Classic silencers for airsoft

The basic selection should be divided into several of the following criteria. Thread, material, type of fill, length, width (diameter), method of attachment aesthetics and the associated color of the silencer. According to these criteria we can deduce the type of silencer and also what the price category is.

First of all, you should be clear what you want the silencer for.

Do you need a silencer to silence your replica, are you just after aesthetics, or do you need to lengthen the inner barrel and the silencer will serve as a cover?

These are important questions for the correct choice of dimensions or silencer mount system. For example, when lenghtening the barrel into the silencer, a QD silencer is an unnecessary luxury. Another factor is to be clear about the parameters of your airsoft replica: what is the thread on the outer barrel, how long is it, how wide is the handguard (some people put the silencer into the handguard), what type of stock is used, and what type of silencer is used on your type of replica (so you don't put a pistol silencer on an AK, etc...). 

Thread on the outer barrel vs thread on the silencer

The thread on the replica is not difficult to determine, either found in the manufacturer's information or purely using a caliper and the right hand rule. With a caliper, jaw around the thread and then select the nearest diameter (for airsoft, the diameter will usually be M14, M12 and M24). The orientation of the thread can be determined using the right hand rule. Grip the right hand with the thumb pointing up, then compare your hand and the thread. If the thread is right-handed, it follows the winding of the hand from the index finger towards the hand. For a left-hand thread it is exactly the opposite, which is why in English terminology we use clockwise (CW) for the right-hand thread and counterclockwise (CCW) for the left-hand thread. In case of incompatibility, thread adapters can be bought 
                                                   

Our tip:
For more information on threads and a guide to which gun has which thread, see the compensators category.

What is the best material for silencers?

It simply depends on what you want from a silencer. If you have a long gas replica with blowback, it's a good idea to go with a stronger silencer (material-wise), some tend to loosen up, preferably a high quality QD (for example we offer B&T replica silencers from ASG), or a silencer with a locking grub screw. If you need the best possible silencing, choose a carbon silencer, as it doesn't resonate as much as metal ones, and is also very light and durable. It's also good to choose silencers according to the way you play, because it's very easy to break a silencer with a fast and careless movement, as owners of 3D printed plastic silencers can confirm.

Types of silencers fillers and what they are used for

It is good to choose the type of silencer filler with regard to the use. If you want a quiet a replica, choose either a foam-filled silencer or a hollow and purchase a foam filler. For maximum silencing, we recommend EPES noise moderators. All possible fillings can be found in the silencers - accessories category. If you want to make the gun noisier you don't need to put anything in the silencer and the sound will resonate nicely through the whole tube.

Which silencer for AEG / HPA / or pistols? 

If you are covering the inner barrel, it is necessary to choose a silencer that will cover it at the desired length. This means measuring how much the barrel overhangs. We recommend choosing a longer silencer by at least a couple of millimeters, ideally a couple of centimeters then you will be sure that the barrel will cover and not stick out of the silencer muzzle when screwed in. Such silencers can also be cheap, for example WADSN silencers are ideal for covering the outer barrel.

How to silence an airsoft gun?

When silencing a replica, the length and width of the silencer comes into play. For a nice silencing on an HPA we recommend 200x40 (length x width in mm) for example Silverback silencers.

With the AEG, the dimensions are very undemanding as there is not as much air pressure coming out of the muzzle, rather more important is the silencing in the gearbox area in the form of piston impact surfaces (such as a sorbopads), a good motor (brushless motors), shimmed gears and at least a mosfet, or a processor unit. With all that and a silencer with noise moderators from EPES you win.
For sniper rifles we have verified 150x40, here again silencing the piston impact surfaces is a must.
Of course, these are approximate dimensions, but in general, for silencing an airsoft gun with a silencer, the rule of thumb is the longer and wider the better. 
        
GBB replicas are usually so noisy that there is no point in silencing them.

GNB replicas are very similar to HPA for silencer selection. It's just a good idea to pay attention to realistic blanks and realistic calibers.

What is a sorbopad? 

Sorbothane is a special shock and vibration absorbing material patented and manufactured in the USA. It is excellent for use as a piston stop in AEG and manual rifles. Its use aids the life of ZnAl mechaboxes and can rapidly silence your replica. It is installed on the cylinder head.

     
How to mount the silencer on an airsoft gun

It is divided into two types, QD (quick detachment) and classic fixed threaded silencer.

Proč QD tlumič?

Whether you need a QD depends purely on how you play, but the main reason is to clear buildings and overall CQB. For pistols a QD doesn't make sense, for sniper rifles it doesn't either. QD silencers make the most sense for ARs and DMRs, here the length of replicas is on the borderline between comfortable and uncomfortable playing in buildings. It is true that some Marines in the middle east were able to clear buildings with 500mm barrels and a silencer, but it wasn't pleasant, that's why they make SMG and PDW. The QD system attaches on the compensator or muzzle break, you screw the compensator onto the outer barrel in the classic way. QD mounts are varied, either screw on the compensator, or snap on and lock, etc. These silencers are usually more expensive, as they replicate the real steel silencers and the QD mechanism is more expensive to manufacture. For reasonable price, we offer QD suppressors from COMBAT ZONE TACTICAL, or more expensive versions of the very well made ASG B&T silencers.

Silencer as an aesthetic accessory? Definetely!

The last and, in our opinion, equally important factor for the choice of length and width is the aesthetic appearance of the shock absorber. If you're going to have a long replica with a fixed stock it's a good idea to choose a longer silencer so it doesn't break its character. The same cannot be said for short replicas, as a long silencer also works for a short replica, and it is also a good idea to consider whether you want to use an optic (longer silencer) or a collimator (shorter silencer). In general, it is recommended to choose silencers that replicate real silencers (here we can offer very well made replicas from 5ku brand, both for AR platform users and AK platform users).

There are a lot of such unwritten "rules" (stock type, handguard width, replica type), the important thing is that the final creation is mostly pleasing to you and solves your problem whatever it is!

Color of airsoft silencers

As for the color, it is important to note that more expensive silencers usually have a higher quality finish. It is a good idea to be careful when choosing the popular TAN, Dark Earth and Bronze colors. These colors, like Ranger green, are not standardized. There is a term floating around in the gun industry "50 shades of peanut butter" as if you try to completely catch the same shade of these colors, you will usually fail and require a complete repaint of the replica. On the other hand, if you can match, for example, the silencer to the stock, handguard, or grip (either pistol or forend), and the rest of the replica is a different color, it can be very aesthetically pleasing. Again, in the category - accessories, you can buy a silencer cover, which will cover the inconspicuous silencer, and it is possible to use 3D camouflage elements.