SSS.6.207 - Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged and the M4A1 Mid-Gas 5.56x45mm 14.5-in Barrel Automatic AR15 Rifle (Free Version)
/Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged on the M4A1 Mid-Gas 5.56x45mm AR15 with 14.5-in Barrel
The Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged is designed and manufactured by Battle Born Supply Co. It is a 223 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress the 5.56x45mm cartridge with semiautomatic or fully automatic fire without barrel length restrictions. The Whiskey Quebec 5.56 has a 2-inch diameter and is 6.94 inches long with its included Flor De La Muerte mount, which is a combined flash hider and muzzle brake threaded 1/2-28tpi. The mount interface is flush with the proximal end of the silencer, resulting in no length increase. The silencer body is fully DMLS 3D printed from Inconel 718 alloy. With its included mount, the silencer weighs 19.6 ounces, as tested. The Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged can be obtained from Battle Born Supply Co.
The silencer is also available in the non-Purged model designation. That model weighs 19.9 ounces with the included mount, as tested, and is evaluated in Report 6.206.
Silencer Hazard Map:
The predicted personnel hazards generated by the tested weapon system in this report, in the free field, are shown in the adjacent Silencer Hazard Map. Click or tap the Map to enlarge. Please reference Silencer Hazard Map Brief 8.1.4 for further details and a comparison with the hazards from the non-purged version of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 silencer. The PEW-SOFT HD Blast Hazard Prediction Tool and Hazard Mapper is presented in Report 8.1.1.
Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 14.5-in M4A1 AR1-5 Free Field Hazard Map Produced by PEW-SOFT HD Blast Hazard Prediction Tool using PEW Science Test Data
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 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-BBS-123-001-25. Therefore, data pertaining to the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Battle Born Supply Co.
The testing and analysis presented in this Sound Signature Review are of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged on the M4A1 Mid-Gas Automatic AR-15 rifle, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO with a 14.5-inch barrel. Federal XM193 55gr ammunition was used in the tests. The standard PEW Science M4A1 test host weapon system is described in Public Research Supplement 6.127.
Section 6.207.1 contains Whiskey Quebec 5.56 test results and analysis.
Section 6.207.2 contains overall gross Suppression Rating comparisons of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged and Non-Purged with other rifle silencers on the current market on the M4A1 Mid-Gas Rifle, including various configurations of the Wolfpack Armory Disruptor 556, Otter Creek Labs Infinity, Dillon DRC556, CAT TSWIF, Sylvan Arms SA223TIS, BOE Mod 1, Echo Zulu Defense X1R556-Ti, PTR VENT Spiritus 556i, HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti, Surefire SOCOM556-MINI2, KAC QDC/CRS-PRT, KAC QDC/MCQ-PRT, CAT/WB/A1, and Surefire SOCOM556-RC2.
Section 6.207.3 contains an article summary and PEW Science laboratory staff opinions.
Summary: When paired with the 14.5-in barrel M4A1 and fired with Federal XM193, the Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 32.2 in PEW Science testing.
The non-purged model version of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 34.1 in PEW Science testing (see Report 6.206).
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.
6.207.1 Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 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. Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged Sound Metric Summary
6.207.1.1 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 Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 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 Shot 2 and Shot 3.
Fig 1a. Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 5.56x45mm NATO M4A1 Automatic Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
Fig 1b. Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 5.56x45mm NATO M4A1 Automatic Rifle Sound Pressure Signature
Figure 2a. Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 5.56x45mm NATO M4A1 Automatic Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 2b. Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 5.56x45mm NATO M4A1 Automatic Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
The Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 (Purged and non-purged model) is an unconventional silencer with a monolithically printed core; the design’s classification in the PEW Science research taxonomy is somewhat spurious due to very limited “baffle type” elements present in the core. While there are some small angled reflecting elements near the primary axial bore, the majority of the silencer consists of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) baffle structures and lattice support. TPMS structures have high surface area-to-volume ratios and are used in a variety of industries and applications. Some simple TPMS structures, like gyroids, have been investigated for silencer use. Battle Born Supply Co.'s patented TPMS baffle structures use a proprietary parametrically designed variable unit cell size. Due to the limited (but present) reflector elements, the design is still technically classified as a “hybrid design.” For an overview of the three primary classes of rifle silencer designs, the reader is encouraged to review PEW Science Research Supplement 6.169.
