#Wipes

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the YHM R9 suppressor. Today we continue our multi-part review of the B&T USA STATION SIX9 pistol and suppressors with a lesson on replacing silencer wipes. Yes it’s legal and you can even make them yourself (with a few caveats). Let’s take a look.

Every shooter knows that the sport can lead to a significant build-up of lead on your hands. In addition, unburnt powder and other harmful chemicals can find their way onto your hands through cleaning. These new hand wipes from Otis Technology might be a great addition to your range bag.

Last year we reported that the ATF told Dead Air Armament that they were no longer able to sell replacement wipes for their popular Ghost M silencer directly to consumers. The reasoning behind the decision is not a new policy; wipes have been considered silencer parts in the past, making them replaceable only by FFL license holders. Following this “guidance”, the Dead Air team has setup a network of dealers who will replace wipes for Ghost owners. Absent a nearby participating dealer, customers can send their suppressor back directly to Dead Air for silencer wipe replacememt.

Iconic silencer designer and manufacturer Gemtech has just announced the next generation of their Aurora suppressor. Like its predecessor, the Aurora II is a small wipe-based can that is light enough to operate without a Nielsen (booster) device. The new Aurora weighs only 3.5 ounces, has a length of 3.4 inches and an outer diameter of 1.125 inches.

In a decision that could have broad implications throughout the silencer industry as well as with shooters/consumers, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATFE or ATF) has notified silencer manufacturer Dead Air Armament that the wipes used in their Ghost M silencer is a silencer part. News came to me from fellow blogger Nathan at ModernRifleman.net, who reported on an informational post on Dead Air’s Facebook  page stating the company will discontinue sales of the rubber insert immediately.