Outdoor life suppressor testing

[Southernfried]

I don’t have a dog in this fight, yet lol I’m one of those still searching for their first one. I have over 300 videos saved on my youtube account of suppressors and the sounds they make. I have every spreadsheet that I could find, saved in one spreadsheet with all the db numbers etc. I have been comparing and comparing the sounds. A few things, based on what I have read here, mostly from @Formidilosus @Q_Sertorius , the US guys @Ryan Avery etc etc. A majority of things they have said appear true. For one, I really don’t think a majority of testing equipment is up to snuff on what sound levels they are actually testing. I often wondered why the sound in a video of a round being chambered was louder or as loud as the db readings of the actual shot. I always wondered why the sound of a suppressed shot sounded different in videos that were in the wide-open vs in the woods. I often wondered how much difference was between a 130db and a 140 vs 150db etc. Even in the Outdoor Life videos and testing, the only ones I could really hear a difference in were the PTR Vent 1 vs the ones that was in the 150's even with a brake. Every suppressor they tested that was between mid 130ish to upper 140ish, they all sounded the same to me. What I do think, and in one way or another a lot of folks in this forum will ultimately be given credit for, where suppressors are 5 years from now. In the next 5 years I don’t think any of us will be questioning anything. I think there will be standards, they will easily be tested for, and what we know now, will be vastly different from what we will know then. The only way this will get there is by the learnings going on now by all the companies making the suppressors. I know it has been said, but this this a great time to be in America for the shooting community. Since people are posting their rankings on what they are looking for mine are 1-suppression, 2-recoil, 3-weight, 4-od size 5 length.....I want the quietest, over the barrel suppressor that I can afford. I want over the barrel because I think this is the way to go. The Europeans are way ahead of us, and that is where they landed for the most part......looking forward to more testing lol I will say I have been following this guy on youtube Silencer Analytics and he rarely lists db numbers, he just reports what is quiter to his ear. LOL how he is not deaf by now (I nearly am) is beyond me lol but his "ears" are pretty close to what all the spreadsheets and testing on the net shows lol. Sorry for the long post, I am more normally a listner and not a talker. I hope some of this made sense lol. Thanks again for everything yall all do on here.

 

[WyoHuntr]

I'll add a little context as to the significance of this test for those stuck on the mentality for use solely on hunting rifles:
At the Defiance AntiSocial NRL Hunter match, my rifle was one of two muzzles brakes in a line of twelve rifles. Brakes were the minority. Same down at the Laramie shoot. Last year it was easy 50% or less using suppressors. (I'm also seeing an increase in chatter for suppressor only squads and suppressor only matches, etc...). The AntiSocial sold out in two hours. The good matches sell out super fast. PRS introduced the PRSuit (soon to be series)to mimic NRL Hunter, and similar small matches are popping up left and right. This is a massively growing segment.... and a gold mine for companies that get it right.

A Chad, Botnia, or Demigod brake will spank the pants off a braked suppressor for recoil. (And I'm 100% sticking with them for certain shoots). But, after touching off my APA Fat Bastard in a rock crevice in Laramie, and getting head punched by the blast, I'm going to give lightweight braked suppressors a try for NRL style matches.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

J

Thread 'TENET Q/A'

Yesterday at 4:21 PM

Hey all,

Representing Tenet here. I apologize for not being here to answer questions sooner. The whole team is overwhelmed with emails, dms, and phone calls so we have all had our nose to the grind stone! It wasn't until we got a phone call today from a customer and them stating their is quite a bit of buzz happening on this site, that we knew any of this was going on.


I was able to read through "most" of what I was able to find.

I want to open this forum up to any and all questions, good or bad

Answer a few I seen Multiple Times:

1.) All specs will be released within the next 48...

• ja4wheel6
• Replies: 21
• Forum: Suppressors

• 

 

[Wildcatter66]

Appreciate the work that was done. Thank You.

Glad you found it useful

 

[MTMeatHunter]

But Unknown says it's all the "tone" not the decibels....

The tone verses decibel thing has turned into a Rokslide joke. I get that. But it was also mentioned by Jon Snow in the very test this entire thread is about:



Not saying it should matter to you, but I found it interesting to see it detailed by someone other than Unknown.

 

[Roor]

When you are shooting 100+ suppressors im sure it is something you notice.

If I am at the range I am doubled up on ear pro with foamies and electronic over the ear. When I am hunting I am only shooting 1 maybe 2 shots.... tone is irrelevant to me.

