There are so many good choices, it's hard for me to choose. I'm now able to say the community has good choices, because we get really good data presented to us by well known and well regarded industry voices. But it can be overwhelming.
Instead of presenting my list of selected devices and asking you for help with a down select on the choices, instead allow me to present a use case and a set of pre-defined "desirements". I think that would help me pick up on something that I might have missed. That's happened recently.
I'm a retired engineer that fusses endlessly about The Details. I was a good engineer. It does not help when faced with so many good choices. I mention this because that experience has taught me that building machines is an exercise in compromise. Tradeoffs.
So, the use case is 30 cal rifle: 308 / 6.5 CM / 6.8 SPC / 300 AAC BLK / 7mm Rem Mag Maybe, but this would be the upper power limit. Not 338 level or above. Range 500-600 yards, no more. No PRS work, but precision is always a bonus. "Only Accurate Rifles Are Interesting", but I dont compete even casually. No Mag Dumps, I dont have access to that level of fun. At the lower end of that power range is the 300 BLK likely on an AR Pistol. This is the Suppressor sub forum, so of course Mouse Farts will be part of the use case. Will it see 556 use? Likely, but not primary. I figure a 30 cal can on a 556 rifle is a safe use case for the can, given the power range already mentioned. Concussion and Recoil Reduction at the range and hunting, and Home Defense indoors on a shorty AR. Thats a pretty broad power spectrum.
A "hard use", or FA rating, is desireable but only from the perspective of less things to remember about a barrel length, or shooting schedule, or things going Tango Uniform because I let it get too hot. Not likely, but also not out of the realm of possibility as my memory gets older. Hard use cans usually get a bigger BC designed into them, and that usually improves suppression performance and opens up the accessory selection some, too. So, thats a trade.
Ti cans are a difficult selection for me right now. I dont have any, and all I have are the YouTubes to judge by. Some Tubers speak to the Ti Sparking Effect. Some say all the cans exhibit this always for the can's lifetime, some say it's a temporary thing (being mostly over and gone after the 200 shot break in period), some say it never goes away. Some say the effect only appears when the can overheats, some say a Hybrid Steel / Ti is The Way. I have face to face discussions with behind the counter experts that I trust that tell me they have witnessed Ti cans ripped apart from abuse (outside schedule conditions). OK, Duh. I dont know what to believe. My Take on Ti cans currently is, I dont have to have this feature of Lightweight in the Tradeoff considerations, OR it can be relatively Low on the Desirements. My Bottom Line on Ti is, I Know I Dont Want to deal with Sparking during some of my Use.
Back Pressure: Im not convinced that High Flow cans are The Way forward. The Tubes I've seen demonstrating them look like there is still plenty of gas in the face while using them. There is likely a recoil and concussion reduction, and there is the feature that says No Rifle Gas Adjustment needed. Which would be good positives. All my stuff has adjustable gas, so this High Flow / Low Back Pressure becomes a Dont Care for the operating system conditions. They are noticably Noisier than other types. That I do care about. If you present a High Flow choice, it will be given equal consideration. I'm Listening.
Hub / Bravo Interface: This is Must Have. The can will not be mounted permanently, but mobile between firearms.
Modular: Pretty much a Dont Care to me. It means more seams that can fail, and O-Ring Maintenance. The plus side of course is, more adjustment choices on a single F4. Thats a pretty good trade.
Suppression: Job One, right? More is better. Of course.
Size: Ah the other side of the Suppression coin. You can play with Physics and try to tame it, but you must play the game. Smaller is better. I would put an outer limit on length at 6", for the can only. Thats a pretty long tube for the lower end of my power use case, with a mounting system in place. Some of these new all-steel designs are approaching Ti can weight, which is good. Weight is a Dont Care. Except if its made from Depleted Uranium. Then You Hump It. Diameter is a Dont Care. Rifle Sights now sit on top of big stilts these days, what with 55mm front objectives and 2" standoffs for AR sights.
User Servicable: Dont Care.
Removeable End Caps: Dont Care.
Dead Air: No Thanks at this time.