In general, porous geometries like TPMS structures and others provide the potential benefit of additional surface area and turbulence generation, both of which increase the efficiency of heat transfer and therefore increase suppression efficiency. Depending on the implementation of such geometries, gross flow rate can also be increased. This is the case with the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 series.
The Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is available in two distinct and separate model designations:
Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged (the subject of this report)
Whiskey Quebec 5.56 (Report 6.206)
The primary difference between the two silencer variations is that the Purged model possesses a small radial vent array located in the recessed geometry around the distal axial bore exit nozzle which allows some proportion of late-time venting to occur from two portions of the core, elevating late time flow rate. An important technical distinction between the two models is that their early time flow rate is identical. Therefore, differences in ejection port blast, weapon system kinematics, and other flow rate-driven phenomena, directly result from late time behavior and are characterized purely by the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Omega.
PEW Science Research Note 1: The free field blast overpressure and blast impulse signatures from the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 are relatively unique, due to the high early time flow rate through the support lattice, large volume occupied by TPMS cavities, full-size length, and 2-inch diameter. The Purged model of the silencer exhibits some differences from the non-purged model previously presented. Highlights of Purged model behavior from the above measured test data include:
More pronounced initial early time jetting forming the peak blast overpressure signature. Unusual secondary nested shocks in the initial first-round-pop (FRP) jetting are present with identical amplitude. Initial positive phase is more well defined (Fig. 1b).
Long duration low amplitude throttled blowdown and late-time BCG return to battery is still present, though BCG return is further delayed (Fig. 1a).
Throttled jetting takes longer to develop; momentum dump is faster and higher amplitude, in general, and blowdown momentum decay is relatively linear through the primary positive phase impulse (Fig. 2b).
Significant FRP divergence in both pressure space and impulse space is observed, with distinct post-FRP stability remaining (Fig. 2b). FRP is more severe than measured with the non-purged model.
PEW Science Research Note 2: In contrast with the previously evaluated non-purged model, the Purged iteration of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 produces more severe relative FRP severity during the first shot, as compared to subsequent shots, on average. The increase in relative FRP severity when a silencer possesses more distal venting is a sign that the gross flow rate variation in the vented model design allows significant primary bore flow access to atmosphere. Similar phenomena is observed in silencers like the Otter Creek Labs Infinity. When utilizing additional venting through an end cap change, the Infinity allows a greater proportion of unrested flame front to propagate overpressure to direct vent. These common “solid/vented” scheme behaviors highlight the complexity involved with balancing suppression and flow rate. In hybrid designs, the most advanced models are able to balance this to a greater degree even during FRP.
Relative impulse rise time, when compared to the non-purged model, is higher in the Purged model, with the same type of pressure staging noted. There is less throttling of combustion propagation with the Purged model, but throttling nonetheless. Gross blast overpressure hazard from the Purged model is therefore higher, but not exceedingly higher. The muzzle Suppression Rating drops by only approximately 3 points, and shooter (operator) hazard decreases. This performance tradeoff may be more than acceptable to some users, especially considering the slightly lower degree of “blowback” induced by the Purged unit.
PEW Science Research Note 3: Again, even with the Purged model, there is no erratic combustion propagation produced by the Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56, other than in the initial FRP jetting in very early time. In fact, post-FRP consistency is again extremely high. This consistency is present through the entire combustion blowdown duration.
Pure muzzle signature suppression performance, for the flow rate of the silencer, is relatively high. An apt comparison would be the performance of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged with that of the Surefire SOCOM556-RC2 (6.128) and KAC QDC/CRS-PRT (6.156) on this host weapon system. The Whiskey Quebec Purged silencer combines the suppression of the 556-RC2 with flow rate of the CRS-PRT, though it is larger than both of those silencers. Note that the forward hazard field of high flow rate silencers is more broad than silencers like the 556-RC2 (see Hazard Map). The weight of the Whiskey Quebec Purged silencer is slightly less than that of the non-purged version. As discussed in the previous report, its weight differential is not extreme, despite being completely constructed of Inconel 718 alloy. This is largely a function of its internal TPMS geometric cavities; its sectional density is lower than some models. For the size of the silencer, a weight of less than 20 ounces, inclusive of mount, is somewhat atypical.
