Tag Archives: 5.56

Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 Suppressor: Cutting the Edge

June 3, 2026Product review, suppressors.223, 3d print, 5.56, romulus, silencer, suppressor, wolfpack armorycoldboremiracle

Suppressor Propagation

I’ve said it many times; 2026 has become the year of the suppressor. An unprecedented flow of new suppressors have poured into the market, so many that it might be tough to choose among them. If you are looking to get into a suppressor, I’ve made some suggestions here. But today we are talking about a specific suppressor, set apart by new technology and design. This new unit is the Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 Suppressor, a printed inconel suppressor.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, box, packaging

The Romulus uses a radial flow design to reduce the flow of expanding gases, and venting them at a controlled rate. This design focuses on reducing the signature of a rifle both in sound and flash. As an aspiring silencer raconteur, I jumped at the opportunity to get deep in the baffles of this suppressor. And if you enjoy such a voyage, I invite you to follow along.

here you can see the curious texture resulting from the printing process

Divine Lineage

In perhaps a nod to their own design, the Romulus suppressor is named after the founder of ancient Rome, son of Mars, the god of war. In our modern world, the Romulus suppressor offers what some might consider divine design. The radial flow design is made possible only through modern metal printing (DMLS) technology. This design allows control of gas flow through the suppressor, and optimizing such to improve its report reduction.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, inconel, dmls, 3d printed, — You can faintly see the lines from the DMLS process

Manufacturing the Romulus from inconel makes it incredibly robust. Inconel is often used in suppressors due to its tough resistance to both heat and erosion. This allows the Romulus to take incredible abuse, and surely aids with its full-auto rating. Even using short barreled rifles wont break the Romulus’ lifetime warranty. The folks at Wolfpack Armory stand firmly behind this and other products they make.

Some video of the Romulus handling full-auto from an 11.5-inch 5.56

Romulus Specifications

Caliber	5.56 Nato
Weight	14.2 Ounces (without mounting hub)
Length	6- inches
Diameter	1.6-inches
Material	718 Inconel
Minimum Barrel length	None
Warranty	Lifetime
Finish	Cerakote (C Series)
Hub Compatible	Yes- compatible with 1.375″x24 mounting hubs

With a build sheet like this, you can imagine that the Romulus was built for what has become known as a heavy use or fighting rifle. A 5.56 carbine as used by many in both civilian and military for both defense and duty purposes. The Romulus offers a compact size that is ready to be abused. And by incorporating the industry-wide hub mounting system, there are dozens of ways to affix the can to your host. The Romulus comes with its own Night Howler Plan B mount threaded 1/2-28 for mounting. You can also order the Romulus in either black or FDE C series Cerakote.

the included Night Howler Plan B pattern muzzle device

Lets Get it Hot!!

To test the Romulus, I gathered a small collection of rifles. A traditional sized AR I put together, with a 16-inch barrel, and another short barrel rifle built from a Desert Tech Quattro-15 using a 6.5-inch CMMG Dissent upper.

desert tech, quattro 15, ar15, sbr, cmmg, dissent, eotech, vudu, EFLX, red dot, wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, inconel, dmls, 3d printed, — one of the test rifles, kitted out with an Eotech VUDU 1-8

Additionally I would use the Romulus on one of my favorite rifles, my Desert Tech WLVRN. With both a 20-inch 5.56 barrel and a 22-inch 6 ARC barrel that I made for it. DISCLAIMER: I tested the 6mm ARC at my own risk after carefully measuring clearances. WolfPack Armory made no guarantee or recommendation that it would work safely.

first shots fired through the Romulus on my 6mm ARC WLVRN

And for fun I would also use the full-auto version called the Sabertooth with an 11.5-inch 5.56 barrel. With this variety of rifles, I could get a good feel for how the Romulus would work with most 5.56 carbines.

this is the 11.5-inch full-auto Desert Tech Sabertooth 5.56, seen here with the **Elcan Specter**

Sound Suppression

One of the very first things you notice when shooting with the Romulus is the difference in sound and tone. Most traditional suppressors have a higher pitch, a sound you can reproduce by pursing your lips and nearly whistle while reducing pressure. This is a sound we are all used to hearing when shooting suppressed, but the Romulus is built different. That texture you see in the front of the muzzle face, is not just for looks. It is a porous end cap. The Romulus internals route gas pressure through various channels, bringing them together at the muzzle. I speculate that the combination of gas flows interfere with each other reducing a singular flow.

