STRATUS FAQ - Tactical Innovations Inc.

1. Can I really order this suppressor on-line and you'll ship it to me?! (return to top)
Of course not... Suppressors (silencers) are NFA restriced firearms and must transfer in strict compliance with federal, state and local regulations. Refer to SUPPRESSOR PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES for detailed purchasing guidelines.
2. Can anyone legally own a suppressor? (return to top)
Depending on which state you live in and whether your local Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) will sign off, most individuals that can legally own a handgun can legally own an NFA firearm such as a suppressor or machine gun. Refer to SUPPRESSOR PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES for detailed purchasing guidelines.
3. Can I shoot my suppressor on a fully automatic firearm? (return to top)
The STRATUS is not rated for full auto fire. However, many customers have taken upon themself, based on their experience and good judgement, to use their STRATUS for full auto applications and have had good experiences shooting the STRATUS on full auto firearms. Full auto fire generates potentially damaging heat much more quickly than semiauto fire does. In order for us to rate it for full auto use, we would have a responsibility to be able to provide purchasers with data for factors such as, but not limited to: the volume of fire using different ammunition, from different barrel length firearms, running at different rates of speed, etc, combinations of which could damage the suppressor and potentially injury the shooter or bystanders. The time required to accurately generate that data is not commensurate with the demand, so we've instead elected to not rate the TAC65 as a full auto suppressor. When comparing our STRATUS to other manufacturers' suppressors that allow "limited full auto fire", be sure to demand specific damage point data. For fullauto fire, we recommend our DIAMOND all stainless steel .22LR suppressor, which is capable of a minimum of EIGHT AM180 275 round drums run back to back with no damage. For more moderate full auto shooting, we recommend our QUEST all stainless steel .22LR suppressor, that works well on both handguns and rifles and is rated for responsible full auto fire.
4. Can I shoot .223 / 5.56mm through my STRATUS suppressor on my AR15? (return to top)
Many shooters like to use a .22LR conversion kit on their M16/AR15 and the STRATUS is a perfect fit for .22LR firing. However, even though you can have the suppressor on your rifle and could physically shoot a .223 round through it, due to the extremely higher pressures etc, the STRATUS suppressor will be destroyed with possible injury to the shooter and / or bystanders. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOOT A .223 THROUGH A STRATUS or ANY OTHER SUPPRESSOR DESIGNED FOR .22LR AMMUNITION.
5. Will the suppressor affect my accuracy? (return to top)
The suppressor should have minimal shift change on the impact of the bullet as compared to shooting with no suppressor for general recreational target shooting. The additional weight on the barrel will change how the barrel flexes and vibrates when fired, which will change your point of impact. For general plinking, just shoot it, but before using the suppressor for hunting or other "serious" target shooting, you should re-sight the firearm with the suppressor installed to compensate for any differences.
6. Can I shoot a STRATUS on multiple .22LR firearms including rifles and handguns? (return to top)
Absolutely! That's one of the advantages of having a muzzle can screw on suppressor compared to an integrally suppressed firearm. You can use the TAC65 suppressor on any .22LR firearm that is correctly threaded 1/2 x 28 tpi.
7. What is the STRATUS suppressor db reduction? (return to top)
We agree with other reputable manufacturers and have stopped publishing db reduction numbers. While we own and use the same meters for R&D and testing that other manufacturers use, we also tune our designs based on perceived "ear" noise, which is often contradictory to what the meter indicates. Sound from the STRATUS will sound like a pellet gun. When using the suppressor on a firearm with a barrel longer than approx 3.5", you will have to shoot subsonic ammunition inorder to not have the sonic crack from the bullet accellerating to supersonic speeds.
8. How often should a STRATUS suppressor be disassembled for cleaning? (return to top)
Each time you shoot any .22LR ammo, a mist of lead leaves the barrel and when it reached the colder suppressor, it will instantly harden on the suppressor surface and continually build up. Since .22LR ammo is not jacketed (even the gold covered ammo is dipped, not jacketed), you will experience lead buildup in addition to carbon and dirt. We all know how dirty .22's are, and suppressors wind up with a lot of that dirt in them. Ultrasonic cleaners will remove the carbon and dirt but WILL NOT remove the lead build up. The ability to disassemble the suppressor for cleaning or service without the need to return the suppressor to the manufacturer to have it cut open as required by other manufacturers, is a significant advantage of the TAC 65 over other manufacturers' offerings. The frequency of cleaning will depend on the ammunition that you shoot, since some are dirtier than others. Generally 2500 to 3500 rounds has been the preferred cleaning frequency that customers have reported.
9. A few manufacturers offer stainless threads for attaching the suppressor to the firearm. Is this necessary? (return to top)
The STRATUS suppressor has a hard black anodized finish. Anodizing is not a spray or a paint. It's a molecular change that actually brings small crystals to the surface, basically giving it a "diamond" finish on the inside and outside of the tube as well as on the threads. Even after screwing the suppressor on and off 1000s of times, your suppressor threads will not be damaged. In the improbable event the threads ever somehow could get damaged, the disassembly design makes it easy just to replace the rear endcap. The added expense and weight associated with steel threads are not necessary. In addition, some customers have fired many 1000's of rounds without ever removing their suppressor from their rifle, and when they attempt to remove it, the lead and carbon between the threads of the barrel and the suppressor makes it difficult to remove. In the rare event you ever had a similar problem, it would be preferable to damage the threads on the aluminum suppressor endcap rather than the steel threads on the barrel since the end cap is much easier and less expensive to replace.
