SSS.6.145 - Inert Haze Ti-P and the HK P30L
/Inert Haze Ti-P on the HK P30L Full-Size Semiautomatic Pistol
The Ti-P is manufactured by Inert Haze Suppressors. It is a midsized 9mm centerfire pistol silencer, intended to suppress many cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, up to and including 350 Legend; barrel length and cartridge restrictions are given on the Inert Haze website. The Ti-P has a 1.325-inch primary diameter and is 6.3 inches long from piston base to end cap. In addition to an internal inertial-decoupling piston possessing several thread diameters and pitches, the Ti-P may be attached to the host weapon with a variety of mounts compatible with the so-called SilencerCo Alpha thread pattern (1.125x28tpi). Users should note the Ti-P is also compatible with CGS pistons. The silencer is tubeless; the entirety of the silencer body is constructed from Grade 5 titanium. The Ti-P weighs 6 ounces with the inertial-decoupling piston and spring assembly installed, as tested. The Ti-P can be obtained from Inert Haze Dealers.
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-IH-076-001-23. Therefore, data pertaining to the Ti-P in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Inert Haze, LLC.
This Sound Signature Review contains single-test results using the Inert Haze Suppressors Ti-P on the HK P30L full-size semiautomatic pistol, chambered in 9mm with a 5-inch factory HK threaded barrel. Speer Lawman 147gr ammunition was used in the test.
Section 6.145.1 contains the Ti-P test results and analysis.
Section 6.145.2 contains Suppression Rating comparisons of the Ti-P with the AAC Ti-RANT 9M-HD, AAC Ti-RANT 9M, AAC Ti-RANT 9, HUXWRX CA$H 9K, Resilient Suppressors RSP, CGS MOD9 FS, Rugged Obsidian 45, and SWR Trident-9 silencers, fired on the Heckler and Koch P30L.
Section 6.145.3 contains the review summary and PEW Science subjective opinions.
Summary: When paired with the HK P30L full-size semiautomatic pistol and fired with Speer Lawman 147gr ammunition, the Inert Haze Ti-P achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 46.7 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
6.145.1 Inert Haze Ti-P Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Inert Haze Ti-P in tested on the HK P30L is shown in Table 1. The data acquired 1.0 m (39.4 in) left of the muzzle is available for viewing to all. This is a members-only review and includes pressure and impulse waveforms measured at the shooter’s ear. PEW Science thanks you for your support; further testing, research, and development of PEW-SOFT and the Silencer Sound Standard is made possible by members like you!
Table 1. Inert Haze Ti-P Sound Metric Summary
6.145.1.1 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 and the weapon was fired until the magazine was empty, and the slide locked back on the slide-release lever actuated by 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 dataset. 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 6 shots with the Inert Haze Ti-P 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 through Shot 4.
Fig 1a. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
Fig 1b. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Sound Pressure Signature
Figure 2a. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 2b. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
The Inert Haze Ti-P is a midsized 9mm pistol silencer that possesses a relatively high early time flow rate, somewhat similarly to the now discontinued Resilient Suppressors RSP (6.87). It should be noted that the two silencers share design pedigree. While both silencers allow for early time gas expansion around the blast baffle and possess progressive baffle spacing, the Ti-P possesses design changes and refinements, including:
Greater baffle curvature with larger surface area.
Fully circumferential external throat cavities (annular) in the initial baffles; the design is fully-welded.
Shorter overall length, lighter weight, and fewer baffles.
Enhanced piston vent geometry.
The above design changes allow the Ti-P to create a higher degree of initial turbulence while still maintaining a relatively high early time flow rate. These changes in gas dynamics contribute to the Ti-P achieving a higher muzzle Suppression Rating than the RSP on this host weapon. External gas momentum accumulation occurs at a slower rate (Fig. 2a) and free field pressure amplitude is lower across the entire time regime (Fig. 1). Note that blowdown time is similar between the two silencers.
