SSS.6.34 - Richmond Tactical RT30Ti and the Savage Model 10 PC .308 (Free Version)
/Richmond Tactical RT30Ti on a Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel
The RT30Ti is designed and manufactured by Richmond Tactical. It is a 30 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress most cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, including 300 Winchester Magnum. It has a 1.61-inch diameter and is 8.375 inches in length. The silencer mounts to a proprietary two-port muzzle brake mount; the attachment of the silencer to the mount is facilitated by coarse threads behind a forward seating taper. The silencer is also available with a rear modular threading option in 1.375″ x 24 tpi for use with third-party mount options. The silencer has a removable end-cap that may be fitted with a wipe, if desired. The silencer is tubeless and constructed of 6AL-4V titanium and the muzzle brake is constructed of 17-4 heat treated stainless steel. The silencer and brake weigh 12.8 and 1.5 ounces, respectively, for a total system weight of 14.3 ounces, as tested. The RT30Ti can be obtained from Richmond Tactical.
PEW Science is an independent private testing laboratory and also the world’s only publicly funded 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 data production for this Sound Signature Review was funded in part by PEW Science Project PEW-RT-007-001-20. Therefore, data pertaining to the RT30Ti in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of KSSM Industries, LLC (dba Richmond Tactical).
This review contains single-test results using the RT30Ti mounted with the Dual Port Muzzle Brake on the Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine rifle, chambered in .308WIN with a 20-inch barrel. Federal XM80C 149gr ammunition was used in the test.
Summary: When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80C, the Richmond Tactical RT30Ti mounted with the Dual Port Muzzle Brake achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 40.3 in PEW Science testing.
The performance of the RT30Ti on subsonic 300 BLK is detailed in PEW Science Sound Signature Review 6.35, in which it achieved a Suppression Rating of 55.7.
Relative Suppression Rating Performance is Summarized in SSS.7 - PEW Science Rankings
6.34.1 Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the RT30Ti 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 PEW Science testing, research, and development with a membership, here. State-of-the-art firearm sound signature testing and research conducted by PEW Science is supported by readers like you.
Table 1. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Sound Metric Summary
6.34.1.1 SOUND SIGNATURES AT THE MUZZLE
Real sound pressure histories acquired with PEW-SOFT™ are shown below. The waveforms are not averaged, decimated, or filtered. The data acquisition rate used in all PEW Science 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 testing; the industry leader in silencer sound research. For more information, please consult the Silencer Sound Standard.
Figure 1 shows a 2 millisecond long portion of the first round sound pressure signature of the RT30Ti as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle. There are three significant waveform features labeled:
The endcap exit event results in an initial overpressure peak magnitude of 141.0 dB.
The first major jet reaches a peak of 143.2 dB.
Latent jetting continues with a magnitude of 145.0 dB and peak FRP occurs at a maximum of 145.4 dB.
This is a somewhat atypical sequence observed when firing supersonic .308WIN ammunition from a bolt-action rifle with an attached silencer that exhibits moderate flow restriction (back pressure); however, internal silencer design can significantly influence the measured timing and pressure amplitudes. Preliminary back pressure comparisons are shown in Section 6.34.2 of this review.
Fig 1. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti First Round Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 24-OCT-2020
For reference, the reader is also encouraged to review the performance data of the Dead Air Sandman-Ti in Sound Signature Review 6.19 and the Thunder Beast ULTRA 9 in Sound Signature Review 6.24. The RT30Ti early-time signature is relatively similar to that from those two silencers, not necessarily in overall magnitude, but in wave shape characteristics. However, early-time is where the similarities end. The overall, muzzle, and ear Suppression Ratings for the three silencers can be compared directly using the tool in Section 7 of the Silencer Sound Standard - PEW Science Rankings.
Closer views of the first peak of all shots (Fig 2a) and highest peak of the first shot (Fig 2b) are shown below. Figure 2a illustrates the consistency of the coupled bullet end-cap exit and jet event, between all 5 shots during the test. Note the consistency in both amplitude and wave shape which are captured accurately due to the sample rate and raw, unfiltered data stream from PEW-SOFT. Figure 2b shows points later in time during Shot 1 as the maximum sound pressure occurs from the primary combustion event. Note that the total timescale in Figure 2a is 0.8 milliseconds (800 microseconds) and the total timescale in Figure 2b is only 0.1 milliseconds (100 microseconds). PEW-SOFT provides a sampling point every microsecond and the individual data points are shown in Figure 2b to illustrate this.
Fig 2a. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Early-Time Peaks, 24-OCT-2020
Fig 2b. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Shot 1 Peak, 24-OCT-2020
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the RT30Ti are shown in Figure 3a. The sound signatures of Shot 1 and Shot 2 are shown in Figure 3b, in early time. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 4a. In Figure 4b, a shorter timescale is shown comparing the impulse of Shot 1 to that of Shot 2.
