SSS.6.74 - Silencer Central Banish 30 and the Savage Model 10 PC .308 (Free Version)

Silencer Central Banish 30 on a Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel

The Banish 30 is designed and manufactured by Silencer Central. It is a 30 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress most cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, including 300 Weatherby Magnum. It has a 1.5-inch diameter and is modular; it is 9.1 inches long in its full configuration and 7 inches long in its short configuration. The silencer is attached to the host weapon with a built-in direct thread 5/8”-24tpi interface mount. The silencer is user-serviceable; the entire titanium baffle assembly may be removed from the titanium tube sections with the included end cap removal tool and baffle pusher tool. The silencer weighs 14.3 ounces in the long configuration and 11.2 ounces in the short configuration, as tested. The Banish 30 can be obtained from Silencer Central.

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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-SC-022-001-21. Therefore, data pertaining to the Banish 30 in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Silencer Central.

This review contains results from two separate tests. PEW Science tested the Banish 30 in both long and short configurations direct thread mounted on the Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine rifle, chambered in .308WIN with a 20-inch barrel. Federal XM80 149gr ammunition was used in the tests.

• Section 6.74.1 contains the Banish 30 Long Configuration test results and analysis. The Banish 30 is not the same silencer as the Banish 30 Gold, in construction, features, or performance.

• Section 6.74.2 contains the Banish 30 Short Configuration test results and analysis.

• Section 6.74.3 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 6.74.4 contains the review summary and PEW Science opinions.

Summary: When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80, the Silencer Central Banish 30 in it’s long configuration, mounted with direct thread, achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 39.1 in PEW Science testing. In its short configuration, the Banish 30 achieved a Suppression Rating of 34.3. 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

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6.74.1 Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Sound Signature Test Results

A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Banish 30 in its long configuration 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.

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Table 1. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Sound Metric Summary

6.74.1.1 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 2.4 millisecond long portion of the first round sound pressure signature of the Banish 30 in it’s long configuration 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 141.5 dB.

2. Jetting is immediately suppressed down to an amplitude of 124.2 dB

3. The first major jet reaches a peak amplitude of 143.7 dB.

4. Peak FRP occurs with an amplitude of 147.3 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 6.74.3 of this review, with the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa^-1].

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Fig 1. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration 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 Diligent Defense Enticer-S (Review 6.68), the Rugged Surge (Review 6.22), the Otter Creek Labs PR30S (Review 6.49), the CGS Helios QD (Review 6.13), and the Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold (Review 6.69). As highlighted in previous PEW Science publications, the Q Thunder Chicken (Review 6.20) is also in Zone 6 and possesses similar features of early time gas delay. The bullet exit event of the Thunder Chicken possesses an atypical gas jet coupling, characteristic of the bore and baffle design in Q rifle silencers.

The Silencer Central Banish 30 and Banish 30 Gold are similar in name, but not in technology, though their performance is somewhat similar. One of the significant differences between the Banish 30 and the Banish 30 Gold, other than the modularity of the Banish 30, is the higher flow rate (lower back pressure) of the long configuration of the Banish 30 than the Banish 30 Gold. The Banish 30 allows gas out more quickly, but with much of the same characteristic flow shape. Jetting amplitudes are nominally higher with the Banish 30 than the Banish 30 Gold (Figure 1, above, and Figure 1 in SSS 6.69.1.1)

Like the Banish 30 Gold, the Banish 30 also shares some similarities in early time signature in this flow regime with silencers exhibiting higher back pressure; those in Omega Zone 7, particularly with the Otter Creek Labs PR30L (Review 6.48). The gross behavior of the Banish 30 on this host weapon system is highlighted by the extreme amplitude decay (feature 2 in Fig 1) prior to primary jetting.

At the muzzle, the Silencer Central Banish 30 is quieter than many silencers in Omega Zone 6 and below, but not quieter than the Q Thunder Chicken, for example. The Banish 30 is also louder than the Banish 30 Gold.