The resulting sound is different than the subdued whistle sound you can make with your mouth. It sounds much more like a blow snake hissing from under a hay stack, a lower pitch that sounds more diffused. It is a very pleasant sound both on the 5.56 rifles I used for a host, as well as on my 6mm ARC.

Recoil Reduction

Obviously for those that shoot, the 5.56 cartridge isn’t exactly a heavy recoiling cartridge. And as with almost every other suppressor I’ve used, the Romulus reduces felt recoil of the diminutive cartridge. Even shooting heavier loads like 77 and 75 grain ammunition, the recoil was minimal, allowing excellent target picture and follow up shots.

A closer look at the muzzle end of the Romulus

During testing with my 6mm ARC, I shot both 105 and 109 grain loads. And again, the recoil impulse on the rifle was very mild. Just as the gas blending muzzle diffuses pressure reducing noise, it also seems to diffuse the spike in the curve of gas released at the muzzle. Making a softer push into your shoulder.

Gas Blowback

But does it gas me out? I can hear you guys out there asking the question. One of the most commonly cited benefits of controlled flow suppressors is a reduction in back pressure. When the very first “flow-thru” suppressors came out, I was suspicious of their claims of no back pressure. And in my experience that suspicion has been warranted, because some of the different ones I have tried will make your eyes water as bad as a baffle-strike.

after swapping barrels in my WLVRN, shooting the 20-inch 5.56 barrel

The Romulus, as you can see in some of my pictures does cause some breech-farts. But not enough to give you pink eye. As you might imagine, the bullpups made it a little more noticeable since the port is closer to your face. But the overall impression wasn’t bad at all in my opinion. Having shot all these rifles with traditional baffle cans and a few flow-thru style cans, I can tell you the Romulus is better. At no point during my shooting (besides during full-auto mag dumps) did I even notice the gas enough to care.

there was no need to adjust the gas settings on any of the rifles

Two of the host rifles featured an adjustable gas system, and both of them worked on their normal unsuppressed setting without excessive bolt carrier speed. Additionally, short barreled rifles put off quite a bit of fire, even when suppressed. The Romulus did an excellent job at getting rid of flash, even on the 11 and 6-inch barrels.

Modularity

It wasn’t that long ago that suppressors lacked any modularity at all. By adding the hub compatible blast chamber to the Romulus, it allows you to use any kind of mounting system you choose. This is nice for those who have a large collection of any one system, be it from SiCo, Huxwrx, Q or otherwise. I also like that the Romulus is narrow enough that it can be easily tucked under a handguard if thats your style.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, desert tech, SBRTH, sabertooth, machine gun, MAWL, full-auto

Value

Perusing through dedicated 5.56 cans you can see a broad selection even among the printed cans. Comparing the Romulus to others like the SiCo Velos 556K, the Dead Air Lazarus 6, or the Huxwrx Flow 556 there is hardly enough difference in price to matter.

Wolfpack Armory’s lifetime warranty adds a great deal of value to this can. Especially considering some of the internet murmurings about 3D-printed suppressors having no warranty other than a discount on a replacement.

wolfpack armory, romulus, suppressor, silencer, 5.56 .223 rem, 3d printed, dmls, radial flow, low backpressure, AR15, quattro 15, vector optics,

Pros and Cons

Pros

Excellent suppression and tone
Inconel construction for increased durability
Full-Auto rated
Hub compatible
Controlled flow design
Lifetime Warranty
No barrel restrictions
No need for gas system tuning
Plan B mount and tools included
Ladies love a man with class

Cons

Might be hard to get ahold of? Maybe?

