Dead Air Armament: Full Suppressor Lineup, History & Buying Guide
Dead Air suppressors come from Dead Air Silencers, headquartered in Heber City, Utah, and founded in 2014 by former SilencerCo executives including Mike Pappas.
In This Article
Last updated: October 17, 2026 · Originally published October 5, 2026
Update, October 10, 2026: On October 9, ATF stopped requiring a Form 4, federal registration or a tax stamp for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs, for everyone nationwide. State law still applies. How buying a suppressor works now.
If you’ve spent any time in a suppressor forum or behind the counter at an NFA dealer, you’ve heard the name Dead Air. It’s one of the handful of brands, alongside SilencerCo and Surefire, that shows up constantly in “what should I buy first” threads — usually because of the Sandman series’ reputation for surviving hard use, or because someone’s rifle already has a KeyMo mount and they’re shopping the ecosystem. With suppressor demand climbing fast now that the $200 federal tax stamp is gone, more first-time buyers are researching brands like Dead Air before they ever walk into a shop. Here’s what the company actually makes, where it came from, and what to weigh before buying one of its cans.
Who Is Dead Air?
Dead Air Silencers was founded in 2014 by Mike Pappas and Todd Magee, two industry veterans who had previously built SilencerCo together — Pappas was one of that company’s founding team members and the designer behind products like the Sparrow and Osprey suppressors before striking out on his own. Dead Air’s debut lineup centered on the Sandman series, a family of hard-use .30-caliber rifle cans built to address a specific market problem: U.S. buyers then paid a separate $200 ATF tax stamp for every suppressor they bought, so a multi-caliber, easily-mountable can that could serve several rifles made practical sense. At SHOT Show 2015, Dead Air introduced its KeyMo quick-detach mounting system, which the company says quickly became an industry-standard reference point for how a suppressor should attach and detach in seconds with one hand.
The company has since grown well beyond its rifle-can roots into rimfire, pistol, and modular multi-caliber suppressors, and moved into a purpose-built, roughly 9,000-square-foot world headquarters in Heber City, Utah, with in-house quality control, R&D, and distribution. Dead Air markets itself with the motto “NO QUARTER,” positioning its products as hard-use, full-auto-rated gear built for military, law enforcement, and serious civilian shooters rather than budget-first mass-market cans (Shooting Illustrated).
2026: A Suppressor Market Without the Tax Stamp
Dead Air’s 2026 is unfolding against the backdrop of the biggest structural change the suppressor industry has seen in decades: Congress zeroed out the $200 NFA tax stamp on suppressors, and electronic Form 4 processing has collapsed wait times to roughly a week or two for individual filings. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported more than 845,000 suppressor applications and nearly 768,000 approvals between January and May 2026 alone, with June 2026 NFA background checks up 177% year over year — pushing total U.S.-registered suppressors past 6.3 million (GunsAmerica).
Dead Air met that demand at SHOT Show 2026 with several new releases, including the CT5P — a 5.56 NATO/6mm ARC duty can built from Haynes 282 and designed for law enforcement patrol use with reduced backpressure — along with the Nomad Ti OTB, its first over-the-barrel titanium hunting suppressor, and the RXD910Ti, a titanium 9mm/10mm can co-developed with Ruger around Dead Air’s Triskelion baffle geometry (The Firearm Blog).
