Top 5 Guns To Use With A Suppressor (Ft. Kevin Brittingham From Q)

Intro and Top 5 Suppressed Guns Concept

The hosts from Classic Firearms sit down with Kevin Brittingham from Q to talk specifically about suppressor use. Kevin is introduced as the owner of Q and a long-time suppressor and weapons designer, though he prefers to describe himself as a student rather than an expert. The group decides to build a ranked list of Kevin’s top five guns to run with a suppressor and to explain why each choice works so well. The focus is on practical performance, sound reduction, and how easy modern suppressor setups have become to use, rather than on hype or pure nostalgia.

MP5 as a Classic Suppressed Platform

Number five on Kevin’s list is the MP5, especially in suppressed configurations like the MP5SD or an original MP5 with a three-lug silencer. He notes the MP5’s iconic status from films like Die Hard and Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, but emphasizes that it is more than just a movie gun. The roller-delayed 9mm system is very soft shooting, extremely reliable, and stays quiet with subsonic 9mm. He describes it as complicated in a typically German way, yet very accurate, fun to shoot, and one of the best classic hosts for a suppressor. It is also a gun his children enjoyed shooting when they were younger.

.22 Pistols with the Q Erector 22

Number four is .22 pistols. Kevin pushes back on the idea that .22 LR is weak or boring, calling suppressed .22 handguns one of the most enjoyable ways to shoot. With typical barrel lengths, much standard .22 LR ammunition ends up subsonic, so shooters often do not need dedicated subsonic loads to stay quiet. He mentions his history with subsonic branding and a logo he created while at Advanced Armament, tied to Remington’s later ammunition packaging. On the table is the Q Erector 22 suppressor, which uses modular baffles so the user can adjust length and suppression level. Kevin highlights that .22 pistols with a good silencer are virtually silent, inexpensive to feed, and ideal for introducing new shooters, including kids and adults who might be hesitant around louder firearms.

.22 Rifles and Integrally Suppressed Setups

Number three is the .22 rifle, either bolt-action or semi-auto. The example discussed is an integrally suppressed rifle where the barrel sits inside the suppressor and is ported to keep velocities subsonic. Kevin describes suppressed .22 rifles as one of the only truly silent firearm setups, often achieving what people think of as “Hollywood quiet.” They are inexpensive to shoot, easy to handle, and allow a lot of practice without disturbing neighbors or needing hearing protection. The rifle shown uses WOOX-style furniture and a non-rotary magazine that accepts Ruger-pattern mags, which Kevin prefers over rotary designs. For ammunition, he likes accurate loads from CCI and various European manufacturers such as S&B and RWS, especially when precision matters. He also notes that by manually holding the bolt closed on a semi-auto, shooters can further reduce port noise and mimic a very quiet bolt gun.

300 Blackout Bolt Guns and Semi-Autos

Number two on Kevin’s list is 300 Blackout, treated here as a caliber and suppressed system rather than a single firearm. He especially favors 300 Blackout bolt guns for their extreme quietness with subsonic ammunition and the way they encourage more deliberate shooting instead of burning through ammo. A compact, folding bolt gun in 300 Blackout is described as ideal for hunting or casual shooting with friends, offering a lightweight, easily transported package. Kevin also points to semi-auto and full-auto 300 Blackout platforms, including the Honey Badger with its integrated silencer, as highly capable. With subsonic loads, they remain very quiet, while supersonic loads extend range and terminal performance. He considers subsonic 300 Blackout among the most fun suppressed shooting experiences available.

300 Blackout vs 9mm and Replacing the MP5SD

Kevin explains that the Honey Badger in 300 Blackout was developed to replace the MP5SD. He criticizes the MP5SD’s ported 9mm system as ballistically weak, likening 115-grain loads through the ported barrel to .380 ACP performance and noting 6–9 MOA accuracy at 100 yards. In contrast, a 300 Blackout Honey Badger is about two and a half pounds lighter than an MP5SD, offers both super and subsonic capability, and can reliably engage targets out to roughly 300 meters with supersonic ammunition. Subsonic loads are used for close, quiet work, while supers handle longer-range or more demanding situations. He emphasizes improved ergonomics, a better trigger, higher accuracy, and greater overall capability compared to the MP5SD, even if the older gun still holds more nostalgia and movie recognition. The Honey Badger has already appeared in films, including one with Jennifer Garner, underscoring its growing presence beyond the enthusiast world.