My Conclusion

I’ve shot through a fair number of reduced back pressure 5.56 suppressors, enough to know that the Romulus is certainly as good as if not better than any of them. With its no BS warranty and bulletproof construction, I don’t know why you’d need look elsewhere. Especially if you are an SBR enthusiast. But like everything in life its all about preference.

The Wolfpack Armory Romulus 5.56 is certainly worth your consideration if you are shopping for a hard use suppressor. If you see me on the firing line, hit me up and I’ll let you give it a try.

-CBM

Like inconel cans but looking for something more chode? Check out this one

Seekins Precision NX15

July 22, 2025Product review, Shooting hardware, Uncategorized223, 5.56, ar15, nx15, plxc, primary arms, seekins, seekins precisioncoldboremiracle

Introduction

Seekins Precision is a very well known firearm manufacturer in the precision rifle world. Aside from their very nice precision rifles, they also make some fine autoloading rifles. Today we are taking a look at one of them, the Seekins Precision NX15.

seekins, seekins precision, nx15, ar15, primary arms, plxc, banish speed k, — the M-Lok handguard is ready for all your accessories

Seekins sets their products apart by manufacturing their own custom receiver sets and parts that accompany them. The results are high quality firearms that stand out with a unique look and performance.

The Seekins NX15

Based on a foundation of 7075 T6 aluminum billets, the NX15 is machined and skeletonized for a perfect match. The sixteen-inch 416R stainless barrel sits inside an M-Lok compatible handguard so you can add all your favorite accessories.

seekins, seekins precision, nx15, ar15, primary arms, plxc, — top notch parts with an excellent fit

In addition to high quality components, the NX15 also incorporates some great control features. The Seekins DNA charging handle comes with an enhanced charging handle, with relief cuts to help keep friction low. The safety is a forty-five degree ambidextrous type, which I like.

As the AR platform has matured, Seekins was one of the early manufacturers to add enhanced additional controls. There is a push-button bolt-release you can easily actuate with your trigger finger. This is a very welcome feature and only surpassed by the release/lock-back type of control I enjoy on my other similar rifles.

Superb quality parts and fit come standard with this rifle. The controls feel very smooth and responsive, and the fit and finish are also top notch. The test rifle we are shooting today has a custom paint job, something that feels like it fell out of a comic book. But I would let that interfere with what matters.

Seekins NX15 Specifications

Seekins Precision NX15
Caliber	.223/5.56 (tested) 22ARC, 6ARC, 338ARC
Barrel	Stainless 16-inch
Barrel Twist	1 in 8 inches
Weight	7 pounds
Gas Block	Adjustable low-profile
Muzzle	Seekins Nest enclosed flash-hider
Finish	Black Oxide coating
Muzzle thread	½-28
Stock	Adjustable six-position MFT (tested)

NX15 Testing Setup

Before shooting the NX15, I wanted to add a couple accessories. First up of course it would need some kind of sighting system. For that I chose the Primary Arms PLx Compact, a 1-8 LPVO with exceptional clarity and definition. Using the PLx cantilever mount I attached it to the upper receiver.

For ammunition to feed the NX15, I grabbed several boxes of PMC X-Tac 55 grain as well as some PMC Match 77 grain ammo. Both of these have performed well for me in other firearms. Lastly because I hate noise, I also grabbed a suppressor for the rifle. The Banish Speed K suppressor from Silencer Central, this is a bulletproof little suppressor and it has really become one of my favorites. With everything in place, I headed to the range.

On the Range with the Seekins NX15

Once on the firing line, I loaded the Amend 2 magazine with some of the 55-grain ammo to get the rifle zeroed. I did a quick boresighting job, that got me on paper before making a few adjustments. One of the reasons I love the PLx scope is because it is so clear I can see bullet holes in paper much better than other 8X scopes. After zeroing the scope to the rifle supported on a bench, I fired a few shots to see how accurate the rifle shot with inexpensive ammo. Then I switched to the 77-grain match ammo to see how it shot as well.

After seeing how the rifle performed accurately, I decided to switch it up a bit by shooting the rifle from a standing position. The smooth action of the rifle felt very polished, reloading the rifle and going through magazines helped appreciate the precise controls and their feel. The trigger feels excellent in this rifle, very crisp and clean.

