Silencer Saturday #416: Recovering From SHOT Show

Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday, brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new Victra 20-gauge shotgun suppressor. SHOT Show has come to an end, and it is time to debrief from a very busy week. It's a great time to be in the suppressor space with all of the action we are seeing.

Silencer Saturday @ TFB:

• Silencer Saturday #415: How To Choose Your First Suppressor
•   Silencer Saturday #414: AAC Legacy Suppressors Return (...kind of)
• Silencer Saturday #413: eForms Situation Report
• Silencer Saturday #412: Precision Armament TiTrex Suppressor
• Silencer Saturday #411: The CMP Allows (Some) Suppressors

In Episode #410, I prognosticated on what we might see in 2026. My predictions were 1) more integral suppressor options, 2) more short-barrel host options, 3) new market participants, and 4) creative new ideas around the industry. Based on what I saw at SHOT Show, I was right in part and wrong in part.

Take Away #1: The Silencer Industry Is Busy

One of the best illustrations of how much action there is in the silencer space is the Silencer Shop booth. Rather than having a traditional rectangle with racks of product on display, they went with a new approach. Their booth was more of a backyard barbecue vibe. With an Airstream trailer as an office, a picket fence, picnic tables, and free drinks, Silencer Shop made an inviting space for dealers in their network to come hang out and take care of business. Dealers were hanging out on the artificial lawn and talking silencers.

And let me tell you, it was busy. It was so packed that I tried several times to stop by and talk with their team, but I could not even get near the booth. These pictures were the least busy that I saw during the week of the show.

This is emblematic of a broader trend: $0 tax stamps have turbo-charged the NFA scene. And even with the huge influx of new applications for tax stamps, I heard a lot of stories about Form 4s coming back in just days or even hours. People who had been on the fence about getting a silencer before now are jumping in with both feet.

This perception is not limited to people who are too focused on suppressors. In my conversations during the show, I often mention Silencer Saturday. That universally drew the response “that must be very busy!” from people across the industry. Even if they are in a space that does not relate directly to silencers, everyone can tell that there is major movement afoot.

Take Away #2: Everyone Wants In On The Action

Just like the gold rushes of the 1800s, people are flocking to the economic opportunity the silencer boom is causing. Last year's summary of silencer news from SHOT Show was about the new things that established players were making. This year, the bulk of the content is about companies that have not made silencers previously beginning to do so.

EOtech. Hi-Point. Lyman. Bond Arms (yes, the derringer company). All of these names are likely associated in your mind with very specific shooting products, like the EXPS-3 or Yeet Cannon. But all of these companies are now offering silencers as well.

Companies that are familiar to suppressor enthusiasts are also trying to capitalize on this upsurge of interest. Established names like Yankee Hill and Griffin Armament are expanding their product lines and manufacturing technologies. Many are investing heavily in equipment and facilities, like B&T relocating to Utah and setting up an absolutely massive manufacturing facility.

But the gold rush is not just for silencers. Gun companies are offering more short-barreled options that would make for good hosts than ever. The 8.6 Blackout was SAAMI-approved as a standard cartridge, and Lipsey’s is offering a T/C Encore in that chambering with a threaded barrel. Though it is not an SBR, single-shot actions are very short, and it feels like one. Mossberg has the 590 RM Chisel, which has chokes and would be an absolute hoot with a suppressor.

Other gun companies are seeing the rush and offering silencer solutions tailored to their own guns. The new generation of FN SCAR has a specially designed silencer from FN that works perfectly with the gun. It also does not void the warranty, nor do other low backpressure designs, FYI. Bergara is also a new entrant in the silencer market with the BTi30 silencer, which is optimized to increase accuracy on their rifles while reducing sound and recoil. After all, the money in the gun business is usually on the accessories and ammo rather than the guns themselves, so supplying an accessory like a silencer can be a bigger profit center than the guns.

Take Away #3: Competition Is Offering Consumers More

Just a few years ago, there was only one option for a shotgun silencer. You could get a SilencerCo Salvo or nothing. Now we have options from YHM with the Victra 12 and 20, Banish with 12, 20, and .410 models, and JK Armament with several models in 12 and 20 gauge. With so many companies making suppressors, itwill be very hard for any one company to truly lock down a product sector.

One of my predictions was that more integrally suppressed firearms would be introduced, and it seems like I was wrong on that one. I talked to a few companies that stated they were working on more integral guns, but said that nothing was ready to be discussed yet. One exciting new integral suppressor is the SNT (Daewoo) K7. SNT setting up American manufacturing operations was huge news last year, and they were back this year with a bigger booth upstairs on the Caesar’s side of the venue instead of the basement booth from last year. They are still working on the project and hope to have guns in 2026. The K7 was mostly there to build hype, and it worked. If they can produce and sell these domestically, I think they will do quite well.

Companies are also trying interesting things and thinking outside the box. Carbon Research is making suppressors out of carbon fiber. Check out the cutaway view below. The only metal in that silencer is the threads that secure to the barrel and a portion of the front endcap. Those baffles are carbon fiber. I shot these at range day, and they are actual suppressors that do not blow up when you shoot them. Over the coming year, we will probably see more of this kind of creativity.

SILENCER SHOP –      HANSOHN BROTHERS –      DEADEYE GUNS

MAC TACTICAL

ALL YHM PRODUCTS AT BROWNELLS

DEALERS: If you want your link to buy YHM suppressors included in future Silencer Saturday posts, email:   silencers@thefirearmblog.com