Fig 3a. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 24-OCT-2020
Fig 3b. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window, 24-OCT-2020
Figure 4a. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 24-OCT-2020
Figure 4b. Richmond Tactical RT30Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, Short Time Window, 24-OCT-2020
The Richmond Tactical RT30Ti does exhibit somewhat perceptible first round pop (FRP) on this platform. It is observed in the pressure regime, and it is further evident upon examination of the impulse waveforms in Figure 4 in both rise impulse rise time and slope. PEW Science inner ear modeling indicates FRP will be perceptible, but it is not severe to shooters and bystanders in the supersonic flow regime on this host weapon platform. Note that the Shot 2 waveforms in Figure 3b and Figure 4b were shifted forward in time in post-processing so that a direct comparison with Shot 1 can be more easily made by the reader in the pressure and impulse regimes.
PEW Science Note: The rise time to maximum positive-phase impulse measured 1.0 m left of the weapon muzzle is slower than that of the SilencerCo Omega 300 (Sound Signature Review 6.10), and faster than that of the Dead Air Sandman-L (Sound Signature Review 6.23). It is therefore postulated that the backpressure generated by the RT30Ti lies between that generated by those two silencers. Detailed quantitative comparisons are provided in Section 6.34.2 of this review.
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 has made a concerted effort to characterize the FRP phenomenon with true physiological human inner-ear response analyses. Members may review the data in the latest Research Supplement.
6.34.2 Relative Back Pressure and Suppression Rating Comparison (.30 Rifle Silencers)
PEW Science Research Note: As of February 2021, back pressure characterization has undergone refinement and Rev.2 of the Back Pressure Metric has been developed. Research is ongoing. Please see back pressure research updates starting with Sound Signature Review 6.36.
The RT30Ti suppressor is intended to be light weight and versatile for both supersonic and subsonic flow regimes, as well as for wiped use. The RT30Ti is a full-size rifle silencer and its postulated backpressure generation is compared below with that of other full-size silencers. PEW Science is currently conducting silencer back pressure research. Figure 7 shows preliminary relative supersonic suppression and back pressure comparisons between selected 7.62mm (30 caliber) rifle silencers shown in public PEW Science Sound Signature Reviews, as of the date of this review publication. The results shown in Figure 7 are calculated from real test data acquired with PEW-SOFT. Please note the following:
The time to reach peak gas momentum transfer potential, as measured 1.0 m left of the weapon muzzle, is the objective quantity used to generate the back pressure data summary.
The waveform characteristics of unsuppressed shots with the same ammunition used in the respective tests are used in the calculations and the unsuppressed relative back pressure and Suppression Rating quantities are shown.
The first shot from each silencer test is omitted from the back pressure computations due to internal gas environment characteristics within the silencer (FRP) that influence peak impulse amplitude, wave-shape, and timing. All unsuppressed shots are included.
Back Pressure Data is normalized to the silencer with the highest back pressure shown, which is the Thunder Beast ULTRA 9 from Sound Signature Review 6.24.
Figure 7. Back Pressure And Suppression Rating Comparisons Of .308 Rifle Silencers Using PEW-SOFT Data
The data in the above table is sorted by Back Pressure Metric. From the data, it can be concluded that the Richmond Tactical RT30Ti suppressor may produce slightly lower back pressure than the Dead Air Sandman-L and slightly higher back pressure than the SilencerCo Omega 300. The RT30Ti is longer than the Omega 300, and the orifice is smaller than that of the Sandman-L. These are some reasons why the postulated back pressure metric relationships are deemed reasonable. The Suppression Rating of the three silencers is similar, with the RT30Ti being the quietest at the shooter’s ear of the three models.
The RT30Ti was tested with the two port muzzle brake. This is a proprietary mount system from Richmond Tactical. While it is possible that a direct-thread version of the same silencer offered by Richmond tactical may exhibit different backpressure, this phenomenon has not been evaluated by PEW Science. Richmond Tactical does offer the silencer in a modular mount threaded version (1.375″ x 24 tpi). Anecdotal user reports indicate variable back pressure observations with some silencers using different mount systems. PEW Science has not examined the influence of mount system on silencer back pressure.
It is important to note that the back pressure potential of silencers, in general, may not be significant in practical use. For an example of severe performance differential when mount sealing is compromised due to mount design, see the PEW Science data with the Surefire WARCOMP mount and SOCOM762-RC2 in Sound Signature Review 6.26.
