Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Origins Foundation Podcast
Episode: 606 – Brandon Maddox || Past, Present, And Future Of Silencers
Date: November 6, 2025
Host: The Origins Foundation (Will Cooper)
Guest: Brandon Maddox, CEO/Founder of Silencer Central
Episode Overview
This special 20th-anniversary episode features Brandon Maddox, CEO and founder of Silencer Central (formerly known as Silencer Essential). The conversation explores Maddox's journey from pharmacist to suppressor entrepreneur, the evolution of silencer technology for hunting, the regulatory history and trajectory of suppressors in the US, and a look ahead at legislative changes affecting the industry. The tone is candid and passionate, focusing on demystifying suppressor ownership and their increasing role in conservation and hunting culture.
Key Topics & Discussion Points
1. Brandon’s Origins: From Pharmacist to Silencer Mogul
[04:26] – [07:25]
- Maddox’s academic background in pharmacy and business, leading to pharmaceutical sales.
- Decision to leave pharmacy in favor of building and selling suppressors.
- The challenge of convincing family and peers about the career switch.
- Key realization: “People would come up to you in pharmacy, complain about a $5 prescription that could save their life. But hunters, they’d find a way to buy a silencer, no matter the cost. And once they used it, they’d never go back.” – Brandon Maddox [06:01]
2. Personal Hunting & Firearm Journey
[07:31] – [14:29]
- Maddox’s initial, limited exposure to hunting (family perception: firearms were “blue collar”).
- Motivated by his in-laws’ passion, he immersed himself in hunting after moving to South Dakota.
- Prairie dog hunting obsession led to seeking quieter shooting options, culminating in his first suppressor purchase.
- Encounter with dismissive gun shop employees, highlighting knowledge and cultural barriers in the early suppressor market.
- “That gun store could tell instantly I wasn’t a gun guy... made me feel about a quarter-inch tall.” – Brandon Maddox [14:29]
3. Early Suppressor Sales & Business Building
[15:21] – [22:32]
- Friction and lengthy process in buying early suppressors (~9-10 month waits, complex paperwork).
- Decided to become his own FFL (Federal Firearms Licensee) to streamline purchase and eventually sell to others.
- Recalled the challenge of breaking into a “collectibles-focused” gun show culture, using his pharmacist background for trust.
- First customers: nearly all coyote hunters wanting quieter, more effective hunts.
4. Technology & Product Evolution: Innovation for Hunters
[22:32] – [35:00]
- Early market lacked lightweight, hunter-focused suppressors—mostly tactical, heavy designs.
- Maddox’s strategy: seek out products others weren’t selling, focus on titanium for weight savings.
- “The ideal scenario for a hunter is titanium—lightweight, strong, not like aluminum or heavy stainless.” – Brandon Maddox [31:25]
- Collaboration with Mack Brothers and other manufacturers for custom, titanium suppressors.
- Spearheaded white-labeled lightweight models focused on functional hunting use, setting a trend in the industry.
5. The Compliance & Sales Education Battle
[27:26] – [30:25]
- Early on, majority thought suppressors were illegal.
- Selling required educating the public on legality and paperwork, overcoming mistrust and fears of scams.
- Maddox used “pharmacist” on business cards for credibility: “They gotta trust me. I’m not gonna risk my pharmacy license.” [28:38]
6. Recent Innovations: Shotgun Suppressors
[35:08] – [38:53]
- Launch of the Banish 12, a 3D-printed titanium shotgun suppressor, lightweight enough for hunting without disrupting shotgun balance.
- Noted competitive edge over “tactical” suppressors; focus is on function and experience for hunters rather than home defense.
- Field-tested for upland game, duck, and turkey hunting; positive reactions from experienced shooters.
7. Legislative Landscape & Regulatory Changes
[39:09] – [54:27]
- Dramatic reduction in form processing times in the last year: from 18 months to same-day approvals in some cases.
- Credit given to key ATF attorneys, especially Ben Hiller, for identifying and removing unnecessary steps in NFA paperwork processing.
- “He was able to cut out over 80% of the steps... from four days to four minutes.” – Will Cooper [41:14]
- Discussion of the new tax stamp elimination (effective Jan 1, 2026), potential industry boom, and logistical/financial challenges for manufacturers.
