SSS.6.57 - Surefire SOCOM300-SPS and the Q mini FIX 300 BLK Subsonic (Free Version)
/Surefire SOCOM300-SPS on a Q mini FIX 300 BLK with 8-in Barrel
The SOCOM300-SPS is manufactured by Surefire. It is a 30 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress many cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, optimized for 300 BLK carbines with 10-inch or shorter barrels. It has a 1.5-inch diameter and is 7.9 inches in length. The silencer mounts to the host firearm with a proprietary mounting system; the user may choose from various Surefire flash hider and muzzle brake mounts. The outer tube and end-cap are constructed of heat treated stainless steel. The baffles are constructed of Inconel steel alloy. As tested, the silencer weighs 18.6 ounces and the 3-prong flash hider weighs 3.8 ounces, for a total system weight of 22.4 ounces. The SOCOM300-SPS can be obtained from Silencer Shop.
This review contains single-test results using the SOCOM300-SPS mounted with the SOCOM 3-Prong flash hider mount on the Q mini FIX bolt action pistol, chambered in 300 BLK with an 8-inch barrel. Discreet Ballistics 190gr ammunition was used in the test.
- Section 6.57.1 contains the SOCOM300-SPS test results and analysis.
- Section 6.57.2 contains Suppression Rating comparisons with selected .30 rifle silencers in the subsonic flow regime.
- Section 6.57.3 contains the review summary and PEW Science opinions.
Summary: When paired with the Q mini FIX 8” 300 BLK and fired with Discreet Ballistics 190gr Subsonic Target ammunition, the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS with the SOCOM 3-Prong flash hider achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 63.1 in PEW Science testing.
Relative Suppression Rating Performance is Summarized in SSS.7 - PEW Science Rankings
6.57.1 Surefire SOCOM300-SPS Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS 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. Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider) Sound Metric Summary
6.57.1.1 SOUND SIGNATURES AT THE MUZZLE
Real sound pressure histories from a 5-shot test 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, here.
Figure 1 shows a 3.6-millisecond long sequence of events during the first test shot with the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS, as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle. There are four significant events shown:
During combustion within the weapon system, a 115.4 dB peak is measured.
The initial jetting from precursor flow is suppressed and dominated by the bullet exit pressure wave where the peak amplitude of the coupled events is measured to be 125.6 dB.
The primary jetting builds to a measured amplitude of 133.8 dB.
The maximum pressure amplitude of the first shot; the primary muzzle blast flow, is measured to be 135.9 dB.
This is a typical sequence observed when firing subsonic 300 BLK ammunition from a bolt-action weapon system with an attached silencer that exhibits relativey high flow restriction (relatively high back pressure); internal silencer design can significantly influence the measured timing and pressure amplitudes. Additional test results, including back pressure analysis of the SOCOM300-SPS, in accordance with the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1], are forthcoming.
Fig. 1 Early-Time Shot History, Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider) Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 28-AUG-2021
The back pressure generated by the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS is higher than that of the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2 (Review 6.46). The SOCOM300-SPS suppresses precursor flow more significantly than the SOCOM762-RC2 and the significant decoupling between the bullet exit event (Feature 2 in Figure 1) illustrates this. The SOCOM300-SPS possesses a significantly higher Suppression Rating with the subsonic 300BLK cartridge than the SOCOM762-RC2 on this weapon system. The SOCOM300-SPS outperforms several other silencers with 300BLK in the subsonic flow regime, including the Q Half Nelson (Review 6.29) and even the wiped Energetic Armament VOX S (Review 6.38). The SOCOM300-SPS exceeds the performance of the wiped VOX S on this platform, and does so without a wipe, which is significant. However, the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS does not reach the performance of the Sig SRD762Ti-QD (Review 6.39) on this platform.
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots are shown in Figure 2a. A zoomed-in timescale displays the region of peak sound pressure in Figure 2b, for the first three shots. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 3. Again, full and short timescales are shown.
Fig 2a. Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider) Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 28-AUG-2021
Fig 2b. Surefire SOCOM7300-SPS (SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider) Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window, 28-AUG-2021
Figure 3a. Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider) Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 28-AUG-2021
Figure 3b. Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider) Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 28-AUG-2021
The Surefire SOCOM300-SPS produces somewhat perceptible FRP to bystanders; it is more pronounced in the impulse regime (Figure 3) than in the pressure regime (Figure 2). As discussed above, the SOCOM300-SPS generates higher back pressure than the SOCOM762-RC2, and its suppression method allows for greater trapping of gas. This is evident in the significantly shallower initial positive phase impulse slope displayed in Figure 3.
PEW Science Note 1: The increase in back pressure with the SOCOM300-SPS compared with that of the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2 is significant. Subsonic suppression performance is highly dependent upon back pressure generation; it is the primary mechanism of subsonic sound signature suppression in most small arm weapon system silencers.
PEW Science Note 2: PEW Science previously evaluated the supersonic performance of the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2 with both the SOCOM 3-prong flash hider and the WARCOMP muzzle brake in Sound Signature Review 6.26. PEW Science has also evaluated the SOCOM300-SPS in the supersonic flow regime with both the 3-prong flash hider and the WARCOMP mount; those results and analyses are forthcoming. PEW Science has not evaluated the subsonic performance of Surefire silencers with the WARCOMP mount. Based on the test results and analysis previously presented, PEW Science postulates that subsonic suppression performance with the WARCOMP will be lower than with the SOCOM 3-prong flash hider, with all Surefire silencers, due to excessive gas leakage at the mount interface from close mount port proximity to the mount collar and different seal geometry. The degree of performance differential is postulated to be lower with 300 BLK subsonic than with .308 supersonic, but testing is needed to verify this phenomenon.
