Quietest Suppressor by Caliber: 9mm, .22, 300 BLK, .308
Quietest suppressor rankings only hold inside one test: in PEW Science data the top 9mm pistol pick peaked at 128.5 dB, 1 m from the muzzle.
In This Article
- Quietest Suppressor by Caliber: The Table
- Why a Suppressor dB Rating Needs a Microphone Position
- How PEW Science Tests Suppressors
- Quietest 9mm Suppressor
- Quietest .22 Suppressor
- Quietest 300 Blackout Suppressor
- Quietest 5.56, .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor Results
- Is Any Suppressor Hearing Safe?
- Federal and State Rules in One Paragraph
Originally published: October 24, 2026
Safety note. Wear hearing protection every time you shoot, suppressed or not; the federal researchers quoted below say so in plain words. Check alignment with an unloaded firearm, and never fire a caliber larger than a suppressor is rated for. The figures below come from one independent lab’s published tests, not from makers. Suppressor ownership and hunting rules vary by state; check yours.
The quietest suppressor is the one that measures lowest in a single, stated test, on a stated gun, with stated ammunition, and the number people call a suppressor’s “dB rating” means nothing until you know where the microphone sat. The distinction that matters is position: the same shot reads differently beside the muzzle, at the shooter’s ear and behind the shooter, so figures from different tests cannot be ranked against each other. No suppressor in any test below makes hearing protection optional. One lab, one method, one table.
So that is how this page is built. Every ranking below comes from PEW Science, an independent lab that publishes its microphone positions, host rifles and pistols, and loads, and every row compares suppressors only against others PEW files under the same type of gun and the same ammunition.
Quietest Suppressor by Caliber at a Glance
- Quietest result in the data: a .22 LR bolt rifle with the CAT/SR/A1, rated 96.8 of 100 and peaking at 120.0 dB beside the muzzle.
- 9mm pistol: the CAT/SC/B1 in its long setup led 21 subsonic 9mm semi-auto pistol records and peaked at 128.5 dB on an HK P30L.
- Supersonic rifles: the leaders in 5.56 and .308 still measured 140.5 to 140.8 dB at the bystander microphone.
- The 140 dB line: OSHA says impulse noise “should not exceed 140 dB peak.”
- Missing data: PEW’s public ranking has no supersonic 300 Blackout result and only one 6.5 Creedmoor result.
Quietest Suppressor by Caliber: The Table
In over 20 years as a professional in the firearms industry, I have watched more people pick a suppressor off one decibel number on a box than off anything else, and that number almost never says where it was measured. So here is the opposite approach: one lab, a fixed microphone, and the gun and load printed right in the row.
| Caliber, host and load | Quietest in that test (field size) | Suppression Rating: overall / bystander / shooter | Peak, 1 m left of muzzle | Against the 140 dB line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9mm pistol HK P30L, 5-in barrel; Speer Lawman 147 gr subsonic |
CAT/SC/B1, long (7.5 in); 1st of 21 | 64.6 / 64.3 / 49.1 | 128.5 dB | 11.5 dB under |
| 9mm carbine HK SP5, 8.9-in barrel; Speer Lawman 147 gr subsonic |
CAT/MOB/A1; 1st of 10 | 65.3 / 65.1 / 50.6 | 131.8 dB | 8.2 dB under |
| .22 LR rifle CZ 452 bolt action, 16-in barrel; CCI Standard Velocity |
CAT/SR/A1; 1st of 7 | 96.8 / 95.5 / 89.3 | 120.0 dB | 20.0 dB under |
| .22 LR pistol Beretta 21A, 2.4-in barrel; CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr |
CAT/SR/A1; 1st of 9 | 87.6 / 86.3 / 80.3 | 122.8 dB | 17.2 dB under |
| 300 Blackout subsonic Q mini FIX bolt action, 8-in barrel; Discreet Ballistics 190 gr |
PTR VENT 1; 1st of 27 | 81.5 / 81.0 / 70.1 | 126.1 dB | 13.9 dB under |
| 300 Blackout supersonic | No result to rank: searched all 283 public records for supersonic 300 BLK, 0 found | No rating published by PEW for this load | No PEW measurement to print | Cannot be placed from this test |
| 5.56 carbine M4A1, 14.5-in barrel; Federal XM193 55 gr |
CAT/ST; 1st of 31 | 53.7 / 53.7 / 20.8 | 140.8 dB | 0.8 dB over |
| 5.56 short barrel MK18, 10.3-in barrel; Federal XM193 55 gr |
Stealth Additive Works Tisha; 1st of 70 | 49.6 / 49.4 / 32.8 | 140.5 dB | 0.5 dB over |
| .308 bolt rifle Savage Model 10 PC, 20-in barrel; Federal XM80 149 gr |
Strategic Sciences MFMD + SDX; 1st of 68 | 62.0 / 50.9 / 61.5 | 140.8 dB | 0.8 dB over |
| 6.5 Creedmoor Surgeon Scalpel, 22-in barrel; Prime Ammo 130 gr |
CGS Hyperion; the only 6.5 Creedmoor record (1 of 1) | 58.2 / 43.1 / 57.9 | 138.9 dB | 1.1 dB under |
How to read it: the Suppression Rating is PEW Science’s 0-to-100 score (100 is quietest) that weighs peak pressure, duration, tone and hearing-damage risk; “bystander” is the microphone 1.0 m (39.4 in) left of the muzzle and “shooter” is 0.15 m (6 in) from the shooter’s right ear. The peak column is the five-shot average at the bystander microphone, the only peak figure PEW publishes free; its at-ear peaks are for paying members, so they are not printed here. Field size counts the records PEW’s ranking table files under the same gun type and ammunition (for example, bolt-action rifle with supersonic .308); most were fired on the host named in the row, but not every one (one early .308 record used a Remington 700). PEW’s free reviews print no unsuppressed peak for these hosts (searched each review’s free text), so there is no “before” column.
