Gemtech

Gemtech
Company typePrivate
IndustryDefense
Founded1993
HeadquartersEagle, Idaho, United States
Key people
Ron Martinez[1]
ProductsSuppressors, ammunition, accessories
Websitewww.gemtech.com

Gemtech (stylized as GEMTECH) is an American manufacturer of silencers (suppressors) for pistols, rifles, submachine guns, and personal defense weapons (PDWs). The company also produces ammunition and various accessories.[2][3][4]

Gemtech was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Eagle, Idaho. GSL Technology of Jackson, Michigan designed and manufactured Gemtech Suppressors from 1994 to 2016.[5][6][7][8]

Suppressors

Gemtech offers a variety of different silencers.

Rimfire suppressors

A Gemtech Outback suppressor mounted on a Walther P22.
  • Outback: The Outback was a "thread-on" suppressor for handguns and rifles chambered in .22 lr.[9]
  • Quantum-200: The Quantum-200 was a .22 lr suppressor designed and sold in the 1990s.[10]
  • Vortex-2: The Vortex-2 was a .22 lr muzzle suppressor designed for handguns or rifles.[10][11]
  • LDES-2: The LDES-2 was a .22 lr handgun suppressor that is no longer in production.[10][12]
  • Oasis: The Oasis was a .22 lr integrally suppressed aluminum upper receiver for the Ruger MK II and Ruger MK III automatic pistols; it is no longer in production.[13]

Centerfire handgun suppressors

  • GM-45: The GM-45 is a suppressor for pistols chambered in .45 ACP, 9mm Luger, 10mm Auto and .40 S&W.
  • GM-9: The GM-9 is for 9mm and .300 Blackout (subsonic loads) firearms. It is rated for full-automatic fire.
  • Tundra: The Tundra was a 9mm suppressor and it is designed to be fired "dry."[14]
  • Blackside-45: The Blackside-45 was a suppressor designed for handguns chambered in .45 ACP and .40 S&W.[15]
  • SFN-57: The SFN-57 was designed for use with the FN Five-seven automatic pistol chambered in SFN-57 5.7×28mm. It may also be utilized on firearms chambered in .17 HMR, .22 lr, and .22 WMR.[16]
  • Vortex-9: The Vortex-9 is a discontinued 9mm handgun suppressor.[12]

Submachine gun and PDW suppressors

  • RAPTOR-II: The RAPTOR-II is a suppressor for 9mm submachine guns such as the Uzi and MP5.
  • RAPTOR-40: The RAPTOR-40 is a suppressor designed for submachine guns chambered in .40S&W and 10mm Auto, such as the UMP-40 or MP-5/10.
  • VIPER: The VIPER is a suppressor designed for the MAC line of submachine guns (e.g., MAC-10, MAC-11) and will work with firearms chambered in .380 ACP, 9mm, and .45 ACP.[17] The VIPER is small, lighter, and more efficient than original MAC suppressors.[18]
  • MOSSAD-II: The MOSSAD-II is a suppressor designed for the Uzi family of submachine guns.[19]
  • MK-9K: The MK-9K is a 9mm suppressor designed for use with open-bolt submachine guns.[20]
  • SAR57: The SAR57 is a 5.7mm suppressor designed for use with the SAR57. It is not recommended for use with the FN 5-7 pistol or P90 PDW.

Centerfire rifle suppressors

  • GMT-300BLK: The GMT-300BLK is a suppressor for .300 Blackout rifles and carbines. It may be utilized with both super and subsonic ammunition.
  • GMT-300WM: The GMT-300WM is for rifles chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum.
  • GMT-556LE: The GMT-556LE is a 5.56mm rifle or carbine suppressor for designed for law enforcement use.
  • GMT-556QM: The GMT-556QM is a 5.56mm automatic rifle or carbine suppressor for designed for military use.
  • STORMFRONT: The STORMFRONT was a suppressor for .50 BMG rifles.[21][22]
  • TREK: The TREK is a 5.56mm "thread-on" suppressor for carbines and rifles.[23]
  • SANDSTORM: The SANDSTORM was a titanium 7.62×51mm NATO / .308 Winchester suppressor.[24]
  • QUICKSAND: The QUICKSAND was a light-weight, quick-detach version of the SANDSTORM.[25][26]
  • HVT-QM: The HVT-QM was a stainless steel, .30-caliber suppressor that uses Gemtech's Quickmount system.[27]

Ammunition

GemTech, Subsonic .22LR ammunition.

