Comprehensive Back Pressure Testing: Comparing 11.5″ and 16″ Rifles

Today, we’re diving deep into a continuation of our previous back pressure testing, this time focusing on an 11.5″ rifle. In our first video, we tested various suppressors on a 16″ gun, and now we’re seeing how they stack up on a shorter barrel. If you’re a subscriber, thank you for following along! Let’s get into the details.

Click here to watch a video on this topic.

Setting Up the 11.5″ Rifle for Testing

To replicate the test conditions from our 16″ setup, we built an 11.5″ rifle with the same Rifle Speed gas block, this time on a carbine length system. Given the shorter barrel’s tendency to be over-gassed, we used a SpringCo Red Spring and adjusted the buffer weight. Additionally, we utilized the second longest plunger available for the Rifle Speed gas block to ensure we had room for deviations between the baseline Omega 300 suppressor and the unsuppressed setting.

We ran a ton of ammo through it today using PMC X-TAC 55gr full metal jacket boat tail rounds to maintain consistency.

Baseline and Suppressor Performance

Without a suppressor, the 11.5″ rifle was set to position nine on the gas block. This means no back pressure adjustments were needed. When suppressed, our baseline, the Omega 300, dropped to position three, indicating high back pressure.

Suppressors Tested:

• SureFire RC3
• B&T Reduced Back Pressure 5.56 Titanium
• Huxwrx Ventum 7.62
• Various other suppressors as listed in our chart

Results Breakdown

Here’s what we found:

[Chart of Test Results]

To provide a clear visual representation of our findings, we’ve compiled the data into a chart. This chart highlights the position settings for each suppressor on both the 16″ and 11.5″ rifles. The lower the position number, the higher the back pressure.

[Insert Chart Here]

SureFire RC3:

• 16-inch Rifle: Position 5-6
• 11.5-inch Rifle: Position 6
• Conclusion: Good low back pressure performance on both setups.

B&T Reduced Back Pressure 5.56 Titanium:

• 16-inch Rifle: Position 3
• 11.5-inch Rifle: Position 6
• Conclusion: Shines on shorter barrels, catching up to SureFire RC3.

Huxwrx Ventum 7.62:

• 16-inch Rifle: Position 7-8
• 11.5-inch Rifle: Position 7
• Conclusion: Impressively low back pressure, close to unsuppressed levels.

Observations and Surprises

One standout finding was the Huxwrx Ventum 7.62 outperforming expectations, particularly on the shorter barrel. Initially underestimated, it proved to be a top performer, challenging the Flow K and QD models from Huxwrx.

Another surprise was the B&T Reduced Back Pressure 5.56 Titanium. While it only performed moderately on the longer configuration, it excelled on the 11.5″ setup, matching the SureFire RC3.

Why Back Pressure Matters

Understanding and mitigating back pressure is crucial for several reasons:

1. Reduced Gas in the Face: Mitigating back pressure helps prevent gas from escaping towards the shooter’s face, enhancing comfort and visibility.
2. Lower Felt Recoil: Reducing back pressure can make your rifle more manageable, especially during rapid fire.
3. Weapon Longevity: Lower back pressure helps maintain your firearm’s longevity by reducing excessive wear and tear on critical components.

Conclusion

This comprehensive test on both the 16″ and 11.5″ rifles has provided valuable insights into how various suppressors manage back pressure. The data shows clear differences in performance, with some suppressors excelling in both configurations.

If you enjoyed this deep dive and want to see more, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe. Let us know which suppressor from our lineup interests you the most and why. Your feedback helps shape our future content and testing.

As always, stay safe and keep training. See you in the comments section!