SSS.6.189 - Q Southpaw and the MK18 5.56x45mm Short Barrel Automatic AR15 Rifle (Free Version)
/Q Southpaw on the MK18 5.56x45mm AR15 with 10.3-in Barrel
The Southpaw is designed and manufactured by Q. It is a 223 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress the 5.56x45mm cartridge with semiautomatic or fully automatic fire. The Southpaw has a 1.74-inch diameter and is 6.2 inches long with the Q Rear End mount installed. The silencer may be attached to a variety of weapon systems threaded 1/2-28tpi. It is important to note that the Southpaw will interface with both the Q Rear End and Q Cherry Bomb family of mounts; the mounts differ in that the Rear End possesses a larger bore, rear wrench flats, and a 90-deg shoulder. The Q Cherry Bomb possesses a tighter bore and a tapered shoulder, though it can still interface with 90-deg shoulder barrels. The Southpaw is a fully-welded tubeless silencer constructed of stainless steel with an Inconel alloy blast baffle. The silencer weighs 13.5 ounces and the Q Rear End mount weighs 1.9 ounces, for a total system weight of 15.4 ounces, as tested. The Southpaw can be obtained from Silencer Shop.
System Evaluation Note: This testing and analysis report contains an evaluation of the Q Southpaw with the included Q Rear End mount. It is important to note that the Southpaw may also be used with Q Cherry Bomb mounts. The Rear End and Cherry Bomb mounts differ in their thread/shoulder interfaces, and they may also differ in their bore diameter. The PEW Science Laboratory conducted a mount performance sensitivity study as part of this internally funded research program and determined that the 5.56 Cherry Bomb mount, possessing a tighter bore, does slightly elevate system back pressure when fielded with the Q Southpaw silencer on the standard untuned PEW Science MK18 test host apparatus, when compared to mounting on the same apparatus with the included Q Rear End mount. The 5.56 Cherry Bomb mount may also nominally increase the muzzle (bystander) Suppression Rating of the system, at the cost of simultaneously nominally lowering the shooter’s ear (operator) Suppression Rating.
As it stands, the system back pressure from the Q Southpaw silencer system, regardless of Q muzzle device used, is higher than several modern designs, including that of most modern hybrid designs; its traditional cone baffle geometry does not provide adequate early porting or alternate flow paths to control adverse internal blast load impulse accumulation in close proximity to the muzzle orifice, regardless of silencer bore diameter. Furthermore, with regard to late-time behavior, the accumulation rate of external blast load momentum transfer potential (impulse) measured at the MIL-STD muzzle measurement location results in an elevated PEW Science Omega Metric, relative to most advanced silencers tested on this platform. Therefore, PEW Science postulates it to be unlikely that the use of different third party mounting systems interfacing with the Rear End / Cherry Bomb thread pattern in the Southpaw will increase flow rate and decrease shooter hazard. Regardless, as the use of third party mounts voids the Q manufacturer warranty, use of third party mounts in the Southpaw is not recommended for performance optimization.
The testing and analysis presented in this Sound Signature Review is of the Q Southpaw mounted with the Q Rear End muzzle device on the MK18 Automatic AR15 rifle rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO with a 10.3-inch barrel. Federal XM193 55gr ammunition was used in the test. The standard PEW Science MK18 test host weapon system is described in Public Research Supplement 6.51.
Section 6.189.1 contains Southpaw test results and analysis.
Section 6.189.2 contains overall Suppression Rating comparisons of the Q Southpaw with with dedicated 223 and 30 caliber silencers on the current market, including the Centurion Arms Maximus-L, Otter Creek Labs Infinity, PTR VENT Spiritus 556i, LMT AT ION LT, HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti, Off Grid Operator Ti, Surefire SOCOM556-MINI2, KAC QDC/CRS-PRT, KAC QDC/MCQ-PRT, Surefire SOCOM556-RC3, Otter Creek Labs Polonium-30, AAC M4-2000 Mod 08, PTR VENT 3, SilencerCo Velos LBP, BOSS Guillotine, CAT WB, PWS BDE 556, CAT ODB, Aero Precision Lahar-30L, Lahar-30, HUXWRX FLOW 762 Ti, Maxim Defense DSX, Thunder Beast Dominus, KAC 5.56 QDC, CGS SCI-SIX, Dead Air Nomad-30, YHM Turbo T2, Dead Air Sandman-S, HUXWRX FLOW 556k, Energetic Armament ARX, KAC QDSS-NT4, Rugged Razor556, Otter Creek Labs Polonium and Polonium-K, Surefire SOCOM556-RC2, HUXWRX HX-QD 556 and HX-QD 556k, Q Trash Panda, CGS Helios QD, SilencerCo Saker 556, Rugged Razor762, and others.
