The Top 5 Rifles To Shoot Suppressed

Intro and Criteria for Suppressed Rifles

The hosts outline a list of the top five rifles to shoot suppressed, focusing on complete weapon platforms rather than just calibers. They aim for practical, attainable setups, keeping choices under roughly the price of an M107 .50 BMG and under about ten thousand dollars. The discussion is framed around rifles that work well with suppressors for typical shooters, not extreme niche builds. They emphasize real-world usability, including how the platforms handle with subsonic and supersonic ammunition, and how well they integrate with common accessories. With that context, they begin counting down their picks, starting at number five.

Number 5: 8.6 Blackout and the Q Fix

The fifth pick is 8.6 Blackout, highlighted as a powerful, versatile cartridge that shines when suppressed. The hosts describe learning about it at the Q facility in 2024 and shooting large volumes of mostly subsonic 8.6 Blackout during a course with Buck Doyle in New Mexico, often under night vision with IR illuminators instead of tracers at around 300 meters. They explain subsonic versus supersonic rounds and note that 8.6 Blackout uses a fast 1:3 twist and offers terminal ballistics comparable to a .45 ACP at extended distances. The round uses a .338 projectile in a necked-down 6.5 Creedmoor case. They show 300-grain Sierra MatchKing target ammo, a Discreet Ballistics load, and a 342-grain Gorilla Ammunition Punisher subsonic load, all staying just under about 1,050 feet per second. Their featured rifle is a 12-inch Q Fix in 8.6 Blackout, which they consider a good length for both super and subsonic use, while an 8-inch barrel is suggested for primarily subsonic shooting. They note that 8.6 Blackout now has SAAMI specification status, opening the door for broader production from major manufacturers like Federal, Remington, and Winchester. The cartridge feeds from standard AR-10 magazines, allowing AR-10 builds, including short-barreled CQB-style configurations, without proprietary magazines. Cost and limited ammunition availability keep 8.6 Blackout at number five despite its strong suppressed performance.

Number 4: Mk12 Mod 0 and Modern 5.56 Builds

The fourth spot goes to the Mk12, specifically the Mk12 Mod 0 in 5.56 NATO. The example shown is a BCM build using a PRI-style upper and the distinctive tubular handguard, with flip-up front sights and a magnified optic. The hosts address skepticism about suppressing 5.56 due to the supersonic crack, but emphasize that the Mk12 is one of the softest-shooting 5.56 rifle platforms they have used. They describe it as excellent for controlled pairs and double taps at around 400 meters, with very low perceived recoil. The Mk12’s reputation is tied to military use, including Navy SEALs and the operation depicted in “Lone Survivor,” and it has influenced many later precision-oriented AR builds. One host shows a modernized take on the concept: an 18-inch barrel like the original, but with a rifle-length gas system instead of intermediate, and a compact SureFire Mini2 suppressor instead of the larger Ops Inc/Allen Engineering style can. The idea is that with an 18-inch barrel providing ample velocity, a smaller suppressor is sufficient for effective sound and recoil reduction. They acknowledge the platform’s weight but stress its stability and shootability from supported positions, which earns it the number four position.

Number 3: Suppressed .45-70 Lever Guns

In third place, the hosts choose lever-action rifles, focusing on .45-70 Government as a standout suppressed option. They mention that lever guns are available in several calibers such as .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .30-30, and .45-70, but highlight .45-70 for its dramatic performance. They show a fired supersonic .45-70 round that cracked a steel plate, underscoring the cartridge’s power. They then contrast it with a subsonic Hornady .45-70 load using a very heavy bullet, describing it as a large straight-wall projectile that remains subsonic yet still carries significant energy. The hosts also reference Henry’s mag-fed lever gun that accepts AR magazines, allowing configurations in calibers like 5.56 and 300 Blackout, which can be run suppressed while retaining lever-action operation. They note how quiet a suppressed lever gun can be, with only a soft report from the muzzle and the mechanical sound of the action cycling. The combination of traditional lever-action handling, strong cartridge options, and effective suppression makes these rifles both practical and enjoyable to shoot, securing the number three slot.

Number 2: 300 Blackout and the SIG MCX Platform

The second-place choice is 300 Blackout, specifically in the SIG MCX family of rifles and pistols. The hosts say they knew from the outset that 300 Blackout would rank near the top because of its flexibility with both supersonic and subsonic loads when suppressed. They describe a 125-grain open-tip supersonic load that delivers performance similar to 7.62×39 speeds, noting that 300 Blackout is essentially 7.62×35 and was designed to feed reliably from AR-15 magazines. They show a 300 Blackout-specific PMAG and compare how some 300 Blackout ammunition, such as a Winchester White Box 125-grain open-tip, does not sit ideally on the follower, while heavier 200-grain Magtech subsonic 300 Blackout fits better. They point out that many manufacturers use .308-diameter projectiles in modified 5.56 cases, approximating older 300 Whisper concepts, and that only a few companies produce true 7.62×35 projectiles. For platforms, they highlight the SIG MCX as their preferred 300 Blackout system, citing reliability. Examples include a Rattler LT SBR with a SIG Blind Tiger suppressor and another Rattler LT SD variant equipped with a Dead Air Nomad XL and a .30-caliber end cap, which they describe as extremely quiet. They also mention additional MCX Rattler configurations in 300 Blackout, reinforcing the platform’s suitability for suppressed use and justifying its position as number two on their list.