02/14/2021
Invisible tools
Funny. I am always trying to think of things to write about that readers might find useful, often overlooking what is right in front of me. No, not my keyboard, monitor and cup of coffee, but rather what I often see, but do not consciously acknowledge. Yes, like TV news, critiques of my work on social media and people telling me things that are not immediately useful.
As an example… the other day at the shop, I was shelf climbing, excavating nooks and crannies and perusing the contents of desk drawers in search of 405 Winchester brass, when I stumbled upon a cache of dust laden Advanced Armament Corp. silencers. The fact that they were there is not important, but how and why they got there is of consequence. They were fired. No, not shot through or caught in the path of discharge, but rather their services terminated… pink slipped, given the boot, got the ax, etc., etc..
With six AAC silencers on hand, covering cartridges from the 22 LR through 300 Winchester Magnum, each had some minimum barrel length or gas pressure/volume limitations. Limitations that created a need to buy yet another silencer. When the project schedule included: 10.5″ barrel 308 Win chassis pistol, 16″ barrel 45-70 lever action, 14″ barrel 35 Whelen single shot, and a 338 Lapua bolt action, I threw in the towel… “No más“. And they were replaced with…
But, Joe. I can see them. They are not invisible!!…!
Yes, they are visible here, but not when they are used in a dozen projects without special consideration or accommodation. Between the Hybrid 46, left, and the Omega 36M, right, they do it all safely, effectively and without demanding more than routine time and attention. Both are flexible in adapting to cartridges and firearms, handguns and rifles alike. They protect my hearing, maintain diplomatic relations with adjacent rural neighbors and they do not degrade the performance of firearms they are assigned to service.
Hybrid 46 Universal Silencer
The SilencerCo Hybrid 46 is approved for use with pistol cartridge from 9mm Luger to 45 Automatic and rifle cartridges from 5.56 NATO through to even a short 16″ barrel 45-70 Government. The Hybrid 46 is approved for full automatic operation and it is approved for magnum rifle cartridge like the 338 Lapua with a barrel as short as 18″.
Minimum barrel length for any given cartridge is determined by muzzle pressure and case/bore capacity. SilencerCo provides a guide to remove the guesswork in selection. Full auto fire and big cartridge / short barrel approval, with noise levels below 140dB, indicates seriously robust construction.
The Hybrid 46 is constructed of durable Titanium and stainless steel. With exterior dimensions of 7.80″ x 1.57″ and a weight of 17.3 Oz it is relatively compact for a silencer that can handle the manufacturer approved cartridge range. The Hybrid is available in a number of finish colors: Sniper Grey: SU1532, Black: SU2271, White: SU2642, and FDE: SU2641. Sniper gray pictured.
The Hybrid 46 is supplied with: 0.46″ aperture front cap, rear Bravo piston housing with the spring and piston retainer, 5/8×24 Bravo direct thread mount, Bravo multi tool, Bravo basic wrench, and a comprehensive product field manual. To fit the Hybrid 46 to all of the rifles listed for review required three interchangeable direct mount: 11/16×24, 5/8×24, 1/2×28 as pictured below.
SilencerCo offers direct mounts in: 1/2″x28, 3/4″x24, 5/8″x24, .578″x28, M18x1, M18x1.5, 9/16″x24, 11/16″x24, and M13.5×1. The direct thread mounts carry an MSRP of $110, but are sold at significantly lower prices through retail outlets.
The included front cap has a 0.460″ aperture. Also available are 5.56mm and 7.62mm. Keeping the front cap closer to caliber size can additionally reduce noise levels by as much as 25 dB. Front caps carry an MSRP of $110 and are discounted at retail outlets by a similar amount. I ran all of my projects with the 0.460″ front cap in place and still experienced a major reduction in noise levels.
The Hybrid 46 has an MSRP of $999 in kit form as previously defined but, like the mounts and front caps, they are available through retail outlets at considerably lower prices. For the duration of the long list of project firearms, reviews and associated handloading projects, the rest of my silencers sat idle. One Hybrid 46 silencer and two accessory mounts replaced multiple silencers of another type and only a single $200 tax payment was incurred.
For use on tilting barrel pistols and subguns, a piston as part of a Nielson device is added to silencers to assure proper unlocking and cycling. A piston housing is included with the Hybrid46 and a variety of pistons are available with an MSRP of $86, substantially less through retail outlets. Pistons available: .578 X 28, 1/2 X 28, 13.5M X 1LH XL,13.5M X 1LH, 14.5M X 1LH, 16M X 1LH, 16M X 1RH, 5/8 X 24, 9/16 X 24,1/2 X 36, 1/2 X 36 XL, .578 X 28 XL, and 1/2 X 28 SN.
