Category Archives: suppressors

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SilencerCo Omega 36M

Introduction

An incredible amount of activity has happened in the suppressor market over the last ten or so years. And it would be difficult to talk about much of this activity without mentioning one of the big players in the game. SilencerCo has been one of the most recognizable names in the suppressor market since I started playing stamp collector. Today I bring you something fresh from SilencerCo, fresh at least to me. I’ve got a few can’s from the company, but this is the first one in the last few years. The suppressor we are looking at today is the SilencerCo Omega 36M.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, desert tech, srs m2, apex optics, rival, two vets tripod, two vets, no-name inverted,
the SRS A1 Covert in 8.6 Blk made a great host for the Omega, the Sig Sauer Tango 6 is also a perfect match

What’s all the Hubbub?

The last few years in particular have shown a huge development in modularity in suppressor design. One of the main changes and one I fully endorse is the adoption of common hub mounting systems among suppressor manufacturers.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338,
the short configured Omega mounted to my Desert Tech WLVRN

Another big change has been the stackable module designs, allowing you to use a suppressor in stages. Giving you the option for short suppressor when needed, or full noise control if you choose.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor
the Omega 36M with the front section removed

The SilencerCo Omega 36M fits into this group of suppressors. The M in the 36M stands for modular I assume, as it incorporates a removable chamber on the muzzle end. As well as interchangeable end caps to adapt to additional caliber options.

And on the breach end, the Omega uses the popular ASR mounting system that has a locking ring to prevent coming off it’s mount. There is a great variety of ASR mounts options that are bound to fit whatever firearm you wish to host the 36M.

Howa Mini, 22 ARC, lucid Optics MLX, Silencerco, omega 36m, marmot, chuck, varmint hunting, varmint,
The Omega 36M was quite at home on this Howa Mini 22 ARC

Specifications

                            SilencerCo Omega 36M Specifications
Caliber Compatibility5.7×28 up to 9mm, 5.56N up to .338LM
Full-Auto RatedYes
ConstructionFully Welded
MaterialsCobalt 6, Inconel, Titanium, & 17-4 SS
Length4.90 or 6.85 inches
Diameter1.57 Inches
Weight9.8 or 12.5 Ounces
Mounting OptionsDirect Thread, ASR Mount, Piston Mount, 3-Lug Mount
Front Cap Options.223/5.56, .30/7.62, .355/9mm
Included AccessoriesCharlie ASR Mount, SiCo Disassembly Tools

The overwhelming theme with this suppressor is modularity. The modular design allows you to customize the suppressor to fit the host.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, desert tech, srs m2,
the Omega 36M comes with tools to service and configure the suppressor

Shooting with the Omega 36M

With a variety of ASR mounts, I would be able to put the Omega to use on a wide variety of host firearms. Varying from semi-auto carbines to bolt-action rifles, in calibers from 5.56 up to .338. Shortening the Omega 36M for more compact duties as needed.

One of the first projects where the Omega fit into place, was on my 8.6 Blackout project. A 16-inch barrel for my Desert Tech SRS A1 Covert. The Omega did a fine job of holding back the hiss of the this stubby and fun cartridge.

I also used the Omega during a variety of varmint hunts, shooting prairie dogs and marmots across various states. The Omega did an excellent job suppressing the Howa Mini 22 ARC, as well as my Desert Tech SRS M2 chambered in both 6.5CM and 223 Remington.

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Additionally, the Omega 36M did some time on a couple short carbines. Both 300Blk and 5.56 carbines were suppressed, with short barrels like 7-inch and 11-inch. Both in its short configuration and its long one, of course being more effective with the additional baffles.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, ar15, trijicon MRO, quattro-15, goonbeam,
this little Desert tech/CMMG hybrid carbine is a 5.56 outfitted with a Trijicon MRO and a Goonbeam Weaponlight

Results

After a few months using the Omega 36M, I have put together a few of my thoughts on the 36M.

Sound Suppression

On all the firearms I tested using the Omega 36M, the sound suppression was more than adequate. I’ll quantify that statement saying as long as a suppressor is pleasant to listen to in the outdoors I’m good with it. I don’t have any high-tech measuring devices, just my ears.

With that said, the Omega was comparable to most other suppressors of similar construction and design. It was very pleasant to my ears, and the reduction in recoil varied from one caliber to the next but was always better. I really like the ability to change out the end cap for caliber specific applications.

In the short configuration, the 36M wasn’t hearing safe on some firearms. But it definitely took the edge off. Super short K cans are often that way, simply designed to stop the concussion at the muzzle.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, desert tech, WLVRN, 300blk, us optics, TXH 3-18,
My Desert Tech WLVRN

Modularity

Converting from one caliber to another, and changing lengths is a nice option to have. It makes you feel like you have more than one suppressor without having to pay the crown’s randsome twice. I really like the modularity that Silencer Co put into this design, and the fact that these designs are interchangeable with other SiCo options gives you a reason to stick with the brand.

The whole suppressor industry is moving into the modular design market, this design of SiCo’s predates much of that. I will say this, I love the universal hub system that most manufacturers are moving to. While there are plenty of options for this Omega, I would like the cross-compatibility of the universal hub.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, desert tech, srs m2, apex optics, rival, two vets tripod, two vets, no-name inverted,
Hunting Marmots in the high Rocky Mountains, the Desert Tech SRSM2 in 6.5CM with the SilencerCo Omega 36M. On top is the Apex Optics Rival 4-32 and underneath is the Two Vets No-Name Inverted Tripod

While I have a great many other suppressors that also are modular, I appreciate the design of the Omega 36. With the assortment of ASR Brakes, I can rapidly switch the Omega back and forth between various rifles with ease.

