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Good morning friends and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the Turbo K centerfire rifle suppressor. Last week we took a look at some full auto suppressor testing. This week we return to one of the pure joy’s of shooting – rimfire silencers. Reviewing the CGS Hydra line of rimfire suppressors was one of the easiest Saturday analysis I’ve had the pleasure to put together. The CGS Hydra rimfire silencers are extremely quiet, well designed and beautiful. Let’s take a look.
More Rimfire & CGS @ TFB:
- The Rimfire Report: Beretta 21 A Bobcat Covert Review
- SILENCER SATURDAY #134: Everyone Needs A Rimfire Suppressor
- SILENCER SATURDAY #170: CGS MOD9 – Library Quiet!
- SILENCER SATURDAY #168: The CGS HELIOS QD Suppressor Kit
- Hyperion Suppressors’ Release Announced by CGS Group
Guns used in this review:
- Beretta Bobcat 21A Covert – https://www.beretta.com/en-us/21a-bobcat-covert/
- Walther PPK/S 22 – https://waltherarms.com/ppk-s-22/
Reminder: Follow the rules of safe firearm handling at all times to protect yourself and others from serious injury or death.
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
When it comes to performance, I am particularly hard on rimfire suppressors – this is where I come to demand pure quiet when shooting my favorite .22LR hosts. Whereas centerfire rifle suppressors may get a pass when it comes to overall reduction on certain guns or with certain ammo, rimfire cans need to be at the top of their class. When shooting subsonic rounds, I want to be amazed. I want to feel like the hammer or striker hits are the loudest part of the whole operation. The CGS Hydra-AL and CGS Hydra-SS actually delivers.
These are some of the quietest rimfire suppressors on the market.
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
- Manufacturer’s Page: https://cgsgroup.com/product/hydra/
- LENGTH: 5.6″
- WIDTH: 1″
- Interlocking, orientable baffles.
- Lightweight construction.
- The baffles and front/rear caps shield the tube from carbon fouling and other debris.
- Comes with a 1/2×28 TPI rear cap by default. • Easy to remove baffles allow for quick user serviceability.
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
CGS HYDRA-AL
The CGS Suppressors LLC Hydra AL 22 rimfire silencer is among the quietest and lightest weight 22LR silencers available. This silencer has a shielded, interlocking, orientable baffle stack comprised of 7075 T6 aluminum which has been Type III Hardcoat anodized to military specifications. The baffles may be oriented in any combination of 90 degree increments. Some configurations make increase sound reduction over the standard aligned configuration depending on ammunition type and whether the silencer is being used on a handgun or a rifle length barrel.
- Silencer Shop: https://www.silencershop.com/cgs-hydra-al.html
- User Manual: https://cgsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HYDRA-2020-MANUAL-3.1.20-1-1-1.pdf
- Tube: 6061T6 Aluminum (Anodized)
- Baffles: 7075T6 Aluminum (Anodized)
- Weight: 3.07oz
- Semi Auto rated
- MSRP: $299
- Silencer Shop: $249 (check local dealer pricing)
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
CGS HYDRA-SS
The CGS Suppressors LLC Hydra SS 22 rimfire silencer is among the quietest and lightest weight hard use 22LR, 22WMR, 17HMR, and 5.7×28 silencers available. This silencer has a shielded, interlocking, orientable baffle stack comprised of 17-4 Stainless Steel which stand up to high pressures and full auto and short barrel use very well. The baffles may be oriented in any combination of 90 degree increments. Some configurations make increase sound reduction over the standard aligned configuration depending on ammunition type and whether the silencer is being used on a handgun or a rifle length barrel.
- Silencer Shop: https://www.silencershop.com/cgs-hydrass.html
- User Manual: https://cgsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/HYDRA-SS-2020-MANUAL-3.pdf
- Tube: Grade 9 Titanium
- Baffles: 17-4PH Stainless Steel
- Weight: 5.4oz
- Full Auto rated
- MSRP: $499
- Silencer Shop: $419 (check local dealer pricing)
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
Assembly/Reassembly:
Outside of the sound performance, one of the biggest selling points of the Hydra are the baffles. Designed to shield the outer tube from debris, they index with small notches allowing the clips to realigned in the same position. In addition, all seven baffles are the same size and shape. I can be a real moron at times and trying to reassemble a suppressor with different baffles in the correct order requires me to pull out the user manual. The Hydra is a click, screw, and go situation (my motto for Saturday nights in the 90’s).
Baffle and end cap alignment.
The front end cap unscrews with a small four point spanner wrench/adapter. The rear end cap unscrews by hand or gently with a pair of soft-jawed pliers.
Disassembly
I won’t belabor the reassembly process, just follow everything in reverse. Usually I take photos of the internals and parts but the Hydras were so quiet I spent all my time outside shooting.
Reassembly
In The Field
I would rank the Hydra-SS on par with the Dead Air Mask and the Thunder Beast Arms Takedown-22 rimfire suppressors – two of my all time favorites that are very quiet. The Hydra-AL is similar, but slightly quieter, than the SilencerCo Warlock, one of my favorite lightweight aluminum rimfire suppressors.
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
There is a very slight amount of first round pop, but it is almost imperceptible. You have to be consciously listening for it to know that it happens. Hammer’s dropping and bullets hitting paper were louder than the report of either of these two pocket pistols with a Hydra mounted.
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
I am not sure why CGS doesn’t get as much attention in the suppressor market as the bigger companies. Their quality and performance meets or exceeds other manufacturer’s models and the performance is legitimately impressive. I absolutely love a great rimfire suppressor and the Hydra now ranks as one of my all time favorites. I’ll be sad when these two finally return home to Silencer Shop.
SILENCER SATURDAY #172: Whisper Quiet! CGS Hydra Rimfire Suppressor
Have a great week, be safe and we’ll see you back here next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.
Silencer Saturday is Sponsored by Yankee Hill Machine
