One of the worst parts about buying shooting accoutrement is that there is seldom a chance to try before you buy. Sometimes, you’ll be fortunate enough to test a firearm at a rental range or at a manufacturer’s event, but almost never do you have the opportunity to test a silencer. Furthermore, if the stars do happen to align, their performance in a demo doesn’t represent their performance on your firearm with the ammo you happen to be using that day. Therefore, you have to make your choice based on reviews and a little bit of blind faith.
These decisions include the overall size of the can, as unique firearm and ammunition combinations behave differently. If you go too small, you won’t get the volume reduction you seek. Too big, and you’ll violently upset the balance and mechanics of your firearm. Knowing this presents a problem for the shooting public, and MMG Silencers has stepped up to the plate with a series of modular suppressors. These adjust on the fly to best support the firearm you have it mounted to and hush the ammunition in question without over-extension. After taking a trio of them out on a blustery range day, I really appreciated what they were all about.
MMG Suppressors
Let’s begin with a little bit of company history as well as an explanation of its nomenclature. We can assume it stands for something ultra-high speed and low drag like Modular Machining Gunworks or Metallic Muffler Geometrics, but in reality, the acronym pays homage to the owner’s kids. Adam Gudz, who is currently serving overseas, had a vision to put tunable suppressors in the hands of everyday Americans, so instead of dumping time into marketing, he named the company after what is most important and carried on with the designing process. The final product is the embodiment of beauty in simplicity. Although the materials differ, the general design of the three products is the same.
Each suppressor features a series of baffle/body modules attached to a blast chamber. By attaching the baffle to the outer portion of the device it dramatically reduces the amount of lead exposure the end user must endure to adjust the can’s size. This also makes cleaning substantially easier, particularly since the mounting hubs and end caps are also removable. Additionally, almost all of the segments feature aggressive knurling to expedite modifications in the field without the need for any tools.
The Blade
Constructed from Titanium, the Blade comprises MMG’s multipurpose rifle-rated suppressor. Currently, MMG offers it in 5.56, .30 and .36 calibers. Being that it accepts the industry standard mounting HUB (1.375×24), and MMG offers a variety of end caps, I went with the .36 caliber, so I could use it on nearly all of my rifles. In its full configuration, it weighs 20.1 ounces and measures 8.75 inches in length. Since it is the most versatile of the system, I selected three different rifles to test it with. These consisted of one of Franchi’s new 18-inch Momentum Carbines, chambered in .308 Winchester, a standard 16.25-inch AR-15 in 5.56, and a Henry Lever Action X chambered in .360 Buckhammer, wearing a 21.4-inch barrel.
I began my testing with the AR-15 using The Blade in its fullest configuration. Screwing it onto the barrel only changed my 100-yard zero by three inches, putting it directly below my unsuppressed group. This is excellent machining, as the absence of any windage change showcases the can’s concentricity. Pulling the trigger proved more than adequate suppression, with blowback that was below average, something this lefty always appreciates. Running just four of the seven baffles seemed to strike the right balance when using Hornady’s 55-grain NATO load, already proving the company’s mission statement.
Lever-Action Suppression
By swapping hubs and end caps, I had The Blade ready for work with the Henry X. Using Federal’s 180-grain Power Shok load; the package was surprisingly quiet. At full length, my 100-yard zero shifted 9 inches, which tells me that it was too much for the gun. However, removing three baffles didn’t cause a noticeable change in volume or tone and created less of a zero shift, so I deemed that as the best setup for this combo.
As the Franchi shared the same thread pitch as the Henry, all I had to do was choke the end down to .30 cal., and I was ready to go. Using Remington’s new Core-Lokt Tipped load, I observed a 5-inch change in point of impact, but more importantly, ample group size reduction. This is an oft-overlooked point for variable-length suppressors. Anytime you alter a barrel, you change the relationship between the harmonics and the projectile flying down it, thus affecting the accuracy. By “tuning” your muzzle, you can achieve the same results that handloaders do by tailoring a charge weight. I might not have needed the entire suppressor to quiet down the .308 Winchester; however, with performance like that, I decided to keep it right where it was.
The Ash 22
The best bang for your buck will always be a .22 LR suppressor. When coupled with subsonic ammunition, it’s realistic to expect what you hear (or don’t hear) in the movies. As it doesn’t take much strength to contain rimfire gunshots, MMG’s Ash is constructed from lighter and less expensive aluminum, making it less noticeable on rimfire firearms, which are also typically on the lighter side. Sort of a blast from the past, this silencer features a shoot-through wipe that can be replaced as needed. This eliminates first-round pop and shines in a hunting scenario.
Weighing in at 4.3 ounces with a complete length of just 5 inches puts it on par with some of the lightest compact cans out there. I began testing by stripping it down to just two baffles and mounting it to a 16-inch Rossi RS 22. Using Eley’s Subsonic Hollow Point ammo (courtesy of targetbarn.com), the gun was quiet enough to hear the bullet hit the dirt 50 yards away. Interestingly, the point of impact wasn’t affected in the slightest. After a few magazines, I allowed the gun and suppressor to cool before firing one last magazine to observe how much first-round pop there might be now that the wipe is worn away.
To my delight, there still wasn’t a noticeable amount, so although replaceable, you might not find yourself doing so anytime soon. I drove it home by mounting The Ash 22 to a Ruger MK4 Target pistol in the same configuration. As expected, it needed more volume to compensate for what was given up by the shorter barrel. Adding the included baffles back onto the suppressor did the trick, and the finished package was just as quiet as the rifle tested earlier.
The COOP
The COOP is MMG’s beefy pistol-rated silencer and unlike most, had a bit of rifle application, thanks to its titanium construction. Available in .45 or 9mm, the larger of the two can handle subsonic .45-70 Gov’t. With that said, I opted for one of these as I do enjoy shooting the old classic at times. In its full configuration and with a booster installed, it tips the scale at 20 ounces. With everything attached, it reaches 7 inches in length, which is about average for a .45-caliber can. Using the 9mm endcap that I borrowed from The Blade, I set the suppressor up with about half of the baffles and mounted it to a full-size Canik Mete.
Using Fiocchi’s 147-grain ammo, I found the subsonic sound level to be comfortable for extended use without supplemental hearing protection. However, the supersonic crack of Liberty’s Overwatch ammunition started to ping my hearing after just a magazine or two. Adding more baffles did help, though. Most importantly, the gun cycled both types of ammo without any modifications, which is everything I need to know when selecting a can for home defense.
I wrapped things up by looking over the website and found that these suppressors are also compatible with many different industry quick-connects and muzzle brakes. This means that if you already have some cans in your collection, these will fit in with many of your favorite components. Overall, I found the suppression level to be remarkable and the adaptability to be invaluable. Best of all, you know what you’re getting when you buy one, and if you feel like you didn’t, you can get it there with just a flick of the wrist.
For more information, visit mmgsilencers.com.
Lacrosse Alphaburly Pro
Cold weather doesn’t just test equipment, it tests the shooter. Although sub-20-degree weather is ideal for detecting sound reduction, it does indeed suck to work in. With Kryptec handling everything from the knees up, I strapped on a pair of Lacrosse Alphaburly Pro boots to protect the weakest link, my toes. With 1,600 grams of Thinsulate material and natural rubber outer construction, the snowy conditions didn’t stand a chance. For those looking to finish their hunting kit, they’re also available in two different camo patterns, as well as solid brown. (lacrossefootwear.com)