Why a Suppressor dB Rating Needs a Microphone Position
A decibel number is a pressure reading at one spot, and a gunshot is not equally loud everywhere. The clearest proof comes from the federal government, not from anybody selling anything.
In a 2018 study, NIOSH researchers led by William Murphy fired five shots per setup and recorded every shot at several microphones at the same time: 0.6 m left of the muzzle, one at each of the shooter’s ears, 0.35 m either side of the gun’s centerline, and about 1 m behind the shooter’s head. On a Remington 700 in .308 with high-velocity ammunition, the suppressed shots averaged 150 dB at the muzzle microphone and 137 dB at the shooter’s left ear. The SAME shots, two numbers 13 dB apart.
Think about it: a maker can quote either of those and be telling the truth. That is why the table above never mixes labs, and why PEW itself says its ear and muzzle readings must not be compared directly (the shooter’s head reflects sound back into the ear microphone).
How PEW Science Tests Suppressors
PEW Science fires each setup 1.6 m above the ground and records it with its own PEW-SOFT system at a muzzle microphone 1.0 m to the left and an ear microphone 0.15 m right of the shooter’s right ear, with the shooter’s head in place. It generally analyzes five shots per setup, and its ranking table groups every record by gun type and ammunition while each review names the exact host, which is what makes a ranking inside one row fair.
Two things a skeptic should know. First, the Suppression Rating is PEW’s own scale, not a government standard, and PEW says a suppressor that “meters” louder can still rate safer because duration and impulse count too. You can see it in the table: the 9mm carbine winner rates higher than the 9mm pistol winner but peaks 3.3 dB louder.
Second, every one of the nine reviews behind the table’s winners carries PEW’s own disclosure that the testing was funded in part through a private PEW project and that the data was published with the maker’s written permission. I would not throw the numbers out for that (the method is published and the same for everybody), but you deserve to know it. Remember, I distrust anyone selling, including the people who sell the testing.
Quietest 9mm Suppressor
On a pistol, the CAT/SC/B1 in its long setup led all 21 subsonic 9mm semi-auto pistol records at 64.6 on the HK P30L, ahead of the Rugged Obsidian 9 (long) and the Dead Air Mojave 9 (long) at 58.3 each. PEW measured it at 7.5 inches long and 9.1 ounces with its piston (the little spring-loaded booster that lets a tilting-barrel pistol cycle), and pulling the front section to make it 5.5 inches dropped the rating to 50.7.
On a carbine the field changes, which is the whole point. The CAT/MOB/A1 led the ten subsonic 9mm records on an 8.9-inch HK SP5 at 65.3, with the PTR VENT 2 second at 62.7. Still deciding on size? Our best 9mm suppressors guide covers fit and mounting.
Quietest .22 Suppressor
Rimfire owns the quiet end of this data. The CAT/SR/A1 rated 96.8 on a 16-inch CZ 452 with CCI Standard Velocity, the highest score in the whole 283-record table, with the Savage AccuCan AC22 at 94.5 and the FOR Systems Pluto at 93.2 close behind. PEW weighed it at 2.8 ounces and measured it 5.6 inches long.
The same suppressor led the .22 pistol field too, at 87.6 on a Beretta 21A with a 2.4-inch barrel. PEW notes that a rimfire suppressor may perform very differently on long and short barrels, even with subsonic ammunition, so match the row to the gun you own.
Quietest 300 Blackout Suppressor
With subsonic 190-grain ammunition from an 8-inch bolt-action, the PTR VENT 1 led 27 records at 81.5, ahead of the Q Full Nelson at 73.6. PEW measured the VENT 1 at 8.75 inches long without a mount and 13.1 ounces.
Supersonic 300 Blackout is a different animal: the bullet breaks the sound barrier and cracks all the way downrange no matter what is on the muzzle. PEW’s public ranking has zero supersonic 300 Blackout records, so I will not print a winner I cannot back. Our subsonic ammo explainer covers why the crack disappears below the speed of sound.