PEW Science Research Note 1: The Inert Haze Ti-P does possess first-round-pop (FRP) at the weapon muzzle, which is postulated to be noticeable to bystanders, in accordance with PEW Science analysis. The RSP possesses less severe FRP than the Ti-P, but the entire shot string from the RSP is more severe than from the Ti-P, on this host weapon.
PEW Science Research Note 2: When comparing the sound field produced by the Ti-P on this weapon system to other high flow rate silencer configurations tested by PEW Science, the Ti-P possesses superior gross muzzle suppression. The Ti-P outperforms both the HUXWRX CASH9-K (6.96) and the aforementioned Resilient Suppressors RSP (6.87) in this regard, which both possess purposefully high early time flow rates. The Ti-P also outperforms short configurations of silencers intended to decrease size and increase flow rate, such as the short configurations of AAC Ti-RANT 9 variants (6.118). Furthermore, the over-bored short configuration of the Rugged Obsidian 45 (6.7) is also not able to reach the muzzle Suppression Rating of the Ti-P on this weapon system.
The Ti-P does not possess the gross muzzle suppression capability of larger conventional silencers like the CGS MOD9 FS (6.6), full-length AAC Ti-RANT 9 or Rugged Obsidian 45 variants, or the SWR Trident-9 (6.8). This should be expected, due to the silencer’s length and technology. It should be noted that the Inert Haze Ti-P provides superior risk reduction to the shooter in the free field, when compared to several of those silencers, as displayed in its shooter’s ear Suppression Rating. This is due to its higher early time flow rate (lower back pressure), which lowers the severity of ejection port blast hazard to the weapon operator. Overall suppression performance on the HK P30L semiautomatic pistol is summarized in Section 6.145.2 of this article, as well as in the PEW Science Rankings Section.
PEW Science Research Note 3: The Ti-P, like its predecessor the RSP, is a primitive version of a hybrid silencer design; one that possesses conventional baffle geometry to generate a high degree of turbulence and gas stagnation, while allowing for a higher degree of early time flow rate to reduce system back pressure. Hybrid designs often produce a high degree of gross muzzle suppression while still mitigating weapon over function, reducing the propensity for contribution of excessive ejection port blast loads to signature at the operator’s location. Design characteristics of these types of silencers are examined in PEW Science Member Research Supplement 6.124.
Typically, hybrid designs do not possess extremely high overall flow rates, like HUXWRX Flow-Through silencers. Hybrid designs may also vary considerably in their complexity. Although the Ti-P employs relatively simple geometry to achieve high early time flow rate, an example of a more complicated hybrid design technology is CAT SURGE BYPASS.
PEW Science Research Note 4: After FRP, the signature of the Inert Haze Ti-P does normalize, and is relatively stable during the first three shots. However, as is the case with many centerfire pistol silencers used on a semiautomatic pistol, the measured signatures during later shots begin to experience divergence. This signature inconsistency later in the shot string does not necessarily adversely affect the hearing damage risk potential to bystanders. Nonetheless, it is measurable, and is the result of significant temperature differentials developing throughout the silencer internal baffle geometries. As the environment within the silencer is heated, gas expansion happens at a lower rate, which begins to stagnate within the time regime of weapon cycling. A side effect of this pressure stagnation, when operating a suppressed centerfire pistol with a modified tilting barrel Browning action, is erratic early-time combustion propagation. This phenomenon manifests in the waveforms measured at the shooter’s ear as early-time shock loads resulting from a pressure leak from the breach of the locked semiautomatic HK P30L pistol. This also results in impulse accumulation delays through the weapon muzzle (Fig. 2b). Further details are provided in Section 6.145.1.2 for PEW Science Members.
This phenomenon also occurred in the PEW Science tests of all the other aforementioned silencers on this host weapon. The rate of temperature increase near the proximal end of the silencer influencing subsequent gas expansion is reduced as flow rate significantly increases, which is why it occurs less frequently with the RSP and CASH 9K.