Section 6.189.3 contains an article summary and PEW Science laboratory staff opinions.
Summary: When paired with the 10.3-in barrel MK18 and fired with Federal XM193, the Q Southpaw with Q Rear End mount achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 30.6 in PEW Science testing.
As with all weapon systems, the user is encouraged to examine both muzzle and ear Suppression Ratings.
Relative Suppression Rating Performance is Summarized in SSS.7 - PEW Science Rankings.
6.189.1 Q Southpaw Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Q Southpaw is shown in Table 1. The data acquired 1.0 m (39.4 in) left of the muzzle is available for viewing to all. The data acquired 0.15 m (6 in) right of the shooter’s ear is only available to membership supporters of PEW Science and the Silencer Sound Standard. You can support public PEW Science testing, research, and development with a membership, here. State-of-the-art public firearm sound signature testing and research conducted by PEW Science is supported by readers like you.
Table 1. Q Southpaw Sound Metric Summary
6.189.1.1 SOUND SIGNATURES AT THE MUZZLE
Real sound pressure histories from a 6-shot test acquired with PEW-SOFT™ are shown below. Six cartridges were loaded into the magazine, the fire control group positioned to single-shot, and the weapon was fired until the magazine was empty and the bolt locked back on the follower of the empty magazine. Only five shots are considered in the analysis. The signatures of Shot 6 are displayed in the data presentation but are not included in the analysis to maintain consistency with the overall PEW Science public dataset and bolt-closing signatures. The waveforms are not averaged, decimated, or filtered. The data acquisition rate used in all PEW Science laboratory sound signature testing is 1.0 MS/s (1 MHz). The peaks, shape, and time phasing (when the peaks occur in relation to absolute time and to each other) of these raw waveforms are the most accurate of any firearm silencer testing publicly available. PEW-SOFT data is acquired by PEW Science independent laboratory testing; the recognized industry leader in silencer sound research. For more information, please consult the Silencer Sound Standard.
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 6 shots with the Q Southpaw are shown in Figure 1a. The sound signatures of Shot 1 and Shot 2 are shown in Figure 1b, in early time. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories from the same 6-shot test are shown in Figure 2a. In Figure 2b, a shorter timescale is shown comparing the impulse of Shot 1 to that of Shots 2 and 3.
Fig 1a. Q Southpaw 5.56x45mm NATO MK18 Automatic Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
Fig 1b. Q Southpaw 5.56x45mm NATO MK18 Automatic Rifle Sound Pressure Signature
Figure 2a. Q Southpaw 5.56x45mm NATO MK18 Automatic Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 2b. Q SouthpawL 5.56x45mm NATO MK18 Automatic Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
The Q family of rifle silencers possesses nested straight, notched, and ported cones in relatively large diameter design envelopes; typically sized of approximately 1.75-in outer dimension. The spacing of the cones varies depending on the engineering of each silencer model, though relatively close spacing is common across the product line and provides relatively efficient successive expansion volumes in the stack, especially in lower pressure combustion regimes characteristically generated by subsonic rifle ammunition. This efficient performance is demonstrated in the subsonic 300 BLK performance analysis of the Q Half Nelson (6.29) and Q Full Nelson (6.99). There are also inefficiencies. In addition to first round pop (FRP) that manifests in these designs with low(er) baffle quantities, another inefficiency of this type of design is back pressure generation. Blast load input being constant, the first expansion chamber (blast chamber) of the silencer(s) accumulates significant blast load impulse; reflections continue to propagate without expedient venting (clearing) off of the reflected surfaces, despite the deep throat porting and steep angle of incidence. Further inefficiency occurs with significantly high pressure input; pressure stagnation throughout the stack, brought about by the same aforementioned mechanism that creates high back pressure, results in hard limits for muzzle blast suppression potential. Although the bore of the Southpaw is larger than some competing designs, it is not large enough to mitigate these behaviors.
