Silenced Modern Sporting Rifles Part 1

As the years go by, I have less in common with younger people… which makes sense, as people are formed by events and experiences and the world is a quite different place now than when I was young. Young people today hold collaboration and popular consensus, rather than individual thought and conclusion, in highest regard. I can understand why as consensus provides cover for the individual, however, not living my life with a computer in my hand or blocking the view of what my eyes can see, I feel I have the time to figure things out for myself. Subsequently, disconnected from others I can still remain upright and not ride my tricycle off the road and into a ditch or fall victim to Groupthink.

Blessed with an early childhood in a rural setting, surrounded by woods and streams, did not prepare me for socialization. Still, a tranquil setting was conducive to careful observation and considered thought. The picture above is my current front yard and driveway, which suggests some continuity to my life, however, there was a long period between beginning and now where things were something quite different. Why the autobiographic snooze, Joe? Good question short, tall, dark, fair, and non-descript. Recently, I’ve been thinking a good deal about why I am so stubborn about associating.

It is common within the industry to be invited to events. Some big, some small, all social and all someplace else to meet in mass. When I am invited, I decline, not out of a lack of gratitude or appreciation, but because this is my home and, at this point in my life, this is where I want to be. I decline nicely, and I decline graciously. I hold the people who make the invitations in the highest regard and I know the sacrifices they make to do the most and best for their families. That said, I have not lived a timid life, I have not lived a narrow life, I have not lived a non-sharing or a non-caring life, or selfish life and now it is time, if God will allow, for me to live the life I choose. Good talk.

Hey, how about those silencers…

Not long ago we covered Advanced Armament Corporation’s Ti-Rant 45M Parts I & II, an experience that proved to be educational and it provided a great deal of shooting enjoyment. The project also left us with a better understanding of the practical aspects of firearm report suppression so expanding to cover a couple of supersonic/subsonic rifle applications seemed like a good idea. If you are interested in what is required to purchase and own a silencer and where silencers are legal to own and/or to hunt, you may want to check out the Ti-Rant article where such issues are addressed in detail.

Above left, an AAC 90T 1/2×28 Blackout® Flash Hider Mount next to a SR5 Fast Attach 5.56 Silencer. Above right, a 90T 5/8×24 Blackout® Flash Hider Mount next to a SR7 Fast-Attach 7.62 Silencer. Together, the Flash Hider Mount and Fast Attach Silencer…. you guessed it, form the AAC  Fast Attach System. While the silencers probably appear large in the photo, they are actually very compact units. The SR5 kit pictured below alongside a 223 Remington round.

Mount Speed and versatility

Both the SR5 and SR7 are ratchet mount silencers; a highly efficient 90T compliant flash hider is screwed onto the subject firearm, which will eliminate all flash from even a CQB-length (10.3″) barrel. When suppression is desired, a 90T silencer is installed, requiring only approx 1.5 hand turns to secure on the flash hider.

Flash Hider: Construction is nitrided stainless steel. The tapered three prong, versus four, design is more durable and more effective at flash suppression and it works as well with or without the silencer in place. The rear 1/2″x28 threads, 5/8″x24 for the SR7, secure the flash hider to a firearm. Timing washers are not used or required. The very coarse pitch Acme threads secure the silencer with only 1 1/2 to 2 turns. There are 90 ratchet teeth around the circumference that locks the silencer into place when engaged by a four tooth pawl. The pawl engagement / release is controlled by the thumb pad.

Silencer: Unlike the AAC Ti-Rant pistol silencer, the SR5&7 are welded units that cannot be disassembled for servicing. Where the serviceable unit can be disassembled, cleaned and parts services indefinitely, servicing of sealed units is limited to solvent soaking to remove copper and powder residue. Advanced Armament notes that they have tested silencers in excess of 30,000 rounds that exhibited no noticeable degradation in sound quality.

Both the SR5 & SR7 are made to last with little fuss and bother. The seamless outside enclosure is made of highly corrosion and heat resistant 316L stainless steel. A 360º fusion welded Inconel^®718 core assures extreme durability. The material is a high strength, corrosion resistant nickel chromium steel with a temperature range of -431Fº to 1300Fº and it is highly resistant to post weld cracking.

So what is an application? Enter the Ruger SR 556TD and its 300 Blackout friends

The Ruger SR-556TD is an adaptable  MSR and the product fit, finish, aesthetics, and performance are terrific. The adjustable gas piston operating system runs clean and it is flexible enough to cover a wide range of factory and handloaded supersonic and subsonic ammunition.

The TD version has the added benefit of a quick change barrel system which permits moving over from 5.56 NATO to 300 Blackout in a handful of seconds. A quick move from small game to deer and hog hunting. A quick move to change from one defensive circumstance to another.

With Advanced Armament Corp. pieces, a flash hider can be installed on each respective barrel and silencers moved on and off as desired.

We are going to take a break, round up some ammo and come back with live fire results and performance comparisons… with no further comment from Robert Frost.

Silenced Modern Sporting Rifles Part 1
Silenced Modern Sporting Rifles Part 2
Silenced Modern Sporting Rifles Part 3