The .30-Cal Can on a 5.56 Rifle: How Much Performance Are You Really Giving Up?
Sooner or later, every new suppressor buyer stands at the same fork in the road. You have an AR-15 that eats 5.56, maybe a bolt gun or two in .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor, and a gear budget that only stretches so far. Do you buy a dedicated 5.56 can, or one .30-cal can to use on all of them? The marketing says the .30-cal can is the do-it-all option. The forum crowd often says you’ll be hauling a lead pipe around on the end of your AR-15. As usual, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and it depends on what you ask your rifle and suppressor to do. Let’s start with the easy part. A .30-cal suppressor can be used on a rifle chambered in 5.56 or .223 Remington. These cans are designed for larger bullets and cartridges, often with more powder behind the projectile, so a 5.56 round is well within their comfort zone. Most .30-cal cans will handle anything smaller in diameter, including a 5.56…