Suppressors

To be effective, full-bore rifle suppressors have to be rather bulky. Adding a suppressor to a full-bore rifle normally increases the overall length by about twelve inches, making the weapon awkward and muzzle-heavy. The suppressed weapon doesn't fit in a standard rifle case, so the sound moderator must be removed for storage and transport. Shortening the barrel by a few inches helps a bit, but if the barrel is shortened too much, the bullet muzzle velocity and trajectory are adversely affected. To overcome these and other problems, Finnish designer Juha Hartikka invented the Reflex Suppressor...

What is a Reflex Suppressor?

The patented Reflex design of suppressor (or sound moderator) has the expansion chamber sleeved back over the front four to eight inches of the barrel. This reduces the overall length of the suppressed weapon, and improves its balance and handling qualities.

Why use a full-bore rifle suppressor?

To save your hearing and, if you use a rifle for work, to comply with the UK Health and Safety legislation. Independent tests with a 308 Winchester hunting rifle confirm that Reflex Suppressors do reduce the sound pressure at the shooter's ear to well below the British Health and Safety Executive's "peak action level" of 140 dB. Above this level, HSE regulations require employers to reduce workers' exposure as far as reasonably practicable by means other than ear protectors. This legal requirement also extends to self-employed persons.

In practice, depending on the amount of bullet flight noise reflected back to the shooter by trees or fences etc., a full-bore hunting rifle with a good suppressor sounds about the same as a high velocity 22 LR rim-fire rifle.

Is a suppressed full-bore rifle "reasonably practicable"?

Individual hunting and target-shooting circumstances vary, but the Reflex Suppressor concept solves most of the practical problems associated with suppressed full-bore rifles. For instance. This Tikka M695 270 Win hunting rifle with full-length barrel and Reflex Suppressor still fits neatly into a standard rifle case:

For muzzle-mounted suppressors, the usual single-point mounting system is relatively crude and weak - just a short 1/2" UNF thread and a small shoulder to align the sound moderator with the rifle bore.

By contrast, the two-point Reflex mounting system with a thread at the muzzle and a close fitting bush at the rear of the suppressor is very strong and resistant to harsh field use. The suppressor stays in alignment with the bore even if it is accidentally unscrewed a couple of turns.

Accuracy and trajectory are not impaired! 0.13" 100-yard group fired with T8 Reflex Suppressor

We usually find that the accuracy of hunting and target rifles is, if anything, slightly improved by the addition of a Reflex Suppressor.

This 1/8 MOA group was fired during load testing with a specialized long range target/varmint rifle fitted with a T8 Scout Reflex Suppressor (see photo below).

Shooting without ear defenders, we can listen as well as look and feel for wind changes. The suppressor also cuts recoil by about one third, which makes group-shooting a real pleasure.

Why use a full-bore rifle suppressor?

To save your hearing and, if you use a rifle for work, to comply with the UK Health and Safety legislation. Independent tests( http://guns.connect.fi/rs/summary.html)with a 308 Winchester hunting rifle confirm that Reflex Suppressors do reduce the sound pressure at the shooter's ear to well below the British Health and Safety Executive's "peak action level" of 140 dB. Above this level, HSE regulations( http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/noisindx.htm)require employers to reduce workers' exposure as far as reasonably practicable by means other than ear protectors. This legal requirement also extends to self-employed persons.

PES Full Bore Stainless Steel "Over the Barrel" Sound Moderators

Standard threads are 1/2" UNF 20TPI & 5/8" UNF 18TPI. Other threads and moderator lengths are available to special order. These moderators only add 140mm (12 baffles) to the overall length of the rifle when fitted and the rear of the moderator is supported on a delrin bush. Available in aluminium, mild steel and stainless steel.

You have the choice of different baffle settings, from 8 to 12 baffles. These stainless steel robust sound moderators have stood the test and in my opinion are one of the best available on the market today!

The Whole Shooting Match Ltd

We should say to start with that this product is wholly British designed and built, too many British designs are now owned and built overseas. We are proud to say this one is not!

After many years of hearing from shooters and retailers of issues they have encountered with other brands, we set out to build a product that does not suffer from the encountered problems.

The Stealth 10 & A7 Sound moderators have been CAD designed and constructed from aircraft quality Aluminium and Stainless steel for strength and sound reducing qualities. Stainless steel is used in all areas of the moderator where strength is required, aluminium in all others to assist sound dampening.

Designed to be disassembled for maintenance and cleaning,
As you know a clean product functions better than a dirty one!

Custom extras include a calibre specific option where maximum sound reduction is required, also sets of hard anodised baffles – these can be fitting from new or added as an upgrade.

Designed to lower the sound signature, animals hear high frequency sound far better than humans, Stealth moderators are designed to lower the sound frequency – this makes your shooting position more secure and enables a rapid second shot where needed.

Available in all major calibres with specialist attention to the rifle mounting areas – stainless steel is employed here to reduce the shoot loose situation ensuring that your barrel/moderator functions 100% at all times.

Always ensure that your threads and the moderator fitting are professionally done and are absolutely straight.

No warranty claims will be considered for bullet strikes.

There are 3 standard versions of the Stealth 10 Sound Moderators:

1. Up to .25 calibre

2. Up to .30 calibre

3. Up to .35 calibre

These moderators offer you the most versatile product of its type on the market.

Available from specialist dealers throughout the UK and Ireland – dealers contact information shown.

