There’s no free lunch if you understand suppressors.
The OG (just going to stick with that name since it is the original) wasn’t the quietest can. It was/is a robust 30 cal OTB can. I own two. I ran a bunch of 6.5 PRC, 6.5 creed, 243 win, and 223 through. The problem with the OG was the hype around it. The team made people think it would be some magical game changer that would make 30 cal rounds as whisper quiet as an 8 inch forward suppressor like a CAT JL. That was where expectations didn’t meet reality. And it didn’t help they dropped a 6.5 version almost immediately that was 5-6 oz lighter and was instantly “the best.”
I also own several muzzle forward suppressors, some flow through, some high back pressure.
The “secret sauce” of the Airlock cans are high back pressure. So you will get very good suppression in a tiny package. But they heat up quickly, and induce back pressure into the system. I own two airlock cans (6.5 and nano). While the nano is also high back pressure, shooting any can with 223 is likely not to induce any issues. I shot the U.S. midge? on a 20” 223 for hundreds of rounds and while its louder than bigger cans, it did just fine.
If I had a training gun, or a gun I wanted to shoot volumes through, it wouldn’t be an airlock. My 6.5 isn’t good for more than 10 rounds without significant mirage, and the back pressure makes it nearly unusable on my factory tikka 6.5 creed. I spoke about this in the S2H thread, but I was pretty upset about it in practical applications. I’d sell it today if I wasn’t in the middle of a cross country move.
If I needed a 30 cal can and wanted OTB, I would get the new OG30 which is lighter than the OG (my OGs are 11 oz). If I were shooting sendero contour barrels like proof XT, I’d opt for a reaper. I want to like the airlock cans but my personal experience is mixed. Great sound suppression but I can’t take my suppressor on any serious backcountry hunt and rely on it.
While I agree we are good at marketing products. I asked the question below to chat; it shows people hear what they want to hear. The last paragraph nails it.
"What did the Shoot2Hunt podcast say about the OG suppressor?
Based on the Shoot2Hunt episodes featuring the OG suppressor, the main points Ryan, Jake, Form, and Cliff emphasized were:
1. They were chasing tone, not just decibel numbers
A recurring theme was that many suppressor companies focus on the lowest meter reading, while they wanted a suppressor that sounds better to a hunter's ear. They specifically discussed the difference between making a rifle "quieter" and making it sound less sharp. The over-the-barrel design was chosen to create a flatter, duller sound rather than a high-pitched crack.
2. Rifle balance was a major design goal
The OG was designed around hunters carrying rifles all day. By putting roughly half the suppressor back over the barrel, the weight stays closer to the action and the rifle feels shorter and less muzzle-heavy than a conventional 8-inch can. This was presented as one of the biggest advantages over traditional muzzle-forward suppressors.
3. They believed most hunting suppressors are too long
On the podcast they explained that hunters often dislike how suppressors make rifles feel unwieldy. The OG's reflex design only adds about 4 inches to overall rifle length despite being 8 inches long. That was one of the primary reasons they went with an over-the-barrel design.
4. The suppressor was designed specifically for hunters
Rather than a hard-use tactical can, they repeatedly described the OG as a purpose-built hunting suppressor. Lightweight titanium construction, good balance, reduced added length, and a pleasant tone were prioritized over maximum suppression or full-auto durability.
5. They discussed new manufacturing methods
In Episode 112 they talked about Unknown Suppressors' titanium 3D-printing capabilities and how that allowed them to build the suppressor as a one-piece design.
Later episodes
- Episode 124 covered how to buy the new OG and the suppressor purchasing process.
- Episode 139 introduced the newer 6.5-specific OG variant and provided updates on production and future suppressor designs.
One thing that's interesting is that the Shoot2Hunt crew didn't spend much time claiming the OG was the absolute quietest suppressor available. Their argument was more that for a hunting rifle,
balance, length, weight, and tone matter more than winning a decibel-meter contest. That was probably the central message across all the OG-related episodes."
