Suppressor sound tests / 5.56

5.56 suppressor sound tests

3 tests used this cartridge. Each test is one rifle, one day, one set of ammunition. Results from different tests can’t be compared with each other.

Smaller tests

11 more suppressors were measured with this cartridge. They come from 8 tests with too few suppressors on the gun to be worth comparing: with two or three, finishing first says very little. They are listed here instead. Open a name to see its figures.

The names without links don’t have a page on Baffled yet.

Browse 5.56mm / .223 suppressors in the catalogue that have sound results→

5.56, 16" AR-152024

91 suppressors were fired on this same gun, on the same day, with the same ammunition. Fired with no suppressor at all, it measured 156.3 dB, which is what each reduction below is counted from.

The bar above the list places each of the 91 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 7 dB. It stays on screen as you read, so hovering a row shows where that suppressor falls.

The shaded band is the tightest 1.65 dB stretch of this strip, holding 40 of the 91 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 1.65 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 137 dB144 dB louder
Sort by
SuppressorAt the ear
  1. RD LS5TI137.0 dB
    18.9 oz · 7.75" · includes action noise
    19.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  2. FPM Dirty Dachshund138.0 dB
    12.7 oz · 8.63" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    18.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  3. Silencer Co Velos LBP 5.56138.1 dB
    22.6 oz · 6.99" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    18.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  4. W.T.F. Silencers The Jackalope138.3 dB
    15.7 oz · 7.88" · includes action noise
    18.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  5. StingerWorx EVO 30 HUB138.4 dB
    14 oz · 8.64" · includes action noise
    17.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  6. FPM Dirty Dachshund SS138.4 dB
    19.6 oz · 8.62" · includes action noise
    17.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  7. TION Dragoon 7.62mm CQB138.5 dB
    12.6 oz · 7.66" · includes action noise
    17.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  8. ECCO Five By Five138.5 dB
    16.3 oz · 5.5" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  9. Dead Air Nomad LTI XC138.5 dB
    13.7 oz · 9.06" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  10. YHM Turbo T3138.5 dB
    17.5 oz · 1.88" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  11. Energetic Peak 30 .223 End Cap138.6 dB
    12.1 oz · 6.5" · includes action noise
    17.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  12. CGS SCI-Six138.7 dB
    19.6 oz · 6.5" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  13. YHM Fat Cat138.7 dB
    14.6 oz · 4.5" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  14. B&T SD-556SRBS PRINT X H138.8 dB
    17.3 oz · 8.16" · includes action noise
    17.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  15. Banish Suppressors Banish Speed K138.8 dB
    18.6 oz · 4.13" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  16. Huxwrx Ventum 556138.9 dB
    17.7 oz · 7.47" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  17. Allen Engineering AEM5 OTB139.0 dB
    23.6 oz · 8.97" · includes action noise
    17.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  18. Rugged Radiant 7.62mm Long139.0 dB
    15.9 oz · 7.88" · includes action noise
    17.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  19. Dead Air Nomad TI XC139.2 dB
    11.3 oz · 7.28" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  20. RD CS5139.2 dB
    21.7 oz · 5.88" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    17.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  21. B&T SD-556ROTEX-K PRINT X H SC139.2 dB
    13.1 oz · 5.1" · includes action noise
    17.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  22. B&T SD-556SRBS139.2 dB
    18 oz · 7.4" · includes action noise
    17.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  23. B&T SRBS762-DM139.3 dB
    17.5 oz · 7.38" · includes action noise
    17.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  24. Otter Creek Labs Polonium 30139.4 dB
    14.9 oz · 6.11" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  25. W.T.F. Silencers The Jackalope139.4 dB
    16 oz · 7.88" · includes action noise
    16.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  26. BOSS Guillotine139.5 dB
    12 oz · 6.13" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  27. B&T SD-556SRBS-C139.5 dB
    15.3 oz · 5.82" · includes action noise
    16.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  28. Dead Air Lazarus 6139.5 dB
    19.5 oz · 6.3" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  29. Allen Engineering AEM5-30 OTB139.6 dB
    30.2 oz · 11.25" · includes action noise
    16.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  30. StingerWorx EVO 30 HUB with Mini Brake139.6 dB
    14.7 oz · 9.6" · includes action noise
    16.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  31. Otter Creek Labs Polonium K 5.56139.8 dB
    12.3 oz · 5.13" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  32. TBAC Magnus S .30 CB139.8 dB
    13.8 oz · 6.87" · includes action noise
    16.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  33. ECCO Accipiter 8in.139.8 dB
    15.3 oz · 8.38" · includes action noise
    16.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  34. AAC 416-SD139.8 dB
    23.5 oz · 7.08" · includes action noise
    16.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  35. Rugged Alaskan .360 Long139.9 dB
    15 oz · 7.62" · includes action noise
    16.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  36. Energetic Ferox139.9 dB
    12.4 oz · 6" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  37. Banish Suppressors Banish Speed K-TI140.0 dB
    8.9 oz · 4.13" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  38. Abel Biscuit 5.56140.0 dB
    18.3 oz · 5.88" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  39. Innovative Arms Deception 7.62mm140.1 dB
    24 oz · 7.87" · includes action noise
    16.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  40. Otter Creek Labs Polonium 5.56140.1 dB
    14.5 oz · 6.15" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    16.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  41. B&T SD-556ROTEX-K140.2 dB
    11.4 oz · 4.8" · includes action noise
    16.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  42. PTR VSM3140.3 dB
