SSS.6.68 - Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti and the Savage Model 10 PC .308 (Free Version)

Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti on a Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel

The Enticer S-Ti is designed and manufactured by Diligent Defense Co. 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 1.625-inch diameter and is 7 inches in length when using the included direct-thread adapter. The user may choose to use other third-party mount adapters compatible with the 1.375”-24tpi system. The silencer is tubeless; the baffles are constructed of Grade 5 titanium. The end cap is removable and interchangeable with those designed by Dead Air. The silencer weighs 7.8 ounces without the mount. The included direct thread mount adds 1 ounce, for a total system weight of 8.8 ounces, as tested. The Enticer S-Ti can be obtained from Diligent Defense Co. (DDC).

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-DDC-020-001-21. Therefore, data pertaining to the Enticer S-Ti in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Diligent Defense Co.

This review contains single-test results using the Enticer S-Ti mounted with the direct thread mount on the Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine rifle, chambered in .308WIN with a 20-inch barrel. Federal XM80 149gr ammunition was used in the test.

  • Section 6.68.1 contains the Enticer S-Ti test results and analysis.
  • Section 6.68.2 contains back pressure and Suppression Rating comparisons with selected .30 rifle silencers possessing a PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1] in Omega Zone 5 and above. An updated Ω metric chart for the full suite of publicly evaluated .30 rifle silencers is also provided in this section. Further information about the Ω metric and Omega Zones can be obtained in PEW Science Research Supplement 6.40 (Public Article).
  • Section 6.68.3 contains the review summary and PEW Science opinions.

Summary: When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80, the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer L-Ti mounted with the direct thread adapter, achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 42.5 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

Test data for the full-size version of this silencer, the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer L-Ti, can be found in Sound Signature Review 6.67.

6.68.1 Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Sound Signature Test Results

A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Enticer S-Ti 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. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Sound Metric Summary

 

6.68.1.1 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 Enticer S-Ti as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle. There are four significant waveform features labeled:

  1. The end cap exit event results in an initial overpressure peak magnitude of 140.7 dB.

  2. The initial jetting possesses an amplitude of 139.4 dB.

  3. Major jetting occurs and reaches an amplitude of 146.9 dB.

  4. Peak FRP occurs in later time, at an amplitude of 148.3 dB.

This is a somewhat typical sequence observed when firing supersonic .308WIN ammunition from a bolt-action rifle with an attached silencer that exhibits relatively high flow restriction (back pressure). Internal silencer design can significantly influence the measured timing and pressure amplitudes. Preliminary back pressure comparisons are shown in Section 6.68.2 of this review, with the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1].

Fig 1. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti First Round Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature

The waveform shown in Figure 1 possesses early time characteristics very similar to the FRP signature of silencers exhibiting flow restriction (back pressure) in PEW Science Omega Zone 6, such as the Rugged Surge (Review 6.22), the Otter Creek Labs PR30S (Review 6.49), and the CGS Helios QD (Review 6.13). The Q Thunder Chicken (Review 6.20) is also in Zone 6 and possesses similar features of early time gas delay, albeit with a significant coupled exit event, typical of the bore and baffle design in Q rifle silencers.

At the muzzle, the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti is quieter than both the Rugged Surge in its long configuration and the Otter Creek Labs PR30S on this platform. These silencers are somewhat louder overall than the Q Thunder Chicken and Thunder Beast ULTRA 9 (Review 6.24) at the muzzle. In-depth comparisons of the sound signatures from these silencers are the subject of a future PEW Science Member Research Supplement.

The sound signature of the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti shares notable similarities with that of the longer Diligent Defense Co. Enticer L-Ti (Review 6.67), specifically in the early-time combustion signature prior to bullet exit (Figure 1, above). The internal flow path geometry and wall thickness of the Enticer series is postulated to contribute significantly to this phenomenon. While not a significant signature contribution on this test platform, the influence of such behavior in lower amplitude combustion regimes (e.g. subsonic cartridge suppression) is the subject of ongoing PEW Science research. After bullet shock, the similarities between the L and S versions of this silencer end; the Enticer S-Ti exhibits less suppression of latent jetting than the aforementioned Enticer L-Ti. The back pressure generation of the Enticer S-Ti is postulated to be less significant; see Section 6.68.2 of this review.

Like the Enticer L-Ti, The Enticer S-Ti design possesses modified cone baffles with coaxial elements and progressive flow geometry. The presence of these features relieves localized high pressure stagnation and allows for more efficient supersonic gas flow suppression for a given silencer volume. The stagnation relief, in conjunction with moderate jetting delay (relatively high flow restriction; relatively high back pressure), and other features, allows the Enticer S-Ti to achieve high performance signature suppression on bolt action rifles. The Enticer S-Ti exhibits uncharacteristically high sound suppression performance for its size, on average, on this weapon platform. The performance of the Enticer S-Ti, on average, is extremely close to that of the Rugged Surge; a silencer that is significantly larger. The Enticer S-Ti is also quieter than the Thunder Chicken at the shooter’s ear on this platform. These relative performance comparisons are notable. Comprehensive Suppression Rating comparisons are provided in Section 6.68.2.

