I almost pulled the trigger on a Surefire 7.62 Socom Mini2 yesterday for a 10.3" 5.56 build but I am finding it's not hearing safe. That got me wondering, is there any compact cans (sub 7") that are hearing safe on a supersonic 10.3" 5.56? Or close to hearing safe?
That's not hard to do really. Most of the 5.56 specific cans are below 7" mounted.
Saker 5.56. AAC 556SD. 7.62SD. I don't have one, but I'm sure that TBAC steel can will too. All are abuse type cans (that's what I call anything that has basically no restrictions on firing rate). I have an AAC 556SD on an 11.5 that I keep handy. It was a cheap can and the mounts usually suck balls but there's a trick (that doesn't involve work). Buy ten mounts, pick the best one, send the other 9 back. I know that sucks, but it's the best way to make an AAC can work right. IMO Saker is much better and you have options on the mounts --apparently they recommend the ASR now but I gotta admit I like the Trifecta better.
Not sure about TBAC Ultra5 in 5.56 but the 5" in .300BLK and I THINK 7.62 (don't quote me on that) is JUST at the hearing safe level. Remember that level is only for intermittent dB, sustained sound over time registers different on your hearing. IMO it still sounds a lot like a gunshot but it takes the bark out enough so it's not really a problem, especially for a social rifle. More a loud abrupt pop than a typical snap. At least for me.
Ultra 9 is by far the best. It adds 7-8" w/brake. Ultra 7 will be less than 7" installed. Nothing is lighter and there is no better constructed Ti can. That's their shit in spades.
IIRC, 5.56 is one of those oddball rounds like the .357 that's just louder than you'd think. But shaving several dB's off the blast sure helps and it doesn't take a long can to do it, though the longer ones do work better.
Don't know about the KAC 5.56 cans, but the 7.62 QDC is one of the best all around cans for the 7.62. It ain't cheap and others may disagree, but I have several of these fuckers and that one is the titties in more than one area.
There's a lot of good options really.
But for SBR use that's not a .300BLK (relatively low powder/blast per case, super or sub) I like something steel.
Oh, for budget you can't beat Elite Iron and they don't really belong last... They're not really a budget choice, just able to keep prices down by using 316SS (more than sufficient, trust me). Dale is a metallurgist IIRC and I have his BMG can and the fucker is a tank. Supposedly his 6.5G can is badass but I don't have one. He'll also index the can to the rifle if you go direct thread.
Here's some images of them installed so you get an idea of size mounted, I don't have 'em all pictured but these three get the idea across.
Saker (probably best all around for the price, lots of options, especially w/7.62 but I prefer caliber specific, they just work better).
556SD (a beater that works).
7.62 SDN6. (This one used to be the shit when it came out... Same mount issue but it works and it works well with .300BLK).
TBAC .30Ultra5 (there's too much shit on this one to really see but the whole can is in the picture, basically weightless).