Nonetheless, despite the aforementioned inefficiencies, the Q Southpaw does slightly outperform the longer and over-bored Q Trash Panda (6.61) in short barrel 5.56 MK18 rifle suppression. This performance increase, albeit nominal, is most likely largely due to the decreased bore size.
PEW Science Research Note 1: The above test data displays the following similarities and differences when compared to the Q Trash Panda test data:
The Southpaw allows less blast load amplitude to propagate out of the muzzle throughout the time regime (Fig. 1a). This is a function of the silencer’s bore size.
In early time, coupled Mach waves and jetting are much more controlled (Fig. 2b); note that the Trash Panda produced significant shock loads in early time, whereas the Southpaw is shown to significantly throttle blast pressure propagation after initial jetting.
Blast load impulse accumulation is significantly more controlled with the Q Southpaw than it was with the Q Trash Panda (Fig. 2a). FRP, although diverging extremely early with additional blast momentum accumulation, is quenched prior to maximum with the Rear End mount; the FRP with the Trash Panda displayed significantly higher amplitude accumulation.
Other than in Shot 3 (Fig. 2b), successive blast load impulse accumulation histories, post-FRP, are relatively consistent with the Southpaw on the 10.3-in MK18. This is a significant improvement over the erratic combustion propagation displayed in the Trash Panda test, which did not fully stabilize until Shot 4. Bore size is a significant factor in this behavior, for this particular type of silencer design.
PEW Science Research Note 2: It is interesting to note that although the FRP impulse displayed in Figure 2 is shown to decay prior to later maximum, it is not the same FRP quenching behavior like that noted in the 7.62 NATO evaluations of the Thunder Beast ULTRA 9 (6.24) and the long configuration of the Rugged Surge (6.22) fired on .308 bolt-action platforms. The Q Southpaw FRP propagates much earlier and is still severe. Internal PEW Science evaluations using the Cherry Bomb mounting system further exacerbate early-time FRP blast momentum accumulation with the Q Southpaw. Muzzle device bore diameter is the only significant variable; more research is needed to investigate that phenomenon. As it stands, PEW Science analysis indicates that FRP from the Q Southpaw may be twice as severe to bystanders adjacent to the weapon system muzzle as subsequent shots, on average. Shooter (operator) relative FRP severity differentials differ, and are discussed in the full Member Version of this report.
PEW Science Research Note 3: The comparison of the Q Southpaw and Trash Panda performance, in this combustion regime, highlights yet another example of silencer over-bore and what may result from the use of silencers not intended to suppress certain small arm cartridges. Although the Q Trash Panda was heavily advertised to be a high performance 5.56x45mm NATO rifle silencer, the test report highlighted significantly erratic combustion propagation from its oversized bore aperture. Similar performance claims, with accompanying contrasting behavior observed in testing, were noted with the Rugged Razor762 (6.58) and then again with the Rugged Razor556 (6.76), both of which are over bored for 5.56 mm cartridges. Yet another infamous example is the Energetic Armament ARX (6.82); its over-bore in place to assist with erosion reduction, but combined with its short length results in highly erratic combustion propagation behavior. The Dead Air Sandman-S (6.92) is another highly proliferated example of this phenomenon; all of these are significantly over-bored silencers for the cartridge. The Q Southpaw corrects the Trash Panda’s bore aperture deficiency for the 5.56 AR-15. This results in a much greater degree of performance consistency, albeit with only a nominal signature suppression performance increase on average, as the Southpaw is shorter than the Trash Panda. Note that not all silencer designs react the same to over-bore. There are silencers that perform well outside their native cartridge diameter application. These silencers are typically hybrid designs, though there are exceptions.
PEW Science Research Note 4: It is extremely important for the reader to understand the Suppression Ratings are computed with free field test data, and are therefore universal when translating the weapon and operator to different environments without reflections. However, when the environment becomes complex with many reflecting surfaces, performance translation of different systems is not yet possible; sound field shapes and particle velocities result in varied blast wave time-of-arrivals, as well as changes of blast load angles of incidence; these variations change amplitude and phase waveform components. As a result of these inevitable environmental complexities, user impressions will vary, as both the shooter and bystander. Nonetheless, hazard reduction efficacy in the free field, as characterized by the Suppression Rating, holds. The Suppression Rating comparisons are the current state-of-the-art, and the most “apples to apples” sound suppression performance comparisons that currently exist. Further research is ongoing.
