SSS.6.22 - Rugged Surge and the Savage M10 PC .308
/Rugged Suppressors Surge on the Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel
The Surge is manufactured by Rugged Suppressors. It is a 30 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress many cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, up to and including .300 Remington Ultra Magnum, with no barrel length restrictions. It has a 1.5-inch diameter and is modular, in that it can be configured in the user’s choice of two lengths. The length in the long configuration is 9 inches and the length in the short configuration is 7.5 inches. The silencer mounts to the host firearm with a proprietary mounting system; the user may choose from various Rugged flash hider and muzzle brake mounts. The outer tube and end-cap are constructed of 17-4 stainless steel. The baffles in both the main section and the forward ADAPT module are cast of Stellite and are fully welded. As tested, the silencer weighs 24.9 ounces or 20.8 ounces in the long or short configurations, respectively, with the included R3 flash hider. The Surge can be obtained from Silencer Shop.
This review contains test results using the Surge in both its long and short configurations on the Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine rifle, chambered in .308WIN with an 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 Rugged Surge achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 42.9 in PEW Science testing. In its short configuration with the same host weapon and the same ammunition, the Surge achieved a Suppression Rating of 32.1.
6.22.1 Surge Sound Signature Test Results (Long Configuration)
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Surge 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. 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. Rugged Surge (Long Configuration) Sound Metric Summary
6.22.1.1 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.
Figure 1 shows a 3.5 millisecond long portion of the first round sound pressure signature of the Rugged Surge in its long configuration as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle. There are three significant waveform features labeled:
An initial pressure pulse out of the silencer, after the bullet exits the end-cap, causes a 139.8 dB peak
As gas continues to exit the silencer from the primary combustion event, the measured sound pressure caused by gas jetting increases relatively linearly to a first major peak of 144.5 dB.
The gas continues to vent to atmosphere with increasing pressure magnitude, eventually reaching a peak sound overpressure of 146.2 dB.
This is the typical sequence observed when firing supersonic .308WIN ammunition from a bolt-action rifle with an attached silencer that exhibits high flow restriction (back pressure); however, internal silencer design can significantly influence the measured timing and pressure amplitudes.
Fig 1. Surge (Long) First Round .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 09-MAY-2020
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 bullet end-cap exit event between all 5 shots during the test, prior to the influences of internal silencer gas environment. This event is plainly visible and decoupled from the majority of the primary combustion event due to the high gas flow restriction exhibited by the Rugged Surge silencer. 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 displayed in Figure 2a is 0.4 milliseconds (400 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. Rugged Surge (Long) First Round .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure First Peaks 1, 09-MAY-2020
Fig 2b. Rugged Surge (Long) First Round .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure FRP Peak, 09-MAY-2020
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the Surge are shown in Figure 3a. The sound signatures of Shot 1 and Shot 2 are shown in Figure 3b, in the regions of peak sound pressure. Note the same peak events are labeled for Shot 1 that were previously labeled in Figure 1. 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. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Fig 3b. Rugged Surge (Long) Peak View of Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 4a. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 4b. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
The measured first-round-pop (FRP) is not evident in the peak amplitude of the pressure regime at the muzzle, but it is evident in the timing of the peaks. Note that after the initial impulse step peak occurs at approximately 30 ms, the impulse of Shot 1 has a steeper slope than the impulse of subsequent shots (Fig. 4). The fastest rise-time to peak impulse occurs in Shot 1, as expected.
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. Note the slight irregularities in first peak time-phasing (Fig 2a) measured at the muzzle with the Surge, similar to that noted in the test measurements of the Dead Air Sandman-S in Sound Signature Review 6.11 and the Rugged Radiant in Sound Signature Review 6.12. These irregularities can be compared to that of the SilencerCo Omega 300 in review 6.10. The baffles of the Rugged and Dead Air Silencers are similar to the baffles in the Omega 300, but of slightly different shape and configuration. This results in differing early-time pressure waveform shapes. Despite these anomalies, 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 bolt action rifle firearm configuration.
PEW Science note: One notable observation from the measured data is the relatively long rise-time to peak impulse exhibited by the long configuration of the Surge in this test, when compared to that of all of the other .30 rifle silencers shown in public PEW Science testing, to date. The rise-time to peak impulse (peak momentum transfer potential) measured 1.0 meter left of the muzzle, of the Surge in its long configuration, after the first shot when firing supersonic .308WIN ammunition, is measured to be slower than that of the CGS Helios QD with solid end-cap. This is one objective measurement that indicates the Surge exhibits relatively low gas flow rate and therefore relatively high back pressure characteristics. More detailed and direct comparisons are provided in Section 6.22.3 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.
As shown above, FRP significantly influences rise time to peak impulse. Therefore, FRP waveforms must be excluded from the data set when formulating flow rate (back pressure) calculations that utilize the waveform data from subsequent shots.
6.22.1.2 SOUND SIGNATURES AT SHOOTER’S EAR
Real sound pressure histories from the same 5-shot test 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 5 shots are shown in Figure 5. The primary sound signature history is shown on the left. A zoomed-in timescale is displayed on the right, in the region of peak sound pressure for Shot 1 and Shot 2. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories at the ear from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 6. Again, full and short timescales are shown.
