Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the award-wining YHM Turbo K 5.56mm rifle suppressor. Last week we tested the Rugged Oculus, a superb rimfire silencer with modular features. This week we take a dive into the integrally suppressed rimfire world with the Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite IV TSS for the Ruger Mark IV line of pistols. It looks fantastic, but how does it sound? Let’s give it a shot.

Thank you to my friends at Silencer Shop for allowing me to borrow the Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite TSS for this review.

Tactical Solutions @ TFB

• Tactical Solutions Holster For The Ruger MK IV and 22/45
• [SHOT 2020] Hands on with Tactical Solutions’ Owyhee Take-down Bolt .22 and Integrally Suppressed Barrels
• Tactical Solutions: The Quiet Professionals
• Gun Review: Tactical Solutions X-Ring .22LR Rifle
• NEW PISTOL: Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite

Ruger Mark Series Rimfire Pistols

As great as the Ruger Mark II and Mark III family of pistols are (arguably the best target rimfire pistol platform in history) until fairly recently they had two frustrating characteristics. The first was a lack of a factory threaded barrel option which left consumers to send their upper to a gunsmith to modify their factory barrel. Or, they could buy an aftermarket assembly, like these from Tactical Solutions, that come with standard threads and a seamless thread protector.

The complication here is that the upper is the serialized firearm for the Ruger Mark pistols, leaving aftermarket barrel/upper pricing close to the price of a complete factory pistol. Fortunately, with the rise in popularity of suppressors, Ruger began offering threaded barrels on factory Mark III pistols about 10 years ago.

The second issue with the MK I, II, and III pistols is the disassembly and reassembly process. While I’m far from being TFB’s resident Mensa staff member, I have been able to successfully navigate the world on my own for more than three decades – I should be able to field strip a rimfire pistol without any help. To this day I still remember the first time I disassembled my Mark III, and subsequently left it as a pile of parts for a few weeks as I read the user manual several times. For those of you who are experts, feel free to point and laugh.

About five years ago, Ruger released the Mark IV that features a push-button takedown system. It’s glorious, especially when you consider the additional cleaning requirements for suppressed weapon systems.

I have several Ruger Mark series pistols and I recommend them to anyone looking for a target rimfire pistol. The Ruger Mark IV or 22/45 series make excellent suppressor hosts. If you don’t already own one, I’ve included some links to the vase models available at Guns.com.

• Ruger Mark IV 22/45 – Threaded barrel
• Ruger Mark IV – Threaded barrel 
• Ruger Mark IV – Standard barrel

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SILENCER SATURDAY #185: Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite IV TSS – Ruger Rimfire

There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, that achieving maximum suppression with a rimfire firearm meant wipes, an integral silencer system, or both. Today, there are several thread on suppressors on the market that put the older integrally suppressed guns to shame.

However, there is an elegance to integral suppressors, especially on rimfire rifles and pistols, that still make them viable options to this day. The Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite IV TSS has the look and feel of a factory Ruger Mark IV pistol, without the added length, weight and complexity of adding a muzzle suppressor.

Just as I probably wouldn’t suggest a modular rimfire suppressor to every first-time silencer buyer, I wouldn’t suggest an integrally suppressed firearm as a first silencer either. A shooter’s first suppressor should be simple and adaptable to several hosts.

Take a look at the details below. As a reminder, prices do not include a frame, bolt or magazine, so you will have to have a host gun to run the Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite IV TSS.

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PAC-Lite IV TSS Specifications:

The Tactical Solutions PAC-LITE IV® TSS™ is the only integrally suppressed upper available for the Ruger® Mark IV™ and Mark IV 22/45™ and includes a patent pending muzzle-end front sight system.  At only 12 ounces, this lightweight, accurate, integrally suppressed .22 LR pistol barrel features titanium interlocking baffles and a patented stainless steel split tube for easy service and cleaning.  The barrel is engineered and manufactured with an internal silencer built into the barrel which allows the pistol barrel length to remain manageable and short compared to traditional barrels with screw-on silencers attached.  The PAC-LITE IV TSS is easily installed on your Ruger pistol.

• MSRP: $635
• Silencer Shop: $550 (dealer pricing may vary slightly)
• Manufacturer’s Page: https://tacticalsol.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1425866&CAT=13302
• Product Manual: https://tacticalsol.com/UIImages/10057/img/PAC-LITE%20IV%20TSS.pdf
• Weight: 12 oz
• Twist: 1-16″
• Bore Length: 3.50” Inches (12.75” Overall)
• Materials:
  • Baffles – Titanium
  • Sleeve/shield – Stainless steel

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As a reminder, always read the user manual before using or servicing an firearm or suppressor. Disassembling the Pac-Lite IV TSS for cleaning is straightforward; use the included wrench to unscrew the end cap and pull the baffle stack and sleeve out of the main tube.

One unique and innovative feature is the removable front sight that indexes between the end cap a d the tube.

After cleaning and inspection, the end cap starts the assembly process, adding each successive interlocking baffle followed by the sleeve which is aligned perpendicular to the baffle venting holes. This prevents fouling buildup that could cause the baffle stack to get stuck in the main tube.

The whole system is innovative yet simple and works as it’s designed.

I did have a bit of difficulty getting the baffle stack out of the tube. However, to be fair, I have no idea how many rounds were shot through it or the last time it was cleaned. It was very dirty and dry as a bone.

PAC-Lite IV TSS Features:

• Green Fiber Optic Front Sight
• Drilled and tapped for Pac-Lite™ Scope Bases
• Quiet, enjoyable shooting.
• Integrally suppressed barrel with a front sight.
• Minimize overall barrel length while shooting suppressed.
• Easy to clean.
• Shoot with Accuracy: The chromoly steel bore and target crown provide pinpoint accuracy
• Easy to Install:  No gunsmithing needed
• Easy disassembly and reassembly.
• Easy to carry:  Extremely lightweight
• Easy Optics Attachment:  Drilled and tapped for easy Scope Rail attachment
• Smooth Cycling:  Innovative bolt creates extremely smooth shooting
• Versatile Use:  Perfect for hunting, plinking, and target shooting
• Fiber Optic Front & Rear adjustable sights

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As I expected, the Pac-Lite IV TSS is very quiet. There’s a good amount of internal volume stuffed into the tube and the baffles look efficient.

Tactical Solutions recommends using subsonic ammunition, but using standard velocity rounds produced the same results in my test gun. A 3.5” barrel should keep most bulk pack ammo below supersonic speeds.

Tactical Solutions also advises against running the Pac-Lite IV TSS with any ablative material. Which is fine since I didn’t detect any first round pop. If I had to guess, they want to avoid constant disassembly to add liquids or having users pour fluids down in the barrel. Running the TSS wet may also cause a debris slurry that could prevent the baffle stack from sliding out easily.

Overall, the Tactical Solutions Pac-Lite IV TSS is a solid performer. It’s construction and appearance are top notch; those who aren’t in-the-know won’t be able to tell that the TSS is a suppressed firearm at first glance. The Ruger Mark IV is an excellent host and this suppressed system from Tactical Solutions takes the platform to the next level. The only “downside” is that it can’t be moved to other guns. But you already knew that.

Update: I just ran outside to shoot this Pac-Lite IV TSS again before hitting the publish button, and this baby is really quiet. I love it.

Have a great week. Be safe and we’ll see you back next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.

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