PEW Science Research Note 4: As in all semiautomatic AR-15 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 95 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 5: The closing time of the AR-15 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 6: Note that the muzzle Suppression Rating of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged is 30.6 and the at-ear Suppression Rating is 25.8; different zones on the Suppression Rating Dose Chart. In the tested configuration, the “untuned” nature of the standard M4A1 weapon system contribute to shooter hazard that is higher than it would be on an optimized host weapon. In general, the silencer’s early time flow rate is relatively high. Late time flow rate is elevated in the Purged version of the silencer, when compared to that of the non-purged version evaluated in Report 6.206.
The signatures measured and analyzed at the shooter’s ear are presented in the full Member Version of this report.
Gross hazards and behaviors with the M4A1 weapon system are compared in the following section.
6.207.2 Suppression Rating Comparison (5.56x45mm from the M4A1)
Figure 5 presents a comparison of the PEW Science Suppression Ratings of the Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged with that of other rifle silencers on the M4A1 weapon system. The standard PEW Science M4A1 test host weapon system is described in Public Research Supplement 6.127. As PEW Science research with the M4A1 system continues, the dataset will be further populated.
Figure 5. Suppression Rating Comparisons of the Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 and the Wolfpack Armory Disruptor 5.56, Otter Creek Labs Infinity, Dillon DRC556, CAT TSWIF, Sylvan Arms SA223TIS, BOE Mod 1, Echo Zulu Defense X1R556-Ti, PTR VENT Spiritus 556i, HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti, KAC QDC/CRS-PRT, KAC QDC/MCQ-PRT, Surefire SOCOM556-MIN2, CAT WB, and SOCOM556-RC2 with different mounts, 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 Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 silencer on the M4A1 weapon system with the included mount system. Data is also presented for the fielding case of the Wolfpack Armory Disruptor 5.56 (6.199), Otter Creek Labs Infinity (6.196), Dillon DRC556 (6.194), CAT TSWIF (6.193), Sylvan Arms SA223TIS (6.187), BOE Mod 1 (6.183), Echo Zulu Defense X1R556-Ti (6.181), PTR VENT Spiritus 556i (6.176), HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti (6.168), Surefire SOCOM556-RC2 (6.128), SOCOM556-MINI2 (6.144), and KAC QDC PRT units (6.156) on different muzzle devices, along with fielding of the CAT WB (6.130). Hazards are expressed with the Suppression Rating; a holistic parameter that captures human inner ear damage risk potential from a measured impulsive complex 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.
The following gross conclusions can be made from the above:
The Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged achieves hazard reduction to bystanders directly adjacent to the weapon system, in the free field, on the standard untuned M4A1RIII weapon system that is comparable to the Surefire SOCOM556-RC2 and KAC QDC silencers, which are both smaller than the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 series. Greater hazard is predicted to exist in the forward field, in general, than with a 556-RC2 (see Hazard Map). Its gross free field suppression performance does eclipse that of several silencers with similar high late-time flow rates. In totality, the silencer does behave similarly to the Otter Creek Labs Infinity on this weapon system. For its size, the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is outperformed by several smaller silencers in total suppression performance, though it is important to note that some of the silencers in its size class have significantly more back pressure.
As a result of its high early time flow rate, and high late time flow rate when considering the Purged Whiskey Quebec 5.56 model, the free field operator (shooter) hazard reduction with the silencer on the standard untuned M4A1RIII weapon system is on par with that of silencers typically regarded for their high overall flow rates and “low back pressure.” This is evident when comparing the shooter’s ear Suppression Rating of the silencer with silencers like the PTR VENT Spiritus 556i and HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti.
In this combustion regime on the standard untuned 14.5-in mid-length gas M4A1RIII AR-15, there are silencers in the research pedigree that exceed both the absolute muzzle suppression performance and operator protection of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56, in the free field. This is largely a function of their technologies, and not their size.
It is important to note that the M4A1RIII is also a somewhat “over-gassed” rifle. Significant hazard reduction efficacy is extremely difficult to achieve without weapon modification. Furthermore, as discussed with in-depth analysis in previous Member Research Supplement 6.169 on the MK18, specific signature attributes and environmental factors can and will influence user perception and experience. Tuning of the M4 system for ejection port blast reduction may result in higher levels of overall operator hazard reduction performance with several silencers. FRP, however, will still influence operator hazard differentials during the first shot. That performance detriment can not be “tuned out” of the system without the use of some type of ablative medium.
Increased gross flow rate (lower back pressure) does pay dividends in ejection port blast hazard reduction to the 14.5-in barrel M4A1 midlength gas weapon operator, but without weapon modification, shooter’s ear protection levels may plateau. This has now been demonstrated several times with high performance silencers. Management of internal blast load impulse accumulation and flow rate in multiple time regimes is paramount for holistically balanced suppression performance on such weapon systems.
