Here's a mini range report with the prototype OPTIMUM SB suppressor barrel.
The SB 11.5" uses the longer EXC gas system designed to play well with a dedicated suppressor.
The upper was tested with a Cherry Bomb and Q Thunder Chicken suppressor.
In short, it works beautifully.
It's noticeably better than the already excellent very small port carbine.
The start of cycling feels like a quick puff or pop, rather than the slower restricted gas release from a small port carbine or the massive gas attack from a standard port carbine.
There's only a hint of gas, and it never really seems to leave the ejection port.
The smoke just swirls inside the receiver when the bolt locks back.
There just a remarkable lack of drama and it works like a nicely tuned unsuppressed 16".
With an H buffer, M855 ejects to 3:00 and everything else down to steel case Wolf ejects strongly around 4:00.
Bumping up two/three steps to an A5H2 and Green spring combo, only M855 locks back while most everything else still cycles.
This is really too much spring and buffer for the low pressure 7.62 suppressor, but allows easy tuning for gassier suppressors with just a little additional buffer weight.
Fired brass is noticeably cleaner than usual when suppressed and only slightly dirtier than standard unsuppressed brass.
We're extremely pleased with these initial results.
This concept delivers everything we intended it to do.
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