SSS.6.190 - Primary Weapons Systems PWS BDE 22 and the Beretta 21A (Free Version)
/Primary Weapons Systems PWS BDE 22 on a Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol
The BDE 22 from Primary Weapons Systems (PWS) is a full size lightweight 22 caliber rimfire silencer, intended to suppress the .22LR cartridge, though it is also capable of suppressing 5.7x28mm platforms. It has a 1-inch diameter and is 5.63 inches long. The outer tube and end cap assemblies of the silencer are constructed from machined titanium, whereas the monolithic core of the silencer is constructed from DMLS (3D-printed) titanium. The silencer may be installed on host weapons threaded 1/2”-28-tpi and weighs 4.2 ounces, as tested. The BDE 22 can be obtained from Silencer Shop.
PEW Science is an independent private testing laboratory and also hosts the world’s only independent public suppressed small arms research cooperative. Testing, data analysis, and reporting for public research is generated with funding provided by PEW Science members. Any test data that is generated with any portion of private funding contains this disclosure. The testing and analysis production for this Sound Signature Review was funded in part by PEW Science Project PEW-PWS-033-001-22. Therefore, data pertaining to the BDE 22 in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Primary Weapons Systems.
This Sound Signature Review contains single-test results using the PWS BDE 22 mounted to the Beretta 21A subcompact semiautomatic pistol, chambered in .22LR with a 2.4-inch barrel. CCI Standard Velocity 40gr ammunition was used in the test.
Section 6.190.1 contains the PWS BDE 22 test results and analysis.
Section 6.190.2 contains Suppression Rating comparisons with selected .22 rimfire silencers in the subsonic cartridge regime.
Section 6.190.3 contains the review summary and PEW Science laboratory staff technical opinions.
Summary: When paired with the Beretta 21A subcompact semiautomatic pistol and fired with CCI SV .22 LR ammunition, the PWS BDE 22 achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 83.9 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.
6.190.1 PWS BDE 22 Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the PWS BDE 22 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. PWS BDE 22 Sound Metric Summary
6.190.1.1 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 and the weapon was fired until the magazine was empty; the Beretta 21A pistol does not possess a last round bolt hold open feature, and thus the slide does not lock back on the last round fired. Only five shots are considered in the analysis, to maintain consistency with the overall PEW Science public dataset. 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 are shown in Figure 1a. A zoomed-in timescale displays the region of peak sound pressure in Figure 1b, of the first two shots. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories from the same 6-shot test are shown in Figure 2. Again, full and short timescales are shown, this time of Shots 1, 2, and 3.
Fig 1a. PWS BDE 22 Subsonic .22 LR Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
Fig 1b. PWS BDE 22 Subsonic .22 LR Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window
Figure 2a. PWS BDE 22 Subsonic .22 LR Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 2b. PWS BDE 22 Subsonic .22 LR Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Like several rimfire silencers on the market, the PWS BDE 22 is a monocore design. The core contains traditional truncated and notched cone baffles with shallow dish geometry starting from the steeper baffle cone throats. The core has 9 baffles, including the first reflector (blast baffle). As the core is 3D-printed, each baffle is joined together by four struts, the outer diameters of which interface with the inner diameter of the removable outer tube. This assists with weight reduction in the design.
The PWS BDE 22 is 5.625-in long and gross performance characteristics are congruent with the size class. Observed performance traits in the above measured test data include:
Early-onset first-round-pop (FRP) accumulation in both pressure space (Fig. 1b) and impulse space (Fig. 2a).
Relatively low amplitude pressure propagation (Figure 1).
Relatively consistent post-FRP blast impulse accumulation throughout the shot string (Fig. 2a).
PEW Science Research Note 1: It is fortuitous that the FRP accumulation shown in Fig. 2a decays prior the secondary accumulation that mirrors subsequent shots; the overall FRP severity to bystanders from the BDE 22 on this host platform is less than 50% more severe than subsequent shots, on average. Operator FRP risk severity differs and is examined in the full Member Version of this report.
Back pressure does become a factor in the suppression of semiautomatic host weapons; even the Beretta 21A subcompact pistol in this report is susceptible to increased operator hazard from this phenomenon. However, due to the relatively low combustion volume of the test ammunition, hazards are not grossly severe, particularly in the case of the PWS BDE 22 with its significant muzzle blast suppression performance.
