Preface
I’ve been lucky enough to be in the business of shooting for quite a while. Many years ago now I visited the production facility of Huxwrx Safety Company, at the time know as OSS. I remember looking at their cunning designs centered around the technology of suppression. Theirs was the first of many “flow through” designed suppressors I would see. Flow though means that instead of layers of baffles stacked on eachother, these suppressors would capture and channel high pressure gas through a series of what appear to be stationary fan blades. The result would be a greatly slowed escape of gas, which reduces the signature of a shot. Today I am presenting to you my impression of some of Huxwrx newer designs, the Huxwrx Flow suppressors.
The Huxwrx Flow Suppressor
These suppressors broke the mold, in more ways than one. They neither function like traditional suppressors nor are they built the same way. I mentioned the high-pressure gas deconstruction that takes place in the fan-like interior of these cans, but they are also built using a more modern technology. 3D metal printing has taken over many manufacturing needs, but to be more accurate these suppressors are made using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). Very precise lasers connect within a bed of fine metal powder, fusing the particles into a solid structure. This technology has many impressive attributes, but perhaps the most important when it comes to suppressors is the ability to fuse metal into solid one-piece shapes that would be near impossible to machine.
Flow suppressors are mounted using one of Huxwrx muzzle devices that can also double as either a flash-hider or muzzle brake when the suppressor is absent. Another interesting part of the Flow design is to use the gas pressure passing through, to turn the suppressor against its threads. Basically tightening the suppressor onto its mount with every shot.
But the real juice here is about back pressure. From the beginning of the company, the idea behind these suppressors was to reduce back pressure in semi-automatic firearms. For both health reasons and cleanliness of the firearm, keeping spent propellant fumes out of your face and firearm is important to many shooters. The Flow Suppressor design is meant to reduce back pressure to make the shooting experience more pleasant for the shooter. It does all this while reducing the volume of muzzle-blasts and keeping muzzle flash to a minimum.
My Experience Shooting the Flow
All that sounds great, and surely comes across as a good marketing ploy. But this is something I wanted to see for myself. And over the course of a few years I would get familiar with them. Huxwrx makes both a stainless and titanium flow 5.56 model, I tested the 17-4 stainless model. The 30-caliber model (7.62mm I guess) is made from titanium. Both suppressors seem to have a similar construction, and both are threaded left-handed onto their muzzle devices.
The one-piece design and slightly rough texture gives these suppressors a different feel for sure. I have shot them on various different rifles, but mainly on my Desert Tech WLVRN semi-auto rifles. One of the other positive traits of these suppressors is said to be that you needn’t adjust the gas-block on your rifle when using a Flow suppressor. I have found this to be true, my rifles seemed to work fine with the Flow suppressors using the same gas setting as unsuppressed operation.
Sound
Reducing the signature of a muzzle blast is the top priority of most suppressors. And the Flow series seems to do that well, changing not just the booming blast from the muzzle, but it seems they also lower the frequency of the noise you do hear. Turning the sound into a “thud” instead of the hiss I am used to hearing.
And while do find them to suppress the noise sufficiently, it does seem like they are a touch louder than some of my other cans. I have only my ear to judge, as I am not extremely concerned with actual numbers. Basically if I can comfortably shoot with a suppressor with no hearing protection, that’s good enough for me. I also noticed there was a bit of a ping-sound coming from the can with each shot. As I understand it I am not the only one to experience this phenomenon.
Cleanliness
I did notice also over the course of various shooting outings that my guns do seem to run cleaner with the flow suppressors. This came as no surprise as the overall amount of gas coming back into the receiver is reduced. The carbon mixed with lubricants that is one of the largest detractors to suppressed shooting can be greatly reduced by using these style of suppressors.
Much like other suppressors that mount to a muzzle device, I like to frequently remove them to ensure carbon buildup is not causing a locking of the suppressor to its brake.
Value and Convenience
There many great reasons to use these suppressors aside from what I have mentioned so far. Let’s talk about a couple things that may be considered a detractor; New technology is almost always going to cost you more. The flow series of suppressors does cost more than many traditionally designed and produced suppressors. As more manufacturers in the suppressor industry follow the DMLS path, I expect the cost will come down both because of the technological development. And also in no small part due to market demands and competition. Bottom line is you pay extra to be on the edge of tech, whether it become the next best thing, or a complete failure. For at least this shooter, the jury is still out on whether I wish to pay this particular premium. As the majority of my suppressor collection remains the traditional baffled design.
You can purchase Huxwrx Suppressors at Silencer Central
My Opinion
If you are in the market for a suppressor, you are currently living through a golden age. Spoiled for choices in suppression means you can be pretty picky. Huxwrx suppressors certainly offer some advantages, and only you can decide if the juice I’ve outlined here is worth the squeeze on your wallet. Some just like to push the envelope and be different, and if you like to support companies who do that this might be your can.