SSS.6.89 - Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti and the Q mini FIX 300 BLK Subsonic
/Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti on a Q mini FIX 300 BLK with 8-in Barrel
The Enticer S-Ti is designed and manufactured by Diligent Defense Co. It is a 30 caliber centerfire rifle silencer, intended to suppress most cartridges with projectiles appropriately sized to travel through the bore, including 300 Winchester Magnum. It has a 1.625-inch diameter and is 7 inches in length when using the included direct-thread adapter. The user may choose to use other third-party mount adapters compatible with the 1.375”-24tpi system. The silencer is tubeless; the baffles are constructed of Grade 5 titanium. The end cap is removable and interchangeable with those designed by Dead Air. The silencer weighs 7.8 ounces without the mount. The included direct thread mount adds 1 ounce, for a total system weight of 8.8 ounces, as tested. The Enticer S-Ti can be obtained from Diligent Defense Co. (DDC).
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-DDC-020-001-21. Therefore, data pertaining to the Enticer S-Ti in this Sound Signature Review is published with the express written permission of Diligent Defense Co.
This review contains single-test results using the Enticer S-Ti direct-thread mounted to 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 6.89.1 contains the Enticer S-Ti test results and analysis.
- Section 6.89.2 contains Suppression Rating comparisons with selected .30 rifle silencers in the subsonic flow regime.
- Section 6.89.3 contains Suppression Rating comparisons with selected .30 rifle silencers in both the subsonic and supersonic flow regimes. PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1] comparisons are also included. Further information about the Ω metric and Omega Zones can be obtained in PEW Science Research Supplement 6.40 (Public Article).
- Section 6.89.4 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 Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti in the direct thread configuration achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 59.7 in PEW Science testing. As with all weapon systems, the user is encouraged to examine both muzzle and ear Suppression Ratings.
The supersonic .308 performance of the Enticer S-Ti is detailed in previous Sound Signature Review 6.68, in which it achieved a Suppression Rating of 42.5.
Relative Suppression Rating Performance is Summarized in SSS.7 - PEW Science Rankings
6.89.1 Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Sound Signature Test Results
A summary of the principal Silencer Sound Standard performance metrics of the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti 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. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Sound Metric Summary
6.89.1.1 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 2.6-millisecond long sequence of events during the first test shot with the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti, as measured 1.0 m left of the muzzle. There are four significant events labeled:
During combustion within the weapon system, a 125.9 dB peak is measured.
Precursor flow through the silencer is suppressed, and a peak of 127.8 dB is measured during the initial jetting.
Primary jetting and peak FRP is measured to be 143.8 dB.
Latent jetting occurs with an amplitude of 141.3 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 moderately high flow restriction (moderately high back pressure); internal silencer design can significantly influence the measured timing and pressure amplitudes. Supersonic and subsonic suppression performance, along with back pressure comparisons are shown in Section 6.89.3 of this review, with the PEW Science Back Pressure Metric, Ω [Pa-1].
Fig. 1 Early-Time Shot History, Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
The back pressure generated by the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti is lower than that generated by the full-size Enticer L-Ti (Review 6.88) and the CGS Hyperion (Review 6.71). The Enticer S-Ti is in Omega Zone 6; a lower flow restriction zone than those two silencers. As the Enticer S-Ti traps less gas with its higher flow rate, its sound signature produced in the subsonic flow regime is more similar to silencers with a higher flow rate. Interestingly, the Enticer S-Ti exhibits similar behavior to the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2 (Review 6.46) in this flow regime during the first shot. The SOCOM762-RC2 is a larger silencer with a significantly higher flow rate in the supersonic high pressure regime. Nonetheless, the “first-round-pop” (FRP) signatures of the two silencers share several similarities, including significant primary jetting in early time, when used with subsonic 300 BLK.
Although the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti suppresses precursor flow more effectively than the SOCOM762-RC2 (which is expected, due to the RC2’s higher flow rate), ancillary combustion during the first shot drives similar primary jetting behavior. Therefore, the significant FRP of the Enticer S-Ti results in a subsonic 300 BLK signature that mimics a high flow rate silencer during the first shot. This is an example of similar silencer behavior on a platform through a completely different suppression mechanism.
It is also interesting to note that the Enticer S-Ti still significantly suppresses precursor flow (the pressure measured from compression and subsequent overpressure pulse through the air column in the gun barrel by the bullet prior to bullet exit). This performance trait is a key difference in its FRP signature comparison with that of the SOCOM762-RC2 and pays significant performance dividends later in the shot string, after ancillary FRP combustion. Overall subsonic 300 BLK performance of the Enticer S-Ti is similar to that of the Q Half Nelson (Review 6.29). Quantitative subsonic suppression performance comparisons are provided in Section 6.88.2 of this review.