Mounting

Speaking on mounts; the variety of ASR mounts gives you options. I have both brake designs, as well as bird-cage and three-prong flash hider designs. The only complaint I could muster up would be I don’t like timing muzzle devices. But the side-brake devices did come with a shim kit to time the brakes properly.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, desert tech, srs m2,
quick threading of the 36M onto one of the ASR muzzle brakes

Here’s a hint for you, if you’re only going to shoot suppressed you needn’t time the brake anyway. This has been a lazy practice of mine for years now.

The locking ring that secures the Omega to its ASR mounts is easily operated. In all my installation and removal, it never gave me any issues. I did notice that if you managed to lock the ring before bottoming out the threads, you got a ratcheting sensation as you make the last turn. The locking teeth grab the mount well, keeping the suppressor from coming loose. Of course securing the various ASR mounts is required if you don’t want things coming loose. I never put thread-locker on my muzzle threads, they are used far too often. But the SiCo instructions give direction on how this should be done.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, modular, 5.56, 9mm, 250, 338, tikka, t3x, 25 creedmoor, kahles 318i, KRG bravo,
the Omega 36M made a great companion to my custom Tikka T3x 25 Creedmoor

Accuracy

I only have interest in accurate rifles, so in my opinion a suppressor that deteriorates the accuracy of a rifle is a no-go. I was very happy to see that the Omega had no adverse effects on the accuracy of the host firearms. If anything it was better, and it for sure calmed the rifles down.

Durability

I am not particularly hard on my cans, so this is one spot where I’d lean on other’s results. The Omega 36M is full-auto rated, and I’ve seen plenty of folks who have abused them repeatedly with heavy fire. Because this can is far from new, there has been quite a bit of testing done. I expect this can will serve me for years to come.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor, cole-tac, python, suppressor cover,
Suppressor covers like the Python from Cole-TAC keeps cans warm and protected

I did notice that the finish of the Omega was a bit easy to mar or scratch. This is not a huge deal to me, as I typically Cerkote my suppressors every now and then to keep them looking clean. Also, suppressor covers have become very popular, keeping your cans wrapped avoids scratches if you’re worried about such a thing.

Conclusion

As I had suspected, the SilencerCo Omega 36M turned out to be just what I expected. A reliably robust can, that I can abuse between a wide variety of rifles. The only drawback if there is one is the uniqueness of the mounting systems, though with the different Charlie mounting options like direct threading to your muzzle you can go almost any way you choose.

SilencerCo, Omega 36M, Omega, silencer, suppressor

I look forward to working this can over more, and seeing how it stands the test of time and round count. I have every expectation it will do very well, making it an excellent choice for someone looking for a multi-purpose suppressor they can suppress an entire collection. With that in mind, I may have to look into another Omega, for some other calibers….

-CBM

Check out more suppressor reviews HERE

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount

Breek LOK QD Suppressor Mount

Preface

As suppressors become more and more popular with the shooting public, our options as consumers continue to grow. QD Suppressor mounts are nothing new, and I’ve used a few of them over the past decade or so. Breek Arms is adding to our options by bringing us their Breek LOK QD suppressor mount. I frequently talk about the industry moving to use the standard 1.375x 24 TPI hub system, and the Breek LOK also uses this universal pattern. This allows you to use the advantages of the Breek LOK system with a huge variety of suppressors.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount
Shamelessly stolen from Breekarms.com

The Breek LOK

The Breek LOK system uses a tri-lug connecting system, which has been used with much success by other manufacturers. The hub is installed over one of their tri-lug Breek muzzle devices, and with a fairly light down pressure you twist the suppressor a couple times to lock up the hub to the muzzle device.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount, muzzle brake, flash hider
the Breek LOK flash hider fit perfectly on my Aero Precision upper

Inside the Breek LOK hub there are a few parts, including a sealing tapered surface that mates to an opposing surface on the muzzle device. Both of these surfaces are located down-range of the lugs and anchor points, preventing them from getting fouled by suppressor crud. Also inside the hub is a coil spring tensioner and a ball-detent to keep the hub lined up to install every time. The hub uses the 1.375×24 thread pattern that most suppressor manufacturers are putting at the breech end of their suppressors. This allows you to install the Breek LOK on most any modern suppressor, giving you quick detach and installation capability.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount
the Breek LOK hub mounted to my Banish Meateater suppressor

Installing the Breek LOK

I installed the Breek LOK system on a variety of firearms and suppressors. Mainly 5.56 carbines and suppressors I would use with them, I’d like to get another muzzle device threaded 5/8-24 so I can use it with my larger rifles as well.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount, desert tech WLVRN, Micron
a diminutive Desert Tech WLVRN Micron kitted with the Breek LOK system and a GDM 556K can

After applying a touch of anti-seize to the threads at the back of my suppressor, I threaded in the Breek LOK hub. And using the included wrench I easily tightened it down. The opposite end of the wrench is made to tighten down the muzzle device, which make it very handy and convenient while working on the combination.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount, flash hider

So far I’ve installed the Breek LOK hub into a few different suppressors from various manufacturers. Notably and shown here is the YHM R9, the Banish Meateater, the Anechoic 35M, and the GDM 556K. The hub fit perfectly into all of them, and made it quick and easy to remove and install the suppressors.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount
Tightening the hub with the included wrench

Breek LOK Operation

The Breek LOK hub functions by using the aforementioned tapered seal to keep gas within the suppressor. The locking lugs of the hub engage the opposing lugs of the muzzle device, and you simply push down and twist. There is only one little caveat, the lugs are timed. One of the voids between the three lugs is deeper, so you’ll need to make sure you line it up right prior to installing the suppressor. It might sound a little tedious, but once you figure it out its actually quite fast.