 

[omicron1792]

The tone verses decibel thing has turned into a Rokslide joke. I get that. But it was also mentioned by Jon Snow in the very test this entire thread is about:

View attachment 1068342

Not saying it should matter to you, but I found it interesting to see it detailed by someone other than Unknown.

It’s so subjective though. How could you meaningfully use that to buy a suppressor?

 

[Roor]

It’s so subjective though. How could you meaningfully use that to buy a suppressor?

You can’t.

It always was a marketing tactic to differentiate a product in an incredibly crowded market.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

Tone or Frequency could potentially be adjusted, influenced, or controlled by design.
Lots of use variables involved tho.
Does it matter …… probably only in extreme differences in practical use to an individual.
Or to a Design/Engineer who purposely considers it in their product design criteria.
To a steel or paper target - probably not.
To a big/small game animal - maybe, who knows

 

[slim23]

Shooting all of these it’s definitely there. And not accurately represented by a sound meter. There were several cans that we pulled ear pro out to hear. But I don’t think it’s as dramatic down range as some say. As we conducted that test the second day with a few cans just for our own knowledge. But no OTB cans were in that test so clearly we missed out there

 

[Dcook1318]

This is honestly really cool to see! I'm excited to see the speed at which suppressor technology is improving.

 

[JF_Idaho]

Do these high-end meters filter out frequencies not perceivable by human ear?

I.e <40hz and >20khz roughly?

Edit to add: loudness and perceived loudness are distinct from each other. And that relies completely on "tone" or better yet frequency.

 

[omicron1792]

Shooting all of these it’s definitely there. And not accurately represented by a sound meter. There were several cans that we pulled ear pro out to hear. But I don’t think it’s as dramatic down range as some say. As we conducted that test the second day with a few cans just for our own knowledge. But no OTB cans were in that test so clearly we missed out there

I definitely think it’s a thing. But also so subjective that it would be not hard for all the cans to just say “ours has a great tone.”

Eventually market influence will help those that truly do.

 

[omicron1792]

Shooting all of these it’s definitely there. And not accurately represented by a sound meter. There were several cans that we pulled ear pro out to hear. But I don’t think it’s as dramatic down range as some say. As we conducted that test the second day with a few cans just for our own knowledge. But no OTB cans were in that test so clearly we missed out there

I was wondering why AB raptor cans were not included. They have generally stellar reputation and have been OTB for a while.

 

[Escalante11]

I was wondering why AB raptor cans were not included. They have generally stellar reputation and have been OTB for a while.

Agreed, I'm a bit confused why Unknown doesn't throw in their OG varients in more of these tests they participate in. Perhaps barrel profile limitations with the test rifles?

 

[nm.otter]

How could you meaningfully use that to buy a suppressor?

You can't -- with a single dB figure. A TEF waterfall plot will show far more.

Do these high-end meters filter out frequencies not perceivable by human ear?

I.e <40hz and >20khz roughly?

A 44.1 kHz sample rate (e.g. CD) is capable of capturing/representing a 20 kHz sine wave. With proper capture and playback processing, it will do an excellent job of representing musical instruments (which produce higher harmonics with decreasing energies).

Capturing a very high slope impulse is quite a different task. Such a waveform can be described (Fourier) by a series of even higher frequencies, which require sampling at a higher rate.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

I was wondering why AB raptor cans were not included. They have generally stellar reputation and have been OTB for a while.

Maybe that’s something for the test planners of this test to consider in the future.
Test cans that were not in this round, new models,
& any revised models from the first round ?
Also consider incorporating At shooters ear information.
Also if possible to utilize a sensor of sorts to pick up any concussive effect at shooters position
of cans utilizing a brake ?
This would serve as comparative information in choosing a braked version.

 

[slim23]

Agreed, I'm a bit confused why Unknown doesn't throw in their OG varients in more of these tests they participate in. Perhaps barrel profile limitations with the test rifles?

In the end all but 7 if the tested cans were personal cans.
Overall I was most interested in cans for competition. But the scope expanded quickly.
Many popular cans were asked to be there and they did not respond or didn’t get them out in time.
Emails were sent with a follow up.
Overall I’d say part of that was the fact I was completely unknown. Maybe different the next time I ask??
I’m sure some companies didn’t like the results and will distance themselves from future testing. Others are eager to add there’s for future tests.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I was wondering why AB raptor cans were not included. They have generally stellar reputation and have been OTB for a while.

AB generally doesn’t publish much on their suppressor testing. No suppression numbers on their website. No third party testing. They just produce good products.

 

[omicron1792]

Right. But these guys just tested a lot of cans even without manufacturer sending them one.