- Insights into unsuccessful legislative pushes (Hearing Protection Act), budget reconciliation roadblocks, and state-level hurdles—some states’ laws link legality to the federal registry.
- “If the federal registry process goes away, then silencers become illegal in South Dakota... and about 13 other states.” – Brandon Maddox [53:02]
8. Looking Ahead: Over-the-Counter Silencers & Industry Growth
[54:40] – [58:33]
- ATF’s goal: allow same-day silencer purchases, akin to standard firearm background checks.
- Recognition of ongoing government staffing and resource challenges.
- Silencer Central’s multi-pronged approach (direct & wholesale/distribution) as a hedge against further regulatory changes.
- “We built, arguably, the strongest brand out there... which makes us comfortable doubling down.” – Brandon Maddox [57:43]
- Maddox discusses industry optimism, strategic inventory buildup, and the need to balance risk with opportunity given recent history (companies that over-leveraged and collapsed).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On risk and reinvention:
- “You went to college for eight years… why would you want to sell suppressors? People paid five bucks for prescriptions but bitched all day about it… but they’d make any sacrifice for a silencer after they tried it.”
– Brandon Maddox [06:01]
- “You went to college for eight years… why would you want to sell suppressors? People paid five bucks for prescriptions but bitched all day about it… but they’d make any sacrifice for a silencer after they tried it.”
-
On being the outsider:
- “They made me feel like a quarter-inch tall. I was so excited… and they just berated me.”
– Brandon Maddox [14:29]
- “They made me feel like a quarter-inch tall. I was so excited… and they just berated me.”
-
On the sales pitch to coyote hunters:
- “When you call in four coyotes, how many do you want to kill? The answer is five—or more!”
– Brandon Maddox [20:00]
- “When you call in four coyotes, how many do you want to kill? The answer is five—or more!”
-
On customer trust:
- “I always put pharmacist on my card… they gotta trust me.”
– Brandon Maddox [28:37]
- “I always put pharmacist on my card… they gotta trust me.”
-
On suppressor innovation:
- “No one ever would’ve put a stainless 30 cal on a .223—it’s just too heavy. Titanium changed everything.”
– Brandon Maddox [33:10]
- “No one ever would’ve put a stainless 30 cal on a .223—it’s just too heavy. Titanium changed everything.”
-
On legislative shifts:
- “He was able to cut out over 80% of the steps… sped up from four days to four minutes.”
– Will Cooper [41:42] - “If the federal registry process goes away, then silencers become illegal in South Dakota… and 13 other states.”
– Brandon Maddox [53:02]
- “He was able to cut out over 80% of the steps… sped up from four days to four minutes.”
Key Timestamps
- [04:26] — Brandon details his first steps away from pharmacy and into suppressor sales.
- [14:29] — Maddox describes his negative, formative first gun store experience.
- [15:21] — Maddox’s first silencer experience revolutionizes his prairie dog hunting.
- [22:32] — Transition from tactical to hunting-specific suppressor design.
- [27:26] — Early struggles convincing the public about legality and trust.
- [35:08] — Launch of the Banish 12 shotgun suppressor.
- [41:14] — How ATF streamlined paperwork, drastically reducing wait times.
- [46:46] — Explaining why budget reconciliation couldn’t include full deregulation (Hearing Protection Act).
- [49:50] — Anticipation for a “big wave” in suppressor sales after the tax stamp is eliminated.
- [54:40] — Vision for “over-the-counter” suppressor sales and the industry’s future.
Tone & Language
Conversational, direct, and pragmatic. Maddox is forthright about industry challenges and solutions, while Will Cooper provides context and frames questions in a relatable, story-driven way. The dialogue balances technical detail with humor (“How many coyotes do you want to kill? The answer is five!” [20:00]) and optimism tempered by hard-earned lessons.
Conclusion
This episode provides a rich, first-hand account of how one entrepreneur's quest to solve his own hunting problem evolved into an industry-changing business. It details how technology, regulation, and personal grit combined to shift the public perception and legal landscape of suppressor use in American hunting. For those interested in hunting, firearms innovation, or business in the outdoor sector, it’s a masterclass in perseverance and adaptation.
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