The primary jetting from ancillary combustion during FRP is clearly delineated in Figure 1 and further discussed below.
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 two 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. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature
Fig 2b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window
Figure 3a. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 3b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Muzzle Sound Impulse Signature
Like the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer L-Ti, the Enticer S-Ti produces significantly perceptible FRP to bystanders on this platform. The overpressure amplitude generated by the Enticer S-Ti at the muzzle during FRP on this platform is even more significant, relative to subsequent shots, than with the Enticer L-Ti. The deviation of ancillary early-time combustion behavior during FRP is highlighted in both the pressure regime (Figure 2b) and the impulse regime (Figure 3), in which the first shot reaches peak amplitude at an earlier time than subsequent shots, and with over 220% more peak impulse, on average. Incidentally, PEW Science inner ear modeling indicates that the FRP from the Enticer S-Ti on this platform may result in hearing damage potential to bystanders that is over three times more severe during the first shot, than it is during subsequent shots, on average. The FRP of the Enticer S-Ti on this host weapon platform is more severe than with the full-size Enticer L-Ti.
PEW Science Research Note 1: The overall performance, as well as the FRP performance of the Enticer S-Ti with subsonic 300 BLK, is very similar to that of the Q Half Nelson (Review 6.29). The coaxial elements and progressive flow geometry of the Enticer series are not as optimized for subsonic suppression as they are for higher pressure supersonic suppression. Holistically, design elements catering to both flow regimes are required to adequately mitigate FRP from short barrel subsonic 300 BLK combustion. This design requirement becomes increasingly important as the length of a silencer decreases.
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 Enticer S-Ti is noticeably quieter to bystanders than it is with supersonic .308 from a 20-in barrel. Direct comparisons with other silencers are provided in Section 6.89.2 and 6.89.3, below.
6.89.1.2 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. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Pressure Signature
Figure 4b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Pressure Signature, Short Time Window
Figure 5a. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Impulse Signature
Figure 5b. Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti Bolt Action 300 BLK Ear Sound Impulse Signature
The FRP at the shooter’s ear on this host weapon with the Enticer S-Ti is again visible in the pressure regime (Figure 4b) and in the impulse regime (Figure 5), just as it was at the muzzle. PEW Science inner ear modeling indicates that the FRP of the Enticer S-Ti on this platform may be over 150% more damaging to the shooter than subsequent shots, on average. This postulated hearing damage differential is lower than the almost 600% FRP impulse differential shown in Figure 5a. Both shooters and bystanders are likely to perceive significant FRP from the Enticer S-Ti on this platform.
PEW Science Research Note 3: Just as was the case at the muzzle after FRP, the Enticer S-Ti produces a significantly suppressed subsonic 300 BLK sound signature to the shooter. This behavior was also noted with the Enticer L-Ti, though the differential was less severe. The FRP performance differential from subsequent shots with the Enticer S-Ti is similar to that of the Q Half Nelson.
PEW Science Research Note 4: 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 close to 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 was also noted in the test data with the Enticer L-Ti, but to a more significant degree.
Comparisons with other silencers in the subsonic flow regime are shown in Section 6.89.2, with the supersonic and subsonic comparisons shown in Section 6.89.3.
6.89.2 Suppression Rating Comparison - Subsonic 300 BLK
The Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti is intended to maximize sound suppression for its size. As previously discussed, its subsonic sound signature suppression performance is high for its size, after FRP. Figure 6 shows a performance comparison of the 15 .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
Like the larger Enticer L-Ti, the Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti possesses coaxial elements and progressive flow geometry that enable the silencer to relieve localized high pressure stagnation and allow for more efficient supersonic gas flow suppression for a given silencer volume. But, also like the Enticer L-Ti, in the lower pressure subsonic flow regime, the holistic design of the Enticer S-Ti produces significant FRP at the muzzle. This performance factor lowers its bystander Suppression Rating on this platform, relative to other silencers in its general performance class.
The Suppression Rating 1.0 m left of the endcap with the Enticer S-Ti is very similar to that of the Q Half Nelson (Review 6.29). It also produces a signature to bystanders that is, on average, similar to the Richmond Tactical RT30Ti (Review 6.35) on this platform; a silencer that exhibits somewhat lower supersonic sound signature suppression performance.
At the shooter’s ear, the Enticer S-Ti offers comparable performance to the Surefire SOCOM300-SPS (Review 6.57), although it exhibits significantly more severe FRP than the Surefire silencer.
The propensity of a rifle silencer to exhibit differing sound signature suppression in the supersonic and subsonic flow regimes is typical. To illustrate the differing sound suppression phenomena, summary data for six other silencers are presented below.