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 relative consistency of the internal silencer combustion and end cap exit event between all 5 shots during the test. These waveform feature consistencies in both gross amplitude and wave shape, from shot to shot, are discernable as a result of the high 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 0.475 milliseconds (475 microseconds) and the total timescale in Figure 2b is only 0.14 milliseconds (140 microseconds). PEW-SOFT provides a sampling point every microsecond and the individual data points are shown in Figure 2b to illustrate this.

Fig 2a. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Early-Time Peaks

Fig 2b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Shot 1 Peak

The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the Enticer S-Ti 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. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature

Fig 3b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window

Figure 4a. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature

Figure 4b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, Short Time Window

The Enticer S-Ti exhibits FRP measured at the muzzle that is perceptible to bystanders, in accordance with PEW Science inner ear modeling; it exhibits a more significantly perceptible FRP than does the longer Enticer L-Ti. The FRP is highlighted in both the pressure regime (Figure 3) and impulse regime (Figure 4). It is important to note that while the Enticer S-Ti exhibits performance close to that of the Rugged Surge on this platform, it does not mask FRP perception to bystanders as well as the Surge.

PEW Science Research Note 1: Characteristics of the slightly erratic impulse signatures produced by the longer Enticer L-Ti are not as pronounced in the impulse signatures from the Enticer S-Ti. While the amplitude of the Enticer S-Ti signatures is higher, which masks some of these characteristics, their relative presence is somewhat reduced. PEW Science postulates this is indicative of baffle design, and not necessarily end cap orifice geometry. Further research is planned in this area.

PEW Science Research Note 2: Comparing the behavior of the aforementioned 30 caliber rifle silencers with somewhat similar performance (CGS Helios QD, Rugged Surge, Otter Creek Labs PR30S, Q Thunder Chicken, and Thunder Beast ULTRA 9) presents some immediately notable outliers. Both the CGS Helios QD and the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti exhibit significantly high performance for their length, on this platform. Though both silencers share some common performance features, the technology implementations are radically different. Nonetheless, gross common attributes addressing high pressure and long combustion duration gas dynamics pay dividends in performance. A case study of such gross performance attributes, and their commonality across design pedigrees, is the subject of future PEW Science research.

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. Additional PEW Science Member Research Supplements containing this information are released periodically.

6.68.2 Relative Suppression Rating and Back Pressure Comparisons (.30 Rifle Silencers)

The Enticer S-Ti suppressor is intended to maximize sound signature suppression for its size. PEW Science has developed an empirical relation to quantify the back pressure (flow restriction) of silencers. Figure 7 and Figure 8 show 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 and Figure 8 are calculated from real test data acquired with PEW-SOFT. Please note the following:

  1. The PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1], may be generated for any silencer and suppressed weapon system using any suitable raw external overpressure signature data acquired 1.0 m left of the silencer end cap. PEW Science highly recommends data acquisition in accordance with The Silencer Sound Standard.
  1. Omega Zones are presented in Table 2, below, which are intended to provide guidance to weapons developers, silencer designers, and end-users, with regard to flow restriction characteristics of different silencer designs. It is very important to note that silencers possessing a relatively high Ω can still provide functional use on weapon systems. Some weapon systems are more sensitive to Ω than others.
  1. It is important to note that a silencer’s Omega Zone can shift when using a mounting scheme that differs from that used in the testing referenced in the published PEW Science Sound Signature Reviews. This phenomenon occurs due to some silencer mounting schemes significantly influencing flow restriction with some silencer designs.
  1. The theoretical lower limit of flow restriction, or so-called "zero back pressure" would be represented by the unsupressed state, Ω = 0 [Pa-1].
  1. PEW Science acknowledges that other dynamic events occur within a suppressed weapon system that can also influence weapon function. Therefore, PEW Science acknowledges that Ω is not the sole parameter one must consider for total supppressed weapon system operation. However, PEW Science postulates that the Ω metric influence can be significant.
  1. The Back Pressure Metric relations are most easily viewed on a logarithmic scale (See Figure 8).

Figure 7. Omega Back Pressure Metric And Suppression Rating Comparisons Of .308 Rifle Silencers Using PEW-SOFT Data and Analysis

As stated above, the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric is most easily viewed on a logarithmic scale. The metric is nonlinear; the shape of the trend in the data presented in Figure 8, below, illustrates the potential thresholds of extreme flow rate (approaching the unsuppressed state) and extreme flow restriction (approaching the trapping of the maximum amount of combustion byproducts in a system).