While applying pressure down to seat the taper of the hub, you give it a clockwise twist to secure the suppressor. It usually only takes two or so twists to secure the can to the rifle, but it comes off with a very short counter-clockwise twist.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount
you can read more about the Meateater can HERE

One of the intricacies I found with the Breek LOK hub (besides the alignment to install part), was the outer sleeve of the hub and its ball detent. You can over-rotate the sleeve, causing it to not tighten down properly. If the sleeve is one turn too tight, it won’t go on, and if the sleeve is one turn too loose, it will hook onto the muzzle device but it won’t secure tightly. Causing a loose and dangerous baffle strike condition. This is obviously something you can avoid by familiarizing yourself with how the hub works. And keeping it in the right rotation using the ball detent.

As I mentioned, removing a suppressor on the Breek LOK hub is even faster than installing it. Barely a quarter turn or so will pop the can right off of the muzzle. But, I prefer to turn it a little more to ensure the sleeve stops by locking into the ball detent.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount
here you can see the hub detail, mounted to an Anechoic 35 can

Consideration

I like the way the Breek LOK hub works. My biggest concern is that over time the internal parts of the hub might get crudded up causing a failure. The worst case scenario would be it getting locked up, trapping your suppressor. This should be easy to avoid by routine maintenance and cleaning. I always put fresh anti seize on my suppressor threads nearly every time I attach them or swap out hubs.

For the most part I am a direct thread kind of shooter. mainly because I shoot mostly bolt-guns or precision autoloaders. QD suppressors have never really been a huge priority for me, but I would love to have one of these Breek LOK hubs on all of my suppressors. It would make it so easy to switch back and forth from one rifle to another as well as making them easy to break down for transport. The only down-side to such a scenario might be some slightly added weight.

breek lok, suppressor, suppressor mount
My Quattro 15 rifle with the YHM R9 suppressor attached by the Breek LOK hub

The added benefit of having a bunch of matching muzzles and homogenous hubs would come at some cost though. At $200 per hub, it would make the already extravagant stamp collector dig another tax stamps worth of bills from his wallet.

All that considered, I think the Breek LOK hub system would be a slick addition to any suppressor enthusiast. Especially if you are the type to run one can on various rifles. Tell us what you think in the comment section below, what is your preferred method of mounting suppressors?

-CBM

Read about these suppressors and others in our suppressor reviews

Silencer Central Banish Meateater Suppressor

Intro

You could say I’m a bit of a fan of the Meateater show, I do my fair share of hunting and eating. I never would have expected the brand would have made it into my daily use. But that’s the subject for today; I bring you a review of the Banish Meateater Suppressor from Silencer Central.

Banish suppressors have been everywhere lately, and I have been pretty impressed with their lineup. The Meateater Suppressor is a more recent development, and based on the name alone I suspect it is targeting the hunting public.

silencer central Banish Meateater suppressor

The Banish Meateater Suppressor

As I dug into the Banish Meateater, I could see that its hunting focus was more than just in the name. The titanium construction made the suppressor quite lightweight, which is a paramount feature for hunters.

silencer central banish meateater

Part of the reason the can is so light is because of its simple design. A traditional baffle stack held in by two threaded end caps. On the breech side you have the industry standard 1.375 x 24 threaded hub, which allows you to change the mount to whatever best fits your needs. The suppressor comes with a 5/8-24 threaded cap, but you could easily swap it out for a different one should you need to. This is a nice feature vs. having to have your barrel re-threaded.

banish meateater suppressor, desert tech srs M2, Apex Optics Rival
the Meateater made my multi-caliber Desert Tech SRS M2 even more pleasant to shoot

Innovative Design

At the front end of the Meateater is where this can gets interesting. The threaded end cap houses some very cunning features; the muzzle can be interchanged between thirty-caliber and 6.5mm. These two inserts allow users to optimize the suppressor for most every popular hunting caliber thirty or less. Reducing the muzzle cap to 6.5mm will optimize its performance for 22, 6mm, 25 and 6.5mm cartridges. While the thirty-caliber cap keeps it tight for .270, 7mm, and 30 caliber options.

here you can see the two different muzzle ports, the black one for smaller calibers, and the grey one for 30 caliber

Using the optimal muzzle cap in the Meateater is important because there is another innovative feature in the muzzle of this can. The endcap keeps back pressure to help force more of the pressure out through the radial brake that is incorporated to the front of the suppressor. Its purpose is to help reduce recoil felt by the shooter.

silencer central banish meateater
here you can see the on/off feature of the Meateater brake

Specifications

Length5.85 in
Diameter1.73 in
Weight10.3 oz
Construction materialTitanium
Thread Pitch5/8×24 included
ServiceableYes
Caliber.30 (6.5 muzzle cap also included)
Maximum Caliber300 RUM
Finish colorSniper Gray
Finish Cerakote
Sound Reduction32dB
Mounting StyleDirect Thread
Full-auto ratedNo
Mounting Hub Thread pitch1.375 x 24
Lifetime WarrantyYes
Bergara Crest Carbon, banish meateater suppressor
this Bergara Crest Carbon rifle greatly benefitted from the Meateater

Continue Reading HERE

PVA Modus 6.5PRC, Banish Meateater suppressor

The Meateater made an excellent companion to my PVA Modus 6.5 PRC

banish meateater suppressor, desert tech srs m2
The impressive report wasn’t visible through the Apex Rival 4-32X56 riflescope

The suppressed report of my rifles sounded very good, not quite as sharp as other suppressors. Almost as if the bleeding off of pressure through the brake vents made it sound better. It was an impressive suppression performance from a can that is neither heavy nor bulky.

