Low Back Pressure Suppressor Showdown: Comprehensive Testing and Insights

Hey everybody, Rob Orgel here. In today’s post, we delve into low back pressure suppressors, focusing on their performance in various configurations. We recently conducted extensive testing to see if these suppressors stand up to their manufacturers’ claims. Here’s what we found.

Click here to watch a video on this topic.

Testing Setup

For this test, we specifically selected suppressors marketed as “Low Back Pressure” (LBP Suppressors). Our goal was to verify if these suppressors truly delivered on their low back pressure promises. We began with a 16-inch rifle equipped with an adjustable gas system and a Rifle Speed gas block on a mid-length setup. The initial response was fantastic, so we decided to expand our testing to an 11.5-inch rifle to observe how barrel length affects back pressure.

Test Results

[INSERT CHARTS HERE]

16-Inch Rifle (Baseline Unsuppressed: Setting 9-10)

• SureFire RC3 Suppressor
  • Position: 5-6
  • Performance: Good back pressure management, consistently low.
• B&T SRBS Ti
  • Position: 3
  • Note: Lightweight at 7 ounces without the mount.
  • Performance: Standard back pressure on 16-inch, but shines in shorter configurations.
• Huxwrx Flow K
  • Position: 8
  • Performance: Excellent low back pressure, but not the best for sound suppression.
• Huxwrx QD
  • Position: 8
  • Performance: Similar to Flow K with slightly better sound suppression.
• Huxwrx Ventum 5.56
  • Position: 6
  • Performance: Surprisingly good, consistent performance.
• SilencerCo Velos
  • Position: 5
  • Performance: Outperforms many others in back pressure management.

11.5-Inch Rifle (Baseline Unsuppressed: Setting 8-9)

• SureFire RC3 Suppressor
  • Position: 6
  • Performance: Maintains good back pressure control even in shorter configuration.
• B&T SRBS Ti
  • Position: 6
  • Performance: Excels in shorter configurations, lightweight and effective.
• Huxwrx Flow K
  • Position: 7
  • Performance: Maintains low back pressure but requires hearing protection.
• Huxwrx QD
  • Position: 7
  • Performance: Consistent with Flow K, slightly quieter.
• Huxwrx Ventum 5.56
  • Position: 8
  • Performance: Exceptional in shorter configurations, surpasses expectations.
• SilencerCo Velos
  • Position: 7
  • Performance: Outperforms many competitors in both configurations.

Analysis

Our primary focus was on achieving last-round hold open to assess back pressure performance. A higher number indicates closer performance to an unsuppressed setting, reflecting lower back pressure.

• SureFire RC3: Reliable low back pressure across both configurations.
• B&T SRBS Ti: Lightweight and excellent in shorter configurations.
• Huxwrx Flow K and QD: Great for low back pressure but requires ear protection.
• Huxwrx Ventum 5.56: Impressive, especially in shorter setups.
• SilencerCo Velos: Top performer in back pressure reduction, albeit heavier.

Conclusion

Our tests revealed significant variations in suppressor performance based on barrel length. The SureFire RC3 and B&T stood out for their consistent low back pressure, while the Huxwrx models excelled despite higher sound output. The Ventum 5.56 and Velos emerged as exceptional choices, especially for shorter rifles.

Stay tuned for more detailed head-to-head comparisons in future posts. As always, stay safe and let us know your thoughts on back pressure versus sound suppression in the comments.