SSS.6.70 - Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold and the Q mini FIX 300 BLK Subsonic
/Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold on a Q mini FIX 300 BLK with 8-in Barrel
The Banish 30 Gold 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 Remington Ultra Magnum. It has a 1.6-inch diameter and is 8.2 inches in length. The silencer is attached to the host weapon with included taper mounts threaded for barrels with both 1/2”-28tpi and 5/8”-24tpi thread patterns. The silencer’s rear tapered mount interface is also compatible with taper mounts from Thunder Beast Arms Corporation. The silencer is user-serviceable; the entire titanium baffle assembly may be removed from the titanium tube with the included end cap removal tool and baffle pusher tool. The silencer weighs 13 ounces without the mount. The included titanium taper mount adds 1 ounce, for a total system weight of 14 ounces, as tested. The Banish 30 Gold can be obtained from Silencer Central.
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 Gold in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Silencer Central.
This review contains single-test results using the Banish 30 Gold mounted with the taper brake mount on the Q mini FIX bolt action pistol, chambered in 300 BLK with an 8-inch barrel. Discreet Ballistics 190gr ammunition was used in the test.
- Section 6.70.1 contains the Banish 30 Gold test results and analysis.
- Section 6.70.2 contains Suppression Rating comparisons with selected .30 rifle silencers in the subsonic flow regime.
- Section 6.70.3 contains the review summary and PEW Science opinions.
Summary: When paired with the Q mini FIX 8” 300 BLK and fired with Discreet Ballistics 190gr Subsonic Target ammunition, the Banish 30 Gold with the taper brake mount achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 64.2 in PEW Science testing.
Relative Suppression Rating Performance is Summarized in SSS.7 - PEW Science Rankings
Test data and analysis of the Banish 30 Gold with supersonic 7.62x51mm NATO can be found in Sound Signature Review 6.69.
6.70.1 Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principle Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold 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. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Sound Metric Summary
6.70.1.1 SOUND SIGNATURES AT THE MUZZLE
Real sound pressure histories from a 5-shot test acquired with PEW-SOFT™ are shown below. The waveforms are not averaged, decimated, or filtered. The data acquisition rate used in all PEW Science testing is 1.0 MS/s (1 MHz). The peaks, shape, and time phasing (when the peaks occur in relation to absolute time and to each other) of these raw waveforms are the most accurate of any firearm silencer testing publicly available. PEW-SOFT data is acquired by PEW Science independent testing; the industry leader in silencer sound research. For more information, please consult the Silencer Sound Standard, here.
Figure 1 shows a 3.2-millisecond long sequence of events during the first test shot with the Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold, as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle. There are four significant events shown:
During combustion within the weapon system, a 119.7 dB peak is measured.
The initial jetting from precursor flow is suppressed and the amplitude from the end cap exit is measured to be 123.9 dB.
The first major jet builds to a measured amplitude of 134.2 dB.
The maximum pressure amplitude of the primary jet is measured to be 140.3 dB.
This is a typical sequence observed when firing subsonic 300 BLK ammunition from a bolt-action weapon system with an attached silencer that exhibits relatively high flow restriction (relatively high back pressure); internal silencer design can significantly influence the measured timing and pressure amplitudes. Additional test results, including back pressure analysis of the Banish 30 Gold, in accordance with the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1], are provided in previous Sound Signature Review 6.69 with supersonic 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition fired from a 20-in bolt action weapon system.
Fig. 1 Early-Time Shot History, Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
The back pressure generated by the Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold is higher than that generated by some 30 caliber silencers on the 300 BLK platform due to its quantity of baffles, length, and lack of venting past the blast baffle in the stack. The Banish 30 Gold produces significant decoupling between the bullet exit event (Feature 2 in Figure 1) and the primary gas jetting. This behavior is extremely similar to that of the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (Review 6.57) on this platform. Both silencers are significantly quieter than the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2 (Review 6.46) on this platform with subsonic ammunition, due to their higher flow restriction (back pressure) than that exhibited by the SOCOM762-RC2. As previously stated in other publications, flow restriction has high correlation with subsonic sound signature suppression performance. The correlation with supersonic sound signature suppression performance is not as high.
The Banish 30 Gold, on average, is slightly quieter than the SOCOM300-SPS on this platform, and slightly louder than the Sig SRD762Ti-QD (Review 6.39).
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots are shown in Figure 2a. A zoomed-in timescale displays the region of peak sound pressure in Figure 2b, for the first three shots. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 3. Again, full and short timescales are shown.
Fig 2a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
Fig 2b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window
Figure 3a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 3b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
The Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold produces significantly perceptible first-round-pop (FRP) to bystanders on this platform; it is pronounced in both the pressure regime (Figure 2) and the impulse regime (Figure 3). The FRP of this silencer is more pronounced in the subsonic flow regime on this platform than it is on the supersonic 7.62x51mm NATO platform in the previous review, to bystanders.