Check out more suppressor reviews HERE

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banish speed K suppressor, yankee hill machine Fat Cat suppressor

YHM Fat Cat VS. Banish Speed K

Short Cans

As a long-time suppressor enthusiast I rarely see one I don’t want. In the decades since my first suppressor interaction however, I have noticed a few things about short suppressors. For a long time, there were suppressors designed primarily for law enforcement and military use that were very short. This effected their ability to subdue the report of a rifle to my taste. Times are changing however, and today we are looking at two very short and compact suppressors that do exactly what you’d want them to do. We are comparing the YHM Fat Cat VS. Banish Speed K.

yhm fat cat, banish speed k, suppressor

Both of these suppressors are very compact, and they both do a good job of subduing rifle noise. So today I wanted to put them up against each other to see which one I would pick if I couldn’t have both. These compact suppressors are designed for use on 5.56 or .223 caliber semi-auto rifles which most of us commonly use. My analysis will be based on various features but most importantly how these can’s stand up to a heavily used carbine or what many have colloquially called a “fighting rifle” or “battle rifle”.

Fat Cat and Banish Speed K Specifications

YHM Fat Cat Banish Speed K
Caliber5.56mm.223/5.56mm
Weight13.2oz (with adaptor)14.1 oz
Length4.5” (with adaptor)4”
Diameter1.94”2”
Construction Material17-4 Stainless/ Cobalt 6Inconel
Decibel Reduction20dB20.9dB
Minimum Barrel Length10” min.None
Full-Auto RatedYesYes
Mount StyleInd. Standard Hub MountInd. Standard Hub Mount
FinishBlack CerakoteBlack Cerakote
WarrantyLimited LifetimeLimited Lifetime
Baffle DesignTraditional Stacked bafflesControlled Flow
User ServiceableNoNo
Included Mount½-28 sRx Mini QD brake½-28 Direct Thread 

These two suppressors are very similar in size and specifications though there are some differences. The biggest differences that I feel are important I’ll point out here; The Banish Speed K is either 3D printed or DMLS fabricated from Inconel. Inconel is a very robust material (nickel chromium alloy) that is very resistant to both heat and abrasion. This makes the Speed K one solid piece of material, which can be very robust. But for those of us who have broken suppressors before, it makes them nearly impossible to repair if needed. The Speed K uses a finned blast chamber and clipped wall baffles to help reduce sound.

banish speed k, yankee hill machine fat cat, suppressor

The YHM Fat Cat is built in the more traditional fashion, welding together 17-4 Stainless steel. It uses a cobalt 6 blast baffle to help tame the extreme pressure, heat and abrasion coming from the muzzle. Cobalt 6 (cobalt-chromium-tungsten alloy) is also very resistant to heat and erosion. The fat cat uses an interesting funnel shape to increase the volume of the blast chamber, and it appears the design also helps create a turbulent flow to help reduce sound.

YHM Ft Cat suppressor, desert tech Quattro-15

Both suppressors use the industry standard hub mounting system. I can’t tell you how much I like and appreciate the industry moving this direction. It has made mounting your suppressors infinitely easier. You can use whichever mounting system you prefer, whether it be the YHM sRx QD system as provided with the Fat Cat, or something else like the Dead Air KeyMo system, or Plan B from Q. Both suppressors also use a tri-clipped muzzle port, this has become a common feature among many cans.

desert tech WLVRN, eotech Vudu, banish speed k
this combination is an excellent medium range carbine

Host Firearms

To properly test these two suppressors, I put together a small collection of rifles that would give them both a good workout. For pure sound testing, I would run them on my Savage Model 12 chambered in .223. The bolt-action rifle would give the best opportunity to hear the report of both suppressors. I would also use My Desert Tech WLVRN with the 20-inch .223 barrel, the adjustable gas system of the WLVRN would allow me to tune for performance and see how the two cans affected its function.

Quattro 15, trijicon MRO, banish speed k suppressor
this little rifle’s upper half is from CMMG, while the lower is from Desert Tech

Additionally I would run them both on a couple other AR15 based rifles like most folks would likely use. One of them a 16-inch Aero Precision build and the other a short barreled 5.56 that we’d also run some full auto through the cans.

yhm fat cat suppressor
the Fat Cat was an excellent companion to my AR-15

Shooting the YHM Fat Cat and the Banish Speed K

Sound Suppression

Shooting these two suppressors across the host firearms gave a pretty good idea of how they compare. I kept switching them out back and forth to compare.

YHM Fat Cat, desert tech WLVRN, eotech vudu
the Desert Tech WLVRN worked great with the Fat Cat and the Eotech VUDU 1-6

Both suppressors sounded very hearing safe on the longer rifles. The 16″ Quattro 15 and the 20″ WLVRN were very pleasant to shoot without hearing protection. Of course I have to add the caveat that you should always wear ear protection, even when suppressed.

Backpressure

Almost every suppressor out there adds at least some back-pressure in my experience. And these two were not exempt.

desert tech Quattro 15, eotech vudu, banish speed k suppressor

Finish Reading Here

yankee hill machine suppressor fat cat 5.56
Both cans worked great with YHM’s Phantom QD muzzle devices

YHM Fat Cat, Desert Tech Quattro 15, Trijicon MRO
my little gun used a Trijicon MRO

Finish reading about these two suppressors here

desert tech WLVRN, yhm fat cat, eotech vudu

YHM Fat Cat Suppressor

Preface

I’ve been shooting Yankee Hill Machine (YHM) suppressors for several decades now, and I can say with confidence that it has been a good experience. Suppressors have become an everyday thing for me, I use them on most of my guns. I’ve got a variety of suppressors from various manufacturers, but I keep coming back to YHM for good reasons. Today I am happy to bring you yet another new to me suppressor from the good folks at YHM. That can is the YHM Fat Cat 5.56 suppressor, a compact can designed for hard use on your auto-loading 5.56 rifles.

yankee hill machine fat cat 5.56 suppressor

YHM Fat Cat Specifications

Caliber 5.56mm
Weight11.2 oz/ 13.2 oz with adaptor
Length4.25 in/4.50 in with adaptor
Diameter1.94 in
Material17-4 Stainless steel/ Cobalt 6 
Included MountsRx ½-28 QD adaptor
Decibel rating139 dB
Min Barrel length10 in
Full Auto-ratedYes

Compact and Compatible

The YHM Fat Cat is a compact suppressor, a trend that has gained some popularity as the suppressor market has grown. K cans have been around for a long time, and offer shorter overall weapon lengths. But the Fat Cat falls into a different category, a short and fat category. There are a few different options out there that offer short cans with larger diameters, the idea behind them is that the greater diameter of the suppressor aids in its effectiveness.