It is important to note that back pressure is not the same phenomenon as blow back. Back pressure may cause blow back on a host weapon, or it may not influence host weapon operation when compared to the unsuppressed state; the influence of back pressure characteristics on a silencer’s performance on semi-automatic and automatic hosts may depend on the respective metric magnitudes; this is the subject of future PEW Science research. For example, it is postulated that there is a threshold back pressure metric below which adequate semi-automatic weapon function on typical 5.56x45mm host weapons may be achieved. Whether that threshold is 0.17 in Figure 7 (the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2) or 0.67 (the Dead Air Sandman-L), for example, will depend on the particular host weapon configuration. Recent PEW Science research at the time of this review publication indicates that a back pressure metric threshold is probable for gas operated 5.56x45mm small arms. Current research indicates that host weapon component dynamics (AR15 platform bolt carrier, buffer mass, gas port size, and gas system length) can significantly influence suppressed weapon system performance. Further research is ongoing.
For example, an 11.5-inch AR15 chambered in 5.56x45mm with a mid-length gas system and adequate reciprocating mass (an H3 buffer weight, for example) may be able to be suppressed with any silencer shown in Figure 7 without undue gas blow back noted by the shooter. This type of suppressed small arm weapon system is an example of a gas insensitive host. Conversely, a 14.5-inch AR15 in the same chambering with a carbine-length gas system, relatively large gas port, and standard weight carbine buffer, may produce severe gas blow back noted by the shooter, even with a silencer such as the Surefire SOCOM762 RC2, which is shown in Figure 7 to have a normalized back pressure metric much lower than even some mid-size silencers. This type of suppressed small arm weapon system is an example of a gas sensitive host. On the AR15 platform, silencer gas flow (back pressure) sensitivity is a function of dwell time, inertial resistance, and lock time. Other host weapon types have characteristics that result in more or less gas sensitivity in suppressed operation.
PEW Science note: The relative back pressure percentages described in this section are only valid when examining the data normalized to the Thunder Beast ULTRA 9 in Figure 7. PEW Science back pressure research is ongoing. Membership contributions to PEW Science help fund such research.
The Richmond Tactical RT30Ti is slightly quieter than the SilencerCo Omega 300 and Dead Air Sandman-L to observers. It is slightly louder than the Q Thunder Chicken, Sandman-Ti, and Rugged Surge to the shooter’s ear. Its back pressure is postulated to be slightly higher than that of the Omega 300 and slightly lower than that of the Sandman-L.
6.34.3 Review Summary: Richmond Tactical RT30Ti on a Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel
When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80C, the Richmond Tactical RT30Ti mounted with the Dual Port Muzzle Brake achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 40.3 in PEW Science testing.
PEW Science Subjective Opinion:
The Richmond Tactical RT30Ti is a relatively light weight centerfire rifle silencer with a diameter in-between the popular 1.5-inch and 1.75-inch categories, with a proprietary muzzle brake taper mount and an end-cap that can facilitate the use of an optional wipe if the user is so inclined. With tubeless construction, a relatively efficiently ported baffle stack, and a simple mounting system, the silencer offers features and performance that may be attractive to some users.
The RT30Ti contains eleven baffles at varying spacing. The baffles are single-step straight cones, ported and notched, circumferentially welded, forming the “tubeless” body. It is interesting to see this type of baffle in a tubeless format with a 1.61” outer diameter; this is the first silencer of that configuration evaluated by PEW Science. In addition to the somewhat uncommon diameter in the market, the option to use a wipe in the silencer endcap is somewhat unique to a full size rifle silencer. The supersonic suppression performance and postulated backpressure generation of the RT30Ti is competitive with many other full size silencers on the market that possess traditional straight cone or curved cone baffles. One subjective highlight regarding the RT30Ti is the high quality machining of the silencer; PEW Science observed subjectively high quality fit-and-finish of the test sample.
The version of the silencer tested by PEW Science was mounted with the proprietary Richmond Tactical tapered muzzle brake; this mount is similar to others on the market, in that it has coarse threads that are isolated from fouling by a forward seating taper. Features of this mount that are different than some others on the market include functional brake porting and rear wrench flats for installation/removal on the host weapon. It is important to note that Richmond Tactical also offers version(s) of their rifle silencers with the popular 1.375″ x 24tpi rear mount threading. This may be attractive to users who wish to use third-party mounts with the silencer. A note that bears repeating is that users have provided anecdotal reports indicating that different mounting solutions may result in different back pressure characteristics with different silencers. This phenomenon has not yet been investigated by PEW Science.
In this review, the RT30Ti performance metrics depend upon suppressing a supersonic centerfire rifle cartridge; no easy 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 .308WIN cartridge are significant; the measured pressure and impulse magnitudes, and their durations, illustrate this fact.
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.