Significant FRP in the subsonic flow regime, despite higher flow restriction, is often a consequence of initial expansion chamber design, as well as blast baffle porting and overall baffle stack geometry. Note the significant signature suppression of Shot 2 and Shot 3 at approximately 30 ms in both pressure and impulse (Fig 2b and Fig 3b, respectively). The entirety of the first major jet during Shot 1 is absent in subsequent shots. This ancillary combustion from existing air inside the silencer creates significant FRP signature; over three times the amount of impulse is measured during Shot 1, compared to that of Shot 2 (Fig 3b). This additional positive phase impulse accumulation due to ancillary combustion occurs prior to peak impulse in the subsequent shots.
PEW Science Research Note 1: Although the Banish 30 Gold suppresses sound signature similarly to the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS on this platform, on average, the FRP of the two silencers is not similar. The Banish 30 Gold generates significantly more FRP than does the SOCOM300-SPS, which may be a factor to some users. An in-depth comparison of the FRP of these two silencers with that of the aforementioned Sig SRD762Ti-QD is the subject of a future PEW Science Member’s Research Supplement.
PEW Science Research Note 2: Despite the significant FRP, the Banish 30 Gold generates extremely consistent performance after the first shot, and the sound suppression is high. The baffle geometry of the silencer is relatively simple; it is the quantity of notched conventional truncated cone baffles, and the silencer’s length, that allows it to achieve this high overall performance. The performance of the silencer, on average, is higher than that of the Q Half Nelson (Review 6.29), though the Half Nelson is 1.3-inches shorter than the Banish 30 Gold. The Q Half Nelson exhibits FRP that is more extreme than that from the Silencer Banish 30 Gold, on this platform. This comparison highlights the challenge of eliminating or masking FRP to bystanders from short-barrel subsonic 300 BLK weapons, with relatively short silencers and with silencers that do not employ more advanced gas flow geometry.
First-round sound signatures always differ from subsequent shots, as the atmosphere within the silencer changes. The FRP phenomenon cannot always be shown by viewing only the peak sound pressure. This is one of the reasons why The Silencer Sound Standard requires examining multiple sound signature metrics.
With subsonic 300 BLK from an 8-inch barrel, the Banish 30 Gold is noticeably quieter to bystanders than many other silencers from an 8-in barrel, after the first shot. Direct comparisons with other silencers are provided in Section 6.70.2.
6.70.1.2 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 4. 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. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories at the ear from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 5. Full and short timescales are shown.
Figure 4a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Pressure Signature
Figure 4b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window
Figure 5a. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 5b. Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Impulse Signature
Unlike with supersonic 7.62x51mm NATO from a 20-in barrel, the FRP at the shooter’s ear on this host weapon with the Banish 30 Gold is significant; but it is less significant than it is to bystanders, as determined by PEW Science inner ear modeling. This is a consequence of the length of the Banish 30 Gold, in conjunction with its lower flow rate. To the shooter on this platform, the Banish 30 Gold may induce approximately 140% of the inner ear response during the first shot, compared with subsequent shots. To bystanders adjacent to the muzzle, the Banish 30 Gold may induce over 350% of the inner ear response during the first shot, compared with subsequent shots, on this platform.
After the first shot, the sound signature at the shooter’s ear on this platform is significantly suppressed. The peak magnitudes of impulse measured at the shooter’s ear diminish to levels significantly quieter than that of the internal combustion within the weapon system (see Figure 5). This is not readily apparent when examining the pressure waveforms in Figure 4. The positive phase impulse accumulation after Shot 1 at the shooter’s ear is significantly diminished before rarefaction dominates in late time. This phenomenon is also shown in the shooter’s ear waveforms of the SOCOM300-SPS and the SRD762Ti-QD. Other full size silencers also exhibit this trait, such as the Richmond Tactical RT30Ti. This is in contrast with the SOCOM762-RC2; a full size silencer with a flow rate higher than the threshold required for this level of subsonic suppression performance.
PEW Science Note 3: The Banish 30 Gold is a relatively versatile silencer, and as such, is designed to suppress a variety of cartridges. This is one of the reasons the silencer exhibits higher flow restriction (back pressure) and this allows it to, on average, perform well in the supersonic centerfire rifle cartridge flow regime and in the subsonic flow regime. The design of the silencer, also being user-serviceable, may lend itself to relatively simple construction. The baffle geometry in the silencer has performance limits and that performance scales with baffle quantity and silencer length.
Comparisons with other silencers in the subsonic flow regime are shown in Section 6.70.2, below.
