Of third gen smiths, threaded barrels, and suppressors -shooting stainless silently

DanP7 · Jan 25, 2015

I live in CT, where despite our draconian gun laws, suppressors are still thankfully legal. The only hitch is that we have to use a pistol made before September 1993. (I know it doesn't make sense, but I'm well versed in the law, and that's just the way it is).

I'd like to look at using a third gen smith auto as a suppressor host for a few factors. 1. I like them a lot

, a lot of them are from before our cut off date of 9/93, it's something different than the usual Glock, Sig Schnauzer, Beretta 92 that are typically applied center fire pistol suppressor host. Ideally, a 59xx would be the place to start due to caliber, price, supply, and because o don't have one yet.

My question is.......has anyone recently suppressed a third gen with success? What barrels did you use? What obsticals, if any, were needed to be overcome? I don't see a lot of options out there. And tend to think that the Sig style locking block, or semi-fixed beretta barrels offer substantial advantages compared to the browning style locking lugs of the smith, BHP, CZ, and 1911.

I'm well aware of the "hush puppy" 39/59's, and while interesting from a technical and historical point of view, don't really have any relevance to this as they are purpose built guns, and share little technical relations with modern suppressors. Also, use whatever semantics you want. Silencer, suppressor, can, etc.

I did a search and didn't find much in the last few years. Felt it would be good to bring a fresh discussion here because the suppressor market has absolutely exploded over the past half-decade to the point where they are (thankfully) becoming commonplace at the range and in collections.

smithscott · Jan 25, 2015

I tried to answer your question in the other thread, so I am repeating myself. Long story short, there is no feasible way to get an extended barrel for a 5906. So you cannot get one to thread for a suppressor. No one wants to tool up for a gun that has not been in production for close to fifteen years. I do not like it, but it is what it is.

lhump1961 · Jan 25, 2015

I get that you can't get a longer barrel for a full size gun but can the 3 1/2" guns operate with the 4" barrels and is that enough to allow for a suppressor? Plus the shape of the barrel seems unfriendly to suppressor threading.

kaveman · Jan 25, 2015

I'm relatively new to the S&W autos but not to suppressors so I haven't spent much time looking at the combination. The three things I see right off are:

1)Tilting barrel lock-up. I usually do whatever I can to avoid the tilting barrels. Back when I was playing with them, most available suppressors were heavy enough to require a LID to operate on the tilt barrel designs(Browning, Glock, SIG, S&W)and I dislike(or maybe hate)LIDs. A LID is a linear inertial decoupler. Basically it's a recoil booster that's threaded to the muzzle and then the suppressor is threaded on to it. A LID adds cost/weight/complexity. It's got moving parts. The parts can stop moving. It's needed because the weight of the suppressor added to the muzzle prevents the firearm from functioning reliably because of the energy robbed flopping that can up and down. I've only got one suppressor equipped with a LID, an Abraxas on a Glock,......and I wouldn't buy another. Anyway, this is old info and there may be more lightweight suppressors on the market that can function without a LID, but it's something you need to know about. The reason the Berettas are popular hosts is that the Walther style fore and aft unlocking is not affected as much by the suppressor weight(and the Beretta muzzle poking out of the slide is usually enough for threading so the original barrel can be used). But yeah, the Beretta itself is 'blah' in many ways. I've got one or two with cans on them, but I've used the Beretta 951 just because it has some personality.

2)Shape of the S&W barrel muzzle. This is where my unfamiliarity with the S&W comes in. I know the 2nd and 3rd Gen Smiths have the weird shaped muzzle and I only kind of understand why. I'll just admit ignorance here and proceed. That shapely muzzle must be required for the barrel to work with the pressed in(or machined in)muzzle bushing in the slide. I'm assuming that any extended barrel would still need that sexy bulb in the same location to work and the threaded portion would need to be after the bulb. I'm guessing that the muzzle profile is needed for takedown due to the non-removable barrel bushing. Going to a 1st Gen gun would do away with all that complexity or 'possibly' something like a 539 could be fitted with a removable bushing. Now THAT would be a classy setup! Another thing to watch out for is how far the recoil spring guide protrudes from the slide during recoil. You need a barrel that's long enough to allow the attached suppressor to clear the guide.

3)Being as how the iron age Smiths are a dead language, any work is going to be custom work, but something like a 59xx frame topped with a bushinged 69xx slide with threaded 59xx barrel could be interesting,......but then you're back to the LID unless you can get a super-lightweight titanium suppressor.

My preferred suppressor platform is the Benelli B76. Fixed, non-moving barrel with an inertial lock, slick and sweet as can be and well within your required manufactured date. Beretta is a close second although I'm just not a Beretta pistol fan(but the 951 makes it cool).