PEW Science Research Note 5: As in all semiautomatic AR15 weapon testing, a second pressure pulse originates from the ejection-port signature of the weapon and it occurs early enough in time such that its waves coalesce with that of the muzzle signature. However, in late time (at approximately 85 ms in Figure 1a) the mechanical noise of the bolt closing is observed. The pressure signature of Shot 6 does not display this event due to the bolt remaining open after the sixth and final round is fired from the magazine.
PEW Science Research Note 6: The closing time of the AR15 bolt is directly related to the flow restriction of a silencer for a given weapon system. PEW Science has determined bolt closing time variation from the unsuppressed state to be a reliable indicator of silencer back pressure, with strong correlation with the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Omega and the alpha parameter. However, PEW Science has also determined that the indicator is unreliable upon upper receiver fouling. Sound signatures are not influenced by this fouling, as these kinematics occur in late time, after gas venting to atmosphere. Momentum transfer, weapon condition (upper receiver fouling), and other factors, can significantly influence bolt closing time. PEW Science urges the reader to exercise extreme caution if using the published bolt closing time to make determinations regarding silencer flow restriction (back pressure) or weapon system kinematics. This type of calculation may provide erroneous results, as the weapon condition at the time of each test is not published data. The time-scale duration showing bolt closing time is only published by PEW Science such that the signature data pedigree may be verified.
The shape, timing, and magnitudes of the early-time pressure pulses and overall shape of the impulse waveforms measured at the muzzle, from shot-to-shot, are relatively consistent. The consistency of the waveform amplitudes highlight the silencer’s overall sound performance consistency at the muzzle after the FRP, as well as the relative consistency of the tested automatic rifle firearm configuration.
As typically indicated, first-round sound signatures always differ from subsequent shots, as the atmosphere within the silencer changes. The FRP phenomenon cannot always be shown by viewing only the peak sound pressure. This is one of the reasons why The Silencer Sound Standard requires examining multiple sound signature metrics. Ammunition consistency can play a role in the determination of FRP, however, the close examination of measured pressure and impulse waveforms typically excludes ammunition from the possible factors influencing true FRP, due to the relative consistency of most high quality factory ammunition.
PEW Science Research Note 7: Note that the muzzle Suppression Rating of the Q Southpaw is 29.8 and the at-ear Suppression Rating is 21.1; different zones on the Suppression Rating Dose Chart. The relatively high back pressure of the Southpaw does contribute to a more severe ejection port blast signature, which increases shooter hazard on this weapon system. The back pressure is not low enough to reduce the ejection port blast loads to the shooter as significantly as some advanced silencers on the standard MK18 weapon system. Weapon tuning will influence hazard reduction efficacy, and is outside the scope of this study.
The signatures measured at the shooter’s ear are presented and analyzed in the full Member Version of this report.
Silencer market performance comparisons are provided below.
6.189.2 Suppression Rating Comparison (5.56x45mm from the MK18)
Figure 5 presents a comparison of the PEW Science Suppression Rating of the Q Southpaw with that of several other silencers on the MK18 weapon system. The standard PEW Science MK18 test host weapon system is described in Public Research Supplement 6.51.
Figure 5. Suppression Rating Comparisons of the Q Southpaw and other rifle silencers, Using PEW-SOFT 5.56x45mm Supersonic Test Data and PEW Science Analysis
Figure 5 presents an overall summary of the postulated hazards to the operator and bystanders when fielding a variety of different silencers on the standard MK18 weapon system. The Q Southpaw from this test program is shown in red. Hazards are expressed with the Suppression Rating; a holistic parameter that captures human inner ear damage risk potential from a measured impulsive complex blast overpressure signature during the entire time regime of weapon operation, including combustion, complete blowdown, and all mechanical operation, including the carrier group returning to battery, in the true free field. The parameter may be used with the dose chart at the beginning of this report. The PEW Science Suppression Rating is a damage risk criterion (DRC), a lower Suppression Rating indicates a higher personnel hazard in the free field - it is not a subjective quantity; it is an objective quantification of hearing damage risk potential. Due to its true free field test data origin and complete waveform analytical calculation basis, it is the only known universal suppressed weapon system signature comparison metric available. Analytically computed metrics are color-coded in the Rankings Table and keyed to the dose chart for user interpretation.