YHM Fat Cat, desert tech WLVRN, eotech vudu

The Fat Cat from Yankee Hill Machine incorporates many of the companies other features as well. Using the industry standard hub allows you to use whatever mounting system you prefer. The Fat Cat comes with the newer sRx system, which is compact in its own right. But other options can also be used, like the Phantom QD system, or various direct thread options. And thats just some of the YHM mount options, you could also use mounting systems from other manufacturers if you choose.

Construction and Materials

The curious shape of the Fat Cat is due to its interesting blast chamber. The suppressor tapers at the breech end, making the blast baffle detached at its rear. This blast chamber design surely causes a great deal of turbulence as gas tries to escape from the Fat Cat.

yhm fat cat 5.56 suppressor
a view of the blast chamber and cobalt 6 blast baffle

Manufacturing the blast baffle from cobalt 6 was done to increase durability and reduce erosion of the suppressor. Cobalt 6 is an alloy including tungsten and chrome, its resistance to heat and erosion makes it ideal for the Fat Cats blast chamber.

The rest of the suppressors construction consists of 17-4 stainless. This high tensile strength alloy is also resistant to erosion, the entire suppressor is welded together for robust one-piece durability. The finish on the Fat Cat is black Cerakote, which is made to stand up to the heat and action of shooting.

yhm fat cat 5.56 suppressor

These construction aspects of the Fat Cat are why YHM gives it a full-auto rating. Though it does come with a minimum barrel length requirement, which I suppose is fair. I don’t do a lot of full-auto shooting, so I didn’t expect it would be a huge concern.

Shooting the Yankee Hill Machine Fat Cat 5.56 suppressor

Putting the Fat Cat through testing with the rest of my 5.56 suppressors would give me a good idea of its performance qualities. You can read more about a direct comparison to other suppressors here.

yankee hill machine fat cat 5.56 suppressor, sRx QD hub adaptor 1/2-28
a better view of the sRx QD adaptor

Using the sRx muzzle device, I could attach the Fat Cat to most of my 5.56 carbines. But I also used the Phantom QD muzzle devices just because I could. It would also allow me to mount the Cat to rifles that used 5/8-24 threaded muzzles (still chambered in 5.56).

savage model 12, yankee hill machine Fat Cat 5.56 suppressor
shooting from a bolt-action rifle allowed for sound evaluation compared to others

I chose to test the Fat Cat on a variety of host firearms, for various reasons. For example, a bolt action Savage model 12 .223 rifle would allow us hear the pure unfettered muzzle report from the suppressor. Various semi-auto rifles and carbines would allow us to see how back-pressure and other function were affected by the suppressor. For that I used a couple different AR15 type rifles I’d put together, and I also used my Desert Tech WLVRN 5.56 rifle. Five different host rifles would give us a good idea of how the Fat Cat does suppressing the noise.

desert tech quattro 15, YHM Fat cat

Sound Suppression

I was very pleased with the sound suppression of the Fat Cat. On every 5.56 rifle I used it, the sound reduction was fantastic. I never felt the need to use hearing protection, though I probably should. Those around also mentioned that it was very pleasant shooting even without hearing protection.

Back-pressure

On the semi-auto rifles this suppressor was destined for, there is bound to be some backpressure. On my direct impingement rifles, there was a slight increase in bolt speed. As well as additional gas venting out of the ejection port. This is something I’m used to when shooting suppressed. Comparable cans like the YHM Turbo, SiCo Saker and Sandman K gave very similar results while being longer and I believe heavier as well.

YHM Fat Cat suppressor, desert tech quattro 15

When shooting the Fat Cat on my Desert Tech WLVRN this was less a problem as it uses an adjustable gas valve. This allows you to reduce the gas volume hitting the piston.

Compatibility

I really appreciated the compatibility of the Fat Cat. To be fair it is equalled by the other YHM suppressor family. The sRx QD system that comes with the Fat Cat is outstanding and compact. Additionally I used the Phantom QD mounting system, which seamlessly threaded on to the Fat Cat just as it did my Turbo T3 and Turbo K.

Using the industry standard 1.375 x 24 thread pattern also allow you to use whatever brand mounting system you wish. If you prefer one of the other manufacturer’s mounting system, you can simply spin it on to the back of the Fat Cat and roll.

yankee hill machine suppressor fat cat 5.56
swapping the Fat Cat between hosts is easy with the YHM Phantom QD system

YHM Fat Cat Pros and Cons

If you look at the YHM Fat Cat as simply a compact suppressor for your 5.56 carbine, then it is really hard for me to come up with anything I’d change. Its pretty light by comparison, its shorter than most 5.56 cans, its compatible with a plethora of mounting systems. There is just nothing to dislike about it. It brings all these features at a pretty moderate price of only $699.

desert tech WLVRN, eotech vudu, yhm fat cat

The only way I think you might have issues with the Fat Cat is if you shoot high volumes of full auto. It is rated for such rates of fire, but your bound to get burnt and left penniless after burning up all your ammo.

