The safe use of sound suppressors requires that the shooter abide by the four basic rules of safe gun handling, as well as four additional safety rules that apply to silencers. While the basic rules of safe gun handling have been codified and widely practiced for generations, no such basic safety principles have been established for sound suppressors thus far. Therefore, based upon decades of suppressor use and teaching marksmanship with suppressed firearms, we’ve developed our own rules for safe silencer handling and an annotated version of established safe gun handling rules.

A rare but serious danger is that someone with an IQ waiver may become lulled away from maintaining safe gun and silencer handling procedures simply because a suppressed firearm is quiet. One must never equate the lack of noise with a lack of danger downrange. The following safety rules must become a permanent part of a shooter's character, whether one is shooting suppressed or unsuppressed arms. These basic rules cover every conceivable situation, whether one is engaged in sporting or tactical activities.

Make these rules a permanent part of your personality. Insist everyone you encounter honors these rules as well.

 

Rules of Safe Silencer Handling

 

RULE 1. Make sure the suppressor is mounted correctly and securely.

 

If a screw-on design, check tightness before shooting and after every magazine change. Remember that the suppressor aligns with the bore by solid contact between the rear face of the silencer and a corresponding shoulder behind the barrel threads. Dangerous misalignment can be expected if this contact is lost.

 

If a quick-mount design, attach the silencer according to manufacturer’s instructions. Next, try to wiggle the suppressor and then try to pull the suppressor off the barrel to ensure the can is securely attached to the gun.

 

RULE 2. Never hold the silencer when shooting. This violates RULE 2 of safe gun handling practices.

 

MAC and Cobray submachine gun shooters commonly violate this rule to their peril. If the silencer loosens while grasping the suppressor with the support hand (a more likely event when a right-hander holds onto the can), a baffle strike may occur that redirects one or more projectiles out the side of the suppressor into the shooter’s support hand.

 

RULE 3. Do not violate any rules of safe gun handling just because a suppressed firearm is quiet.

 

A suppressed gunshot is just as potentially dangerous as an unsuppressed gunshot.

 

RULE 4. Silencers can get very hot very quickly. Do not burn yourself and do not set the silencer on anything that can ignite or melt.

 

A suppressor of centerfire caliber can heat at a rate of 5-15 degrees F per shot. A rifle suppressor can reach 800 degrees F and may reach 1200 degrees under extreme conditions.