Suppressors are flying off shelves these days, and shoppers have more options than they know what to do with. Helping them pick out the suppressor that’s really right for them is your job, and it’s going to be based almost entirely on how they plan to use it. Most suppressors are pretty versatile and will do anything from hunting to range work to defense quite well, but others are more purpose-built. Dead Air Silencers’ CT5P is just that — a suppressor built specifically for the needs of law enforcement and anyone who operates in tight, dark quarters. But hear me out: The qualities that make it great for LEO use also make it ideal for hunters, especially those who pursue predators and varmints after dark.

The first suppressor in the new line is the CT5P, designed for semiauto 5.56 NATO and 6mm ARC rifles. Dead Air removed the HUB feature in the rear of the suppressor and uses additive manufacturing to produce a shorter, lighter profile — the CT5P is ultralightweight and compact as a result, just 13 ounces and 5.5x1.6 inches. This makes guns equipped with a CT5P easier to carry and less cumbersome to maneuver in tight spaces, but it also makes them less muzzle-heavy.

Lighter, shorter, more maneuverable — all characteristics a hunter would appreciate.

The CT5P is designed to work with minimal change in bolt velocity on direct impingement and piston gas systems. The baffle design increases surface area in the main channel to slow gas down, and the gas management system allows high-pressure gas to vent around the main channel, forward of the muzzle. That adds up to considerably reduced backpressure and gas in the operator’s face — a welcome feature in close quarters, which law enforcement appreciates, but it’ll also be appreciated by hunters in a box blind.

Of course, hog hunters or other predator hunters who operate at night, often with the use of thermal imaging, are concerned about muzzle flash, because it can disrupt their night vision. The CT5P is designed to reduce muzzle flash and spark to a nearly undetectable level, even with shorter barrels. On top of that, the outside of the CT5P (which comes covered in high-temp Cerakote in black or flat dark earth) is covered in parallel ridges. Although they do look good, they’re not just cosmetic features — they actually increase the external surface area, which speeds cooling and minimizes visual light reflectivity.

Naturally, sound suppression is the most important feature in any suppressor, and the CT5P has hunters covered there — it’s optimized to achieve an overall sound pressure level and tone well below OSHA’s standard for impulse noise, and it manages to do so without substantially increasing gas in the shooter’s face.

And because it’s built with defensive use and abuse in mind, the CT5P is rugged and reliable, made to handle high rates of fire and to stand up in dirty, dusty, harsh environments. It’s tested to the SOCOM SURG standard and is caliber-rated for full auto in 5.56 NATO and 6mm ARC rifles — with no minimum barrel restrictions. A fixed ½-28 direct-thread mount is included, along with the necessary TL001 installation tool, but the suppressor can also be configured with Dead Air’s Xeno or Keymo mounting systems.

MSRPs are $899 (direct thread), $999 (Xeno), and $1,099 (Keymo). Agency pricing is available on request. Though that puts it well within the average price range on the suppressor market, the CT5P is no average suppressor. It’s the first in a line of purpose-built defense-ready suppressors created specifically with law enforcement, military and other close-quarters use in mind. However, the qualities that make it CQB-friendly also make it ideal for hunters who operate at night, and it would serve those shooters well on the range and as a home defense tool, too. Peak versatility at a reasonable price? What more could a nighttime hunter ask for?