Gemtech Explained

Gemtech
Type:	Private
Foundation:	1993
Location:	Eagle, Idaho, United States
Key People:	Ron Martinez^[1]
Industry:	Defense
Products:	Suppressors, ammunition, accessories

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

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]
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.^[12]

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."^[13]
Blackside-45: The Blackside-45 was a suppressor designed for handguns chambered in .45 ACP and .40 S&W.<ref>Book: TM-Blackside Manual. 3. 2013.
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.^[14]
Vortex-9: The Vortex-9 is a discontinued 9mm handgun suppressor.^[15]

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.^[16] The VIPER is small, lighter, and more efficient than original MAC suppressors.^[17]
MOSSAD-II: The MOSSAD-II is a suppressor designed for the Uzi family of submachine guns.^[18]
MK-9K: The MK-9K is a 9mm suppressor designed for use with open-bolt submachine guns.^[19]
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.^[20] ^[21]
TREK: The TREK is a 5.56mm "thread-on" suppressor for carbines and rifles.^[22]
SANDSTORM: The SANDSTORM was a titanium 7.62×51mm NATO / .308 Winchester suppressor.^[23]
QUICKSAND: The QUICKSAND was a light-weight, quick-detach version of the SANDSTORM.^[24] ^[25]
HVT-QM: The HVT-QM was a stainless steel, .30-caliber suppressor that uses Gemtech's Quickmount system.^[26]

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.^[27]

Two years later, the company began producing .300 Blackout ammunition in both supersonic and subsonic loads.^[28] ^[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]

Notes and References

News: Murray . Stephanie . Smith & Wesson acquires Idaho company specializing in firearm suppressors . 8 October 2022 . MassLive Media . 6 July 2017 . en.
Book: Gun Digest 2013. 345. Jerry Lee. 978-1440229268. 2012.
Book: 275. The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15, Volume 4. Patrick Sweeney. 978-1440228681. 2012.
Book: 225. Stalkers and Shooters: A History of Snipers. 2007. Kevin Dockery. 978-0425215425.
Web site: About Us. April 4, 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140710184847/https://www.gem-tech.com/store/pc/viewContent.asp?idpage=2 . July 10, 2014 .
Book: The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons. 6th. Jack Lewis. 93. 2004. 0873496582. Krause Publications.
Web site: Smith . Aaron . The Hearing Protection Act of 2017 would loosen federal restrictions on silencers, opening up an industry that was booming but recently slowed. . CNNMoney . 8 October 2022 . 21 February 2017.
Web site: Strauss . Karsten . Guns And Money: The Silencer Industry Seeks To Break Down Barriers . Forbes . 8 October 2022 . en.
Web site: Gemtech's Outback .22 Rimfire Suppressor. Al . Paulson . Small Arms Review. Las Vegas. 2003.
Book: Silencer: History and Performance, Volume 1: Sporting and Tactical Silencers. Alan C. Paulson. 131, 219. 0873649095. Paladin Press. 1996.
Book: Vortex-2 Manual. 4. 2003.
Book: TM-OASIS. 2011. 2.
Web site: GEMTECH'S 9MM TUNDRA SUPPRESSOR. August 15, 2011. July 16, 2014. Small Arms Defense Journal.
Book: Shooting Incident Reconstruction. Michael G. Haag. July 13, 2011. 316. 978-0123822413.
Book: CQB, Assault Rifle and Sniper Technology. 55. 1581603231. 2002. Paladin Press. Peter G. Kokalis. N.R. Parker. Alan C. Paulson.
Web site: T&E Gemtech's Viper Suppressor. Al . Paulson . Small Arms Review. Las Vegas. 2001.
69. The GEMTECH VIPER Suppressor. Small Arms Review. Frank Iannamico. 20. 5.
Web site: Gemtech's Mossad Uzi Silencer. Al . Paulson . Small Arms Review. Las Vegas. 2002.
Book: TM-MK-9K. 10. 2005.
Book: 274. The Ultimate Sniper: An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers. John L. Plaster. 2006. 1581604947.
Book: Stormfront Manual. 2. 2004.
News: Keep it light, short, quiet & durable.(Shooting Range) . Law Enforcement Product News . July 16, 2014 . January 1, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152814/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-247156795.html . dead . September 24, 2015 .
Book: Gun Digest 2014. 25. Jerry Lee. 978-1440235429. 2013.
Web site: QUICKSAND. July 18, 2014.
Web site: QUICKSAND: GEMTECH'S 7.62 NATO LIGHTWEIGHT QUICK-DETACH SOUND SUPPRESSOR. Small Arms Defense Journal. July 18, 2014.
Web site: TM-HVT OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF SOUND SUPPRESSOR MODEL HVT and HVT-QM . September 15, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121124094844/http://www.gem-tech.com/store/pc/pdf/HVT.pdf . November 24, 2012 .
Book: Lee, Jerry. Gun Digest 2013. August 6, 2012. Gun Digest Books. Iola, Wisconsin. 978-1-4402-2926-8. 345.
Web site: New from Gemtech: 300 AAC Blackout Ammunition. Nick Leghorn. July 17, 2014.
Web site: AMMUNITION . July 17, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140726224336/http://www.gem-tech.com/store/pc/AMMUNITION-c32.htm . July 26, 2014 .
News: Association Represents Silencers . Shooting Industry. July 2, 2014 . August 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150329163915/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-303010366.html. dead. March 29, 2015.
Web site: Smith & Wesson Buys Gemtech. David . Merrill. July 2, 2017. RECOIL. July 3, 2017.