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.
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
Caliber
5.56mm
.223/5.56mm
Weight
13.2oz (with adaptor)
14.1 oz
Length
4.5” (with adaptor)
4”
Diameter
1.94”
2”
Construction Material
17-4 Stainless/ Cobalt 6
Inconel
Decibel Reduction
20dB
20.9dB
Minimum Barrel Length
10” min.
None
Full-Auto Rated
Yes
Yes
Mount Style
Ind. Standard Hub Mount
Ind. Standard Hub Mount
Finish
Black Cerakote
Black Cerakote
Warranty
Limited Lifetime
Limited Lifetime
Baffle Design
Traditional Stacked baffles
Controlled Flow
User Serviceable
No
No
Included Mount
½-28 sRx Mini QD brake
½-28 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
YHM Fat Cat Specifications
Caliber
5.56mm
Weight
11.2 oz/ 13.2 oz with adaptor
Length
4.25 in/4.50 in with adaptor
Diameter
1.94 in
Material
17-4 Stainless steel/ Cobalt 6
Included Mount
sRx ½-28 QD adaptor
Decibel rating
139 dB
Min Barrel length
10 in
Full Auto-rated
Yes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Anechoic Anechox 35 Suppressor
Specifications
Max Caliber
.350 bore rated for 338LM
Sound reduction
34dB (standard) 40dB (35L)
Length
6.5” (standard) 8.1” (35L)
Diameter
1.6”
Weight
8.3Oz (standard) 10.2 (35L)
Materials
Titanium, 17-4 Stainless steel
Finish
Cerakote
Mounting hub threads
1-⅜ x 24
Warranty
Lifetime
Full-auto rated
yes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 myAR15 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As suppressors continue to increase in popularity and application, you are going to see a lot more of them around here. For those of you who are new to suppressors, today we are going to go over the various suppressor types to help you better understand the subject. Even if you think you don’t want or will never need one, it’s a good topic because your perspective might change sooner than you think. Today we’ll go over everything including materials, manufacturing processes, internal designs, mounting configurations and such. Hopefully by the time you finish reading, you will have a better understanding of your suppressor options.
Suppressors have been called a lot of things; in the movies they call them silencers though it’s a bit misleading because they are hardly silent. A suppressor is like a muffler, but they don’t work the same way. Mufflers simply bounce pressure and sound waves inside a chamber to reduce the noise that comes out the tailpipe. A suppressor is similar but has to overcome the enormous volume and pressure of a gunshot. Most rifle cartridges generate in the ballpark of near 50,000 PSI, your vehicle’s engine generates around a hundred times LESS pressure.
The deafening noise of a rifle going off will make your ears ring, because of the supersonic wave created by all this pressure leaving your muzzle. The job of a suppressor is to slow the expansion of all that gas, so that when it leaves the muzzle of your firearm, it is no longer creating the sonic boom. This is done by slowing the high pressure gas as it exits the muzzle using various chambers, while letting the bullet escape its way to target untouched.
As all this high-pressure gas is slowed within the walls of the suppressor, the energy has to go somewhere. The result is a rapid increase in heat. Essentially all the energy of the expanding gas is turned into heat instead of noise.
Suppressor Construction
For the longest time suppressors were mostly made with the same idea; a sequence of baffled chambers that would capture the expanding gas. Enough of these chambers would be stacked until the exiting gas was slowed enough to be sufficiently quiet for its owner. “K” cans as they are often called are a compromise of putting just enough of these chambers to reduce the report of the gun. Just enough means that they are usually louder than larger suppressor designs.
The baffles between these chambers have a hole just big enough for the bullet to pass through, while trapping much of the gas behind it. Many of these baffles and holes have features to increase turbulence of gas as it passes through. Clipped baffles have offset ports in them, and as gas passes through them it creates turbulence further restricting the straight flow of gas to the muzzle, much like a Tesla valve. Additionally different suppressor designs might vent pressure through just the muzzle, or from multiple points at the front of the can. Some designs even incorporate a muzzle break at the front of the suppressor to help reduce recoil.
Pistol suppressors often use a booster piston assembly, these are necessary to allow many semi-automatic pistols to function. The booster piston allows movement in the barrel/suppressor assembly, this movement is needed for the pistol to unlock the barrel and slide during operation.
My first 5.56 can was a Yankee Hill Machine Turbo, and having used it heavily over the last few years I have become quite fond of it. Working across various rifle platforms and even various calibers it has earned a safe place in my suppressor lineup. So today I bring you a new version of the Turbo, the Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T3. To see if this new unit stands up the great performance of its predecessor.
The YHM Turbo T3
The Turbo T3 is a the latest in the development of the Turbo line of suppressors. Preceded by the T2, with which it shares a great deal of features. With an upgrade in baffle design, the T3 added some additional porting to the internal baffles that reduced backpressure to the host firearm. Other than that the T2 and T3 are about the same thing.