PEW Science Research Note 8: The performance of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 series scales with barrel length. This is not always the case with hybrid designs. In the case of this silencer, higher suppression performance will be realized with longer barrels, and lower performance will occur with shorter barrels. Note that the Purged model loses less performance with short barrels. In general, PEW Science urges extreme caution when attempting to extrapolate performance of a hybrid design silencer between weapon systems, as the proportionality is often nonlinear and potentially inversed. Caution is advised regarding applying these conclusions to the other systems without instrumented test data and engineering analysis. Performance differentials may be counterintuitive due to the complexities of some systems’ response to varying blast load input pressure(s) and duration(s).
It is likely that longer barrel use with the Whiskey Quebec silencer series will result in greater operator protection, as the muzzle blast component of the signatures are still driving operator hazard. As detailed in this report, the Suppression Rating at the shooter’s ear is still significantly influenced by the ejection port signature from an AR-15; all other things equal. For details on performance increases that are possible when “tuning” an AR-15 weapon system for a silencer, please see Review 6.111. It is important to note that not all silencers will possess a significant increase in shooter’s ear Suppression Rating from weapon tuning. 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.
6.207.3 Review Summary: Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged on the M4A1 Mid-Gas 5.56x45mm AR15 with 14.5-in Barrel
When paired with the 14.5-in barrel M4A1 and fired with Federal XM193, the Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 32.2 in PEW Science testing. The non-purged model version of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 achieved a composite Suppression Rating™ of 34.1 in PEW Science testing (see Report 6.206).
As with all weapon systems, the user is encouraged to examine both muzzle and ear Suppression Ratings.
PEW Science Laboratory Staff Opinion:
The Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is a full size Inconel rifle silencer intended for hard use. Its relatively complex hybrid design does produce higher flow rate than several other competing models. This performance trait reduces operator hazard on some weapon systems. Note that the Whiskey Quebec is also available as a Purged model, which possesses higher late time flow rate, further reducing system back pressure and increasing operator protection. The silencer uses its included Flor De La Muerte mount, which is a combined flash hider and muzzle brake threaded 1/2-28tpi.
The Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is an unconventional silencer with a monolithically printed core; the majority of the silencer consists of Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) baffle structures and lattice support. The Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is available in two distinct and separate model designations: the Purged model evaluated in this report, as well as the non-purged model evaluated in Report 6.206. The primary difference between the two silencer variations is that the Purged model possesses a small radial vent array which allows some proportion of late-time venting to occur from two portions of the core, elevating late time flow rate. An important technical distinction between the two models is that their early time flow rate is identical. The Purged model has somewhat lower back pressure with a relatively minimal drop in suppression performance.
The Battle Born Supply Co. Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged achieves hazard reduction to bystanders directly adjacent to the weapon system, in the free field, on the standard untuned M4A1RIII weapon system that is comparable to the Surefire SOCOM556-RC2 and KAC QDC silencers, which are both smaller than the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 series. Greater hazard is predicted to exist in the forward field, in general, than with a 556-RC2 (see Hazard Map) Its gross free field suppression performance does eclipse that of several silencers with similar high late-time flow rates. In totality, the silencer does behave similarly to the Otter Creek Labs Infinity on this weapon system. For its size, the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is outperformed by several smaller silencers in total suppression performance, though it is important to note that some of the silencers in its size class have significantly more back pressure.
As a result of its high early time flow rate, and high late time flow rate when considering the Purged Whiskey Quebec 5.56 model, the free field operator (shooter) hazard reduction with the silencer on the standard untuned M4A1RIII weapon system is on par with that of silencers typically regarded for their high overall flow rates and “low back pressure.” This is evident when comparing the shooter’s ear Suppression Rating of the silencer with silencers like the PTR VENT Spiritus 556i and HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti.
Tuning of the AR-15 weapon system, with a heavier buffer, smaller gas port size, or both, will increase operator protection when using the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 and provide the best user experience, regardless of the model version chosen. It is likely that the durability of the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 is more than adequate for most users on 5.56 NATO weapons. The system durability has not been evaluated by PEW Science, but its fully Inconel 718 construction and flow geometry is predicted to perform well under heavy firing schedules. The user is encouraged to contact the manufacturer for firing schedule directives.
In this review, the Whiskey Quebec 5.56 Purged 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.
