunder Chicken130.3 dB
    16.51 oz · 8.215"See this suppressor →
    25.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  38. TBAC Fly 45 Long130.3 dB
    8.95 oz · 8.36"See this suppressor →
    25.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  39. Sig SLH 7.62130.4 dB
    24.75 oz · 7.827"
    25.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  40. Dead Air Primal Keymo130.4 dB
    24.08 oz · 8.81"See this suppressor →
    25.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  41. Energetic Armament Vox S130.5 dB
    12.24 oz · 6.282"See this suppressor →
    25.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  42. Griffin Armament Explorr 30130.8 dB
    14.4 oz · 6.34"
    24.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  43. SilencerCo Hybrid 46131.0 dB
    17.42 oz · 7.95"See this suppressor →
    24.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  44. Rugged Micro 30 Long131.1 dB
    18.07 oz · 6.735"See this suppressor →
    24.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  45. YHM R9131.3 dB
    10.78 oz · 5.477"See this suppressor →
    24.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  46. Otter Creek Labs Hydrogen K131.3 dB
    13.71 oz · 5.32"See this suppressor →
    24.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  47. Q Trash Panda131.5 dB
    13.84 oz · 7.04"See this suppressor →
    24.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  48. Abel Theorem Vented Cap131.5 dB
    13.58 oz · 7.162"See this suppressor →
    24.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  49. CGS Hyperion K131.6 dB
    10.46 oz · 6.415"See this suppressor →
    24.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  50. Daniel Defense Soundguard Ti131.9 dB
    15.02 oz · 7.93"See this suppressor →
    23.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  51. Surefire Socom 7.62-rc2132.0 dB
    23.76 oz · 8.43"See this suppressor →
    23.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  52. AAC Ranger 7 Mini132.2 dB
    20.42 oz · 6.615"
    23.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  53. Gunwerks 6ix132.2 dB
    12.55 oz · 6.16"
    23.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  54. Radical Defense SASS132.5 dB
    27.04 oz · 8.505"See this suppressor →
    23.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  55. Huxwrx Flow 762 Ti132.6 dB
    14.91 oz · 6.9"See this suppressor →
    23.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  56. Siege Strata 7.62133.4 dB
    17.58 oz · 7.68"
    22.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  57. TBAC Ultra 5133.5 dB
    8.03 oz · 5.015"See this suppressor →
    22.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  58. Huxwrx HX-QD 7.62133.6 dB
    19.4 oz · 7.45"
    22.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  59. Aero Precision Lahar 30134.1 dB
    16.74 oz · 6.11"See this suppressor →
    21.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  60. SilencerCo Omega 30 Anchor134.6 dB
    19.34 oz · 8"
    21.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  61. Aero Precision Lahar-30K134.7 dB
    14.11 oz · 5.09"See this suppressor →
    20.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  62. Daniel Defense Soundguard135.6 dB
    23.99 oz · 7.217"
    20.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  63. Sig SLX 7.62135.9 dB
    22.56 oz · 7.74"See this suppressor →
    19.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  64. YHM Resonator K136.3 dB
    16.1 oz · 6.182"See this suppressor →
    19.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed

Products come and go from these events voluntarily. A suppressor missing from this list was not tested, nothing more. Differences smaller than 2.25 dB are closer than this test can reliably measure. The results also don’t record which mount or muzzle device each suppressor was fitted with, and that hardware can affect both the reading and the weight and length shown above. Decibels are not a count of anything: as a rule of thumb every 10 dB is roughly a halving of how loud something seems, so the gaps here are larger than they look.

Every row opens to show all three microphones, and it is worth opening. A suppressor can be the quietest here beside the muzzle and middling at the shooter’s ear, so a claim about one says nothing about the other.

Thunder Beast published the decibel figures, the weights and the lengths. The resolution limit of 2.25 dB, the shaded band, and the 155.6 dB unsuppressed figure are worked out here from those measurements.

Data from the 2023 SILENCER SUMMIT, published by Thunder Beast Arms Corp. See their results