The Full Dead Air Lineup
| Category | Model | Caliber | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sandman-K / L / S / X | .30 cal (up to .300 RUM) | Flagship hard-use series; KeyMo quick-detach, Cobalt 6/Haynes 282 construction |
| Rifle | Nomad 30 / Nomad L | .30 cal (up to .300 Norma Mag) | 17-4 stainless, Xeno/KeyMo/HUB compatible, ~14.5 oz |
| Rifle | Nomad Ti XC / Nomad LTi XC | .30 cal | Titanium construction; marketed as Dead Air’s lightest .30-cal can |
| Rifle | Nomad Ti OTB | .30 cal (up to .300 RUM), 7mm Backcountry | Grade 5 titanium over-the-barrel design; adds ~4.6″ to the rifle |
| Rifle | Nomax 33 | .33 cal | Built for larger magnum rifle cartridges beyond .30 cal |
| Rifle | Sierra 5 | 5.56 NATO, .224 Valkyrie | Cobalt 6 baffles, HUB compatible, rated for heavy firing schedules |
| Rifle | Primal | 9mm–.45 ACP pistol calibers and rifle calibers up to .338 Lapua Mag | HUB-based multi-platform mount (direct thread, Xeno, KeyMo, Xemax, P-Series) |
| Rifle | Lazarus 6 | .30 cal | Compact hard-use rifle can in Dead Air’s professional line |
| Rifle | Wolverine | .30 cal | Rifle-line suppressor in Dead Air’s hard-use catalog |
| Rifle | CT5P | 5.56 NATO, 6mm ARC | New for 2026; Haynes 282, integrated gas regulation for LE duty use |
| Pistol | Wolfman | 9mm, 5.56, .300 BLK, .338 ARC, 7.62×39, 350 Legend, .357 Mag | Modular multi-caliber can for pistols, subguns, and light rifles |
| Pistol | Ghost-45M | .45 ACP, .357 Mag, 9mm, 30 Carbine, .300 BLK (subsonic) | Patent-pending modular short/long configuration |
| Pistol | Mojave 9 | 9mm, .300 BLK, .338 ARC, 350 Legend | DMLS titanium with Triskelion baffle system |
| Pistol | Mojave 45 | .45 ACP and related pistol calibers | Sibling to the Mojave 9 in Dead Air’s modular titanium pistol line |
| Pistol | Odessa 9 | 9mm, .22 Mag, 5.7×28, .32 Auto | Up to 10 interchangeable baffles for fully modular sound/size tuning |
| Multi-caliber (RXD) | RXD910Ti | 9mm, 10mm, 5.7×28, .38 Spl, .357 Mag, .300 BLK, .400 Legend | New for 2026; titanium, Ruger collaboration, full-auto rated |
| Multi-caliber (RXD) | RXD30Ti | .30 cal | Titanium rifle suppressor in the RXD platform |
| Rimfire | RXD22Ti | .22 LR | Titanium rimfire suppressor in the RXD platform |
| Rimfire | Mask (HD) | .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, .17 WSM, 5.7×28 | 17-4 stainless baffles, titanium tube, user-serviceable design |
| Sim-Round Training | Lazarus-6, Sandman-X, Sandman-K, Sandman-S, and Sierra-5 SRTS | Marking-cartridge (sim-round) training rounds | Force-on-force training versions of Dead Air’s rifle cans |
| Special Edition | 160th SOAR / 5th SFG Limited Edition Sandman-X | .30 cal | Limited commemorative run tied to special operations units |
Model availability and specs current as of publish date — always confirm the latest configuration and pricing directly with Dead Air or an authorized dealer before buying.
Notable Models Worth a Closer Look
Sandman-X – The hard-use flagship
The Sandman-X is Dead Air’s best-known can: a .30-caliber, full-auto-rated suppressor built from Haynes 282 and rated up to .300 RUM, with no barrel-length restrictions. It’s available in Xeno, KeyMo, and KeyMoGov configurations, weighing between roughly 14.5 and 16.9 ounces depending on mount, and it earned a 2025 Shoot On Excellence Award. It’s the can most often recommended to buyers who want one suppressor to cover multiple .30-caliber rifles without babying it.
Nomad Ti XC – The lightweight option
For shooters who care more about ounces than absolute toughness, the Nomad Ti XC swaps stainless for titanium construction and is marketed by Dead Air as its lightest .30-caliber suppressor to date. It shares the Nomad family’s HUB-based mounting flexibility, so it can move between Xeno, KeyMo, and direct-thread setups as needed.
Mask HD – The rimfire standard-bearer
The Mask HD covers .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, .17 WSM, and 5.7×28, built with 17-4 stainless steel baffles on a titanium 3Al-2.5V tube. At 6.6 ounces and 5.1 inches, it’s a direct-thread can Dead Air positions as setting a new bar for rimfire sound performance and easy user disassembly.
Wolfman – The multi-caliber pistol/subgun can
The Wolfman is built to bounce between 9mm pistols, 5.56 carbines, .300 BLK, .338 ARC, 7.62×39, 350 Legend, and .357 Mag hosts, ships with a 1/2-28 direct-thread mount, and offers a KeyMicro quick-detach kit. Fully welded 17-4 PH stainless steel keeps it durable for shooters who want one can to follow them across several guns.
CT5P – The newest duty-focused can
Announced at SHOT Show 2026, the CT5P is a 5.56 NATO/6mm ARC suppressor built from Haynes 282 and aimed squarely at law enforcement patrol rifles, with integrated gas regulation intended to cut backpressure. It’s offered across four mount configurations, making it one of Dead Air’s most flexible new-generation rifle cans.