PEW Science Research Note 5: As in most semiautomatic 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 75 ms in Figure 1a) the mechanical noise of the slide closing is observed. The pressure signature of Shot 6 does not display this event due to the slide remaining locked to the rear after the sixth and final round is fired from the magazine.
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 semiautomatic firearm configuration.
PEW Science Research Note 6: Note that the muzzle Suppression Rating of the Inert Haze Ti-P used on the full-size HK P30L semiautomatic handgun test host is 44.0 and the shooter’s-ear Suppression Rating is 42.3; which are the same zones on the Suppression Rating Dose Chart. The gross suppression of a silencer, as well as its flow rate, influences the holistic signature on a semiautomatic host weapon. The signatures measured at the shooter’s ear are presented below.
6.145.1.2 SOUND SIGNATURES AT SHOOTER’S EAR
Real sound pressure histories from the same 6-shot test of the Inert Haze Ti-P acquired with PEW-SOFT at the shooter’s ear are shown below. Again, 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 primary sound signature pressure histories at the ear for all 6 shots are shown in Figure 3. The primary sound signature history is shown in Figure 3a. A zoomed-in timescale is displayed in Figure 3b, in the region of peak sound pressure for Shot 1, Shot 2, and Shot 4. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories at the ear from the same 6-shot test are shown in Figure 4. Again, full and short timescales are shown.
Figure 3a. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Ear Sound Pressure Signature
Figure 3b. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Ear Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window
Figure 4a. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Ear Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 4b. Inert Haze Ti-P subsonic 9x19mm HK P30L Semiautomatic Pistol Ear Sound Impulse Signature Peaks
The signatures measured from the Ti-P on this weapon system at the shooter’s ear are very similar to those measured with the Resilient Suppressors RSP, albeit at a slightly higher amplitude and with more early time combustion leaks later in the shot string (see Section 6.87.1.2, Fig. 4a). As discussed in the preceding section, this is due to a higher degree of temperature differential in the Ti-P occurring earlier in time which results in unintended pressure stagnation along with potentially more severe internal barrel shock propagation. The faster heating is due to both slightly lower gross flow rate, different thermal conductivity, and different thermal mass of the two silencers. Note the early time shock loads occurring at approximately 28.5 ms. These shocks are pressure leaks from early weapon unlock, originating from the breech. It is important to note that system kinematics may be influenced by early time internally reflected shock loads at the muzzle which propagate significantly differently depending upon silencer characteristics.
PEW Science Research Note 7: The external early-time shock loads occurring during Shots 4, 5, and 6 do result in slightly elevated hearing damage risk potential to the shooter with this weapon system. Despite this increased hearing damage risk, the Suppression Rating at the shooter’s ear with the Ti-P is still in the 40-zone. PEW Science postulates a lower rate of fire may reduce the propensity of such shocks with this weapon system, due to a reduced rate of system heating mitigating the phenomena discussed above. This would raise the effective Suppression Rating of the system.
PEW Science Research Note 8: The FRP from the Inert Haze Ti-P on this host weapon, to the shooter, is negligible. The performance of the Ti-P on a pistol, at the shooter’s ear, is driven by both muzzle signature and ejection port signature. Due to its high early time flow rate (lower back pressure), the Ti-P possesses a very balanced suppressed sound field on the P30L. The Ti-P is able to achieve a higher degree of shooter protection from overpressure hazards than short configurations of AAC Ti-RANT 9 variants, for example, due to this balanced signature. The muzzle signature from the Ti-P does not significantly adversely effect the sound field at the shooter’s ear, when compared to those configurations.
When compared to configurations with much higher muzzle Suppression Ratings, like full length AAC Ti-RANT 9 configurations, or the CGS MOD9, the Ti-P provides superior shooter’s ear risk reduction, but still may sound louder to the shooter in late time. This late time phenomenon does not influence hearing damage risk in the free field.