If you have any difficulty obtaining either information or supply from a recognised source - please contact me.

Distribution is through a number of existing specialist RFD’s in the UK and Ireland.

This is the "Consumer Review" for the stealth moderator available fromTheWholeShootingMatch Ltd

As you all must know by now I have been asked what I think of the new stealth moderator.My first impressions are that it is very well made,with all parts being CNC machined.the moderator that was on test was the stealth 10 and its dimensions are.

[b]Stealth 10

Overall length 328.64mm

Over barrel 216.20mm

Diameter 50.15mm

Standard - 650 grams

The next one in this stable of moderators is the stealth 10 compact and its dimensions are.this is a direct copy of the above moderator,except for how far the moderator comes back down the barrel,

Stealth 10 Compact

Overall length 264.64mm

Over barrel 156.20mm

Diameter 50.15mm

Compact - 580 grams

Primary features:
Does not rust!
Does not ring upon firing! No need for neoprene tube.
Future proof, modular construction - as improvements are made they can be added with low cost implications
Designed to be taken apart for cleaning. Can be sealed if required.

Construction on all moderators
Aircraft quality Aluminum and 17-4 Stainless Steel,
External coating - Hard Anodised.
Internal - 1200 micron Alocrom

When they where design the stealth moderator they took in to account the sizes of barrels they where likely on in countering.this is something where the A-TEC lets it self down,as there is quite a few different size barrels that the A-TEC will not fit.

Here are the parameters we worked to when setting up the Tactical specs on the Stealth Moderator

Standard RPA barrel match contour crown 0.936 back end of mod 1.048

McMillan tactical rifle crown 0.937 end of mod 1.049

Krieger No 10 sniper contour crown 0.914 and of mod 1.033

Unique Alpine crown 0.945 end of mod 1.023

Stealth Moderator, clear 1.080" all down to the crown.

This is just one of the things that the stealth comes out tops on,as it will fit nearly any type of rifle you will buy.

The stealth comes in 3 standard versions

1. Up to .25 caliber

2. Up to .30 caliber

3. Up to .35 caliber
Custom extras include a caliber specific option where maximum sound reduction is required, also sets of hard anodised baffles – these can be fitted from new or added as an upgrade.so basically the moderator will cover any thing you want,or need it to do.

Stuart advises me that the moderator is future proof, saying that if any new developments happen they will be able to be perchance and fitted directly to your stealth moderator.not so sure about that one as no one knows where new developments will take us in the future,all so the unit is totally field strippable, if you feel the need to strip a mod down in the field then you can, me I have never found it necessary to strip one down,but it is possible and with out any tools.all so testing has shown that the moderator when it has been fully stripped,will return to zero when it has been re assembled.but I would all ways advise you to go out and make sure of this by setting up a target and test firing the rifle and moderator,(better safe than sorry)There has been some comments about the stealth being a direct copy of the A-TEC mod, and yes you have to say there is some similarities, but you will find that the PES, A-TEC, and reflex all shear the same kind of design,

PES

A-TEC

Reflex

The reason the spider is very similar in design in all the models is because you have to find a way of connecting the barrel to the moderator,this decision has all ready been made,with a thread and a bush,then you have to keep the outer tube separate,and centralized here comes the spider,a basic design that has been used in more applications than moderators, now if you think that there is more of an issue then I suggest you take this up with both manufacture,as it is probably best to let this type of accusation be fort out in court.

Now for the nitty gritty, I could not tell any difference in sound reduction in any of the mods tested,by the naked ear.the dB meteor did pick up slight differences, but nothing to right home about,and as I have said I will not publish the figures I got. Now if you would like to go down to the range and use my sound equipment then send me a PM and I will be only to happy to come along and run through some tests with you.

As far as I am concerned if you buy an A-TEC or a stealth then you will not be able to Tell any discernible difference in the 2 with your naked ear.so if you are after a quieter moderator then don't swap for the standard,or for the A-TEC as you will be disappointed.

If you are after a stalking moderator then I would choses the stealth over the A-TEC as it is only extends your rifle by 4.4" as apposed to nearly 7" this makes a big difference in the balance of your rifle,and how your rifle sits on your shoulder.all though the stealth is heavier it dose not feel it,and you will be surprised how much lighter your rifle feels with the stealth on to the A-TEC.

When I was doing the A-TECs I actual asked the manufacture if anything could be done about this,(the amount the mod extends your rifle) and the answer was no,as this was the optimal design.

The stealth I am told is designed to be modified to be able to alter the amount of baffles you have in it.this should make the moderator quieter, but will up set the balance as more baffles equals more weight.if you have no intentions of ever changing rifles then I would go for the caliber specific option,this will insure you get the absolute most out of your moderator,and if you are not going to ever use a magnum caliber then get the compact,it is even lighter and should feel even better on your stalking rifle,as lets face it,when you have got miles to go across country the last thing you need is to be hanging on to your rifle sling because of the extended barrel length is making the rifle but want to smack you in the face every time you let go of the sling.

I all so tried his customer service out by ordering a spear part, it came next day. I then rang him and told him that there was nothing in the package,a replacement was sent out and I received that next day. Now that's what I call service. I do hope Stuart will continue this excellent service throughout his net work do dealers across the country.the other good thing about this moderator is that it is made in the UK, this could be a contributing factor to getting spears as and when you need them.