Best way to approach this is to not expect anything to be hearing safe on an SBR and isolate what your number one priorities are. In my case, keeping my short, light, reliable guns as short, light, and reliable as possible even with a can on was my #1 priority, in other words, size, weight and backpressure. Considering even a 9" long, 27oz. suppressor probably wasn't going to be hearing safe on my rigs and would create a ton of backpressure, I went the opposite direction and ordered a Sandman-K. I was also considering a Rugged Razor or a Socom 7.62 Mini 2, but I chose the Dead Air can over the others for a large number of reasons.
As for 10.5" vs, 11.5" - I have both, and like both. They sound the same unsuppressed and I anticipate it will be about the same even with the can on there. I haven't seen a reliability advantage of one over the other. 11.5" is theoretically more reliable due to increased dwell time, but mine both run like a sewing machine so... whatever. To me, a 10" rail is just about perfect for my arm length and the way I shoot, so the 11.5" upper just "feels right" in my hands. The 9.25" rail on my 10.5" just seems a little short. You wouldn't think about a 3/4" longer rail making any difference, but it does (to me). There is a 100-150fps velocity advantage for the 11.5" which will also translate to lower pressures for the can to deal with, potentially increasing service life. But realistically, I will probably never shoot out my can. My 11.5" runs a little smoother than my 10.5", but we're talking about a factory BCM upper vs. a homebrewed upper with a Faxon barrel that is slightly overgassed.
In a perfect world, I think a 12.5" barrel is probably as close to perfect as it gets in terms of reliability / muzzle velocity / size, but it's also getting up there to where you'll begin to notice a compromise in maneuverability vs. a 10.5" (especially with a can on it) and it's almost not worth SBRing any more.
Just as a datapoint, I've shot hundreds of rounds unsuppressed (7.62x39) without ear pro and have no detectable hearing damage 12 years later.
I now wear double ear pro and recommend the same of others, (single for suppressed). Another person can shoot 1 round and have instant damage. You just don't know sometimes.
Last edited by MegademiC; 08-01-17 at 17:17.
Sound suppression is very important for me. The Sico Sakers in my collection reduce db levels more effectively than the Surefire units. Both the Sico and Surefire units that I own are very high quality and both at one time or another were difficult to remove due to carbon buildup after a long range session of 600-800 rounds. The stellite blast baffle in the Sakers show zero erosion after 8000+ rounds. The Surefires with the same round counts show some erosion.
For me, The Sico offerings better fit my needs in both performance and cost. YMMV
Last edited by Singlestack Wonder; 08-03-17 at 10:35.
NRA Life Member
"WINNING" - When all of the liberal democrats and other libtards start throwing themselves off cliffs because they don't get their way...
JEDIsh: We are asked not to judge all muslims by the acts of a few extremists, but we are encouraged to judge all gun owners by extreme acts of the few.
Since you listed sound suppression #1, you want a full-size suppresser on an 11.5" upper. If you want to leave yourself more options, get a 6-7" 7.62 suppressor with the ability to change the end cap.
To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. --Theodore Roosevelt--
Similar debate myself recently... Sandman-K or S, mini2, RC2 for the 12.5" I purchased from Jw.
Ended up ordering the Sandman-K. If it doesn't work out, I'll throw it on my 14.5" and pick up one of the others.
Some of the Dead Air folks came from Sico. Dead Air also uses stellite for baffles and they manufacture quality units. A 7.62 suppressor will never perform as well as a dedicated 5.56 suppressor on a 5.56 rifle, even with a 5.56 end cap but it does offer versatility across two caliber platforms.
NRA Life Member
"WINNING" - When all of the liberal democrats and other libtards start throwing themselves off cliffs because they don't get their way...
JEDIsh: We are asked not to judge all muslims by the acts of a few extremists, but we are encouraged to judge all gun owners by extreme acts of the few.
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