PEW Science Research Note 2: The FRP accumulation from the PWS BDE 22 is somewhat similar to that of the relatively high performing and shorter Otter Creek Labs Titanium (6.150), though the BDE 22 does reduce the accumulation prior to post-FRP peak. The suppression potential from the two silencers on this host weapon is extremely similar.
Overall, the suppression performance of the BDE 22 is second only to that of the CAT SR (6.141) on this host weapon in the research pedigree, to date. It should be noted, however, that most of the silencers in the group provide exceptionally high performance. The recently evaluated Off Grid Suppressors Scorpius (6.188) provides an excellent example, with a length of only 5 inches.
PEW Science Research Note 3: Post-FRP, the consistency of the PWS BDE 22 is notable. Like many high performance silencers, within the scope of this test program and the pressure amplitude and time regimes of .22LR combustion, PEW Science postulates that the overall behavior of the BDE 22 on this host type should provide users with consistent free field suppression performance on semiautomatic rimfire pistols.
PEW Science Research Note 4: The PWS BDE 22 is not a low-backpressure system. As backpressure becomes a greater factor for a suppressed rimfire pistol system, shooter hazard may increase accordingly. This type of performance differential is measurable and there is precedent for it in the research pedigree in the examination of the test program results for the CAT SR; its implementation of SURGE BYPASS technology to reduce system backpressure is significantly advanced. The requisite early-time flow rate increases to achieve such performance, combined with late-time gas momentum throttling to maintain high pressure field suppression, are seldom present in silencer designs, in general, let alone rimfire silencer designs. As discussed in Research Note 1, it is notable that the PWS BDE 22 can achieve the Suppression Rating metrics it does on this host.
PEW Science Research Note 5: The rimfire silencer short-barrel pistol suppression performance Rankings are now expanding; the PWS BDE 22 joins the Off Grid Scorpius, the Otter Creek Labs Titanium, the CAT SR, the Resilient Suppressor’s Jessie’s Girl and the Rugged Oculus (in two configurations) in the current published dataset. Again, users should note that performance of rimfire silencers on long and short barrels may be significantly different, even with subsonic ammunition, depending on silencer design. These performance differentials are the subject of ongoing PEW Science research.
The behavior measured at the shooter’s ear is characterized in the full Member Version of this report. Further comparison of the PWS BDE 22 rimfire pistol suppression performance is provided below.
6.190.2 Suppression Rating Comparison - Semiautomatic Subsonic .22 LR
The PWS BDE 22 was developed to maximize pure sound signature reduction (PEW Science Suppression Rating) in a lightweight design envelope. Figure 5 shows a performance comparison of rimfire silencer configurations tested on a subcompact semiautomatic pistol shown in public PEW Science testing, to date. Suppression Ratings are shown for both the shooter and bystanders.
Figure 5. Suppression Rating Comparisons Of Rimfire Silencers Using PEW-SOFT subsonic .22 LR Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol Test Data
The performance of the PWS BDE 22 on the short-barrel subcompact semiautomatic rimfire pistol platform is high, particularly at the weapon muzzle. Although the baffle core is relatively simple, the printed architecture allows for lighter weight while still possessing enough baffles to reach high efficacy for their design. The PWS BDE 22 exhibits the 2nd highest muzzle (bystander) sound field suppression performance on this host weapon system in the current dataset. Only the CAT SR exceeds its performance; the CAT SR being more advanced (see Research Note 2).
The performance gap between the BDE 22 and configurations like the short configuration of the Rugged Oculus are nontrivial; the two configurations have a differential of several categories on the Suppression Rating scale. Even with its high(er) back pressure, the BDE 22 protects the operator in the free field to a greater degree. Personnel adjacent to the muzzle of the weapon system will be protected significantly when compared to micro-silencer configurations like the short Oculus.
The PWS BDE 22 is slightly longer than both the the Otter Creek Labs Titanium and the Resilient Suppressors Jessie’s Girl. However, it is approximately the same weight as the Titanium and 30% lighter than the Jessie’s Girl.
