<span style="font-style: italic">I posted this over on Arfcom and I figured you guys would be interested in the review on the Gemtech Sandstorm.</span>
This all started with a quick detach HVT on an FN SPR A1a in .308 with the tension bilock mount that I was having accuracy issues with. Over the course of a year I worked with Gemtech and tried many different suggestions to get that setup to work for me but in the end I was without luck, sold the FN, and was out a bit of ammo. I finally reached the decision to sell my HVT at a loss and let someone else try their hand with it (yes, I advised that with my bolt guns the suppressor was causing accuracy issues.). EVERY company produces a lemon and I'm not too suprised that I possibly received one, it happens.
Kel at Gemtech saw my posts concerning my troubles and the attempted sale of my HVT suppressor. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Kel before but I was downright surprised when he called me regarding my forum posts. To keep it short and to the point, Kel told me he wanted to make me happy since I had tried so hard with the HVT and he was going to replace it. “It won’t be an HVT and I can’t tell you what it is until after the SHOT show. It’s titanium, we built it with precision shooting in mind, and I think you’ll like it”. I’m telling you, this phone call was made out of pure awesome.
Well as awesome as it was that I was going to get a Sandstorm suppressor, we still had to wait for the ATF. I believe I sent off my paperwork towards the end of January and it was approved May the 6th, no idea when Gemtech got my form, but I received the can on May the 27th . Gemtech paid the transfer tax and I also received a box of something extra, but it didn’t come from Gemtech. It actually came from a very generous man who paid out of pocket to make it happen and I don’t think he wants any credit for doing it so I’ll leave it at that..
First thing I notice is this thing is light. Really light. When I hold the Sandstorm in one hand and my LCD equipped Trident 9 in the other, there’s very little difference in weight to my hands. Think about that for a second. The finish is really nice and the build quality of this can is exceptional, as would be expected from a company of this caliber. The anodized grey color matches, well, nothing! But for some reason it looks right at home on my rifle and I don’t know why, but it just looks good. I know it’s supposed to be grey anodize but I’m going to call it tactical grey so I can sleep better tonight.
How does it shoot and sound?! The Sandstorm shoots and sounds like a purposefully built precision rifle can should. I screwed the can on tightly, shot a 5 shot group at 100yds, measured the group and smiled when I saw the results. Then I shot another 5 shot group. And another, and another. Each group was under an inch at 100yds with my reloads so there were many smiles that day. As with any .30cal suppressor the crack of the bullet was the loudest sound and I feel safe shooting this setup without hearing protection. POI shift was quite minimal producing an approximate 1moa shift low at 100yds from unsuppressed to suppressed. To be fair I should have been using a mechanical rest but I simply don’t shoot that way. Parker Hale/AI bipod and a rear bag is it for me. To make matters worse, my target was quite canted and I made adjustments along the way. Regardless of all of this I still had a great run with the suppressor using my reloads (175gr SMK, 43.5gr Varget, FGMM primer, Lapua brass). Everything below was shot at 100yds and I'm hoping to try out the suppressor/rifle combo at 400yds this weekend if the weather will allow it!
IMHO Gemtech hit this one out of the park and has taken accurate, suppressed shooting to a whole new level with their Sandstorm suppressor. In the world we live in today of bottom lines, outsourcing customer service, cutting costs, and making large profits with inferior products, I am happy to see at least one company going above and beyond to make a customer in Kentucky (of all places) extremely happy with his hard earned purchase. I couldn't be more satisfied with the can, company, or the high level of customer service that I received.
Kel and everyone at Gemtech, thank you.
This all started with a quick detach HVT on an FN SPR A1a in .308 with the tension bilock mount that I was having accuracy issues with. Over the course of a year I worked with Gemtech and tried many different suggestions to get that setup to work for me but in the end I was without luck, sold the FN, and was out a bit of ammo. I finally reached the decision to sell my HVT at a loss and let someone else try their hand with it (yes, I advised that with my bolt guns the suppressor was causing accuracy issues.). EVERY company produces a lemon and I'm not too suprised that I possibly received one, it happens.
Kel at Gemtech saw my posts concerning my troubles and the attempted sale of my HVT suppressor. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Kel before but I was downright surprised when he called me regarding my forum posts. To keep it short and to the point, Kel told me he wanted to make me happy since I had tried so hard with the HVT and he was going to replace it. “It won’t be an HVT and I can’t tell you what it is until after the SHOT show. It’s titanium, we built it with precision shooting in mind, and I think you’ll like it”. I’m telling you, this phone call was made out of pure awesome.
Well as awesome as it was that I was going to get a Sandstorm suppressor, we still had to wait for the ATF. I believe I sent off my paperwork towards the end of January and it was approved May the 6th, no idea when Gemtech got my form, but I received the can on May the 27th . Gemtech paid the transfer tax and I also received a box of something extra, but it didn’t come from Gemtech. It actually came from a very generous man who paid out of pocket to make it happen and I don’t think he wants any credit for doing it so I’ll leave it at that..
First thing I notice is this thing is light. Really light. When I hold the Sandstorm in one hand and my LCD equipped Trident 9 in the other, there’s very little difference in weight to my hands. Think about that for a second. The finish is really nice and the build quality of this can is exceptional, as would be expected from a company of this caliber. The anodized grey color matches, well, nothing! But for some reason it looks right at home on my rifle and I don’t know why, but it just looks good. I know it’s supposed to be grey anodize but I’m going to call it tactical grey so I can sleep better tonight.
How does it shoot and sound?! The Sandstorm shoots and sounds like a purposefully built precision rifle can should. I screwed the can on tightly, shot a 5 shot group at 100yds, measured the group and smiled when I saw the results. Then I shot another 5 shot group. And another, and another. Each group was under an inch at 100yds with my reloads so there were many smiles that day. As with any .30cal suppressor the crack of the bullet was the loudest sound and I feel safe shooting this setup without hearing protection. POI shift was quite minimal producing an approximate 1moa shift low at 100yds from unsuppressed to suppressed. To be fair I should have been using a mechanical rest but I simply don’t shoot that way. Parker Hale/AI bipod and a rear bag is it for me. To make matters worse, my target was quite canted and I made adjustments along the way. Regardless of all of this I still had a great run with the suppressor using my reloads (175gr SMK, 43.5gr Varget, FGMM primer, Lapua brass). Everything below was shot at 100yds and I'm hoping to try out the suppressor/rifle combo at 400yds this weekend if the weather will allow it!
IMHO Gemtech hit this one out of the park and has taken accurate, suppressed shooting to a whole new level with their Sandstorm suppressor. In the world we live in today of bottom lines, outsourcing customer service, cutting costs, and making large profits with inferior products, I am happy to see at least one company going above and beyond to make a customer in Kentucky (of all places) extremely happy with his hard earned purchase. I couldn't be more satisfied with the can, company, or the high level of customer service that I received.
Kel and everyone at Gemtech, thank you.
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