By Mr. Black
Even with today’s accelerated approval times, buying a suppressor is a bit of a pain in the ass. The Form 4 process, coupled with the $200 tax, creates an incentive to buy the most versatile suppressor possible so that it can be used across a spectrum of host firearms. When it comes to rimfire cans, I haven’t found one more versatile than the Erector from Q.
If you’re under 40, you’ve probably never seen an erector set. No, it’s not a sex toy—it was a child’s plaything back when having an imagination was a necessary human trait. Erector sets allowed kids to build things out of metal. Think of them as a more serious and less-socialistic version of Legos. True to its namesake, the Q Erector allows the end-user to build a suppressor to meet his individual needs. Yes, I said “his.”
The Erector is essentially a ½-28 mount, an end cap, and 11 cylindrical sections—one stainless steel blast baffle and ten aluminum baffles. Each segment of the baffle stack is threaded and there is no outer tube. You simply screw as many baffles on as you want and start shooting. You can run this thing with a single baffle, all 10 or anything in-between. A set of two plastic clamp-like tools allow for assembly and disassembly without damaging the aluminum parts or the hard-coat anodized finish. It’s super simple.
Before buying the Erector, I tried to get away with a single six-inch-long rimfire suppressor. It worked fine on a rifle where its length wasn’t a huge liability but, on a handgun, it was ridiculous. When I threaded it onto my little Beretta Bobcat, it looked downright obscene.
Now, with one suppressor and one tax stamp, I can have the perfect setup for every .22 in my vault. With the Erector I can balance size with sound suppression, fine-tuning the setup until it is perfect for my needs. If I want to go full Mitch Rapp, I can screw one or two sections onto the Beretta and cut the muzzle blast just enough while being able to hide the whole thing in a pocket. If I’m taking out a racoon in the neighbor’s front yard, I can build the whole stack and make it movie-quiet.
The Erector’s weight varies from 1.2 to 2.6 ounces depending on the number of baffles used. I don’t have any fancy setup to measure decibels but with one baffle it’s pretty loud and with 10 it’s like a mouse fart. The sweet spot is somewhere in-between and will depend on ammo and barrel length.
If you are looking to buy a single rimfire can for all of your needs, this is hands-down the one that you should choose. The guys at Q keep coming up with cool stuff and, to me, this is one of their most practical creations.
Cost: $450
Pros: Super-versatile suppressor that can be adapted to a variety of host weapons and uses.
Cons: None, other than the NFA bullshit.