The signature of a high performance rimfire silencer with subsonic ammunition fired from a semiautomatic pistol is significantly suppressed and may not sound like a “gunshot” to the operator or to bystanders. When such systems enter the 80-zone on the Suppression Rating scale on a reciprocating weapon, the signatures have a large proportion of audibly discernable mechanical noise. It is important for operators and bystanders to remain cognizant of the potential hazards of firearm use and the potential lethality of such weapon systems; the operation of such systems, if not in accordance with weapon and silencer manufacturer instructions, may still result in serious injury or death. The user is encouraged to be mindful of the degree to which sound signature suppression, and resulting personnel hazards, can vary across designs. 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.
6.190.3 Review Summary: PWS BDE 22 on a Beretta 21A Subcompact Semiautomatic Pistol
When paired with the Beretta 21A subcompact semiautomatic pistol and fired with CCI SV .22 LR ammunition, the PWS BDE 22 achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 83.9 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 PWS BDE 22 is a lightweight rimfire silencer that exhibits extremely competitive suppression performance on short-barrel rimfire systems such as pistols. The silencer’s monocore is 3D-printed from titanium and may be cleaned with a variety of chemical solutions. Weighing approximately 4.2 ounces, the PWS BDE 22 provides users with a high performance option that may be used on a variety of systems while being unobtrusive to handling.
Like several rimfire silencers on the market, the PWS BDE 22 is a monocore design. The core contains traditional truncated and notched cone baffles with shallow dish geometry starting from the steeper baffle cone throats. The core has 9 baffles, including the first reflector (blast baffle). As the core is 3D-printed, each baffle is joined together by four struts, the outer diameter of which interface with the inner diameter of the removable outer tube. This assists with weight reduction in the design.
The PWS BDE 22 is 5.625-in long and gross performance characteristics are congruent with the size class. The FRP accumulation from the PWS BDE 22 is somewhat similar to that of the relatively high performing and shorter Otter Creek Labs Titanium. The suppression potential from the two silencers on this host weapon is extremely similar. Overall, the suppression performance of the BDE 22 is second only to that of the CAT SR on this host weapon in the research pedigree, to date. It should be noted, however, that most of the silencers in the group provide exceptionally high performance. The recently evaluated Off Grid Suppressors Scorpius provides an excellent example, with a length of only 5 inches.
Post-FRP, the consistency of the PWS BDE 22 is notable. Like many high performance silencers, within the scope of this test program and the pressure amplitude and time regimes of .22LR combustion, PEW Science postulates that the overall behavior of the BDE 22 on this host type should provide users with consistent free field suppression performance on semiautomatic rimfire pistols. It should be noted that BDE 22 is not a low-backpressure system. As backpressure becomes a greater factor for a suppressed rimfire pistol system, shooter hazard may increase accordingly.
The PWS BDE 22 silencer may be disassembled with an included tool and therefore may be cleaned by a variety of methods. The user is encouraged to contact the manufacturer for maintenance recommendations, as rimfire platforms may produce a significant amount of lead buildup that can degrade suppression performance over time.
PEW Science has not evaluated the durability of the PWS BDE 22, nor its performance on cartridges other than subsonic .22 LR. Although the manufacturer advertises its capability of suppressing 5.7x28mm platforms, for example, it is important for the user to contact the manufacturer to determine the suitability of firing schedules and use cases.
In this review, the PWS BDE 22 performance metrics depend upon suppressing a subsonic rimfire cartridge on a subcompact semiautomatic rimfire pistol, which is a difficult task. While the sound signature of such systems can be suppressed to levels that may not sound like a “gunshot” to the operator or to bystanders, PEW Science encourages the reader to remain vigilant with regard to all subsonic rimfire cartridge suppression claims. It is important for operators and bystanders to remain cognizant of the potential hazards of firearm use and the potential lethality of such weapon systems; the operation of such systems, if not in accordance with weapon and silencer manufacturer instructions, may still result in serious injury or death.
The hazard potential of subsonic rimfire pistol use is not insignificant. PEW Science encourages the reader to consider the Suppression Rating when deciding on an appropriate silencer and host weapon combination for their desired use.