I noticed while handling and shooting the rifle that the NX15 has nice balance. Little things like the oversized trigger-guard and textured surfaces where you need them made it feel above average performance.

Even though I wasn’t a big fan of the paint job, it was hard to dislike the feel of this rifle. The minimized handguard was easy to hold onto. And it wasn’t just thin where you wanted it thin, it was also thick where it should be. A flared magwell skirt made stabbing magazines easy, and thick trigger pin-bosses would make for long-term durability.

The Results

Handling

The shootability of this rifle is fantastic. I love the big purchase of the charging handle that even a blind shooter with one finger couldn’t miss. The Magpul and Mission First Tactical furniture were nice and made easy manipulation of the rifle.

With nothing on the handguard it was easy to grip the rifle in any style you choose, and the magwell has some texture if you’re one of those guys. Adding M-Lok accessories like a downgrip could also be easily added to enhance the handling.

Reliability

As expected with the Seekins name, the NX15 ran flawlessly during all my shooting. Both suppressed and in loud configuration the rifle ate everything and never complained. I could feel a slight increase in operating pressure when shooting suppressed, but it wasn’t enough I felt like adjusting the gas block. Though that would have been easy to do using a couple Allen wrenches through the handguard.

Accuracy

Once again with a name like Seekins, I was expecting this rifle to shoot sharply. I don’t typically like using an 8X scope for shooting groups at 100 yards. I’d much rather use something like a 12X or more. Even so, I was surprised at how easily I was able to shoot MOA five-shot groups with cheap ammo.

Continue Reading Here

YHM Fat Cat VS. Banish Speed K

December 23, 2024Product review, suppressors.223, 5.56, banish, fat cat, silencer, silencer central, speed k, suppressor, yankee hill machine, YHMcoldboremiracle

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.

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.

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

YHM Fat Cat Suppressor

November 15, 2024Product review, suppressors.223, 5.56, fat cat, suppressor, yankee hill machine, YHMcoldboremiracle

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Fat Cat aboard my **Desert Tech WLVRN**, as well as the **Eotech Vudu 1-6**

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

IWI Tavor X95 5.56 Bullpup

November 5, 2022Product review, Shooting hardware5.56, bullpup, IWI, tavor, x95coldboremiracle

Introduction

Your first reaction to the IWI Tavor X95 might be wrinkling your nose and wincing at the word bullpup. After all, the short and stubby design is not as common in America and is typically frowned upon by many.

But those that look down their nose at these rifles do so at their own loss, as there are many benefits and even superior features to some bullpup designs.

Today we will look at one of the flagship rifles from the Israeli arms giant IWI, the Tavor X95 bullpup. Like all bullpups, the X95’s breech and firing mechanisms are behind the trigger. This shortens the overall size of the weapon by utilizing the space in the butt of the firearm that is normally vacant.

The X95

I’m no stranger to bullpups, so prepare yourself for some perspective as we go over this very popular and robust little rifle.

The first trip to the range with the X95 included a hundred or so rounds. I’d brought a few magazines to run through the rifle of various types. I had only installed a red dot as a sighting device with plans to shoot with a riflescope at a later date.

After loading a few magazines and a quick preflight inspection of the rifle, it was time to go hot. Charging the rifle is a very familiar process, seating the magazine and running the charging handle to chamber a cartridge. The safety selector is easily operated with the thumb, making the rifle ready to fire.

I fired a few magazines through the rifle, adjusting my sight a few times for a better point of impact. My initial impressions of the rifle were better than expected. The rifle shot smoothly and reliably. The trigger was a bit mushy for my taste, something common with some bullpups. But I could still shoot properly and get hits where I wanted them.

Reloading the rifle is different than a typical modern sporting rifle. Stabbing the magazine into the rear of the rifle can take some getting used to if you are new to bullpups. The bolt release is centrally located behind the magwell, allowing you to actuate it with your thumb upon seating the magazine. I would have liked to see a more flared magwell, but it could have just been my familiarity with this particular model.

