Suppressors are hot—in more than one sense of the word. After you pick up your first can (or five), you'll quickly realize that there are a few must-haves that come along with suppressor ownership. Not only do suppressors warm up quickly during even a brief shooting session, they take a while to cool off, and depending on your specific can, you'll probably have to do a quick scrub-down every now and then. Here are five extra accessories that will make silenced shooting a whole lot easier and more enjoyable.
1. Even when you wait a while after shooting, your suppressor and your muzzle may not have cooled down quite enough to transport them without concern. The Federal Fit Pursuit Rifle Case addresses this by incorporating heat shielding inside the main compartment at the muzzle end and in a separate suppressor pocket to allow you to put a warm can away. The bag also has a unique adjustable-length design: Fold the flap over and connect the strap when not it’s not needed or unfold it for longer guns. (This portion might also make for a decent pad for shooting while kneeling.) Finally, backpack straps and a quick-grab handle make it extra easy to haul this case with you. MSRP: $139.99; federalpremium.com
2. The Cole-Tac Corset Suppressor Cover might look akin to a cute can cozy, but it’s made from Kevlar, Nomex and carbon fiber and thus is rated to handle more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Even the cinch cord used to snug the cover tightly to the suppressor is made of Kevlar. All that means it both protects your skin should any body part come in contact with a piping-hot suppressor and reduces mirage emanating from the extreme heat generated by your hearing-protection device. These covers are tailored to your specific suppressor’s size and come in three colors. MSRP: $131; cole-tac.com
3. Cleaning your suppressor couldn’t be easier, thanks to this Ballistol Suppressor Cleaner kit. Simply use the included cork on one end of your can, pour in the cleaner, cork the other end, and then let it sit. Alternatively, you could disassemble the suppressor, remove the baffles and let them soak in the cleaner. You can even get fancy and use this fluid in ultrasonic cleaners. The kit comes with two 16.9-ounce bottles of odorless cleaner and one pack of rubber corks. MSRP: $40; ballistol.com
4. Is the suppressor cool enough to handle yet? Rather than guessing, use the Dead Air Kevlar Hank to protect your mitts. Despite its two layers of material, this 10-by-10-inch USA-made mitt folds down to less than a quarter inch of thickness, so it won’t take up much room in your bag. It provides a degree of shielding to allow you to take a hot can off your firearm without burning your palms.
MSRP $49.99; deadairsilencers.com
5. Many people don’t realize when their suppressor isn’t perfectly aligned with the barrel of their firearm. A quick check using Accuracy Solutions Carbon-Fiber Bore-Alignment Rod could save you a lot of angst, aggravation, self-loathing, time and, of course, money. Numerous calibers are available, the material won’t scratch your barrel, tolerances are within .001 inch and an included case ensures the rod is itself protected. MSRP: $49.99; accuracy-solutions.com