6.70.2 Suppression Rating Comparison - Subsonic 300 BLK
The Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold suppressor is intended to be used on a variety of platforms, and has a relatively low flow rate (moderately high back pressure; moderately high PEW Science Omega metric). The Banish 30 Gold possesses relatively high sound suppression performance (PEW Science Suppression Rating) with subsonic 300 BLK, on average, due to the quantity of baffles and its length. Figure 6 shows a performance comparison of the twelve .30 rifle silencer configurations tested with the subsonic 300 BLK cartridge shown in public PEW Science testing, to date. Unsuppressed and suppressed Suppression Ratings are shown for both the shooter and bystanders.
Figure 6. Suppression Rating Comparisons Of .30 Rifle Silencers Using PEW-SOFT 300 BLK Subsonic Test Data
The Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold is a full size silencer, and as such, eclipses the subsonic 300 BLK sound suppression performance of many compact and midsize .30 silencers on the market. This higher subsonic suppression performance for a full size 30 caliber rifle silencer like the Banish 30 Gold is a physical consequence of the silencer’s number of baffles and its length. In addition to its significant sound suppression performance at the muzzle, the length of the silencer places the the endcap orifice further away from the shooter’s ear, further reducing hearing damage risk to the shooter.
As previously stated, the Banish 30 Gold exhibits behavior, on average, that is extremely similar to that of the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (Review 6.57) on this platform. However, it is again important to note that the Banish 30 Gold exhibits significantly more FRP than the SOCOM300-SPS; a consequence of the silencer’s internal design. After the first shot, the Banish 30 Gold exhibits high suppression performance on this platform, bringing the average Suppression Rating to a level that is moderately below that of the Sig SRD762Ti-QD (Review 6.39).
The performance of the Banish 30 Gold, and the other full size rifle silencers shown on this test platform, is significantly higher that of compact silencers such as the Energetic Armament VOX S (Review 6.25) and even higher than that of the VOX S with a wipe (Review 6.38).
The Banish 30 Gold surpasses the performance of the shorter Q Half Nelson (Review 6.29) on this platform; a silencer with even more extreme FRP in this flow regime. As previously stated, this comparison highlights the challenge of eliminating or masking FRP to bystanders from short-barrel subsonic 300 BLK weapons, with relatively short silencers and with silencers that do not employ more advanced gas flow geometry.
6.70.4 Review Summary: Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold on a Q mini FIX 300 BLK with 8-in Barrel
When paired with the Q mini FIX 8” 300 BLK and fired with Discreet Ballistics 190gr Subsonic Target ammunition, the Banish 30 Gold with the taper brake mount achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 64.2 in PEW Science testing.
PEW Science Subjective Opinion:
The Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold is a full-size and lightweight .30 rifle silencer that exhibits relatively high performance sound signature reduction, on average, for its design envelope. Note that the Banish 30 Gold is user-serviceable, allowing use on a variety of platforms. The Banish 30 Gold is not the same silencer as the Banish 30, in construction, features, or performance.
The Banish 30 Gold design possesses conventional truncated and notched straight cone baffles with a ported blast baffle. The sound suppression of the silencer on this host weapon is consistent with its internal design and size envelope, and meets or exceeds the sound suppression performance of several other full-size rifle silencers. On average, its subsonic 300 BLK performance is very close to that of the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS and is higher than that of the Q Half Nelson, on this platform. Supersonic 7.62x51mm performance data of the Banish 30 Gold is the subject of Sound Signature Review 6.69.
It is important to note that although the Banish 30 Gold suppresses sound signature similarly to the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS with subsonic 300 BLK on average, the FRP of the two silencers is not similar. The Banish 30 Gold generates significantly more FRP with subsonic 300 BLK than does the SOCOM300-SPS, which may be a factor to some users. The Banish 30 Gold does not generate as much FRP as the Q Half Nelson on this platform.
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.
The taper mounts included with the Banish 30 Gold are backward compatible with taper mount silencers from Thunder Beast Arms Corporation. The seating taper is aft of the mounting threads. Care must be taken to clean and maintain the threads such that attachment and removal of the silencer to the mount does not become arduous.
The Banish 30 Gold is not the same silencer as the Banish 30; the later employs curved cone baffles and is modular in length. Banish 30 testing and analysis is the subject of future PEW Science publication. 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 Silencer Central Banish 30 Gold performance metrics depend upon suppressing a subsonic intermediate rifle cartridge. While the sound signature of such cartridges can be suppressed to levels that may result in the desire of the shooter and bystanders to not wear hearing protection, PEW Science encourages the reader to remain vigilant with regard to all subsonic rifle cartridge suppression claims. The gas volume and combustion products created by firing a subsonic intermediate rifle cartridge such as 300 BLK are still significant; the measured pressure and impulse magnitudes, and their durations, illustrate this fact.
The hearing damage potential of subsonic rifle use is not insignificant. PEW Science encourages the reader to consider the Suppression Rating when deciding on an appropriate silencer and host weapon combination for their desired use.