Unlike the the Banish 30 Gold, which possesses conventional truncated and notched straight cone baffles, the Banish 30 possesses conventional notched curved cone baffles. All baffles are un-ported. The sound suppression of the Banish 30 on this host weapon is consistent with its internal design and size envelope; on average, its performance is very close to that of the KGM R30 (Review 6.63). The Silencer Central Banish 30 exhibits higher sound suppression performance, on average, than the SilencerCo Omega 300 (Review 6.10). Comprehensive Suppression Rating comparisons are provided in Section 6.74.2.

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 0.6 milliseconds (600 microseconds) and the total timescale in Figure 2b is only 0.2 milliseconds (200 microseconds). PEW-SOFT provides a sampling point every microsecond and the individual data points are shown in Figure 2b to illustrate this.

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Fig 2a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Early-Time Peaks

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Fig 2b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Shot 1 Peak

The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the Banish 30 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 and Shot 3.

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Fig 3a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature

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Fig 3b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window

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Figure 4a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature

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Figure 4b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Long Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, Short Time Window

The Banish 30 in its long configuration exhibits FRP measured at the muzzle that is significantly perceptible to bystanders, in accordance with PEW Science inner ear modeling. It exhibits a more significantly perceptible FRP than does the Banish 30 Gold. The FRP is highlighted in both the pressure regime (Figure 3) and impulse regime (Figure 4).

PEW Science Research Note 1: Similarly to the Banish 30 Gold, the primary features of the Banish 30 impulse signatures in Figure 4, above, are consistent with those from full size rifle silencers with conventional cone baffles, such as the Rugged Surge. This type of behavior is scalable in both suppression and flow rate (back pressure) with the addition or subtraction of baffles. The performance characteristics of such silencers are relatively predictable and have been the subject of numerous internal PEW Science parametric research studies, some of which were instrumental in the development of the published Omega Metric in PEW Science Research Supplement 6.40 (Public Article).

For a silencer with relatively simple internal geometry that is also user-serviceable, the performance of the Banish 30 is somewhat notable, as it is also modular. Complete disassembly of the silencer internals is possible, which is not always feasible for more complex designs.

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.

6.74.2 Silencer Central Banish 30 Short Configuration Sound Signature Test Results

A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Banish 30 in its short configuration is shown in Table 2. The data acquired 1.0 m (39.4 in) left of the muzzle is available for viewing to all. As stated in Section 6.74.1, 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.

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Table 2. Silencer Central Banish 30 Short Configuration Sound Metric Summary

6.74.2.1 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.

The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the short configuration of the Banish 30 are shown in Figure 7a. The sound signatures of Shot 1 and Shot 2 are shown in Figure 7b, in early time. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 8a. In Figure 8b, a shorter timescale is shown comparing the impulse of Shot 1 to that of Shot 2 and Shot 3.

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Fig 7a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Short Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature

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Fig 7b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Short Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window

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Figure 8a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Short Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature

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Figure 8b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Short Configuration Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, Short Time Window

Immediately apparent in the sound signatures of the short configuration of the Banish 30, when compared to the long configuration of the Banish 30, is the higher flow rate (faster blowdown, Figure 7a and faster rise to maximum positive phase impulse, Figure 8a).

Of particular note is the early onset of combustion divergence in the short configuration between Shot 1 and Shot 2 (Figure 7b) when compared to that in the long configuration (Figure 3b). Despite this significant early time FRP phenomenon, the overall impulse disparity is not significant (see note below).

PEW Science Research Note 2: Though the impulse disparity between FRP and subsequent shots is less pronounced than was observed in the test of the long configuration, the postulated hearing damage risk to bystanders during FRP with the short configuration is more severe than with the long configuration; the Banish 30 has more severe relative FRP at the muzzle when shortened.