Figure 8. Omega Back Pressure Metric Comparisons Of .308 Rifle Silencers Using PEW-SOFT Data and Analysis

Omega characterizes silencer back pressure. It is important to note that back pressure is not blow back. The back pressure of a silencer is the flow restriction it introduces in a suppressed weapon system. The blow back phenomenon that can occur during the use of a suppressed weapon system is caused by the reciprocating system actuating too early relative to overpressure decay within the weapon system, resulting in exposure of excessive internal system overpressure to atmosphere. Some weapons may be tuned to function well with silencers in a high Omega Zone. Some weapons may require low-Omega silencers due to constraints in their operating system(s). Omega metric technical details can be found in PEW Science Public Research Supplement 6.40.

Table 2. PEW Science Back Pressure Metric Omega Zones And Suppressed Weapon System Functional Descriptions

The Enticer S-Ti possesses sound suppression performance, on average, that is similar to that of a Rugged Surge in the Surge’s long configuration. However, as previously noted, the shorter Enticer S-Ti is not able to compete with the longer Rugged Surge in FRP suppression to bystanders. Silencers like the Enticer S-Ti, the CGS Helios QD, and other short high performance silencers with coaxial design elements, often are unable to achieve FRP suppression performance of longer models. However, the Enticer S-Ti performs better than many in this regard.

Muzzle Suppression Ratings approaching 30 on a 20-in 7.62x51mm host weapon were, in the past, relegated to longer silencers. As shown in Figure 7, it is becoming increasingly common for shorter silencers like the Enticer S-Ti to achieve such performance. As design refinements continue to evolve, PEW Science postulates that several geometric features enabling this performance will more widely proliferate. For example, the Enticer S-Ti outperforms the sound signature suppression of the SilencerCo Omega 300 (Review 6.10) on this platform, by every measurable metric. The Enticer S-Ti achieves this with lighter weight, simpler construction, and a larger bore. This dichotomy represents a common example of performance-based design evolution in the current market.

It is extremely important to note that peak sound pressure [dB], peak sound impulse [dB-ms], and Omega (Ω) [Pa-1], alone, do not determine the sound supression performance of a silencer. It is the combination of these and other waveform parameters that form the total sound signature and the influence on human inner ear response. The Suppression Rating computation considers all of these factors.

6.68.3 Review Summary: Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti on a Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel

When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80, the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti mounted with the direct thread adapter, achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 42.5 in PEW Science testing.

PEW Science Subjective Opinion:

The Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti is a mid-size and lightweight .30 rifle silencer that exhibits high performance sound signature reduction, while possessing a modular rear mount capability. Note that the Enticer series also includes a longer Enticer L-Ti model, further increasing the sound signature suppression performance, albeit at the expense of nominally increased length and weight. The Enticer series is a continued example of high supersonic suppression performance possible with properly implemented coaxial design elements.

The Enticer series contains modified cone baffles with some coaxial elements and progressive geometry that takes advantage of pressure gradients, efficiently. Functionally, the design results in highly efficient management of supersonic flow by preventing a significant degree of high pressure stagnation, and when that management is no longer needed, the silencer possesses other efficient geometry to maintain performance. Subsonic performance data of the Enticer S-Ti is the subject of a future PEW Science publication.

The Enticer S-Ti is a mid-size silencer that meets or exceeds the sound suppression performance, on average, of several full-size rifle silencers like the Rugged Surge. The Enticer S-Ti also notably outperforms the SilencerCo Omega 300, and does so in a lighter and simpler design envelope. As design refinements continue to evolve, PEW Science postulates that several geometric features enabling this performance will more widely proliferate. The performance comparison of the Enticer S-Ti with the aforementioned silencers represents a common example of performance-based design evolution in the current market.

The rear mount threading of the Enticer series is 1.375”-24tpi; relatively common in many modern rifle silencers. As a result of this common modular interface, a plethora of mounting systems may be used. The performance of the Enticer S-Ti may be influenced by mounting system choice. The user’s choice of mount may balance system weight, length, durability, utility, and even back pressure of the silencer. The data presented by PEW Science in this Sound Signature Review was measured with the direct-thread mount. The mount may be removed with a 1-in open-ended wrench or socket.

The Enticer series is also offered in steel versions (the ENTICER S-17-4SS and ENTICER L-17-4SS). The steel versions may be attractive to some users due to increased durability at higher temperatures, at the expense of added weight. PEW Science has not evaluated the durability of the steel or titanium Enticer silencer system(s) on semiautomatic or automatic host weapons.

In this review, the Enticer S-Ti 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.