Once an item rarely owned by the firearm “poor,” suppressors have become mainstream and affordable. As demand for suppressors grew, many companies stepped up to meet the new market needs. That caused a pleasant ripple effect as real competition in the suppressor market began making cans more affordable and readily available. One company that has led the way is Silencer Central. While they have an extensive lineup, one of my favorites is the Silencer Central Banish 223.

Silencer Central Banish 223-Tested

Silencer Central has become America’s largest silencer dealer. Based in South Dakota, they offer a very unique sales process. Silencer Central can deliver silencers directly to customers in the 42 states where silencers are legal. The shipping process has revolutionized how silencers are sold. It allows customers to streamline their purchasing experience by cutting out unnecessary hurdles to silencer ownership. They handle every step of the process, from paperwork to barrel threading to the final delivery of your suppressor straight to your front door.

Designed for smaller, centerfire calibers used by predator hunters and target shooters, the Banish 223 will fit all rifles .224 and smaller, including rimfire rifles. As an added perk, it’s even rated for limited full-auto fire. With a sound reduction of 38 decibels, the reduced report provided by the Banish 223’s expansion tube and seven baffles will protect your hearing and the hearing of anyone shooting around you, and it will help keep the sound from spooking other animals.

Direct Thread

The can is a direct-thread style that mounts on conventional 1/2×28 threads. While quick detach cans are nice, I am still a direct thread fan. Honestly, I rarely switch my suppressors from one gun to the other. Made of lightweight titanium, this 7-inch suppressor weighs a mere 9 ounces. While centerfire rounds are generally jacketed, the buildup of the copper jackets in the baffles still occurs. Since there is more power and powder behind centerfire rounds, there is more significant carbon buildup than from rimfire rounds. Like all suppressors in the Banish lineup, the Banish 223 is easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenance. Use a tumbler, ultrasonic cleaner, or a nylon brush; the cleaning method is up to you. The seven baffles are designed to easily stack and index in any order, making reassembly a breeze.

Devour Suppressor Cover

Following a request, I soon had a Banish in hand.  Along with the Banish 223, Silencer Central sent along a baffle removal tool that allows users to safely disassemble a dirty, user-serviceable silencer. They also included a Devour Suppressor Cover. This cover protects you and your gear against suppressor heat. The Devour cover also helps to mitigate optical mirage. It is easy to put on, allowing you to install or remove a suppressor while still hot. This prevents you from getting burned while letting you shoot comfortably from different positions. The Devour Suppressor Cover features include an industrial silica-coated, non-slip design held tight with adjustable straps. The carbon fiber felt is e-Glass 1800° F rated and a fireproof material ideal for high-temperature protection. The cover is designed to reduce sound by an additional 20 percent.

When we start talking about performance, the Db or sound rating of a suppressor is what is first mentioned. However, that can be very misleading, especially regarding the AR platform. When you fire an AR, you get three different sounds: the muzzle blast, the supersonic bullet breaking the sound barrier, and the mechanical noise of the weapon cycling after each shot. The purpose of a suppressor is to trap the expanding gasses from the end of the muzzle and allow them to cool and decelerate in a series of chambers. With this, the decibel level is reduced. Even with this, you still have the supersonic crack and action noise.

Tone Matters

If all you look at is decibel reduction, you are missing something more important – tone. The tone is the relative pitch and strength of the suppressor’s sound. I’ve run many suppressors that claim a very hearty Db reduction only to be minimally effective on the range. Suppressors with good tone control sound quieter when they are fired. An additional point on suppressors is that they trap a ton of gas. This, in turn, increases the dwell time and ultimately pushes that gas through the back of your gun and into your eyes. This is especially true when running full auto. A couple of mags through a less-than-stellar can, and you will think you are developing black lung from the blowback.

Silencer Central has addressed all these points in the Banish design. The first is that the can has an excellent tone. More specifically, it had a deeper and less harsh tone than other suppressors on the market. It also strikes what I consider to be the perfect balance in size. The blast chamber is large enough to provide some venting while not being too big. The Zev Core Elite’s charging handle was not a specific gas reduction style, and I did not experience any significant gas back in my face. This was the case even with long strings of fire.

Recoil Reduction

As with all suppressors, especially the Banish 223, I experienced a significant reduction in recoil. The added weight of the can, along with slowing the gases, made my times on multiple targets fast. Some argue that the extra weight is a burden, but I wholeheartedly disagree. It is my experience that the addition of a suppressor actually improves a shooter’s performance. There is less anticipation of the shot going off, better muzzle control, and quicker follow-up shots.

I have to say that the Banish 223 is also a good-looking suppressor. While some may dismiss that, ugly kit on our sexy guns is never a bonus. Add to that its performance, and the can is a winner. Silencer Central is not exactly a household name, but it should be. They offer a solid lineup of suppressors and some of their competitor’s cans on their site. That is a bold move and a demonstration of confidence in their products. They have also changed the way we buy suppressors. Unless you live in a communist stronghold that doesn’t allow suppressors, Silencer Central can help you through the purchase process and ultimately deliver your new suppressor to your front door.

SPECIFICATIONS

For more information, visit:https://www.silencercentral.com/