In 2011, Gemtech developed their own line of subsonic .22 Long Rifle ammunition optimized for use with sound suppressors. Kel Whelan, working with Brett Olin of CCI Ammunition came up with a round utilizing a unique 42 grain bullet and travelling at 1050 feet per second.[28]

Two years later, the company began producing .300 Blackout ammunition in both supersonic and subsonic loads.[29]

American Suppressor Association

Gemtech was instrumental in forming the American Suppressor Association (ASA), a nonprofit trade association "to further the pursuit of education, public relations, legislation, hunting applications and military applications for the silencer industry".[30]

Purchase by Smith & Wesson

In July 2017, it was announced that Gemtech was purchased by firearm manufacturer, Smith & Wesson.[31][1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Murray, Stephanie (July 6, 2017). "Smith & Wesson acquires Idaho company specializing in firearm suppressors". MassLive Media. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Jerry Lee (2012). Gun Digest 2013. p. 345. ISBN 978-1440229268.
  3. ^ Patrick Sweeney (2012). The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Volume 4. p. 275. ISBN 978-1440228681.
  4. ^ Kevin Dockery (2007). Stalkers and Shooters: A History of Snipers. p. 225. ISBN 978-0425215425.
  5. ^ "About Us". Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  6. ^ Jack Lewis (2004). The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons (6th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 93. ISBN 0873496582.
  7. ^ Smith, Aaron (February 21, 2017). "The Hearing Protection Act of 2017 would loosen federal restrictions on silencers, opening up an industry that was booming but recently slowed". CNNMoney. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  8. ^ Strauss, Karsten. "Guns And Money: The Silencer Industry Seeks To Break Down Barriers". Forbes. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Paulson, Al (2003). "Gemtech's Outback .22 Rimfire Suppressor". Las Vegas: Small Arms Review.
  10. ^ a b c Alan C. Paulson (1996). Silencer: History and Performance, Volume 1: Sporting and Tactical Silencers. Paladin Press. pp. 131, 219. ISBN 0873649095.
  11. ^ Vortex-2 Manual. 2003. p. 4.
  12. ^ a b Peter G. Kokalis; N.R. Parker; Alan C. Paulson (2002). CQB, Assault Rifle and Sniper Technology. Paladin Press. p. 55. ISBN 1581603231.
  13. ^ TM-OASIS (PDF). 2011. p. 2.
  14. ^ "GEMTECH'S 9MM TUNDRA SUPPRESSOR". Small Arms Defense Journal. August 15, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  15. ^ TM-Blackside Manual (PDF). 2013. p. 3.
  16. ^ Michael G. Haag (July 13, 2011). Shooting Incident Reconstruction. p. 316. ISBN 978-0123822413.
  17. ^ Paulson, Al (2001). "T&E Gemtech's Viper Suppressor". Las Vegas: Small Arms Review.
  18. ^ Frank Iannamico. "The GEMTECH VIPER Suppressor". Small Arms Review. 20 (5): 69.
  19. ^ Paulson, Al (2002). "Gemtech's Mossad Uzi Silencer". Las Vegas: Small Arms Review.
  20. ^ TM-MK-9K (PDF). 2005. p. 10.
  21. ^ John L. Plaster (2006). The Ultimate Sniper: An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers. p. 274. ISBN 1581604947.
  22. ^ Stormfront Manual (PDF). 2004. p. 2.
  23. ^ "Keep it light, short, quiet & durable.(Shooting Range)". Law Enforcement Product News. January 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  24. ^ Jerry Lee (2013). Gun Digest 2014. p. 25. ISBN 978-1440235429.
  25. ^ "QUICKSAND". Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  26. ^ "QUICKSAND: GEMTECH'S 7.62 NATO LIGHTWEIGHT QUICK-DETACH SOUND SUPPRESSOR". Small Arms Defense Journal. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  27. ^ "TM-HVT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOUND SUPPRESSOR MODEL HVT and HVT-QM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 24, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  28. ^ Lee, Jerry (August 6, 2012). Gun Digest 2013. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-4402-2926-8.
  29. ^ "AMMUNITION". Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  30. ^ "Association Represents Silencers". Shooting Industry. August 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  31. ^ Merrill, David (July 2, 2017). "Smith & Wesson Buys Gemtech". RECOIL. Retrieved July 3, 2017.