Factors that may increase the actual objective loudness (the risk to you, the operator) of using a system with a lower muzzle Suppression Rating, despite the same or higher shooter’s ear Suppression Rating, include shooting the suppressed weapon system:
Indoors.
In a vehicle.
Next to a building, berm, or treeline.
This is the same phenomenon that presents when shooting a high flow rate centerfire rifle silencer on a reciprocating semiautomatic or automatic rifle. Reference the test report of the HUXWRX FLOW 556K (6.83) and FLOW 762 Ti (6.114). Even if not indoors or adjacent to reflecting surfaces, late time signatures propagated from lower muzzle suppression rating systems will influence shooter perception in late time. This does not influence the shooter’s ear Suppression Rating because it does not increase the hearing damage risk potential to the shooter in the free field.
The following section presents overall comparisons on the HK P30L semiautomatic pistol.
6.145.2 Suppression Rating Comparison (Subsonic 9x19mm from the HK P30L)
Figure 5 presents a comparison of the PEW Science Suppression Rating of the Inert Haze Ti-P with other silencers on the full-size HK P30L semiautomatic pistol using subsonic Speer Lawman 147gr 9mm ammunition.
Figure 5. Suppression Rating Comparisons of the Inert Haze Ti-P with the AAC Ti-RANT 9 Series, HUXWRX CA$H 9K, Resilient Suppressors RSP, Rugged Obsidian 45, CGS MOD9 FS, and SWR Trident-9 on the HK P30L, Using PEW-SOFT 9x19mm Subsonic Test Data and PEW Science Analysis
Readers may immediately note the balanced performance of the midsized Inert Haze Ti-P on this weapon system, when compared to some of the other configurations shown. The Ti-P exhibits a higher bystander (muzzle) Suppression Rating on this system than all other high flow rate configurations shown, while still providing comparable shooter’s ear hazard reduction. Although the Resilient Suppressors RSP (6.87) does produce a higher shooter’s ear Suppression Rating than the updated Ti-P, the muzzle Suppression Rating differential between the two silencers is more significant.
Silencer configurations that exhibit high flow rate through the use of fewer baffles or over-bore for the cartridge, such as short configurations of the AAC Ti-RANT 9 (6.118) and the Rugged Obsidian 45 (6.7), are significantly outperformed by the Inert Haze Ti-P at the muzzle.
As previously discussed, the Ti-P does not possess the gross muzzle suppression capability of larger conventional silencers like the CGS MOD9 FS (6.6), full-length AAC Ti-RANT 9 or Rugged Obsidian 45 variants, or the SWR Trident-9 (6.8). This should be expected, due to the silencer’s length and technology. It should be noted that the Inert Haze Ti-P provides superior risk reduction to the shooter in the free field, when compared to several of those silencers, as displayed in its shooter’s ear Suppression Rating. This is due to its higher early time flow rate (lower back pressure), which lowers the severity of ejection port blast hazard to the weapon operator.
The signature to which the shooter’s ear is subjected is a function of both ejection port blast loads and suppressed muzzle blast loads. When the silencer’s endcap is in closer proximity to the shooter, the severity is increased. The coalescing of the ejection port blast overpressure with the primary muzzle blast exacerbates the severity of the signature at the shooter’s head position. It is not ejection port signature, alone, that dictates the signature measured at the shooter’s head position.
6.145.3 Review Summary: Inert Haze Ti-P on the HK P30L Full-Size Semiautomatic Pistol
When paired with the HK P30L full-size semiautomatic pistol and fired with Speer Lawman 147gr ammunition, the Inert Haze Ti-P achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 46.7 in PEW Science testing. As with all weapon systems, the user is encouraged to examine both muzzle and ear Suppression Ratings.