Buying Dead Air Suppressors: What to Check First
- Dead Air’s mounting ecosystem includes KeyMo, Xeno, and HUB — decide which mount system you want to standardize on before buying multiple cans, since switching later can mean buying new mounts or adapters for every host rifle.
- Price tiers span roughly $489 for the rimfire Mask HD up to $1,200+ for titanium rifle cans like the Nomad LTi XC, so budget by material (stainless vs. titanium) as much as by model name.
- Titanium models are lighter but generally cost more and are typically rated for less abuse than Dead Air’s stainless/Haynes 282 hard-use cans — match the material to how hard you’ll actually run it.
- Full-auto-rated construction matters most to law enforcement, SOT dealers, and suppressed full-auto shooters; semi-auto civilian buyers may not need to pay for that rating.
- Even with the federal tax stamp now eliminated, buying a suppressor still requires an approved ATF Form 4 and a background check — budget the wait time, even though it’s now typically measured in days to a few weeks rather than months.
- Check state law before ordering: suppressor ownership is still restricted or banned in several states regardless of federal tax stamp changes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dead Air
Who founded Dead Air Silencers, and when?
Dead Air was founded in 2014 by Mike Pappas and Todd Magee, both of whom previously worked together building SilencerCo before striking out on their own.
What is Dead Air’s KeyMo mounting system?
KeyMo is Dead Air’s quick-detach mounting system, introduced at SHOT Show 2015, designed to let a suppressor be installed or removed in seconds with one hand. It’s used across much of the Sandman and Nomad lineup and has become one of the most widely referenced mount systems in the industry.
Is Dead Air the same company as SilencerCo?
No. They’re separate, independently owned companies. Dead Air’s founders previously worked at SilencerCo before leaving to start Dead Air in 2014, but the two brands have competed against each other since.
Do I still need a tax stamp to buy a Dead Air suppressor in 2026?
You still need an approved ATF Form 4 and a background check, but the $200 federal transfer tax has been eliminated, and electronic filing has cut typical approval times to roughly one to a few weeks for individual buyers.
How does Dead Air compare to SilencerCo?
Dead Air’s founder previously worked at SilencerCo, and the two brands compete head-to-head across nearly every caliber category today. SilencerCo has the broader overall catalog and its own ASR/Charlie quick-detach ecosystem; Dead Air is best known for its KeyMo mounting system and duty-grade cans like the Sandman series. Both are reputable, duty-proven manufacturers, so the deciding factor is usually which mount ecosystem you want to standardize on. See our SilencerCo suppressors guide for the full lineup.
How does Dead Air compare to HUXWRX?
HUXWRX built its lineup around Flow-Through technology, which vents propellant gas forward rather than trapping it, aiming to reduce back pressure and toxic blowback on gas guns. Dead Air’s designs use more traditional baffle stacks but are proven for durability and sound performance under sustained fire. Shooters running gas-hungry ARs who want minimal back pressure often lean HUXWRX; shooters prioritizing a rugged, field-tested duty can often lean Dead Air.
How does Dead Air compare to Rugged Suppressors?
Rugged Suppressors is known for its patented ADAPT modular piston system and aggressive pricing relative to its durability claims. Dead Air’s KeyMo mounting and Sandman lineup have a longer duty-use track record with law enforcement and military buyers. Both are viable picks; Rugged tends to win on value and pistol-caliber modularity, while Dead Air has the deeper rifle-caliber duty pedigree. See our Rugged Suppressors guide for more.
How does Dead Air compare to Banish suppressors from Silencer Central?
Banish is Silencer Central’s direct-to-consumer suppressor line, built around modular, multi-caliber designs like the Banish 30 and Banish 46. Dead Air sells through the traditional dealer network and has a longer track record of duty and law-enforcement adoption. Banish’s main appeal is its streamlined direct-to-consumer buying process; Dead Air’s is its established performance record.
Related guides: How to Buy a Suppressor, Suppressor Mounting Systems Explained, Best Suppressor Brands, and Best Suppressor for an AR-15. For a 6.5 Creedmoor host rifle that pairs well with Dead Air’s .30-cal cans, see Popular Outdoorsman’s review of the KFI Monza 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. For our full picks in .30-caliber hosts, see our best 6.5 Creedmoor suppressors guide and best .308 suppressors guide. Considering the Mask HD for a rimfire host, or the Nomad Ti XC for its titanium construction? See our best rimfire suppressors guide and best titanium suppressors guide. Need a genuine big-bore can? The Dead Air Primal is one of our top picks in the .458 SOCOM suppressors guide.
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