At 7.8″ x 1.57″ and weighing 17.3 Oz, the SilencerCo Hybrid 46 is compact compared to other products with this much cartridge range capacity. SilencerCo rates the Hybrid 46 as: 9MM: 125.7 dB, 45 Auto: 130.8 dB, 5.56 NATO: 130.4 dB, 7.62x51MM: 136.4 dB, 458 SOCOM: 138.3 dB, 45-70 GOV: 140.6 dB, 300 BLK: 123.7 dB. The reduction averages 30 dB to 35 dB in comparison to comparable unsuppressed firearms. dB levels do vary for any cartridge with the type of firearm, type of bullet, type of powder, length of barrel.
Some of the Real Guns projects where the Hybrid 46 was employed
Ruger 9mm Luger PC Charger and Marlin Model 1895 Dark Series. Using direct mounting for the Hybrid 46, the PC Charger functioned 100% reliably with both supersonic and subsonic ammunition and the Marlin handled full tilt 45-70 handloads without a problem.
I had reservations with this one, the Hybrid 46 used with a Ruger 77 in 17 Hornet. While supersonic and not silent, report was reduced to approximately 22 LR levels.
Used with a Ruger 77/44, both recoil and report were made moderate. Not so easy to accomplish with an 18.5″ barrel, the combination of bolt action closed breech, subsonic handloads and the Hybrid 46 made the 44 magnum incredibly silent in 200 grain, 240 grain and 270 grain bullet weights. Similar results were achieved with a 450 Bushmaster caliber bolt action.
Finally, the Hybrid 46 was installed on a Sporter weight 6.5 PRC. I was concerned with the smallish shoulder on the lightweight barrel, but this proved not to be a problem and, again, both recoil and report were reduced to moderate and manageable. Over the course of months, changing the Hybrid 46 from one firearm to another, regardless caliber and configuration was easy.
The Omega 36M
The Omega 36M, while considerably more compact than the Hybrid 46, is not down on capability. Listed for use with cartridges 22 Hornet to 338 Lapua Magnum, this one was slated for 350 Legend, 338 Lapua, 300 WSM and a number of 9mm Luger pistol projects. In terms of minimum barrel length, SilencerCo rates the Omega 36M as 10” barrel for 223 Remington/5.56mm NATO, 16” barrel for 308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO and 20” barrels for 300 Win Mag and 338 Lapua Mag.
I am not sure what I expected in terms of Omega 36 performance with this Winchester Renegade Long Range 300 WSM, but it changed the personality of this rifle/cartridge combination to one that could be shot all day without recoil/report fatigue and with maximum focus on the target. The ASM mount made pulling chronograph and target data in suppressed and unsuppressed configurations easy.
Like the Hybrid 46, the Omega 36M is listed as an all purpose silencer. Unlike the Hybrid 46, it is a modular design that permits it to be used in compact or full length forms. Where the Hybrid 46 is compatible with all SilencerCo Bravo accessories and pistons, the Omega 36M is compatible with all SilencerCo Charlie accessories, ASR mount pictured, direct thread mount, piston mount, and three lug mount.
The Omega 36 is supplied with a 9mm front cap, tools, carry pouch, field manual, and ASR mount. The Active Spring Retention system is one hand, quick on and off mount.
SilencerCo offers Charlie direct mounts in: 5/8 x 24, 1/2 x 28, 9/16 x 24, 11/16 x 24, 3/4 x 24, M13 x .75, M18 x 1, M18 x 1.5. Each carries an MSRP of $120, but are sold at significantly lower prices through retail outlets.
For use on tilting barrel pistols and subguns, a piston as part of a Nielson device is added to silencers to assure proper unlocking and cycling. A piston housing is available for the Omega 36M as an accessory, $129. A variety of pistons are available with an MSRP of $86, substantially less through retail outlets. Pistons available: .578 X 28, 1/2 X 28, 13.5M X 1LH XL,13.5M X 1LH, 14.5M X 1LH, 16M X 1LH, 16M X 1RH, 5/8 X 24, 9/16 X 24,1/2 X 36, 1/2 X 36 XL, .578 X 28 XL, and 1/2 X 28 SN.
The included front cap has a 0.355 aperture. Also available are 5.56mm, 6.5mm, and 7.62mm. Keeping the front cap closer to caliber size can additionally reduce noise levels by as much as 25 dB. Front caps carry an MSRP of $92 and are discounted at retail outlets by a similar amount.
The Omega 36 has an MSRP of $1,187 in kit form as previously defined but, like the mounts and front caps, they are available through retail outlets at considerably lower prices.
| Model | Omega 36M | Hybrid 46 |
| Cartridge Coverage |
5.56 NATO – 338 LM 9mm Luger |
5.56 NATO – 45-70 9mm Luger – 45 Auto |
| Length “ | 5.1 – 7.65 | 7.80 |
| Diameter” | 1.57 | 1.57 |
| Weight Oz. | 9.2 – 16.6 | 17.3 |
| Construction | Cobalt 6, Inconel, Titanium, Stainless Steel |
Titanium, Stainless Steel |
| Finish | Black Cerakote | Sniper Grey, Black, White, FDE |
| MSRP | $1,187 | $999 |
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