PEW Science Subjective Opinion:
The Inert Haze Ti-P is a lightweight midsized 9mm pistol silencer that possesses balanced high performance for both the shooter and bystanders on semiautomatic handguns. At 6 ounces and 6.3 inches long, the Ti-P is lighter and smaller than many other 9mm pistol silencers on the current market, while also exhibiting superior sound signature suppression to the shooter. The holistic design and performance of the Inert Haze Ti-P is notable.
The Inert Haze Ti-P possesses a relatively high early time flow rate, somewhat similarly to the now discontinued Resilient Suppressors RSP. It should be noted that the two silencers share design pedigree. While both silencers allow for early time gas expansion around the blast baffle and possess progressive baffle spacing, the Ti-P possesses design changes and refinements, including greater baffle curvature with larger surface area, fully circumferential external throat cavities in the initial baffles of the fully-welded design, and enhanced piston vent geometry. The Ti-P is also shorter, lighter weight, and possesses fewer baffles than the RSP. The design is fully-welded.
The aforementioned design changes allow the Ti-P to create a higher degree of initial turbulence while still maintaining a relatively high early time flow rate. These changes in gas dynamics contribute to the Ti-P achieving a higher muzzle Suppression Rating than the RSP on this host weapon.
When comparing the sound field produced by the Ti-P on this weapon system to other high flow rate silencer configurations tested by PEW Science, the Ti-P possesses superior gross muzzle suppression. The Ti-P outperforms the HUXWRX CASH9-K, which also possess a purposefully high early time flow rate. The Ti-P also outperforms short configurations of silencers intended to decrease size and increase flow rate, such as the short configurations of AAC Ti-RANT 9 variants. Furthermore, the over-bored short configuration of the Rugged Obsidian 45 is also not able to reach the muzzle Suppression Rating of the Ti-P on this weapon system.
The Ti-P does not possess the gross muzzle suppression capability of larger conventional silencers like the CGS MOD9 FS, full-length AAC Ti-RANT 9 or Rugged Obsidian 45 variants, or the SWR Trident-9. This should be expected, due to the silencer’s length and technology. It should be noted that the Inert Haze Ti-P provides superior risk reduction to the shooter in the free field, when compared to several of those silencers, as displayed in its shooter’s ear Suppression Rating. This is due to its higher early time flow rate (lower back pressure), which lowers the severity of ejection port blast hazard to the weapon operator.
The backpressure-reducing features of the Inert Haze Ti-P, coupled with its overall performance and size, make it one of the most advanced pistol silencers evaluated by PEW Science, despite its relatively simple design. Like its predecessor the RSP, PEW Science considers the hybrid design of the Ti-P to be a welcome addition to the market; its departure from many traditional pistol silencer designs is significant.
The Ti-P is fully welded. Disassembly of the rear end cap of the silencer may be accomplished with a socket wrench. The silencer is compatible with SilencerCo “Alpha” thread pattern rear cap accessories, as well as CGS pistol silencer inertial decoupling pistons. PEW Science has not evaluated the Ti-P with other mounting solutions.
Of particular note is the relatively light weight of the Ti-P. At three eighths of a pound, the silencer is relatively balanced on a handgun. As the silencer is sealed, but constructed of titanium, the user may perform cleaning maintenance with a variety of liquid cleaning solutions. PEW Science highly recommends that users follow the manufacturer’s maintenance and care instructions.
In this review, the Inert Haze Ti-P performance metrics depend upon suppressing a full-size combat handgun firing a full-power subsonic centerfire pistol cartridge. This type of evaluation provides a potential upper-bound for typical real handgun silencer performance due to the barrel length and action dynamics of the host weapon. PEW Science encourages the reader to carefully consider action dynamics, barrel lengths, and other characteristics in the selection of centerfire pistol silencer hosts.
The hearing damage potential of centerfire pistol 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. Note that the presence of nearby reflecting surfaces, as well as ammunition choice, can influence the sound signature to which both the shooter and bystanders are subjected.