I'll dig up some pics to flash at you when I get a chance. Good luck in your quest. Find a good solution and I'll follow you!

Here's one of the Benelli's,.....actually a B82 9mm Ultra,.....and the Beretta 951. Second pic is the reason for wanting the early Beretta.

DanP7 · Jan 26, 2015

smithscott said:
I tried to answer your question in the other thread, so I am repeating myself. Long story short, there is no feasible way to get an extended barrel for a 5906. So you cannot get one to thread for a suppressor. No one wants to tool up for a gun that has not been in production for close to fifteen years. I do not like it, but it is what it is.

Thanks.

I must had overlooked the initial reply.

DanP7 · Jan 26, 2015

kaveman said:
I'm relatively new to the S&W autos but not to suppressors so I haven't spent much time looking at the combination. The three things I see right off are:

1)Tilting barrel lock-up. I usually do whatever I can to avoid the tilting barrels. Back when I was playing with them, most available suppressors were heavy enough to require a LID to operate on the tilt barrel designs(Browning, Glock, SIG, S&W)and I dislike(or maybe hate)LIDs. A LID is a linear inertial decoupler. Basically it's a recoil booster that's threaded to the muzzle and then the suppressor is threaded on to it. A LID adds cost/weight/complexity. It's got moving parts. The parts can stop moving. It's needed because the weight of the suppressor added to the muzzle prevents the firearm from functioning reliably because of the energy robbed flopping that can up and down. I've only got one suppressor equipped with a LID, an Abraxas on a Glock,......and I wouldn't buy another. Anyway, this is old info and there may be more lightweight suppressors on the market that can function without a LID, but it's something you need to know about. The reason the Berettas are popular hosts is that the Walther style fore and aft unlocking is not affected as much by the suppressor weight(and the Beretta muzzle poking out of the slide is usually enough for threading so the original barrel can be used). But yeah, the Beretta itself is 'blah' in many ways. I've got one or two with cans on them, but I've used the Beretta 951 just because it has some personality.

2)Shape of the S&W barrel muzzle. This is where my unfamiliarity with the S&W comes in. I know the 2nd and 3rd Gen Smiths have the weird shaped muzzle and I only kind of understand why. I'll just admit ignorance here and proceed. That shapely muzzle must be required for the barrel to work with the pressed in(or machined in)muzzle bushing in the slide. I'm assuming that any extended barrel would still need that sexy bulb in the same location to work and the threaded portion would need to be after the bulb. I'm guessing that the muzzle profile is needed for takedown due to the non-removable barrel bushing. Going to a 1st Gen gun would do away with all that complexity or 'possibly' something like a 539 could be fitted with a removable bushing. Now THAT would be a classy setup! Another thing to watch out for is how far the recoil spring guide protrudes from the slide during recoil. You need a barrel that's long enough to allow the attached suppressor to clear the guide.

3)Being as how the iron age Smiths are a dead language, any work is going to be custom work, but something like a 59xx frame topped with a bushinged 69xx slide with threaded 59xx barrel could be interesting,......but then you're back to the LID unless you can get a super-lightweight titanium suppressor.

My preferred suppressor platform is the Benelli B76. Fixed, non-moving barrel with an inertial lock, slick and sweet as can be and well within your required manufactured date. Beretta is a close second although I'm just not a Beretta pistol fan(but the 951 makes it cool).

I'll dig up some pics to flash at you when I get a chance. Good luck in your quest. Find a good solution and I'll follow you!

Here's one of the Benelli's,.....actually a B82 9mm Ultra,.....and the Beretta 951. Second pic is the reason for wanting the early Beretta.

Very informative response. Appreciate the detail.

Thanks for sharing this slice of your collection as well. Quite impressive!

I'll probably accept the LID and go with another Glock as I have plenty of mags and parts for them already, but wouldn't mind trying a beretta against factors line up at time of purchase. I am looking at the AAC TiRant 9. light, but not light enough to avoid the booster on the tilting barrels.

Slidemuzik · Jan 26, 2015

You didn't mention specifically that you wanted a larger caliber, although your examples suggest it. In case you're open to.22, I'll mention the 2214, 422, 622, and 2206 models. Production ceased in 1996 for the model. Would pistols made from 87 to September 92 be eligible to suppress? If so they are easily adaptable to a can because they use a barrel nut that can be swapped with a thread adapter from EWK Arms. It's very popular series to suppress because of that and the fact the barrel has a low axis in the frame and a can doesn't interfere with the factory sights. Good Luck.

Of third gen smiths, threaded barrels, and suppressors -shooting stainless silently

DanP7

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