The controls and ergonomics of the rifle seemed to fit me well. The charging handle does have a claw to capture it under recoil. I would have liked a slightly different configuration that offered just a smidge more purchase but again, this is just my preference.

One thing I did find a little annoying was during a reload motion; my trigger finger would often migrate behind the trigger. This made for an awkward transition back to shooting, but again it is likely just a lack of practice with the rifle that could be overcome with some training. Continue reading here

ACCURACY

Once my sight was zeroed, I found it easy to hit my targets inside one-hundred yards. But this is by no means a precision shooting rifle, as I confirmed in later range trips using a better scope. Using fifty-five-grain ball ammunition, the best groups I could produce with the rifle hovered around 2.5 MOA. I suppose you could tighten that up a bit with match-grade ammo, and perhaps the upgraded trigger might also help.

ERGONOMICS AND FUNCTION

The overall feel of the rifle was not bad, though the significant amount of polymer on the rifle does give it a bit of a Nerf gun feel. But technology being what it is these days, polymer is making its way into everything in the firearms market, so I suppose we should just embrace it.

I did take the opportunity to shoot the rifle suppressed. For that, I used the Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T2, a baffled can that mounts to a ratcheting muzzle device. I lowered the gas setting to the lowest setting, which seemed to work just fine.

The suppressed rifle did continue to function flawlessly, though I did notice a bit more gas coming from the ejection port near my face. Perhaps a slightly lower gas setting would have been ideal, but even as the gun heated up significantly, it continued to pump through magazine after magazine.

FEATURES

PICATINNY SIGHT RAIL

The sight rail allows for a plethora of options; whether you prefer iron sights or optical sight devices, you can mount it here.

IWI Tavor X95 side view barrel grip scope — The X95 with a **US Optics TS6X riflescope**

½-28 THREADED MUZZLE

The threaded muzzle allows the user to install suppressors or other muzzle devices to enhance performance or shooting experience.

AMBIDEXTROUS EJECTION

The X95 can be configured to eject out of either side of the receiver, a significant feature if you have a left-handed shooter in your midst.

ADJUSTABLE GAS SETTINGS

This is very convenient when using a suppressor and helps the user tune the rifle’s performance.

HANDGUARD ACCESSORY PIC RAIL

Conveniently located under handguard covers at three, six, and nine o’clock, giving you a solid place to mount accessories like weapon lights or a bipod.

SLING ATTACHMENTS

The sling attachments are centrally located, which allows the weapon to be suspended at a center balance point on a single-point sling if desired. Additional options can be added to the accessory rails.

INTEGRATED SIGHTS

The built-in flip-up sights come as part of the rifle allowing for a backup option should you need it.

TESTING PARAMETERS

During the duration of our time with the gun, the majority of the ammunition fired was PMC Bronze 55 grain. I had no malfunctions that weren’t operator initiated, leading me to believe that the rifle liked this particular ammo selection. I did shoot a small amount of Speer LE 75 grain SP ammunition which also worked flawlessly.

I performed no maintenance on the rifle during the test period; only the lubrication previously applied to the internals of the rifle was present. And there were some long strings of fire shooting several thirty-round magazines one after another looking for malfunctions.

Get your own IWI bullpup, even if it makes Eugene cry a tear…

At one point, I did get filthy by disassembling the rifle to switch it to left-hand eject, just to see how it went. While not difficult, I would prefer not to do such a thing outside of a bench.

CONCLUSION

The Tavor X95 has a strong record both as a civilian defense and sporting rifle, as well as a rugged service record with military groups all over the world.

I believe it’s the most fielded modern bullpup since the SA80, and has seen hard service in all kinds of conditions. All this work has surely taught the good folks at IWI how to improve the rifle, making current revisions of the rifle some of the best.

The fact that it is a bullpup rifle can be a turnoff to many, but the X95 does share a good deal of handling properties with the prolific M4 type rifles most are familiar with. I like the rifle, but there are others I like better. But I certainly would feel comfortable fielding the X95 as a second choice.

