Choosing a Suppressor: Type

Currently, there are two general types of suppressor: standard baffle designs and flow through designs.

The standard baffles are updated versions of years of suppressor technology. The baffle generally resembles a cone, which is welded into the tube that is the body of the suppressor. These can come in a great number of materials, sizes, shapes, and other features that help with suppression, heat dissipation, and pressure equalization.

The flow through suppressors often use additive technology (metal 3d printing) to optimize the gas routing through the suppressor. They will still have a hole through the middle for the bullet to pass, but the baffle shape takes all sorts of geometric shapes. The feature that makes them flow through is that they also utilize an area of the suppressor in which some of the gas is allowed to pass through less impeded than the gas routed through the center. At the outside of the can, some of the gas is released very quickly, where the rest of the gas is routed for optimal suppression.

The main reason for the flow through suppressors is to keep semi automatic firearms from having overgassing issues. Overgassing occurs when gas is trapped at the muzzle by the suppressor, rather than being immediately released. This causes some of the gas to be forced backward down the barrel, creating an excess of gas in the semi automatic system. The flow through suppressors allow some of this gas to be released immediately, dropping the pressure of the entire system.

While this may seem desirable for all firearms, nothing is for free. Often flow through suppressors are heavier, more costly and slightly louder than their traditional ba