SSS.6.8 - SWR Trident-9 and the HK P30L
/SWR Trident-9 on the HK P30L Full-Size Semiautomatic Pistol
The Trident-9 was manufactured by SWR from 2005 until 2011. It is a 9mm centerfire multi-use silencer, intended to suppress many cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, up to and including subsonic 300BLK; both on handguns and on submachine guns. It has a 1.37-inch diameter and when configured for pistol use, is 8.3 inches in length. The silencer mounts to the host pistol with an external inertial decoupling piston assembly (LCD; Linear deCoupler Device); pistons were available in two standard thread pitches. Other mounts were also available, including fixed mounts, an external 3-lug mount module, and an UZI barrel nut mount. The silencer outer tube and primary baffles are constructed of 7075-T6 and 6061-T6 aluminum, respectively, while the blast baffle is constructed of 303 stainless steel. The silencer is not user-serviceable and weighs 11 ounces when configured with the LCD for pistol use. The SWR Trident-9 is no longer produced and no current production centerfire 9mm pistol silencer shares its internal coaxial Omega baffle technology.
This review contains single-test results using the Trident-9 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.
Summary: When paired with the HK P30L full-size semiautomatic pistol and fired with Speer Lawman 147gr ammunition, the SWR Trident-9 achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 53.2 in PEW Science testing.
6.8.1 SWR Trident 9 Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Trident-9 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. SWR Trident-9 Sound Metric Summary
6.8.1.1 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 the first round sound pressure signature of the SWR Trident-9 as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle, in a total time scale of 25 milliseconds. There are three significant peak events labeled:
An initial gas pulse out of the silencer causes a 132.0 dB peak.
As gas continues to exit the silencer from the primary combustion event, the measured sound pressure rises to a maximum of 137.5 dB.
After the silencer’s inertial decoupling system (piston assembly) and slide re-seat and the slide returns to battery, action-noise results in a peak of 122.3 dB.
This is the typical sequence observed when firing subsonic 9mm ammunition from the HK P30L semiautomatic pistol with an attached silencer; however, internal silencer design and piston assembly design can significantly influence the measured pressure amplitudes and timing.
Fig 1. SWR Trident-9 First Round HK P30L Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 18-APR-2020
Closer views of the first peak (Fig 2a) and second peak (Fig 2b) are shown below. Figure 2a illustrates the time prior to primer ignition and early-time sound signature of weapon function, followed by the initial gas pulse. Figure 2b shows points later in time as the maximum sound pressure occurs from the primary combustion event; note that the total timescale is only 0.04 milliseconds (40 microseconds). PEW-SOFT provides a sampling point every microsecond and the individual data points are shown to illustrate this.
Fig 2a. SWR Trident-9 First Round HK P30L Muzzle Sound Pressure Peak 1, 18-APR-2020
Fig 2b. SWR Trident-9 First Round HK P30L Muzzle Sound Pressure Peak 2, 18-APR-2020
The primary sound signature pressure histories for all 5 shots with the Trident-9 are shown in Figure 3a. The sound signature of Shot 2 is shown alone in Figure 3b. Note the same three peak events are labeled for Shot 2 that were previously labeled for Shot 1, above. 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. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 18-APR-2020
Fig 3b. SWR Trident-9 Second Round HK P30L Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, 18-APR-2020
Figure 4a. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 18-APR-2020
Figure 4b. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature, 18-APR-2020
The measured pressure regime first-round-pop (FRP) is evident when comparing Shot 1 (Fig 1) to Shot 2 (Fig 3b). Figure 4a also shows FRP in the impulse regime, albeit not significantly. As is the case with many semiautomatic suppressed weapon systems, some shots possess higher early-time gas pulses which result in varying PEW-SOFT triggering time between shots. This is clearly illustrated in Fig 4a; the impulse histories for some shots are shifted in time by up to 0.5 milliseconds. The reason for the data acquisition triggering time discrepancy between the shots is the differing sound signature characterized by the aforementioned higher early-time gas pulses. The behavior of the Trident-9 in this test and this somewhat erratically occurring (but consistent in impulse amplitude) early-time gas pulse can easily be seen in the sharp initial impulse rises at a time of approximately 30 milliseconds. Note that the impulse waveforms measured at the muzzle show relatively consistent overall shape and timing over the shot histories.