Overall it is a great rifle. My only major deterrent is the factory trigger. This is certainly subjective, as you may find it to be just fine. There is also a fine replacement trigger available for the rifle from Geissele. If you are looking for a hardened battle rifle with a big bark but the stance of a bullpup, then the Tavor X95 is just your gun.

-CBM

Keltec RDB 5.56 Bullpup

September 29, 2022Product review, Shooting hardware5.56, bullpup, keltec, rdbcoldboremiracle

Preface

I’ve had a bit of experience with bullpups, some more than others. But if you’re interested enough in them to be reading this, you may want to read my last piece “Ode to bullpups” where we discussed bullpups in general. Today we will be speaking specifically about the Keltec RDB bullpup, a sixteen inch barreled 5.56 bullpup semi-auto.

Keltec Firearms

Keltec Firearms has been around since the early nineties, with a motto of creating original and innovative firearms in the state of Florida. An overview of Keltec firearms gives the impression that affordability, alternative designs and materials are all part of their operation. My personal experience with Keltec has been modest at best until this RDB came to me, so this review will represent a fresh look at the rifle.

keltec, rdb, bullpup, disassembly, — the stripped down RDB

The Keltec RDB

The RDB is a 5.56 nato chambered bullpup rifle, the action and magazine are located behind the pistol grip. This allows the rifle to present with a much shorter and well balanced platform than a traditionally configured rifle such as an AR-15. The RDB is fed by standard AR type magazines, and those cartridges are loaded by a piston driven bolt-carrier. The sixteen-inch one in seven twist barrel features a 1/2-28 threaded muzzle that came with a birdcage style muzzle device, as well as an adjustable gas block to meter pressure into the operating system. The cunning ejection system that sets the RDB apart from its competition is it downward ejection, the spent cases are pulled behind the magazine and ejected out the bottom of the rifle. The controls of the rifle are pretty standard, but not like you are used to for sure. There is a reversible charging handle that can be placed on either side of the fore-grip after disassembling the rifle. The safety is ambidextrous and located in the right position, right where your thumb would expect it to be. The magazine release and bolt catch are both located behind the pistol grip. The mag release is a stamped piece of metal that reaches around both sides of the lower-rear receiver, there is a push-pad at the front of this horseshoe shaped piece just behind the pistol grip to release the magazine. The rifles locks open upon emptying the magazine, and the bolt release is located on either side of the lower receiver, but uses a captured lever on the right side of the rifle to aid in leverage to easily release the bolt after loading a fresh magazine. There is a picatinny rail across the top of the rifle for sight mounting, and there are several points on the rifle for attaching slings with a hook or other attachment. The Defender handguard features M-Lok slots at three, six, and nine o’clock for attaching additional accessories.

First Impressions

I have seen Keltec firearms for years and had many opportunities to handle them. So when the RDB case arrived I wasn’t particularly surprised by its contents. I picked the RDB up from its case, and cleared it for inspection. I shouldered the rifle to give it a feel, it was then that I noticed it was lighter than I had anticipated, six-point-seven pounds according to Keltec. This was a pleasant discovery.

keltec, rdb, bullpup, suppressed, yhm r9, — shooting the RDM suppressed by the YHM R9 was a blast

I played with the rifle for a few minutes to get a full understanding of its operation and features, and then I stared at it for a bit. At first I thought it appeared like a high school or college engineering class had drawn this thing in Solid Works, but the more I looked the more I could see what they were working at. The bullpup balance was like most others I’ve held, balanced right at the grip area. I again ran the charging handle a few times, the handle can be pulled to the rear and lifted into a locked position to leave the action open. But the ejection port being on the bottom, there isn’t really a place to inspect. I wanted to try out the trigger, which for many bullpups is famously terrible. To my surprise the trigger was not bad, the first stage gave way to a solid wall that broke clean and firmly. So firmly in fact I almost immediately felt the desire to open up the rifle and see what was making such a significant strike when I pulled the trigger. Internal inspection showed a very curious design, both the hammer and trigger mechanisms were far from what I’d imagined.