Figure 5a. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Pressure Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 5b. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Ear Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 6a. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 6b. Rugged Surge (Long) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Impulse Signature Peaks, 09-MAY-2020
Similar to the measurements at the muzzle, there is FRP evident when examining the waveforms measured at the shooter’s ear, but only in late time in impulse space (Figure 6). Note that the fast rise-time to peak impulse is evident in Shot 1. After the very similar pressure and impulse magnitudes prior to the gas completely exiting the weapon system (between 27 and 30 ms), the impulse of subsequent shots drops to magnitudes lower than the initial peaks. This is similar to the behavior observed in testing of the Q Thunder Chicken. The supersonic .308WIN platform creates significant sound signature even before the gas completely exits the weapon system, as was shown in the measured muzzle sound pressure and impulse signatures in the previous section, and like the Thunder Chicken, the Surge in its long configuration maintains a lower impulse in late time, after the first shot.
As typical, the overall sound signature measured at the shooter’s ear possesses significantly less amplitude in both the pressure and impulse regimes than the signature measured at the muzzle (refer to Table 1). Furthermore, the application of both pressure and impulse at the shooter’s ear is delayed when compared to the pressure and impulse at the weapon muzzle. The combination of varying amplitude and rise time to peak amplitude influences the response of the human ear.
PEW Science note: An interesting note is that the Rugged Surge in its long configuration may have FRP that is more perceptible to bystanders than it is to the shooter, based on analytical hearing modeling with the test data as input. This is the subject of continued research interest.
6.22.2 Surge Sound Signature Test Results (Short Configuration)
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Surge 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 6.22.1, 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 2. Rugged Surge (Short Configuration) Sound Metric Summary
6.22.2.1 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.
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the Surge in its short configuration are shown in Figure 7a. The sound signatures of Shot 1 and Shot 2 are shown in a smaller time window in Figure 7b. 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.
Fig 7a. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Fig 7b. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 8a. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 8b. Rugged Surge (Short) Bolt Action Rifle Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
As was shown in the test of the long configuration, the measured pressure regime first-round-pop (FRP) in the short configuration is evident when comparing Shot 1 to Shot 2 (Fig 7b). Figure 8b also shows FRP in the impulse regime. Note that the FRP of the Surge is evident only in time phasing, not in peak amplitude. This is important to note, and similar behavior is observed in the long configuration.
Again, the overall shape of the impulse waveforms measured at the muzzle, from shot-to-shot, are extremely consistent, highlighting the silencer’s overall sound performance consistency at the muzzle after the FRP, as well as the relative consistency of the tested firearm configuration. Note that the sound overpressure and impulse measured at the muzzle with the short configuration of the Surge are higher than that with the long configuration. The back pressure is also lower; that data is presented in Section 6.22.3 of this review.
PEW Science note: 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. Note the differences in pressure and impulse from the first to second shots in the test of the long configuration versus the difference measured in the test of the short configuration; the short configuration possesses less FRP characteristics. Silencer internal volume, baffle design, overall size, and other parameters influence both the amplitude and duration of FRP in the pressure and impulse regimes.
By removing two baffles from the Surge to create the short configuration, the silencer performance changes significantly in both suppression and back pressure.
6.22.2.2 SOUND SIGNATURES AT SHOOTER’S EAR
Real sound pressure histories from the same 5-shot test of the Surge’s short configuration 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 5 shots with the Surge in its short configuration are shown in Figure 9a. A zoomed-in timescale is displayed in Figure 9b, in the region of peak sound pressure for Shot 1 and Shot 2. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories at the ear from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 10. Again, full and short timescales are shown.
Figure 9a. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Pressure Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 9b. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 10a. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Impulse Signature, 09-MAY-2020
Figure 10b. Rugged Surge (Short) .308 Bolt Action Rifle Ear Sound Impulse Signature Peaks, 09-MAY-2020
The previously observed FRP characteristics measured at the muzzle are evident in the ear measurements, but only in impulse amplitude and timing (Figure 10). Note that in the short configuration, the late-time impulse rises above the initial peaks.
As typical, the overall sound signature measured at the shooter’s ear possesses significantly less amplitude in both the pressure and impulse regimes than the signature measured at the muzzle (refer to Table 2). Furthermore, the application of both pressure and impulse at the shooter’s ear is delayed when compared to the pressure and impulse at the weapon muzzle. The combination of varying amplitude and rise time to peak amplitude influences the response of the human ear.
Note the higher average pressure and impulse measured at the weapon muzzle and at the shooter’s ear in this test of the short configuration when compared to that of the long configuration of the Surge. This more intense sound signature results in a reduced Suppression Rating when using the Surge in its short configuration. It is interesting to note that the difference between the first shot and subsequent shots at the shooter’s ear in the short configuration is less pronounced than in the long configuration. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Surge in its short configuration reduces back pressure, but also relative FRP, when compared to the long configuration.
