If there’s one universal problem with silencers it’s this: cost. Suppressors here in the United States have traditionally been much more expensive than their European counterparts because given the time and money it takes to obtain one ($200 in taxes plus a ton of paperwork) people tend to only want to buy one silencer and use it for the rest of their life, rather than the somewhat more “disposable” versions that are prevalent overseas. One company in Texas, Duke Suppressors, asked the question, “why not make them both inexpensive and durable?” Their answer is available right now in 7.62 and 5.56 diameter flavors.
I spent some time with the owner of Duke Suppressors out at the range recently to test out their line of cans and also take a peek at what they have coming down the road. While it was a great look at their line and I got some good info on the company, it wasn’t quite enough for a full-on review. We’ll get some models in for proper testing, but for now this is a good first look.
Duke Suppressors was started back in 2014. Having done aerospace engineering and machine work for years, they were looking for something new and interesting to devote their available machining hours toward. Looking at the market they saw a ton of high end silencers, but not much that the average person could afford and slap on their rifle. So they set out to create a can that was built like a tank yet still offered affordable rifle suppression for the average shooter.
The company designed and perfected their cans over a two-year period. The 5.56 model alone was built using 44 different versions, metering each one to try and identify the best design possible given the constraints. At the end of the process they had two cans — a 5.56 model and a 7.62 — both of which are full auto rated yet can be disassembled for cleaning.
The .30 caliber silencer is definitely what I would term a “chunky monkey.” Tipping the scales at 24.1 ounces (four ounces heavier than the old AAC 762-SDN-6) the can will definitely be felt on the end of any rifle. That said, if you’re sweating about a couple extra ounces given the price point then you probably aren’t in the target demographic. MSRP on the 7.62 suppressor is $430, which makes it a less expensive option than anything comparable listed on Silencer Shop’s site.
But wait, there’s more! Not only is it an inexpensive 7.62 silencer, but it’s also been tested up to and including .300 Winchester Magnum. That’s something not many other low priced options can boast.
Over on the 5.56 side, their can also has some nice features. Less than an ounce lighter than the 7.62 version, the 300 Stainless Steel silencer is full auto rated and available for the low low price of $395. What makes this particularly appealing is that not only can you run the can on your centerfire rifles, but you can also run any rimfire cartridge you want through it and still be able to take it apart for cleaning.
Out on the range the cans performed admirably. They reduced the muzzle report from a .300 BLK rifle and a 5.56 AR-15 to roughly hearing safe levels, and despite their weight, they didn’t detract all that much from the balance of the rifle. Honestly I don’t have any complaints about their performance.
The one criticism I have of their cans is that there’s no ability to change the rear end cap. Most modern silencers have the ability to swap out the rear of the can to adjust for whatever thread pitch of your rifle, whether it’s 1/2×28 or 5/8×24 or 14.1 metric left hand. With Duke’s cans you’re stuck with the thread pitch they come from the factory. Then again, given the price point I’m not all that bummed about the situation.
Overall the cans are great. The build quality seems solid, and the price is attractive. For those interested in dipping their toe into the world of suppressed shooting these are a good starting point — both versatile and inexpensive. We’ll get our hands on some samples for longer term testing and report back with the results.