    13.6 oz · 8.07" · includes action noise
    16.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  43. Griffin GP5140.3 dB
    11.6 oz · 6.28" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  44. BOSS Chairman140.4 dB
    16.3 oz · 8" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  45. Liberty Precision Anthem-S2140.4 dB
    15.9 oz · 7.09" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  46. FPM Cheeze Boi140.5 dB
    10.7 oz · 6.75" · includes action noise
    15.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  47. PTR VSM1140.5 dB
    15 oz · 9.1" · includes action noise
    15.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  48. C.A.T Alleycat 5.56140.5 dB
    9.8 oz · 6.12" · includes action noise
    15.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  49. Griffin Dual-Lok 7.62mm140.5 dB
    17 oz · 7.5" · includes action noise
    15.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  50. Huxwrx Flow 556K140.6 dB
    15.5 oz · 5.68" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  51. Silencer Co Omega 36m Long140.6 dB
    20.5 oz · 7.89" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  52. Silencer Co Omega 300 with Brake140.7 dB
    19.3 oz · 8" · includes action noise
    15.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  53. Aero Precision Lahar-30140.7 dB
    17.5 oz · 6.13" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  54. YHM Turbo K-RB140.8 dB
    15.6 oz · 5.88" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  55. Huxwrx Flow 556 Ti140.8 dB
    13.7 oz · 6.91" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  56. TBAC 338 Ultra BA140.8 dB
    21.7 oz · 10.64" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  57. Aero Precision Lahar-30L140.8 dB
    21.7 oz · 7.64" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  58. Surefire Socom 5.56-RC2140.8 dB
    19.2 oz · 6.5" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  59. B&T SD-762ROTEX-C140.8 dB
    16.3 oz · 7.44" · includes action noise
    15.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  60. RD BT-556GPS141.0 dB
    28 oz · 8" · includes action noise
    15.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  61. W.T.F. Silencers The Jackalope .224141.0 dB
    14.7 oz · 7.63" · includes action noise
    15.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  62. W.T.F. Silencers The Tatanka141.0 dB
    14.9 oz · 7.78" · includes action noise
    15.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  63. BOSS Chairman K141.1 dB
    13.1 oz · 6.25" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  64. TBAC Magnus .30 CB141.1 dB
    17.7 oz · 8.99" · includes action noise
    15.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  65. Aero Precision Lahar-30K141.2 dB
    14.5 oz · 5.11" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  66. Liberty Precision Duty 556141.3 dB
    12.3 oz · 5.25" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  67. FPM Nein141.3 dB
    10.8 oz · 7.38" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    15.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  68. TION Dragoon 5.56mm QD141.3 dB
    12 oz · 7.62" · includes action noise
    15.0 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  69. Liberty Precision Torch141.4 dB
    18.4 oz · 7.21" · includes action noise
    14.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  70. B&T SRBS762TI-DM141.4 dB
    10.9 oz · 7.38" · includes action noise
    14.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  71. Q Trash Panda141.5 dB
    14 oz · 7.11" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  72. Rugged Razor 5.56mm141.5 dB
    15.3 oz · 6.69" · includes action noise
    14.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  73. Abel Biscuit S 5.56141.6 dB
    15.7 oz · 5.03" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  74. Liberty Precision Anthem-K2141.6 dB
    12.8 oz · 5.7" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  75. Liberty Precision Anthem-L2141.7 dB
    20.8 oz · 9.32" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  76. Otter Creek Labs OCM5 Muzzle Mount141.7 dB
    18.9 oz · 8.96" · includes action noise
    14.6 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  77. Huxwrx Flow 762 Ti141.9 dB
    14.8 oz · 6.87" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  78. B&T SD-762ROTEX141.9 dB
    17.9 oz · 8.23" · includes action noise
    14.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  79. Otter Creek Labs OCM5 OTB141.9 dB
    18.2 oz · 9.16" · includes action noise
    14.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  80. Innovative Arms Grunt-M142.0 dB
    14.2 oz · 5" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  81. B&T SD-556Rotex-C142.0 dB
    13.6 oz · 6.3" · includes action noise
    14.3 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  82. Banish Suppressors Banish 223142.1 dB
    11.7 oz · 7" · includes action noise
    14.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  83. Surefire Socom 556 RC3142.1 dB
    20.2 oz · 6.45" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.2 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  84. Diligent Defense Wolf Hunter142.2 dB
    8.9 oz · 7.01" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    14.1 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  85. Elite Iron Delta Lite142.5 dB
    12.2 oz · 7.47" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    13.8 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  86. AB A-10142.6 dB
    9.8 oz · 5.67" · includes action noise
    13.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  87. B&T SD-556Rotex142.6 dB
    15.2 oz · 7.08" · includes action noise
    13.7 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  88. Griffin M4SD-L142.8 dB
    16.7 oz · 6.51" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    13.5 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  89. Dead Air Sierra 5142.8 dB
    14.8 oz · 5.77" · includes action noiseSee this suppressor →
    13.4 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  90. Griffin HRT 556143.4 dB
    18.7 oz · 6.32" · includes action noise
    12.9 dB quieter than unsuppressed
  91. Innovative Arms Grunt 5144.0 dB
    17.7 oz · 6.24" · includes action noise
    12.3 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 1.65 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 1.65 dB, the shaded band, and the 156.3 dB unsuppressed figure are worked out here from those measurements.

Data from the 2024 SILENCER SUMMIT, published by Thunder Beast Arms Corp. See their results