The Mask
The Dead Air Mask is a titanium and stainless-steel rimfire suppressor rated for everything from .22 LR up to 5.7x28 cartridges. It was Dead Air’s flagship rimfire suppressor until the release of the RXD22Ti. At just over 5 inches long with a diameter of 1.07 inches, the Mask weighs 6.6 ounces.
The suppressor is disassembled using a tool for the muzzle cap, and the threaded breech unscrews to simplify cleaning. Marketed as more than merely an obligatory rimfire suppressor, the Mask incorporates the best performance-enhancing features and materials, according to Dead Air.
All-Season Shooting
The Mask has been with me for some time now, through the summer heat and the cold of winter, so I have a good handle on how it performs. I’ve used the Mask with an assortment of host rimfires, and in every instance, it made everything better.
I use my firearms mostly for hunting and practice for hunting, so a good portion of the summertime was spent using the Mask on several .22 pistols to hunt small game such as squirrels and marmots.
The Mask made a perfect companion for that purpose, allowing me to take multiple animals without spooking them with muzzle reports. It threads easily on and off my firearms and has what I consider minimal shift. The stainless mounting threads and square-cut breech cap provide an excellent interface with the host.
Through the winter, the Mask providing all kinds of target-shooting fun, all while not adding a bunch of length or weight to the host rifle.
Sound Suppression
I’ve shot a variety of ammunition through the Mask over the years. Winchester white box, Federal Auto Match, and who knows how many other common .22 LR cartridges have been used with this can. I am impressed with how quiet it still is. When I’m shooting at the public range with ear protection on, I can barely tell the rifle is going off.
Among the rimfire cans I’ve shot, the Mask is at the top when it comes to sound suppression. Both on rifles or pistols, it has an excellent tone and sound reduction.
While recoil is a non-topic when it comes to most rimfire guns, even less recoil is even better. With larger firearms, a suppressor helps reduce recoil both by adding weight and redirecting or slowing escaping gas. Rimfires typically don’t have much recoil but reducing whatever recoil there might be can be helpful in keeping sights on target.
Modularity
Disassembling the Mask makes it easy to clean, which is good because rimfire suppressors are always dirty.
Where the Mask shines is in its ability to accommodate a great variety of cartridges. Shooting a full-auto P90 is a workout for any rimfire can, but the Mask handled it like a boss.
Dead Air also sells a few different adapters for various firearms, which allows you to get the perfect fit for your Mask on popular guns like the SIG Mosquito and FN 5.7.
Value
Purchasing a Dead Air Mask is easy, because they are everywhere. Dead Air has done a great job at keeping up with demand. Even during the darkest days of the last supply crisis, I could still find an assortment of Dead Air suppressors in stock.
There are Dead Air dealers all over the country that are likely to have a Mask on hand – or you can find one right here on Guns.com for around $400. That is only a few bucks less than the RXD22Ti, so evaluate that while you're driving home tonight.
A surprising number of rimfire suppressors are within $50 of this suppressor. With that in mind, perhaps you should evaluate the brand as much as the suppressor itself. Dead Air has been around for a while, and likely will continue to be.
Mask vs. PipSqueak vs. Hush-Point
Here's how the Mask compares to a couple of other .22 cans we've been kicking around lately:
