SILENCER SATURDAY #12: Direct Thread Vs Quick Detach
Greetings quiet-time lovers, thanks for coming back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday. Tonight we will have a brief discussion on direct thread versus quick detach suppressors, a review of the Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light and a potpourri of sound mufflers from the wonderful, accepting world of social media.
First, I would like to take a moment to thank you all for the emails and comments this week. Whether you agreed or disagreed with the decision to talk about pending firearms legislation here at TFB, I appreciate your input and respect your opinions. As I have stated many times in the past, our policy to avoid partisan posts and debates can be a tough line to walk.
Above: A snowbound Remington 870 Short Barreled Shotgun (SBS) with a SilencerCo Salvo and Detroit Ammo subsonic 12ga buckshot and slugs.Direct thread VS quick detach
Back to the topic at hand: mounting systems. For silencer newbies, the variety of muzzle devices and mount types can be a bit confusing. On the one hand, the ability to swap suppressors between hosts using a common flash hider or brake is a huge draw for prospective owners. On the other hand, most dedicated NFA buyers tend to suppress every firearm in their safe; choosing a direct thread option saves on complexity, cost and weight.
Most manufacturers offer options for both type of mounts, so if you do your research, you won’t be locked in (get it) to one style forever. But it is important to remember that when it comes to mounts, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. Pick your host, pick your mission and make a decision based on needs and not cool-guy looks. Here’s a quick breakdown.
Direct Thread:
- Simple
- Inexpensive
- Not exactly “hot swappable”
- A thread protector a good idea when not running suppressed.
Quick Detach:
- More complex
- Added cost for additional mounts
- Shims or spacers, not crush washers
- Built in thread protection
- “Hot swappable”
- Added weight
- Lockup and repeatability (?)
When it comes to QD systems, my personal opinion is that the Q Cherry Bomb, The Dead Air KYMO And the Yankee Hill Machine mounts are some of the better options available. That’s not to say that other manufacturers are bad, it’s all about personal preferences.
Whatever you choose, make sure to follow the manufacturers recommendations as outlined in the owners manual that came with your silencer. Thread pitches, torque specs, thread lock compounds and other variables may all come in to play.
Review: Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light .300
The Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra is a no-nonsense suppressor built for hunters and target shooters who focus on slow rates of fire. Like most technological advances in firearms development, all silencer designs have their trade offs. So while the Sportsman cannot handle rapid fire, it is lightweight, quiet and can be disassembled for cleaning.
Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light – Specifications
- Diameter: 1.5”
- Overall Length: 7.875″
- Sound Reduction: 32 dB
- Weight: 11.4 Ounces
- Materials: 17-4 PH SS, and 7075-T6 Aluminum
- Attachment: Taper Mount version accepts All Taper Mount interfaces.
- Finish: Type III Hard Coat Anodize
- MSRP: $795
- From Silencer Shop: About $700 depending on your preferred dealer.
Barrel Length Ratings:
- 300BLK – 8”
- 7.62×39 – 10”
- 5.56×45 – 12”
- 6.8SPC – 12.7”
- .308WIN – 16”
- .300Win Mag – 22”
- .300RUM – 24”
- NOTE: Slow fire/hunting style shooting only
For hunters or target shooters who use hard cast lead projectiles, the Sportsman can be disassembled for cleaning. Each silencer ships with a flat washer that is inserted into the grooves in the end cap to assist with unscrewing.once the cap is removed, the baffles can be pushed or gently tapped out for cleaning. Each baffle, aside from the blast baffle, is notched for proper alignment.
My test unit shipped with Griffin’s Minimalist Taper Brake Mount which uses a larger exposed set of threads and a tapered mating surface to keep everything in place. There’s no secondary locking mechanism, but for the type of shooting the for which the Sportsman is designed a simple hand-check from time to time will ensure everything stays tight.
Because I only planned to shoot my host rifle – a CZ452 chambered in 7.62×39 – with the Sportsman attached (aside from a quick point of impact shift test), I didn’t bother to time the minimalist brake. Remember to always use shims or spacers and not a crush washer when installing suppressor muzzle mounts; a misaligned brake or flash hider can cause your silencer to be non-concentric to the bore line, increasing the likelihood of baffle strikes.
The end result is a solid, clean mount and perfect silencer lockup.
In my limited testing, I used two types of ammunition through the Sportsman: a Subsonic 150gr soft point from Detroit Ammo and Hornady 123gr SST V-Max. Using the Detroit Ammo in the Sportsman was very quiet with a deep pleasant tone and was easily “hearing safe” without ear plugs or muffs. While the Hornady V-Max, a supersonic round, was obviously louder, the Sportsman tamed the blast considerably and the majority of the noise felt like it came from the super sonic crack farther in front of the muzzle. I shot one round without plugs as a test, and while I can’t safely recommend the practice, hunters who use the Sportsman for medium or large game seasons could avoid additional hearing protection for a single shot.
My apologies for the lack of action shots, but every time the Sportsman made a range appearance, it was snowing – the weather up north has been brutal recently.
The Griffin Armament Sportsman Ultra Light is a lightweight, purpose-built silencer well suited for hunters and casual target shooters alike. The mount is simple and idiot-proof, the baffles can be removed for cleaning if necessary, is quiet enough to be used without additional hearing protection with quality subsonic ammunition and features a wide range of caliber ratings.
The Sportsman is graciously on loan for review from Silencer Shop.
Silencers - Science Pete@thefirearmblog.com
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i should get a direct thread 5.56 can one of these days, i'm tired of buying mounts
I use Yankee Hill QDs for uniformity across six rifles. Running 5.56 & .308 cans. One of each. I like the setup and have never noticed any significant change of impact with or without the can. I will note, on my .308 Savage, slow firing 50 rnds, my suppressor cover took a hike. Never noticed it was working its way loose or when it dismounted. I located it, in the grass, undamaged about ten yards down range. Obviously, a hardy product.
I purchased a suppressor alignment rod for both calibers. This is a very important tool, IMO, to safeguard your cans from damage. A new AK variant of mine, with a YH QD attached, proved to be to close for comfort when checked with the .30 cal rod. While the rod wasn't quite touching the edge of the can, it wasn't more than an RCH from the edge, Entirely too close to gamble on. My suggestion; have your dealer check that your rifle's bore is on center before buying a can or mounting a can to that particular gun. Or, when buying a new rifle, intending to put a can on it, ensure that the barrel is in spec before purchasing the rifle.
My failure to check the AK prior to purchase has landed me with a rifle which I cannot suppress. Fortunately, I have many types of ear protection on hand.