The consistency of the waveforms measured at the muzzle indicate that the FRP behavior of the silencer measured at the muzzle is most likely a result of the primary shot event and not secondary weapon action-noise sound signature characteristics. However, waveforms measured at the shooter’s ear indicate subsequent non-trivial behavior (PEW Science members can read the continuation of this discussion in the following section). 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 semiautomatic firearm configuration.
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.
6.8.1.2 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 measured 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 showing three of the five shots. The real sound impulse (momentum transfer potential) histories at the ear from the same 5-shot test are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 5a. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Ear Sound Pressure Signature, 18-APR-2020
Figure 5b. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Ear Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window, 18-APR-2020
Figure 6a. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Ear Sound Impulse Signature, 18-APR-2020
Figure 6b. SWR Trident-9 HK P30L Ear Sound Impulse Signature Peaks, 18-APR-2020
The previously observed FRP characteristics measured at the muzzle are evident in the ear measurements in the shape of the overall impulse signatures shown in Figure 6a with the impulse rise and duration for Shot 1 (between 33 ms and 34 ms). However, measured at the ear, Shot 5 possesses both the highest peak pressure (Figure 5a) and the highest peak impulse (Figure 6b).
Shot 3 and Shot 5 possess early-time pressure peaks that are high enough and of long enough duration to significantly influence the impulse histories shown in Figure 6a.
The overall sound signature measured at the shooter’s ear possesses a higher peak average pressure amplitude than that measured at the muzzle but the same peak average impulse (refer to Table 1). Although FRP is not noted at the ear in the traditional sense when examining the absolute peak pressure and impulse magnitudes of Shot 1, it it is important to note that the impulse signatures shown in Figure 6a indicate presence of the FRP event measured at the muzzle in the late-time shot histories. When examining the details of theoretical physical human inner ear response to these sound signatures, the human inner ear response to Shot 3 and Shot 5 is potentially more severe than to Shot 1. The measured duration of the early-time pressure spikes measured at the ear, with the addition of the durations of the subsequent pressure pulses, are high enough to influence human hearing response in a significant way. That analysis will be presented in a future PEW Science member research supplement.
6.8.2 Review Summary: SWR Trident-9 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 SWR-Trident-9 achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 53.2 in PEW Science testing.
PEW Science Subjective Opinion:
The SWR Trident-9 is a high performing 9mm pistol silencer intended for semiautomatic handgun use and severe duty use on submachine guns. The external LCD piston assembly functions reliably. On the HK P30L, the absolute magnitude of the silencer’s First Round Pop (FRP) is relatively minimal and its muzzle suppression is excellent. The sound signature of the Trident-9 is sometimes perceived as “higher pitched” by shooters and bystanders, according to PEW Science anecdotal data. PEW Science human inner-ear response research has examined this phenomenon and that research is presented in a members-only Research Supplement.
The main module of the silencer is less than 6.75 inches long without the LCD assembly installed; when using a fixed mount on fixed barrel weapons, it exhibits high sound reduction performance while also being relatively compact. PEW Science has fielded the Trident-9 in its fixed mount configuration for submachine gun use on the M11 and in its 3-lug configuration on the MP5. Both mount assemblies function reliably. PEW Science has not evaluated the use of the Uzi barrel-nut mount.
The Trident-9 is relatively light weight for a full-size pistol silencer and is one of the first commercially produced centerfire pistol silencers with a modular mounting system; earlier non-modular iterations of the design had SWR model designations QD3 and QD3K. It is also one of the first major commercial centerfire pistol silencers with a stainless steel blast baffle. Unburned pistol powder and combustion products generated during use on centerfire handguns may damage less resilient silencer blast baffle materials, such as aluminum. This potential wear can be exacerbated with fixed barrel weapons, the use of which may dictate more aggressive firing schedules. PEW Science has fielded the Trident-9 in 9mm automatic fire and noted no blast baffle damage.
The silencer is not user-serviceable. Users of the Trident-9 are encouraged to use 9mm ammunition that possesses fully-encapsulated bullets, rather than bullets with exposed lead bases, such that the vaporization of lead during firing does not result in excessive buildup over time and with severe fully automatic fire. While it is possible to disassemble the Trident-9 by applying heat to the end-cap assembly and modifying the silencer to remove the assembly, this is not recommended. Furthermore, it has been anecdotally reported that the incorrect re-assembly of the internal components may significantly compromise suppression performance. Proper longer-term maintenance of the now out of production Trident-9 is a subject of continued research interest.
In this review, the Trident-9 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 perceived by both the shooter and bystanders.