Final Opinion

As with other 5.56 suppressors from YHM, I found myself tickled with with the Fat Cat. It was a perfect fit for my smaller rifles that I like to EDC. It added minimal length to the firearm, and yet it suppressed the report handily.

yhm Fat Cat suppressor, desert tech quattro 15, eotech vudu

If I needed only one suppressor for all my .223/5.56 needs, I’m quite confident the Fat Cat would be more than enough. Whether it be on one of my .223 bolt guns, or the semi-autos you see here, the YHM Fat Cat is an easy choice for me. Give it a look if you too are broadening your suppressor inventory.

-CBM

anechoic anechox 35 suppressor

Anechoic Anechox 35 Suppressors

Suppression

Suppressors have become mainstream for most firearms owners, save those poor souls living behind enemy lines. For those living in free America however, suppressors are everywhere. I am a huge fan of shooting suppressed, and I am always happy to share my experience with new suppressor products. Today I am bringing you a review of something new to me, from a company called Anechoic Suppressors. The model we are looking at today is the Anechox 35 suppressor.

Anechoic is a strange word, but makes a lot more sense if you break it down. The definition of the word means free from echo and reverberations. These suppressors use Anechoic’s X-Baffle Anechoic™️ Chamber System to reduce the report of your firearm. Additionally the design uses a flow-through style design to help reduce back pressure on semi-automatic firearms. I’m glad you’re here for it, lets get deep into the baffles of these suppressors.

anechoic anechox 35L suppressor

The Anechoic Anechox 35 Suppressor

Specifications

Max Caliber.350 bore rated for 338LM
Sound reduction34dB (standard) 40dB (35L)
Length6.5” (standard) 8.1” (35L)
Diameter1.6”
Weight8.3Oz (standard) 10.2 (35L)
MaterialsTitanium, 17-4 Stainless steel
FinishCerakote
Mounting hub threads1-⅜ x 24
WarrantyLifetime
Full-auto ratedyes

As I opened the box to the Anechox suppressor I was impressed with what I saw, but would these suppressors live up to the expectation? I lifted the suppressor from the foam, and was very surprised at the weight. They definitely feel like pistol cans, as if they were made from aluminum. My immediate thoughts were; no way this is 338LM rated. Something I intended to get to the bottom of for sure.

anechoic anechox 35L suppressor, eotech, desert tech quattro 15

The Anechox 35 and 35L both came finished in OD Green Cerakote, which made them stand out a little bit. The exterior machined facets gave a good grip purchase, and the curious vents at the front of the suppressor looked very interesting as well. The overall workmanship looked fantastic.

Also in the box there were included tools for servicing and disassembling the suppressors. I really like the way the tools fit the hub end of the suppressors, there is very positive engagement reducing the likelihood of slipping off and damaging either the tool or suppressor. There was also a large Torx-bit included that fits into the muzzle end of the Anechox 35. The hub threads matched the industry standard which I really liked, as it would allow me to use a variety of mounting configurations. The suppressors came with 1/2-28 direct-thread adaptors installed.

anechoic anechox 35 suppressor, desert tech WLVRN

Shooting The Anechoic 35 Suppressors

After playing with these cans for a bit, it was time to get them hot. The very first shots through the Anechox suppressors were on my CZ Scorpion EVO. The Scorpion typically has a SiCo Octane 45 suppressor on it, and after swapping out to the Anechox 35 it sounded almost the same. Neither of us could distinguish a noticeable difference.

These suppressors are so multi-purpose that it created a dilemma of finding a wide enough variety of host firearms to test every facet of their performance. I had to bring quite a collection, which made these tests quite fun.

shadow systems MR 920, anechoic anchox 35 suppressor, holosun 507c

Besides the Scorpion EVO, I also shot the Anechox 35’s on a Shadow Systems MR920. A smaller 9mm pistol threaded 1/2-28, using a Nielson booster assembly which threaded nicely into both suppressors. I also switched over to a Canik METE SFT Pro 9mm pistol, a full-size gun to get a feel for handling both sizes of pistol.

Canik METE SFT Pro, anechoic 35 suppressor, Holosun SCS Carry RDS
suppressed setup, the Canik METE with Holosun SCS Carry optic, and the Anechox 35

Rifle Use

I also wanted to test the Anechox 35’s on various rifles. First up was one of my AR15 builds, which was an easy option with predictable results. Additionally I figured I would use it on my Desert Tech WLVRN, mainly because the green can looks good on a green gun. Additionally I would use my Desert Tech SRS M2, because of the ease of swapping calibers. I could shoot 308win, 6.5CM, and 338LM all through the same gun using the Anechoic 35 suppressors.

I figured that shooting all these calibers from 338 down to 5.56 and 9mm would give a very good understanding of this suppressors performance. I figure it would likely cover most anything the average gun owner would need suppressed.

anechoic anechox 35L suppressor, desert tech srs m2, Apex Optics Rival
Even the mighty 338 Lapua Magnum was tamed by the Anechox 35L suppressor

Sound Suppression Performance

Noise

Shooting my assortment of firearms with the Anechox 35 and 35L suppressors was an interesting experience. The semi-auto pistols shot flawlessly with the suppressors installed, and while they were certainly much quieter, they were louder than I expected. After some thinking, I think it’d just been a while since I shot suppressed 9mm auto pistols. The opening breech of the pistol sends a good portion of the sound waves right at you.