Both use the same hub mounting system, which allows the user to change the mounting configuration. You can use either a direct thread cap of various different thread pitches, or other options. I really like using the Phantom QD system, as I have a variety of muzzle devices that my various YHM suppressors can mount to. Both models also use inconel for a blast baffle which is significantly more resistant to erosion.
the YHM Turbo in the wild, seen here shooting prairie dogs on my Desert Tech WLVRN
The muzzle of the T3 has a couple port facets that I assume are made to add additional turbulence as gas escapes. Together with several other tiny scallop cuts it gives a handsome finished look to the Turbos. At the breach end of the suppressor you will also find some tool engagement cuts to allow you to tighten or loosen the mounting hub of your choice. Turbos come with a couple tools as well that allow you to do this service.
The whole thing is finished with a black Cerakote finish for durability and a non-reflective finish. My older Turbo has been repainted at least once, not because the finish isn’t durable but because I am a little hard on them. So in an act of some vanity I repaint them every so often to keep up my drip.
Specifications
Caliber: 5.56mm
Weight: 12.8 oz. w/adapter
Length: 5.59”/6.5” w/adapter
Diameter: 1.5625”
Construction: 17-4 Ph SS/Inconel 718 Blast Baffle
Mount: Phantom 1/2” x 28 Q.D. HUB adapter
Decibel Rating: 134 dB
Minimum Barrel Lengths:
5.56 NATO: 10” Minimum barrel length.
Full Auto Rated
Shooting the Turbo T3
Both the T2 and T3 models fit snugly to my mounts, which made it easy to run back and forth between a few different rifles. One of the rifles I tested it on was a pretty standard Aero Precision 16″ direct impingement rifle, as well as my Desert Tech WLVRN which is a 20″ piston gun.
The larger AR rifle ran like a champ, and sounded fantastic. Accuracy from the rifle suffered no degradation while suppressed, in fact it might have been better. Dedicated 5.56 cans like this one seem to always sound so good to me. The sharpness of the report removed entirely leaving only a pleasant hiss. On the downside however, I did notice a larger gas exhaust from the ejection port. This was expected as it is pretty stereotypical when shooting suppressed, and as long as its done outside it doesn’t bother me at all. For the record most of my shooting is done outside.
puff puff…
When shooting the new Turbo on my WLVRN rifle, I was able to use the adjustable gas valve to lower the flow of gas coming back. Additionally, since this little bullpup uses a piston there is less gas coming out of the ejection port, which is nice since it’s next to your face. While it was a little better than on my AR, it was still a touch more noticeable gas than unsuppressed. Again I’ll stress the point, this is pretty common with suppressed shooting. Some designs have improved gas flow designs to reduce backpressure, and they are somewhat better in my opinion but still its not perfect.
I took the Turbo along for a prairie dog hunt a few weeks ago, attached to the WLVRN. It definitely seemed to help the accuracy during that hunt, as we scattered the little varmints all over the desert. Shooting my rifle next to my buddies we all got an earful from each can. The noise from the Turbo T3 compared to a YHM Turbo K and a SiCo Omega 30 was excellent. We were all shooting .223 rifles, and it was hard to tell which was the better sounding can, at least without professional testing equipment.
If you are looking to get into a 5.56 suppressor, there are a million options to choose from at this point. In my opinion, the YHM Turbo series is a great line of suppressors. They provide excellent sound suppression, and quality construction for a very affordable price. Whether you choose to go with the Turbo T2, the Turbo T3, or the shorter Turbo K, I think you will be happy with your purchase. These suppressors are built for durability, I have not been easy on them. I have even shot limited amounts of full-auto through them, limited because I am not a rich man. And I expect unless you are a rich guy with pallets of ammo and machine guns, these suppressors will last you a lifetime.
If you grew up watching movies where assassins and heroes alike would covertly shoot their adversary using a silencer, that might be reason enough to buy one. But today we are going to discuss other reasons to own a suppressor, or suppressor as they are more correctly called.
adding a suppressor to your favorite rifle will only make it better, this SRS M2 is my favorite
Due to the unreasonably complicated and costly process to obtain a suppressor, it isn’t something many take lightly. With any luck and some hard work that might change soon. In the meantime, I’ll go over the reasons I think you should own a suppressor.
America
First off, this is America. It pains me to know that Europeans can walk into a local gun shop and pickup a suppressor (or moderator as they call them there) and walk out without any further drama. While they can’t do the same with a firearm, it still seems unfair to me.
The right to bear arms is clear, any infringement on that right is immoral. So many of us have endured the intruding touch of the federal government in exchange for owning and using suppressors. While I hate to pay an unfair tax, I also see an incredible value with suppressors. It is with great distaste and contempt that any of us should continue buying our rights back from the government. But if we continue pushing the topic, it could eventually change.
Owning NFA regulated items is one way to normalize them, and convert them into what is called common use. Making them more commonly used among the public will help turn the tide against those who want your $200.