As stated above, the FRP of the SOCOM300-SPS in the subsonic flow regime is noticeable but not severe. 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.
With subsonic 300 BLK from an 8-inch barrel, the SOCOM300-SPS is noticeably quieter to bystanders than many other silencers from an 8-in barrel. Direct comparisons with other silencers are provided in Section 6.57.2, below.
6.57.2 Suppression Rating Comparison - Subsonic 300 BLK
The Surefire SOCOM300-SPS suppressor is intended to possess high sound suppression (exhibiting a high PEW Science Suppression Rating) without regard for flow rate (back pressure; PEW Science Omega metric). As previously discussed, its subsonic sound signature suppression performance is significant and it’s high back pressure is consistent with this. Figure 6 shows a performance comparison of the ten .30 rifle silencer configurations tested with the subsonic 300 BLK cartridge shown in public PEW Science testing, to date. Unsuppressed and suppressed Suppression Ratings are shown for both the shooter and bystanders.
Figure 6. Suppression Rating Comparisons Of .30 Rifle Silencers Using PEW-SOFT 300 BLK Subsonic Test Data
The mass flow rate of the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS is low, and the baffles are numerous enough, and possess enough conventional gas-trapping features, such that it reaches sound suppression performance with subsonic 300 BLK above that of many compact and midsize .30 silencers on the market. This higher subsonic suppression performance for a full-size silencer like the SOCOM300-SPS is a physical consequence of the silencer’s flow rate reducing design. The Suppression Rating 1.0 m left of the endcap is less than a category lower than that of the Sig SRD762Ti-QD (Review 6.39). The Suppression Rating of the SOCOM300-SPS at the shoot’s ear on this weapon platform is slightly closer to that of the SRD762Ti-QD.
Interestingly, the SOCOM300-SPS surpasses both the muzzle and the at-ear Suppression Ratings of the wiped Energetic Armament VOX S (Review 6.38) on this weapon system; this is significant, because the SOCOM300-SPS does this without wipes. This is due to the greater amount of baffles, and more advanced baffle geometry in the SOCOM300-SPS, compared with the cone baffles in the Energetic Armament VOX S silencer.
6.57.4 Review Summary: Surefire SOCOM300-SPS on a Q mini FIX 300 BLK with 8-in Barrel
When paired with the Q mini FIX 8” 300 BLK and fired with Discreet Ballistics 190gr Subsonic Target ammunition, the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS with the SOCOM 3-Prong flash hider achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 63.1 in PEW Science testing.
PEW Science Subjective Opinion:
The Surefire SOCOM300-SPS is a full-size 30 caliber machine gun rated rifle silencer that possesses competitive sound signature suppression performance in the subsonic flow regime with many silencers on the market. The back pressure generation of the SOCOM300-SPS is higher than that of the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2.
The SOCOM300-SPS is a purpose-built subsonic 300 BLK silencer. The silencer is intended to suppress both high and low pressure cartridges; as a result, its flow restriction (back pressure) is higher than the SOCOM762-RC2. Due to the silencer’s length, and its baffle design, it is able to offer significant sound suppression performance in the subsonic flow regime. PEW Science encourages users to examine silencer performance in the specific flow regime of interest for their desired application.
Two mounts were used in testing of this silencer in the supersonic flow regime, the results and analysis of which are forthcoming. Only the SOCOM 3-Prong Flash Hider was used to test the silencer with subsonic 300 BLK. The highly irregular performance of all Surefire silencers with the WARCOMP mount at the shooter’s head position in previous testing precludes further testing of this silencer with the WARCOMP mount, at least for the near future.
Surefire advises that the WARCOMP mount, while able to be used with the SOCOM300-SPS, is intended for operators that are using their weapon unsuppressed and may use their silencer to suppress their weapon system infrequently. The WARCOMP may provide an enhancement to shooting dynamics when unsuppressed, and these benefits are part of the intended design. Note that PEW Science has not performed an in-depth evaluation of the WARCOMP without a silencer mounted. For users that may only seldomly suppress their weapon system, the WARCOMP mount may offer benefits that make it an attractive choice. However, for unsuppressed subsonic 300 BLK use, PEW Science postulates the WARCOMP does not offer substantial benefits to the operator. This is due to the lower combustion duration of the subsonic 300 BLK cartridge and the shorter barrel of typical 300 BLK weapon systems, resulting in differing weapon system dynamics.
The use of the Surefire locking collar is relatively straight forward. Note that some users have indicated carbon build-up on the mount that may prevent an operator from removing the silencer. Furthermore, carbon buildup may result in the silencer not being properly aligned upon reattaching; this misalignment may result in baffle strikes. PEW Science has experienced this in testing and highly recommends users of the Surefire mounting system clean their mounts regularly.
In this review, the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS performance metrics depend upon suppressing a subsonic intermediate rifle cartridge. While the sound signature of such cartridges can be suppressed to levels that may result in the desire of the shooter and bystanders to not wear hearing protection, PEW Science encourages the reader to remain vigilant with regard to all subsonic rifle cartridge suppression claims. The gas volume and combustion products created by firing a subsonic intermediate rifle cartridge such as 300 BLK are still significant; the measured pressure and impulse magnitudes, and their durations, illustrate this fact.
The hearing damage potential of subsonic rifle 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.