The autoloading rifles on the other hand sounded just as I expected, probably because I’m used to them suppressed. Smaller carbines like the Quattro 15 rifle, and the WLVRN sounded fantastic. Likely due to the oversized suppressor for the smaller 5.56 cartridges.

desert tech wlvrn, eotech vudu, anechoic anechox 35
the Desert Tech WLVRN 20″ 5.56 coupled to the Anechox 35 and Eotech Vudu 1-6

Stepping it up to something bigger like 308 Winchester still produced an acceptable muzzle report. Since I don’t have any testing equipment, lab coats, or PHD, I can only judge these suppressors based on what my ears hear. Having shot countless suppressed 308 rounds, the Anechox 35’s sounded as good as most anything else. They may or may not have been quieter than a comparable can, but there was simply not enough difference for me to care.

Anechoic suppressor, bergara crest carbon
we also shot the Anechox 35 on the Bergara Crest Carbon 308

I’ll admit, when I saw that these suppressors were rated for 338LM I was a bit uneasy. They are incredibly light, and I felt like a Lapua would blow them open. But once I’d screwed them onto the rifle there was no going back. I’d swapped the 22″ 308 barrel from my SRS M2 and installed a 26″ 338LM barrel in its place. I loaded a few rounds of 300gr ammunition, and with some trepidation I sent a few downrange. I watched my bullets impact the steel target at 760 yards, so I sent a few more. Everything sounded just like it always does when I shoot the 338 suppressed, including the slap of lead against steel.

Backpressure

Its not uncommon to feel debris blowing back from suppressed pistols. There is always some backpressure that can send things into your face, so make sure you wear eye pro always. While there was some noticeable backpressure while shooting the 9mm pistols, it wasn’t enough to concern me.

anechoic suppressors, shadow systems

Direct impingement rifles like my AR seem a little more susceptible to backpressure. But again, I think the oversize Anechoic chambers allowed for much gas expansion, reducing backpressure. And with rifles like my WLVRN, you can adjust the gas pressure down as needed to prevent excessive blowback and over-operation.

Accuracy

In my experience, suppressors help calm down a rifle as it recoils. This often results in better accuracy while shooting suppressed. I found that the Anechox 35’s had no adverse affects on my rifles accuracy, if anything they shot better than unsuppressed.

Pros and Cons

Perhaps the greatest feature of these can’s is their multi-purpose use. If you are only going to have one suppressor, then one of these would be a great choice due to the adaptability.

As I’ve just mentioned, the sound suppression for most caliber firearms is great. And having a multipurpose suppressor like this would allow you to use it on a whole collection of firearms. Add to that the ease of convertibility using the industry standard hub mounting threads, you can mount these suppressors on anything. Moving the cans from one host to another can be enhanced by using your preferred mounting system.

the Anechox 35 (left) and the Anechox 35L (right)

These Anechox 35’s are quite pleasing to the eye. The sexy splines down the suppressor add both tactile gripping for install and removal as well as a pleasing look. The flow-thru front end of the suppressor also has an attractive appeal to it, in addition to its functionality. The variety of color options adds to the good looks of these cans, I love the green.

Because they are so lightweight, it came as no surprise that these cans heat up fast. Most cans do, so it’s not a big deal. It did seem like they heated up quick with few shots, but anything funneling a 338 Lapua through it this fast has the right to get hot in my opinion.

One thing I found that was slightly irritating was the 1/2-28 threaded caps that came with the suppressors were pretty tight. By that I mean you almost had to push them over the muzzle threads to get them started. The lead-in was tight, the threads themselves were fine. It was a small issue, but worth noting.

Anechoic suppressors
the tools included with the Anechoic suppressors were very convenient and serviceable

Another slight peeve of mine was related to the finish. Cerakote usually holds up pretty good for me, but it almost seemed like this Cerakote didn’t get cooked or something, as it felt too easy to mar the finish. For me this isn’t a huge deal as I typically re-coat my cans every other year or so. It also could just be because of the green color perhaps, either way it wasn’t a big deal to me. Once they got hot, and were well handled you couldn’t really notice anyways.

Concluding Thoughts

I applaud the efforts of folks bringing new and better products to the willingly oppressed NFA owners of this country. The Anechoic Anechox 35 suppressor series fits great into my collection of firearms, and increases the adaptability of my suppressors. If they were the only suppressors I owned, I could do everything I need to do suppressed.

anechoic suppressor, desert tech srs m2, apex optics Rival
the Desert Tech SRS M2 in 338LM, Anechoic 35L, and the Apex Optics Rival scope

With an MSRP starting at $1099, they are not the cheapest suppressors out there for sure. But you don’t wan’t that anyways. The light weight feature of these suppressors alone warrants the price, but adding in their multipurpose hub mounting compatibility, limited full-auto use, and the versatility of going from your Glock to your 338 precision rifle makes it a pretty easy choice.

I have been quite pleased with the performance and features of the Anechoic Anechox 35 and 35L suppressors. If what you’ve seen here today has sparked your interest, give them a good look at your local class III dealer or order from their website.

-CBM

remington 700 vortex banish suppressor

Silencer Central Banish Buck 30 Suppressor

Introduction

Welcome to the good old days folks, as far as suppressors are concerned anyways. We are living through a boon of suppressor activity that could only be improved by a complete repeal of the NFA. With so many new suppressor offerings, it may be a challenge to decide where to start. But today I bring you an easy option; the Silencer Central Banish Buck 30.

The Buck 30 Banish

The “Buck Commander” signature suppressor apparently gets its name from a popular media personality. One I am not familiar with as I avoid television and its influence. But luckily that has no effect on the function of the suppressor.