6.22.3 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 Rugged Surge is intended to maximize sound suppression and durability, but it is not intended to exhibit low back pressure. PEW Science is currently conducting silencer back pressure research. Figure 11 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 11 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.
Data is normalized to the silencer with the highest back pressure shown, which is the Rugged Surge in its long configuration in this Sound Signature Review.
Figure 11. Back Pressure and Suppression Rating Comparisons of .308 Rifle Silencers using PEW-SOFT Data
From the above data, it can be concluded that the Rugged Surge suppressor may produce significant back pressure, when compared to shorter (louder) silencers in the supersonic flow regime. It is predicted to exhibit higher back pressure than the CGS Helios QD with solid end-cap. The Helios is predicted to produce approximately 9% lower back pressure than the Surge in its long configuration. It is very interesting to note that the CGS Helios is still quieter than the long configuration of the Surge at the shooter’s ear.
It is important to note that the back pressure potential of silencers may not be significant in practical use with semi-automatic and automatic hosts, depending on the respective metric magnitudes; this is the subject of future PEW Science research. For example, it is postulated that there is a threshold relative back pressure metric below which adequate semi-automatic weapon function on 5.56x45mm host weapons may be achieved. Whether that threshold is 0.36 in Figure 11 (Sandman-S) or 0.44 (Trash Panda), 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. Further research is ongoing.
PEW Science note: The relative back pressure percentages described in this section are only valid when examining the data normalized to the Rugged Surge in its long configuration in Figure 11. PEW Science back pressure research is ongoing. Membership contributions to PEW Science help fund such research.
The Rugged Surge in its long configuration is significantly quieter than mid-size 30 caliber rifle silencers, like the Trash Panda, Sandman-S, and Radiant, but is predicted to exhibit significantly higher back pressure. The Surge in its long configuration achieves a very similar level of sound suppression to the Q Thunder Chicken, measured at the muzzle.
From the above data, it can be concluded that the Rugged Surge in its short configuration has very similar back pressure to the SilencerCo Omega 300, but is louder at the muzzle and ear. The short configuration of the Surge is very similar in size to the long configuration of the Rugged Radiant, but possesses higher back pressure and is louder at the ear but quieter at the muzzle than the Radiant. It is also louder than the Dead Air Sandman-S at the ear and possesses higher back pressure than that silencer.
6.22.4 Review Summary: Rugged Surge on the Savage Model 10 .308 with 20-in Barrel
When paired with the Savage M10 20” .308 and fired with Federal XM80C, the Rugged Surge achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 42.9 in PEW Science testing. In its short configuration with the same host weapon and the same ammunition, the Surge achieved a Suppression Rating of 32.1.
PEW Science Subjective Opinion:
The Rugged Surge is a full size, modular, 30 caliber machine gun rated rifle silencer that possesses high sound signature suppression performance with significant back pressure. In its short configuration, the Surge may be considered mid-size. The silencer is advertised to possess extreme durability and is one of the heavier silencers on the market for its size, at a total system weight of 24.9 ounces in the long configuration, as tested. In the short configuration, the Surge is still relatively heavy, with a total system weight of 20.8 ounces. When used in its short configuration on a supersonic .308 bolt action rifle host weapon, the Surge is louder than when used in its long configuration.
The Rugged Surge uses an iteration of a feature-reduced and modified curved-cone baffle, similar to the feature-reduced curved-cone baffle used in the Omega 300 from SilencerCo and other companies. The Surge possesses 6 baffles in its main section and two additional baffles in the ADAPT module, for a total of 8 baffles in its long configuration. The Surge possesses high back pressure due to high flow restriction, indicative of its high sound suppression performance. The back pressure of the Surge is reduced when removing the ADAPT module, and so is the sound suppression performance. It is interesting to note that when removing the ADAPT module, the end result is a Rugged silencer similar in size to that of the Radiant, but with lower sound suppression performance and higher back pressure. However, the Surge is more durable than the Radiant due to being entirely constructed of steel, in a combination of 17-4 and Stellite. The durability of the Surge is extreme.
The Surge in its long configuration achieves a very similar level of sound suppression to the Q Thunder Chicken, measured at the muzzle. The Surge is quieter at the ear. In its short configuration, the Surge is louder than the Dead Air Sandman-S at the ear and has higher back pressure than the Sandman-S, but is an ounce lighter.
The proprietary mount used by the Surge and other Rugged centerfire rifle silencers is relatively simple to operate. The mounting system is similar to that of the SilencerCo ASR system, but offers the advantage of more secure rear-taper cam-locks pushed into place by the rotation of the locking collar. The Surge includes the Rugged R3 flash hider mount.
The Surge is marketed to be durable and is advertised to not have any restrictions on barrel length; therefore, it may be used with aggressive semiautomatic and automatic firing schedules. The combination of durability, heavy weight, and high back pressure makes the Surge a reasonable choice for extreme semiautomatic and automatic centerfire rifle use, particularly for cases in which the host weapon is not sensitive to back pressure or can be tuned to accommodate high back pressure. PEW Science has not evaluated the Surge on all semiautomatic or automatic small arm weapon systems.
In this review, the Surge 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.