10. The suppressor looks great, but how can you sell it so inexpensively compared to other manufacturers? (return to top)
We manufacture literally 1000s of suppressors in quantity runs and make our profit based on volume. We want to be your suppressor supplier and are willing to offer a quality suppressor that you can take apart to clean or service if necessary, at a price that is 1/2 to 1/3 less than almost all other manufacturers. We don't spend thousands of dollars on advertising and rely primarily on your satisfaction and referrals, and we pass the savings on you to. Dollar for dollar for price, performance, workmanship, customer service and company reputation, you will not find a better value for your money. Period.
11. What support can I expect from Tactical Innovations if I have questions or need service? (return to top)
Tactical Innovations is a FULL TIME firearm related manufacturing facility, in business for over 13 years. We have fulltime staff to answer telephone calls during business hours. When you purchase from us or one of our dealers, you have the support of the manufacturer behind each suppressor. If you have a question or problem, you'll deal directly with the source, not a middle man with no manufacturing or product experience. We want your business and will do whatever we can to get it and earn it for future purchases.
12. Can I send Tactical Innovations my gun(s) / barrel(s) to thread? (return to top)
We currently are not taking in any barrel threading work due to peak manufacturing production demands. Most local gunsmiths as well as machine shops should be able to correctly thread your barrel for a nominal charge. We have a list of barrel threading tips that you can provide to your gunsmith or machine shop to help ensure a perfect job. In addition to barrel threading, you should consider our THREADED REPLACEMENT 10/22 BARRELS as well as THREAD ADAPTERS for many popular pistols such as the Walther P22, the SIG Mosquito etc.
13. Can I shoot calibers other than .22LR, such as .22WRM (magnum) and .17 RF through it? (return to top)
Although many customers have had good experiences shooting the STRATUS on firearms of calibers other than .22LR at their own risk by using common sense and good judgement, the STRATUS is not rated for any caliber other than .22LR. In order for us to rate it for other calibers, we would have a responsibility to be able to provide purchasers with data regarding the safe use of the suppressor using different ammunition, from different barrel length firearms, that could be used without damaging the suppressor or potentially causing injury to the shooter and or bystanders. The time required to accurately generate that data is not commensurate with the demand, so we've instead elected to rate the STRATUS for use ONLY with .22LR ammunition. Other calibers, such as .22WRM (magnum) and .17 Rimfire, will have varying pressures and could damage the suppressor and / or cause personal injury to the shooter or bystanders, and therefore their use is not recommended and they should not be used for other calibers. Safe firearm handling and use would preclude the use of any firearm or suppressor with ammunition other than that for which it was designed.
14. Can I request a custom serial number? (return to top)
We can accomodate custom serial numbers for an additional charge of $100 per suppressor. Our ability to manufacture suppressors for such an economical price is based on manufacturing identical sequential units in quantity. The additional charge offsets the associated customer service and engraving time associated with coordinating the custom serial number. Custom serial numbers will of course have additional shipping time requirements based on our receipt of your request compared to our production schedule.
15. Can I purchase the suppressor tube only, with no internals with no paperwork? (return to top)
Of course not. The tube is a registered NFA firearm and must be transferred identically to a complete suppressor with the accompanying paperwork and tax due per federal law. It is not legal, please do not call to ask us.
16. Can I purchase the internals or caps with no paperwork? (return to top)
Absolutely not. Suppressor components, as in each individual internal piece, are restricted and cannot be sold to individuals per federal law. You can not buy one internal baffle or even one endcap. No "kit" is available for suppressors. It is not legal, please do not call to ask us. In the unlikely event your STRATUS suppressor should need any service, it must be returned to our facility for service, no exceptions.
17. Do you recommend any other accessories to go with this suppressor? (return to top)
We offer our 3 lug STRATUS Assembly / Disassembly Tool to make taking the suppressor apart for cleaning or service a much easier task. You also might want to get a Rubber Strap Wrench from SEARS if you don't already have one. Other than that, all you should need is ammo and a good hill!
18. Can I use a muzzle nut coupling instead of threading my barrels for use with my TAC65 suppressor? (return to top)
While the use a muzzle nut coupling instead of threading multiple barrels appears to be an inexpensive and fast solution to threading each barrel, the use of any muzzle nut coupling would void any factory complimentary repair work because as the bores of the barrels are drilled, the drill "walks" a little from the starting end to the muzzle end. This means that the bore is never EXACTLY in the middle of the barrel, so if you clamp a muzzle coupling on the the barrel, the bore will be off center to the suppressor and there is a high probabilty that you will shoot your endcap and / or baffles, causing severe damage to the suppressor. You can however use a THREAD ADAPTER for a select few handguns for which they are specifically designed.
19. How much is shipping on this suppressor? (return to top)
Suppressor shipping costs vary depending on the carrier you prefer and your geographic location. Shipping options are available on our shopping cart as part of the Checkout Process. In order to save time and money, we would encourage you to purchase from a local in-state stocking dealer. In the event no stocking dealer is available, we will ship to any Class 3 dealer that you designate.
20. Will Tactical Innovations rebuild other manufacturers' suppressors that I now own? (return to top)
At present we only service our own suppressors. You should contact the manufacturer of your other suppressors for them to service it. We do not service or rebuild other manufacturers' suppressors.
21. Is this price the "dealer" price or "retail" price? (return to top)
Individuals may purchase this suppressor on-line but must work out the transfer arrangements and fees with their local in-state Class 3 dealer. FFL dealers with a current SOT should fax (208-267-1597) or email their dealer paperwork for confidential dealer pricing on single units as well as additional discounts for quantity purchases. Call or email if you have any questions and we'll be glad to help.