The Buck 30 is optimized for hunters, with a weight of only 13.8 ounces it wont add a lot to your hunting rifle. And its simple industry compatible hub system will allow you to mount it to the host firearm any way you choose. The suppressor is rated for up to 300 Winchester Magnum, which will cover most of your typical hunting rifles. And according to the manufacturer, the accuracy baffle used in the Buck 30 helps reduce the impact shift when switching between suppressed and unsuppressed.

banish buck 30 suppressor

Specifications

Length: 6.9”

Diameter: 1.54″

Number of Baffles: 8 baffles with 1st being an accuracy baffle

Weight: 13.8oz

Material: Stainless Steel

Thread Pitch: Various Direct Mounts

Brand: BANISH

Self-Service: No

Caliber: 30 caliber

Caliber Range: .17 HMR – .300 Win Mag

Color: Black

Finish: Cerakote

dB Readings: .308 with 18″ barrel: 131 dB to ear; 6.5 CM with 20″ barrel: 132 dB

Mount Style: Industry Standard Hub

Full-Auto Rated: No

Lifetime Warranty: Yes

Shooting the Buck 30 Suppressor

I decided to test the Buck 30 on a variety of firearms, as I imagine many of you might do. I am starting to think of this suppressor as a great first suppressor for some folks. The ability to change out the mounting configuration makes it easy to switch from one host to another.

silencer central banish buck 30 suppressor

The first rifle I used the Buck 30 suppressor on was my bolt action 223 Remington. A custom rifle mainly used for varmint hunting and target shooting. The Buck 30 fit perfectly using the provided 5/8-24 direct thread hub. Next up was a Bergara HMR Carbon chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This rifle is also threaded 5/8 -24 so the same thread cap was used and matched up well to the muzzle thread tenon.

silencer central banish buck 30 suppressor

On the bolt-action rifles the suppressor was fantastic, keeping the report down to a pleasant ruckus. And it didn’t add much length to the rifles, though I rarely shoot unsuppressed so that could just be my bias. One of the two rifles is particularly heavy, so the weight of the Buck 30 wasn’t even noticeable.

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banish Buck 30 suppressor, bear creek arsenal huntmaster 30-06
this Bear Creek Arsenal BC-8 in 30-06 was a good host for the Buck 30 as well

Read more about the BC-8 rifle here

silencer central banish buck 30 suppressor
the hub mounting system worked great with the YHM QD Mounting system

desert tech srs m2, apex optics, banish buck 30  suppressor
the various calibers I shoot in my Desert Tech SRS M2 all worked with the Buck 30 suppressor

bergara hmr carbon, athlon talos, banish buck 30
the Banish Buck 30 was an excellent choice for this Bergara HMR Carbon 6.5CM

desert tech quattro 15, banish speed K suppressor

Silencer Central Banish Speed K

Preface

Conventional suppressors are becoming more and more common. And as overall suppressor ownership increases, unique designs continue to come to market. Today we are going to bring you one of these new and unique designs. Silencer Central has been aggressively pursuing the suppressor market with their Banish line of in house suppressors. Though they sell many other brands as well, it is no surprise that the Banish line gets lots of attention and continues to develop with new options. Among those new Banish suppressors you will find today’s subject; the Silencer Central Banish Speed K suppressor.

banish speed K suppressor

The Speed K is a duty designed suppressor, developed for the purpose of heavy shooting service carbines. Its design utilizes clipped baffles and finned blast chamber, these features help create turbulence and retard the escape of gas. Additionally, the fourth baffle is vented which help reduce the velocity of exiting gasses. These features coupled with the complete inconel construction make the Speed K both effective and durable.

The Banish Speed K

The Banish Speed K was developed during testing procedures for law enforcement and military use. I suppose you could translate that to mean that it was designed around high volume shooting protocols. According to the manufacturer the Speed K passed multiple courses of heavy duty SOCOM testing, which many suppressors can’t pass once.

quattro 15 vudu banish suppressor
One of my Quattro 15 rifles with the Banish Speed K

This durability is likely due to the inconel construction and ventilated baffle design. I’m no rocket scientist but I imagine the erosion resistant inconel stands up much better than traditional materials. And allowing a portion of gas to bypass probably helps reduce heat building up like a traditional suppressor design might.

banish speed K suppressor

Another feature I like about the Speed K is its mounting solutions. With an industry standard hub, the Speed K can use direct thread mounting or one of various manufacturers QD or brake mounted options. For example I used a YHM Phantom QD mount which made it nice to swap between host firearms. That and the compact size of the Speed K make it a great option for guns made to shoot and scoot.

Specifications

Length: 4″

Diameter: 2″

Weight: 14.1 oz

Material: Inconel

Thread Pitch: Various Direct Mounts

Caliber: 5.56

Caliber Range:. 223 to 5.56

Sound Reduction: 20.9 dB

Self-Service: No

Full-Auto Rated: Yes

Color: Black

Finish: Cerakote

Mount Style: Industry Standard Hub Mount

Lifetime Warranty: Yes

Mounting the Banish Speed K

I planned on running the Speed K on a variety of different 5.56 rifles. First was my Desert Tech WLVRN, a twenty-inch barreled bullpup carbine. I used the provided direct thread end cap for this configuration. I don’t do a particularly high volume of shooting with this rifle, its more like a DMR type rifle.

Quattro 15, trijicon MRO, banish speed k suppressor
My little Quattro 15 with the Speed K and the Trijicon MRO

I also used the direct thread cap to attach it to my Quattro 15 PDW type rifle. This one is more along the lines of the Speed K, in that it is made to put down lots of shots. With 53-round magazines and a very short barrel, this gun would give the Speed K a workout and push it’s durability.

Additionally I ran the Banish Speed K on a full-size AR rifle using a sixteen-inch barrel. Just for fun I swapped out the mounting solution on that rifle. With the aforementioned YHM ratcheting QD mount I didn’t need to worry about the direct thread coming loose.

Using different end caps from different manufacturers proved to be very compatible. All the threads matched up nicely making it easy to choose different options for different mounting choices.

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banish speed K
we shot a LOT of 55gr FMJ ammo from MWLP