Cost: Dont Care. Not Gold Plated, OK?
So, what do you think? What cans should I be considering?
Instead of presenting my list of selected devices and asking you for help with a down select on the choices, instead allow me to present a use case and a set of pre-defined "desirements". I think that would help me pick up on something that I might have missed. That's happened recently.
I'm a retired engineer that fusses endlessly about The Details. I was a good engineer. It does not help when faced with so many good choices. I mention this because that experience has taught me that building machines is an exercise in compromise. Tradeoffs.
So, the use case is 30 cal rifle: 308 / 6.5 CM / 6.8 SPC / 300 AAC BLK / 7mm Rem Mag Maybe, but this would be the upper power limit. Not 338 level or above. Range 500-600 yards, no more. No PRS work, but precision is always a bonus. "Only Accurate Rifles Are Interesting", but I dont compete even casually. No Mag Dumps, I dont have access to that level of fun. At the lower end of that power range is the 300 BLK likely on an AR Pistol. This is the Suppressor sub forum, so of course Mouse Farts will be part of the use case. Will it see 556 use? Likely, but not primary. I figure a 30 cal can on a 556 rifle is a safe use case for the can, given the power range already mentioned. Concussion and Recoil Reduction at the range and hunting, and Home Defense indoors on a shorty AR. Thats a pretty broad power spectrum.
A "hard use", or FA rating, is desireable but only from the perspective of less things to remember about a barrel length, or shooting schedule, or things going Tango Uniform because I let it get too hot. Not likely, but also not out of the realm of possibility as my memory gets older. Hard use cans usually get a bigger BC designed into them, and that usually improves suppression performance and opens up the accessory selection some, too. So, thats a trade.
Ti cans are a difficult selection for me right now. I dont have any, and all I have are the YouTubes to judge by. Some Tubers speak to the Ti Sparking Effect. Some say all the cans exhibit this always for the can's lifetime, some say it's a temporary thing (being mostly over and gone after the 200 shot break in period), some say it never goes away. Some say the effect only appears when the can overheats, some say a Hybrid Steel / Ti is The Way. I have face to face discussions with behind the counter experts that I trust that tell me they have witnessed Ti cans ripped apart from abuse (outside schedule conditions). OK, Duh. I dont know what to believe. My Take on Ti cans currently is, I dont have to have this feature of Lightweight in the Tradeoff considerations, OR it can be relatively Low on the Desirements. My Bottom Line on Ti is, I Know I Dont Want to deal with Sparking during some of my Use.
Back Pressure: Im not convinced that High Flow cans are The Way forward. The Tubes I've seen demonstrating them look like there is still plenty of gas in the face while using them. There is likely a recoil and concussion reduction, and there is the feature that says No Rifle Gas Adjustment needed. Which would be good positives. All my stuff has adjustable gas, so this High Flow / Low Back Pressure becomes a Dont Care for the operating system conditions. They are noticably Noisier than other types. That I do care about. If you present a High Flow choice, it will be given equal consideration. I'm Listening.
Hub / Bravo Interface: This is Must Have. The can will not be mounted permanently, but mobile between firearms.
Modular: Pretty much a Dont Care to me. It means more seams that can fail, and O-Ring Maintenance. The plus side of course is, more adjustment choices on a single F4. Thats a pretty good trade.
Suppression: Job One, right? More is better. Of course.
Size: Ah the other side of the Suppression coin. You can play with Physics and try to tame it, but you must play the game. Smaller is better. I would put an outer limit on length at 6", for the can only. Thats a pretty long tube for the lower end of my power use case, with a mounting system in place. Some of these new all-steel designs are approaching Ti can weight, which is good. Weight is a Dont Care. Except if its made from Depleted Uranium. Then You Hump It. Diameter is a Dont Care. Rifle Sights now sit on top of big stilts these days, what with 55mm front objectives and 2" standoffs for AR sights.
User Servicable: Dont Care.
Removeable End Caps: Dont Care.
Dead Air: No Thanks at this time.
Cost: Dont Care. Not Gold Plated, OK?
So, what do you think? What cans should I be considering?