The following gross conclusions can be made from the metrics presented in Figure 5, above:
The Q Southpaw produces free field bystander hazard reduction on par with that of the following silencers:
The free field operator (shooter) hazard reduction of the Q Southpaw with the standard untuned MK18 weapon system is lower than it is with most modern systems, including hybrid systems. The operator protection with the Q Southpaw is on par with that of the:
PEW Science Research Note 12: Given the above gross performance similarities, it is clear that the Q Southpaw provides personnel protection from blast overpressure hazards that is on par with legacy technologies. There exist silencers in the PEW Science Silencer Sound Standard research pedigree that provide significantly more advanced performance. As previously stated, many of these silencers are hybrid designs. Such silencers include those utilizing technologies like PTR purposely induced porosity (PIP), CAT Surge Bypass, OCL Infinity Technology, hybrids from Centurion Arms, and others. Performance potentials from these advanced technologies result in Suppression Ratings multiple categories higher than that achieved by the Southpaw. For example, the PTR VENT Spiritus 556i (6.175) has a shooter’s ear (operator) Suppression Rating a full category higher than that of the Q Southpaw, while still eclipsing its performance at the muzzle by over a half a category. The CAT WB (6.129), which is close to the same length as the Southpaw and lighter, achieves over half a category more performance with significantly lower back pressure. These are only a few examples of design modernization that has occurred over the past 5 years. PEW Science postulates that advanced manufacturing methods will continue to enable design and performance innovation to continue in the space.
As previously stated in Research Note 3, The Q Southpaw does correct the Trash Panda’s bore aperture deficiency for the 5.56 AR-15. This results in a much greater degree of performance consistency, albeit with only a nominal signature suppression performance increase on average, as the Southpaw is shorter than the Trash Panda. This does show performance advancement in the Q rifle silencer line, as the Trash Panda was previously marketed for 5.56x45mm NATO suppression on the AR-15 rifle platform. Unrelated to blast overpressure suppression performance, the Southpaw is also constructed of materials more appropriate for longer term durability on 5.56mm SBR hosts, whereas the Trash Panda is constructed of titanium; the sacrificial steel Cherry Bomb muzzle device notwithstanding.
PEW Science Research Note 13: As previously discussed, the Q family of rifle silencers possesses nested straight, notched, and ported cones in relatively large diameter design envelopes; typically sized of approximately 1.75-in outer dimension. The spacing of the cones varies depending on the engineering of each silencer model, though relatively close spacing is common across the product line and provides relatively efficient successive expansion volumes in the stack, especially in lower pressure combustion regimes characteristically generated by subsonic rifle ammunition. The higher blast load pressures and durations produced by supersonic rifle ammunition does present some challenges for these designs, namely the balancing of efficient signature suppression and back pressure. This report demonstrates how managing bore aperture can increase performance consistency with this type of technology, and the tradeoffs that may ensue. As the evolution of hybrid designs continues, performance gaps and deficiencies like those illustrated in this report are expected to become more commonplace, especially as demonstrated on semiautomatic host weapons.
As detailed in this report, signature at the operator’s head is a function of both muzzle and ejection port signatures from the AR-15 weapon system. Specific weapon system parameters will dictate modification efficacy.
Small arm weapon system suppression performance is a spectrum. The PEW Science Suppression Rating and the Silencer Sound Standard help quantify this spectrum for end users and industry, objectively.
6.189.3 Review Summary: Q Southpaw on the MK18 5.56x45mm AR15 with 10.3-in Barrel
When paired with the 10.3-in barrel MK18 and fired with Federal XM193, the Q Southpaw with the Q Rear End mount achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 30.6 in PEW Science testing.
As with all weapon systems, the user is encouraged to examine both muzzle and ear Suppression Ratings.
