April 28th, 2025
6minute read
So, youve taken the plunge.
Now you are the proud owner of a sparkly new Springfield Armory SAINT rifle.
Dabbling in black rifles these days is a bit of like playing with Barbies.
Springfield Armory designed the SAINT line of rifles to be compatible with rifle-rated sound suppressors. They protect your hearing and reduce noise pollution. Should you add one to your gun?
Of course, theres the obligatory basic stash of ammo as well.
Ill suspect youll find that this engrossing new hobby really is fun.
[Be sure to read the authorsOmega 36M review.]
Adding a sound suppressor to your Springfield Armory SAINT rifle will add a whole new dimension to your shooting experience.
Motivations
We maintain our guns for a couple of very good reasons.
First, the act of shooting is physically edifying.
If your range space allows you to move while you shoot, then the exercise is always welcome.
The SilencerCo Omega 36M is a modular design that is equally at home on high-powered rifles as it is on 9mm handguns.
Theres always the innate satisfaction of mastering new skills as well.
So, now is the time for the next big gun-related decision.
You have the rifle, a nice optic, and the sundry bells and whistles already.
The Omega suppressor has a two-part tube that allows the can to be adapted for particular roles.
Is it time to cross the Rubicon and buy a sound suppressor?
They are quite literally harmless.
I suppose you could beat somebody with one, but a cricket bat would be more effective.
Sound suppressors are a normal safety tool — a noise muffler identical in purpose to those found on cars.
In the aftermath of the Great Depression, Americans were legit hungry.
At least thats what some guy on the Internet said, so Im sure its true.
[Read theHistory of the Sound Suppressorfor additional information.]
The author’s rifle is equipped with accessories that improve the functionality of the SAINT. A light allows him to properly ID targets while the optic helps improve accuracy. The suppressor protects his hearing.
Silencers actually arent silent.
However, theyre not silent; not by a long shot.
A sound suppressor just makes you a more neighborly shooter and helps mitigate the chaos at the range.
However, there is actually way more to it than that.
A Quick Science Lesson
The speed of sound in dry air is 1,125 feet per second.
Standard M193 ball out of my Springfield Armory SAINT runs at nearly two and one half times that.
Anything traveling faster than sound will invariably produce a shockwave.
As the expansion wave collides with the shockwave, constructive interference results that produces a resulting sonic boom.
The technical details really dont matter, but this effect is really loud.
[Dont miss our article onhow a suppressor works.]
Practically speaking, a top-quality sound suppressor will indeed remove most of the noise from your SAINT.
The perceived effect is a function of exposure.
Fire a sound-suppressed supersonic rifle at a distant target, and the sound is often still uncomfortable.
Shoot the same gun into a berm five feet distant, and the racket can be surprisingly pleasant.
The same effect is manifest all the more so indoors.
A sound suppressor on your favorite home defense rifle makes a huge difference in a close-quarters defensive engagement.
The extra weight on the muzzle typically dampens harmonics and improves groups.
The can substantially cuts down on a guns audible report under any circumstance as well.
The Candidate
I chose a SilencerCo Omega 36M for my SAINT.
With an optional piston mount installed, it will even run on your favorite Browning-style 9mm handgun.
The two-part design lets you configure the can for maximum performance or minimum footprint.
If you were going to invest in a single can to do most everything, this would be it.
Showtime
SilencerCo offers quick-detach ASR flash suppressor mounts as well as direct-thread mounting solutions.
I just threaded mine directly on to my SAINT.
What you get for that investment, however, is pretty epic.
Close-range engagements produce a sharp little snap.
Its not much like the movies, but its not objectionable, either.
Accuracy is, if anything, enhanced, as is close-quarters control.
Once you mount up this can, youll never want to take it off.
The Springfield Armory SAINT is a superb top-end AR-style black rifle.
Adding a quality sound suppressor like the SilencerCo Omega 36M makes this great gun even greater.
Go to forum thread