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

The Banish 30 suppressor is intended to offer a spectrum of sound signature suppression in two configurations without significant regard to back pressure. PEW Science has developed an empirical relation to quantify the back pressure (flow restriction) of silencers. Figure 11 and Figure 12 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 11 and Figure 12 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.

2. Omega Zones are presented in Table 3, 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.

3. 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.

4. The theoretical lower limit of flow restriction, or so-called "zero back pressure" would be represented by the unsupressed state, Ω = 0 [Pa^-1].

5. 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.

6. The Back Pressure Metric relations are most easily viewed on a logarithmic scale (See Figure 12).

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Figure 11. 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 12, 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).

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Figure 12. 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 3. PEW Science Back Pressure Metric Omega Zones And Suppressed Weapon System Functional Descriptions

The Banish 30 in its long configuration possesses sound suppression performance, on average, that is similar to that of a KGM R30 (Review 6.63) or a Dead Air Sandman-L (Review 6.23) and higher than that of the SilencerCo Omega 300 (Review 6.10). It does not quite reach the performance of the Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold (Review 6.69). In its short configuration, the Banish 30 eclipses the performance of the short configuration of the Rugged Surge (Review 6.22).

At the shooter’s ear, the Banish 30 in its long configuration exhibits a sound signature that is louder than the CGS Helios QD (Review 6.13) on this platform. However, the Banish 30 exhibits a higher Muzzle Suppression Rating and is quieter than the Helios QD to bystanders, on this platform.

Silencers such as the Banish 30 represent simple implementations of conventional design that may be applied to a variety of applications, as the system is user serviceable.

From the above data, it can be concluded that the Banish 30 exhibits a relatively high flow rate in its short configuration, while not significantly sacrificing sound signature performance on this platform. In its long configuration, the Banish 30 performs similarly to other silencers with conventional baffle designs. The modular nature of the silencer offers this flexibility to the user. This flexibility, along with the silencer being user serviceable, is notable.

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.

6.74.4 Review Summary: Silencer Central Banish 30 on a Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel

When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80, the Silencer Central Banish 30 in it’s long configuration, mounted with direct thread, achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 39.1 in PEW Science testing. In its short configuration, the Banish 30 achieved a Suppression Rating of 34.3.

PEW Science Subjective Opinion:

The Silencer Central Banish 30 is a full-size and lightweight modular 30 caliber rifle silencer that exhibits typical sound signature reduction for its design envelope. Note that the Banish 30 is user-serviceable, allowing use on a variety of platforms and is also modular, allowing for use in two length configurations. The Banish 30 is not the same silencer as the Banish 30 Gold, in construction, features, or performance.

The Banish 30 design possesses conventional notched curved cone baffles with no porting. The sound suppression of the silencer on this host weapon is consistent with its internal design and size envelope. On average, its long configuration performance is similar to that of the KGM R30 and Dead Air Sandman-L, and higher than that of the SilencerCo Omega 300. The Banish 30 short configuration performance is higher than that of the short configuration of the Rugged Surge, on this platform. The performance of the Banish 30 is not as high as that of the Banish 30 Gold.

The silencer is user-serviceable, which theoretically makes it attractive for use in suppressing rimfire weapons. Though the silencer may be relatively easily cleaned of vaporized lead and carbon deposits, rimfire suppression may be best relegated to dedicated designs for size and weight efficiency. Nonetheless, the use case is possible.

Unlike the taper mount equipped Banish 30 Gold, the Banish 30 mounts with a built-in direct thread interface. Extraneous mounts are not required for mounting of the Banish 30; the host weapon must be threaded 5/8”-24tpi (typical of many 30 caliber bolt action rifles).

The Banish 30 is not the same silencer as the Banish 30 Gold; the later employs truncated straight cone baffles and is not modular in length. Note that the entire Banish 30 series is constructed of titanium. PEW Science has not evaluated the durability of the Banish 30 silencer system(s) on semiautomatic or automatic host weapons.

In this review, the Banish 30 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.