6.89.3 Suppression Rating Comparison - Subsonic 300 BLK vs. Supersonic .308
The sound suppression performance of nine silencers in both the supersonic and subsonic flow regimes are compared in Figure 7, below. The solid colors in the plot denote supersonic .308 performance, whereas the typical shaded patterns denote subsonic 300 BLK performance. As the PEW Science Suppression Rating is a universal sound signature metric based upon the response of the human inner ear, all metrics in this plot are comparable to each other, regardless of cartridge. The PEW Science Suppression Rating is the only sound signature metric that allows the comparison of human inner ear response to fast transients, across all suppressed weapon system platforms.
PEW Science has also developed an empirical relation to quantify the back pressure (flow restriction) of silencers. Omega Zones 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. Note that while the Ω metric is plotted on a linear scale in Figure 7, the parametric relationship is best viewed logarithmically in Research Supplement 6.40. The Omega Metric below is for the .308 Supersonic flow regime.
Figure 7. Suppression Rating Comparisons Of .30 Rifle Silencers Using PEW-SOFT 300 BLK Subsonic and .308 Supersonic Test Data
There is a significant amount of data presented in Figure 7, above. The reader is encouraged to observe the plot legend and notes, such that the data is viewed and interpreted in the appropriate context.
The Enticer silencers consistently demonstrate a higher differential between their muzzle and ear Suppression Ratings, and this differential is common across pressure and flow regimes. The differential occurs in the supersonic .308 test results, as well as in the subsonic 300 BLK test results of both the Enticer L-Ti and Enticer S-Ti
PEW Science Research Note 5: While a differential in supersonic suppression performance at the muzzle and ear is somewhat common, this phenomenon typically manifests in the subsonic flow regime with silencers exhibiting higher flow rate like the Surefire SOCOM762-RC2 with subsonic 300 BLK (Review 6.46) and the CGS Hyperion K with subsonic 300 BLK (Review 6.50). As the Enticer S-Ti is in Omega Zone 6, its signature severity differential to bystanders and the shooter is highly atypical for this flow regime. As is the case with the Enticer L-Ti, more research into this phenomenon is needed.
PEW Science Research Note 6: Although the peak sound pressure from the Enticer S-Ti on this platform is low after FRP, the performance differentials shown in Figure 7 are not only due to peak sound pressure, nor flow rate. Multiple waveform characteristics comprise a silencer’s holistic sound signature. PEW Science postulates that most readers and silencer users have never been presented with information indicating that silencers perform differently in different flow regimes, anecdotal experience notwithstanding. In addition to combustion duration, the time at which peak positive phase pressure is reached, its duration, and its impulse accumulation, are factors that may significantly influence the interpretation of a sound signature by the human ear, and possible hearing damage risk. These phenomena have been demonstrated previously in Section 3 of the OSS, Surefire, and CGS Hyperion K subsonic Sound Signature Reviews.
6.89.4 Review Summary: Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti 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 Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti in the direct thread configuration achieved a Suppression Rating™ of 59.7 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 Diligent Defense Co. Enticer S-Ti is a mid-size and lightweight .30 rifle silencer that exhibits competitive sound signature reduction in the subsonic flow regime for its size, while possessing a modular rear mount capability. Note that the Enticer series also includes a longer Enticer L-Ti model, further increasing the sound signature suppression performance, albeit at the expense of increased length and weight.
The Enticer series contains modified cone baffles with some coaxial elements and progressive geometry that takes advantage of pressure gradients, efficiently. Functionally, the design results in highly efficient management of supersonic flow by preventing a significant degree of high pressure stagnation, and when that management is no longer needed, the silencer possesses other efficient geometry to maintain performance. In the subsonic flow regime, the Enticer S-Ti also excels for its size, albeit with significant first-round-pop (FRP).
The Enticer S-Ti exhibits a similar performance to the Q Half Nelson on this subsonic 300 BLK platform. Both silencers have significant FRP to both the shooter and bystanders. Users will perceive first-round-pop to be higher than from high performing full-size 30 caliber silencers with subsonic 300 BLK, like the CGS Hyperion and Sig SRD762Ti-QD.
The rear mount threading of the Enticer series is 1.375”-24tpi; relatively common in today’s rifle silencer market. As a result of this common modular interface, a plethora of mounting systems may be used. The performance of the Enticer S-Ti may be influenced by mounting system choice. The user’s choice of mount may balance system weight, length, durability, utility, and even back pressure of the silencer. The data presented by PEW Science in this Sound Signature Review was measured with the direct-thread mount. The mount may be removed with a 1-in open-ended wrench or socket.
The Enticer series is also offered in steel versions (the ENTICER L-17-4SS and ENTICER S-17-4SS). The steel versions may be attractive to some users due to increased durability at higher temperatures, at the expense of added weight. PEW Science has not evaluated the durability of the steel or titanium Enticer silencer system(s) on semiautomatic or automatic host weapons.
In this review, the Enticer S-Ti 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.