The hammer itself is not unlike a turkey wishbone, with two legs coming together at the top to form a hammer anvil. The hammer splits around the magazine well, and the sear/connecting linkage travel all the way up to the trigger group itself. The whole thing is quite interesting, and explains why the trigger feels so good compared to other bullpups. While inside I noticed the very short bolt carrier. The bottom ejection requires the bolt-face to travel far enough behind the magazine as to allow spent cases to clear the magazine and trigger parts. The short bolt and firing pin are similar to most other semi-auto bolt designs, with a rotating bolt guided by a cam-pin that also locks into the receiver guide rails as it goes into battery. With fresh perspective, I reassembled the rifle and went to work preparing it for a range session. The rifle had come with set of Magpul flip up sights, but I also added a Sig Sauer Romeo RDS. I was surely going to try the rifle suppressed as well, to see how the adjustable gas system could accommodate the difference.

On the Range

Once on the firing line, with some thirty-round magazines I loaded the RDB and prepared to fire. Initial ergonomics were not bad, the rifle fit me well. The charging handle on the left side of the rifle was easy to find blindly and provided plenty of purchase. With an easy click of the safety I was in business. Recoil was just what I expected from a 5.56 caliber bullpup, not bad at all. The spent shells began to pile up neatly on the ground in front of me. When my first magazine went empty, it was time to try out the reloading controls of the rifle. Stuffing magazines through the rifle and doing lots of reload drills taught me a couple things about the RDB. It could use a more flared magwell, as it seemed a little bit of a stickler to get the magazine stabbed in properly. The magazine release worked better than I had anticipated, almost too good. I have long heard of people complaining that the mag release is too easy to inadvertently drop the magazine while maneuvering the rifle. And it proved to be so for me as well, a slight miscalculated move of the shooting hand can drop your magazine from the rifle. The bolt release took some time to get used to as well, reaching back and hitting it with my right thumb seemed to be the best option. I’m sure with some training it could become second nature. Cross training on different rifle platforms doesn’t hurt anyone, and its a bit of a pet peeve of mine when bullpup haters act as though a slight retraining in operation somehow renders a gun “useless” in their opinion.

Continue Reading Here…

Yankee Hill Machine R9 Suppressor :A great first or fifth can

September 2, 2021Product review, Shooting hardware, suppressors308, 5.56, 6.5, 9mm, r9, silencer, suppressor, yankee hill machine, YHMcoldboremiracle

Introduction to suppressors

One of the biggest questions when buying a suppressor, is selecting one out of the hundreds of options. I’ve been through a bunch at this point in my life, so let me shed some light on the subject for you. What caliber? what configuration? Today we will take a look at the Yankee Hill Machine R9 suppressor.

Many other questions you’ll be asking yourself. With so many options how can you pick one that is best for your purposes? The right answer is that there are always too many good choices to pick only one. Today we are going to look at the subject as a first time suppressor buyer, and a suppressor that might just cover all your bases.

The Yankee hill machine R9 suppressor mounted to the Browning X-bolt McMillan chambered in 6 creedmoor and trijicon ten-mile 5-50 riflescope — The **YHM R9** mounted direct on a **Browning X-bolt** 6 Creedmoor

Why the YHM R9?

What makes the YHM R9 a perfect can for an NFA Greenhorn? I’ll get right into it. Todays gun owners come from every walk of life. Our modern world has given them overwhelming opportunities for firearms and accessories.

That said, there’s a good chance that most firearm enthusiasts looking into a suppressor probably have an Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) of one kind or another. That rifle is probably chambered in the extremely popular 5.56. Or one of the other calibers that are growing in popularity like 300blk, 6.5G, 6 ARC, etc.

The R9 from YHM is ideal for using with any of these calibers. It can suppress large frame cartridges too, like the 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Winchester. It is rated to suppress pretty much anything under 308 Winchester really, even with limited amounts of full auto. But Wait! There’s more! The R9 is also a perfect fit for a 9mm pistol or carbine. It’s stainless construction is more than enough to retain pressures generated by the cartridge, and other 9mm rifle cartridges like the 350 Legend.

