Mike N. is a firearms owner from Texas who often goes shooting in fields or on a clay target course.
One day, Mike went shooting with his CZ 712 shotgun.
The CZ 712 is a gas-operated shotgun that fires 2¾- and 3-inch shotshells, and it was chosen as the NRA 2024 Golden Bullseye “Shotgun of the Year.”
The shotgun comes with two pistons so it can handle a variety of heavy and light shotgun loads.
Mike uses the lighter piston for typical target shooting because the weapon cycles much easier.
And he uses the heavy piston for hotter loads when hunting waterfowl.
While shooting the shotgun that day Mike went through a few boxes of shells without any problems.
He was shooting clays, and the shotgun was functioning perfectly.
However, after going through a few boxes Mike made a big mistake.
He grabbed the end of the barrel while repositioning and learned a painful lesson about grabbing the barrel of a gun after you’ve been shooting for a long time.
His fingers immediately blistered up and one of his fingers split open. It happened so fast that it caused Mike to drop the shotgun.
But it’s not only the barrel of a gun that gets incredibly hot.
If you have a suppressor on your gun, it will get hot as well.
That’s why some shooters that use suppressors put a cover on the suppressor.
A suppressor cover is a protective sleeve that covers the exterior of a firearm suppressor.
The main purpose of the cover is to insulate the suppressor to reduce the amount of heat it absorbs when shooting.
So, if you have a suppressor here are a few of the reasons why you might want a cover:
Heat:
As mentioned, when you’re shooting with a suppressor it can become very hot from the gases.
A suppressor can heat up to anywhere between 100 to 800 degrees.
But a suppressor cover helps distribute the heat and adds a layer of protection to prevent burns if the shooter touches the suppressor.
That way, if you need to remove the suppressor after shooting or to work on a firearm.
If it’s hot, the cover will provide a way to safely grip the suppressor and remove it.
Noise:
For most shooters, the point of a suppressor is to reduce noise.
Some suppressor covers will add a layer that helps to further dampen the sound.
In addition, a cover can also reduce the muzzle flash.
Covers won’t eliminate noise or flash, but some are specifically designed to reduce it.
Durability:
As Mike did, there are plenty of shooters who accidentally drop their firearms or put the muzzle in the dirt.
And a dirty suppressor can lead to problems with your gun.
A cover will protect the suppressor from scratches, dirt, and elements that could damage the suppressor.
The majority of covers are made from heat-resistant materials such as Kevlar, fiberglass, or Cordura so they can withstand heat and accidental impact.
Do you need a suppressor cover?:
As with any accessory, a suppressor cover isn’t mandatory, nor is it the first piece of gear I would add to my gun.
If you have a suppressor on a pistol or a small caliber rifle there probably isn’t a big need for a cover.
But if you have a rifle with a suppressor attached, and you spend a lot of time shooting it, a cover could be a worthy addition.
If your rifle has a shorter barrel, it will heat up quicker, and it can take over 30 minutes for a suppressor to cool down to the point you can safely touch it.
I wouldn’t add a suppressor cover unless you anticipate a high round count with a large caliber.
Or, if you bought an expensive suppressor you want to protect from damage.
If you’re in the market for a suppressor cover, consider the covers from SilencerCo and Cole-Tac.
The exact cost will depend on the cover but it’s a cheap insurance policy to protect an expensive suppressor.