PEW Science Laboratory Staff Opinion:
The Q Southpaw is a full-size 5.56mm rifle silencer possessing a simple and secure mounting system with construction materials that provide requisite durability for reasonable short barrel rifle use. Similar in overall design pedigree to Q’s other centerfire rifle silencers like the Trash Panda, the Southpaw marks the transition to dedicated 5.56mm bore aperture as well as stainless steel and Inconel alloy construction. As the Southpaw provides more consistent performance on 5.56 weapons than the Trash Panda, and is able to use the same type of mounting system, it offers a “plug and play” option for those users wanting to nominally improve overall suppression performance while enhancing resiliency and potentially even visual signature mitigation.
The Q family of rifle silencers possesses nested straight, notched, and ported cones in relatively large diameter design envelopes; typically sized of approximately 1.75-in outer dimension. The spacing of the cones varies depending on the engineering of each silencer model, though relatively close spacing is common across the product line and provides relatively efficient successive expansion volumes in the stack, especially in lower pressure combustion regimes characteristically generated by subsonic rifle ammunition. There are also inefficiencies. In addition to first round pop (FRP) that manifests in these designs with low(er) baffle quantities, another inefficiency of this type of design is back pressure generation. Blast load input being constant, the first expansion chamber (blast chamber) of the silencer(s) accumulates significant blast load impulse; reflections continue to propagate without expedient venting (clearing) off of the reflected surfaces, despite the deep throat porting and steep angle of incidence. Further inefficiency occurs with significantly high pressure input; pressure stagnation throughout the stack, brought about by the same aforementioned mechanism that creates high back pressure, results in hard limits for muzzle blast suppression potential. Although the bore of the Southpaw is larger than some competing designs, it is not large enough to mitigate these behaviors. Nonetheless, despite the aforementioned inefficiencies, the Q Southpaw does slightly outperform the longer and over-bored Q Trash Panda in short barrel 5.56 MK18 rifle suppression. This performance increase, albeit nominal, is largely due to the decreased bore size.
Given the gross performance similarities presented in this report, it is clear that the Q Southpaw provides personnel protection from blast overpressure hazards that is on par with legacy technologies. There exist silencers in the PEW Science Silencer Sound Standard research pedigree that provide significantly more advanced performance; many of these silencers are hybrid designs.
The Q Southpaw does correct the Trash Panda’s bore aperture deficiency for the 5.56 AR-15. This results in a much greater degree of performance consistency, albeit with only a nominal signature suppression performance increase on average, as the Southpaw is shorter than the Trash Panda. This does show performance advancement in the Q rifle silencer line, as the Trash Panda was previously marketed for 5.56x45mm NATO suppression on the AR-15 rifle platform. Unrelated to blast overpressure suppression performance, the Southpaw is also constructed of materials more appropriate for longer term durability on 5.56mm SBR hosts, whereas the Trash Panda is constructed of titanium; the sacrificial steel Cherry Bomb muzzle device notwithstanding.
It is likely that the durability of the Q Southpaw is higher than than of the Trash Panda on 5.56 NATO weapons. Due to its Inconel blast baffle construction, the system is more resistant to particle erosion from high temperature and pressure jet impingement.
The Q Cherry Bomb and updated Q “Rear End” mounting systems employ an extremely simple and secure taper geometry. The PEW Science laboratory has seldom issues with using this type of mount in testing, other than errant “dings” to the fine threads that may occur in harsh field conditions. That type of damage may render the mount useless. It is important to note that such damage is impossible with the silencer installed. It is also important to note that this vulnerability is not limited to the Q mounting system; it is also present on all copies of the Plan-B mounting system that have proliferated in the market.
In this review, the Q Southpaw performance metrics depend upon suppressing a supersonic centerfire rifle cartridge on a short barrel gas-operated rifle, which is an incredibly difficult task. PEW Science encourages the reader to remain vigilant with regard to all supersonic centerfire rifle suppression claims. The gas volume and combustion products created by the firing of the supersonic 5.56x45mm cartridge are significant; the measured pressure and impulse magnitudes, and their durations, illustrate this fact. Silencer performance on automatic (reciprocating) rifles depends on many factors. Weapon configuration may significantly influence total suppressed small arm system performance.
The hearing damage potential of supersonic centerfire rifle use is significant. PEW Science encourages the reader to consider the Suppression Rating when deciding on an appropriate silencer and host weapon combination for their desired use.