As I see it, it is pretty damn likely that your apprentice level prospective suppressor purchaser would benefit greatly with an R9. One could swap it back and forth from various rifles. Or install a booster and run it on their Glock or other handgun as well.

The R9 is ideal for the **Desert Tech MDRX** and its assorted calibers

Adaptation

YHM is one of many manufacturers that has embraced the uniformity of threads. The threaded rear end of the R9 can be fitted with a direct thread cap (1/2-28 or 5/8-24). It can also fit a Nielsen booster assembly and run with one of various piston manufacturers. It doesn’t end there, it can also use YHM’s Phantom QD system. The system allows rapid swapping of the suppressor from various YHM muzzle devices.

Further still, the can uses the same threads as other major manufacturers like Dead Air and SilencerCo, so you could also install those devices. All three options are used for my R9, I have both thread caps that I use when shooting the R9 on my precision guns. I also have the QD mount so I can swap it back and forth on my carbines as well. I run a Rugged suppressors piston inside my Nielson Booster assembly, which makes my Canik TP9 quiet and smooth as ever I could ask.

Yankee Hill Machine’s R9 is only threaded on the breach end, the rest of it’s construction is solid baffles welded together making it simple and no non-sense. All the provided tools allow the user to tighten down the various assorted mounting options. Or perhaps more importantly disassemble them after being used.

Shooting with the YHM R9

Some of the very first shots I fired through the R9 were with my pistol. It was the first mounting adaptor in my possession so I went straight to the range to try it out.
The R9 tamed all the sounds produced by my pistol, adding of course its due weight and a bit of added backpressure. But the heavier muzzle sure made the pistol smooth and even more controllable. Shooting the pistol in closed quarters was very tolerable. Sound reduction was everything I’d hoped for, and the function was flawless.

The R9 seen mounted direct on my SRS M2 6mm GT

Shortly thereafter I received the 5/8-24 direct thread adaptor, and the R9 went straight to my Desert Tech SRS M2 chambered in 6mm GT. There it stayed for quite some time, hundreds of rounds sent through the R9 from fifty to seventeen-hundred yards. Accuracy of the rifle was if anything enhanced by the presence of the R9, this is typical in my experience. Cartridges like the 6mm GT were easily suppressed by the R9, making precision even more pleasant.

Using the QD mount for the R9 is perfect for running the suppressor back and forth between rifles. I ran the Phantom flash hider on my 308 carbine threaded 5/8-24. and on my 5.56 chambered carbine I use the Phantom Turbo 556 muzzle brake. Which made it easy to swap the R9 back and forth between the two rifles, both of which sounded great when suppressed with the R9. With the gas turned down a notch on both rifles, they functioned perfectly without gassing me out at the breach.

Carbines like this 350 Legend are a perfect host

First or Fifth suppressor?

Ya, I said first or fifth. The reason I put it that way is because even though I have a dozen or so cans at any given time, the R9 is still an excellent addition to my collection. A modular suppressor like this is very useful on better than half of my gun collection. With an MSRP of only $494.00 it is pretty economical compared to many other cans.
I’m at a point in life where I seldom go places without a rifle, and much of the time I have two or three rifles. Having an additional suppressor that will fit most of my rifles makes it an easy choice for me.

Conclusion

If my positivity is hasn’t been obvious enough about my feelings about this little suppressor, let me make it clear; I think this is the perfect suppressor for a first time NFA victim. It has everything most people need, multi-caliber, adaptable, tough as nails, and all at a very reasonable price. If I had to say something about the R9 that I dislike, you’d really have to force it out of me. The only issue I’ve ever had was keeping the thread caps tight, this was almost certainly due to me not tightening them on using the supplied tools as I’m a lazy ass. But I wouldn’t put that at the feet of the boys over at YHM.

So there you have it, the R9 is nearly a flawless purchase in my opinion. Short from needing magnum capabilities or a bunch of machine guns you need to suppress, this is an excellent suppressor for your typical firearms consumer. Best get yourself one.

-CBM