Quietest 5.56, .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor Results
Here is where the marketing runs into physics. The top 5.56 result on a 14.5-inch M4A1, the CAT/ST at 53.7, still peaked at 140.8 dB at the bystander microphone, and its shooter’s-ear score was 20.8, the lowest of the three numbers in its row. On the 10.3-inch MK18, the Stealth Additive Works Tisha led 70 records at 49.6 and peaked at 140.5 dB.
The .308 leader on a 20-inch Savage is the Strategic Sciences MFMD with its SDX extension at 62.0, but it is a 41.7-ounce, 10.72-inch reflex design that slides back over the barrel. The PTR VENT 1 (the same one that won 300 Blackout) was second at 57.3. In 6.5 Creedmoor, the CGS Hyperion rated 58.2 and peaked at 138.9 dB, but it is the only 6.5 Creedmoor record, so call it the only test, not the quietest. Our suppressor tools page has the cost calculator and comparison chart if you want to price the trade.
Is Any Suppressor Hearing Safe?
No government standard defines “hearing safe” for a suppressed gun. OSHA’s noise rule, 29 CFR 1910.95, says exposure to impulsive or impact noise “should not exceed 140 dB peak sound pressure level,” and that is a workplace ceiling, not a seal of approval. PEW built its Suppression Rating to fill that hole, and it is the most complete public attempt I know of, but it is still one company’s scale.
The NIOSH authors were blunt: their sample was too small to call any gun and suppressor pairing hearing safe, and firearm users should wear hearing protection whenever they shoot. Their summary reports that the suppressors cut peak levels at the ear by 17 to 24 dB, which is a big drop that still leaves a supersonic rifle loud. So buy the quietest suppressor you can find, then wear your earmuffs anyway (your 70-year-old self will thank you).
Federal and State Rules in One Paragraph
The federal transfer tax on a suppressor has been $0 since January 1, 2026 under 26 U.S.C. § 5811, and on October 9, 2026 ATF announced it will not enforce NFA approval, registration or tax-stamp requirements for suppressors as a matter of enforcement discretion, while dealers still run a Form 4473 and background check and the statute stays on the books; our NFA ruling explainer tracks every turn. State law is separate, and some states ban civilian possession outright, so check our suppressor laws by state map before you buy.
Most of you don't have a suppressor on the deer rifle yet. Among those who do, titanium leads steel by more than three to one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What suppressor reduces the most decibels?
No public test ranks suppressors by “decibels reduced” across calibers, because the reduction depends on the gun, the load and the microphone. NIOSH measured peak cuts of 17 to 24 dB at the shooter’s ear and 20 to 28 dB about a meter behind the shooter across its four test guns. PEW Science ranks by its Suppression Rating instead, and the top score in its public table is 96.8, a .22 LR bolt rifle with the CAT/SR/A1.
What is the quietest handgun suppressor?
In PEW Science’s 9mm pistol tests on the HK P30L, the CAT/SC/B1 in its 7.5-inch long setup rated highest of 21, at 64.6. PEW tested it with full-power Speer Lawman 147-grain subsonic ammunition, a self-defense-style load rather than one loaded down for suppressor use.
What is the quietest .30 cal suppressor?
It depends on the load, so here is the pick for each. With supersonic .308 on a 20-inch bolt gun, the Strategic Sciences MFMD with SDX led 68 records at 62.0; with subsonic 300 Blackout on an 8-inch bolt gun, the PTR VENT 1 led 27 records at 81.5. The VENT 1 also placed second in .308, which makes it the only suppressor in the top two of both of those fields in PEW’s public data.
What is the quietest .22 suppressor?
The CAT/SR/A1 led both PEW .22 LR fields, at 96.8 on a 16-inch CZ 452 rifle and 87.6 on a Beretta 21A pistol, using CCI Standard Velocity ammunition. PEW reports it sealed except for a removable aluminum end cap, so check the maker’s cleaning instructions before you buy if you shoot a lot of dirty rimfire ammo.
Is a suppressed 9mm quieter than 140 dB?
At PEW’s bystander microphone 1 m left of the muzzle, yes for the leaders: 128.5 dB on the P30L pistol and 131.8 dB on the SP5 carbine. PEW keeps its at-ear peak figures for members, so this page does not claim what the shooter hears.
So here is my verdict: buy off the row that matches your gun and your ammunition, not off the biggest number on a box, and if a seller cannot tell you where the microphone sat, that number is decoration. Come see us with your host and your load, and bring your earmuffs.
Sources: PEW Science, “SSS.7 – PEW Science Rankings”; PEW Science, “SSS.4 – Test Method and Results”; PEW Science, “SSS.5 – Suppression Rating”; PEW Science Sound Signature Reviews 6.37, 6.140, 6.141, 6.148, 6.162, 6.209, 6.217, 6.230 and 6.238 (free versions, linked in the table); Murphy et al., “The reduction of gunshot noise and auditory risk through the use of firearm suppressors and low-velocity ammunition,” International Journal of Audiology, 2018 (NIOSH); OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.95, occupational noise exposure; 26 U.S.C. § 5811, transfer tax (Cornell LII); ATF, guidance on NFA transfers, October 9, 2026; ATF, “Update to NFA Transfer Guidance”.
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