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Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM R45 Multi-Host Suppressor. Last week we hit rewind on the month of August to check out the summer of Silencer Central suppressors. This week we kick off a mini-series on the YHM Turbo K-RB – the next generation of compact 5.56mm rifle suppressors that add reduced back pressure technology. If you own the original Turbo K, should you upgrade to the Turbo K-RB? Let’s find out together.
- SILENCER SATURDAY #257: Limit TOXIC EXPOSURE – The New YHM Turbo T3 Suppressor
- SILENCER SATURDAY #288: The YHM Fat Cat – Not Kitten Around Meow!
- Go With The Flow: Yankee Hill Machine Introduces the YHM Turbo T3
Disclaimer: The good people at YHM sponsor the Silencer Saturday series here at TFB; without their support you’d miss out on my weekly bad puns and borderline off-color jokes. But YHM knows that if something isn’t right with one of their products, I am going to let them, and you, know. And none of the TFB ad/sponsorship revenue comes to me.
SILENCER SATURDAY #294: The YHM Turbo K-RB 5.56
SILENCER SATURDAY #294: The YHM Turbo K-RB 5.56
It has been almost five years since the debut of the original YHM Turbo K which was universally recognized as a market success. Not only is it compact and light, the $400ish price point was more than reasonable. And it was actually “quiet” for its size. The word quiet is always in quotes when I talk about supersonic rifle suppressors – the crack of the bullet breaking the sound barrier is going to be loud enough to require hearing protection.
The Turbo K-RB gets an upgrade in internal geometry over the original. RB stands for reduced blowback, a term used to describe baffle systems that allow for forward venting of gases out of the muzzle instead of being forced back down the barrel or into the gas system. This is especially important on short barrel hosts that can often be over-gassed to aid reliability over a range of ammunition loadings. Rather than leave a system with not enough gas to cycle the action, manufacturers will increase the gas port size to allow more gas. Running a suppressor on a short barreled AR-15, for example, can further exacerbate the gas issue – if it isn’t designed to reduce blowback.
Aside from the baffle changes and some aesthetic differences, the Turbo K and the Turbo K-RB have very similar stats. Don’t get me started on inflation – the $400 price tag has been replaced by a $549 price tag to account for raw material costs.
Specifications:
The Turbo K is getting the same treatment as its bigger brother the T3. This 5.56 NATO Suppressor features a design improvement to the baffles-resulting in reduced blowback-when compared to the previous model.
The Turbo® K-RB utilizes a tubeless design made from heat treated 17-4 stainless steel along with a heat treated 718 Inconel® blast baffle. The combination of these materials allows the suppressor to be full auto rated and designed for rigorous use. The blast chamber of the Turbo® K-RB is threaded to the popular 1.375”-24 thread which allows it to utilize many available mounting options currently on the market. The notched rim and tri-port muzzle on the end cap make it stand out among the crowd.
The overall length measures 4.9” and weighs in at 11.7oz. When using YHM’s Phantom® Q.D. adapter, the overall length is 5.5” and weights in at 12 oz. Having an average sound pressure level of 138dB on a 16” AR shooting 55 grain ammo, the Turbo® K-RB is within the hearing safe threshold of 140 dB. The Turbo® K-RB is built with the same care, quality, and attention to detail that has defined the YHM® brand for generations.
The Turbo® K-RB ships with the Phantom® Q.D. adapter, 2 suppressor wrenches and Q.D. flash hider.
- Manufacturer’s Page: https://yhm.net/556-suppressors/turbo-k-rb-5-56mm-suppression-system/
- Owner’s Manual: Click here
- Part number: YHM-2180
- MSRP: $549
- Weight: 11.7oz. (12oz. with Phantom® Q.D. Adapter)
- Diameter: 1.562”
- Length: 4.9” (5.5″ with Phantom® Q.D. Adapter)
- Construction: 17-4 Ph SS / Inconel Blast Baffle
- Mount: Phantom Q.D. Adapter with 1.375″-24 HUB Interface
- Decibel Rating: 138 dB
- Minimum barrel length: 10.5”
Bellow (L to R) are the YHM Turbo T3, the YHM Turbo T-RB, and the original Turbo K. All three are outfitted with the YHM sRx QD mounting system which I like a lot.
SILENCER SATURDAY #294: The YHM Turbo K-RB 5.56
Just past the perforated blast baffle is the rest of the baffle stack that is vented to reduce blowback.
SILENCER SATURDAY #294: The YHM Turbo K-RB 5.56
The Turbo K-RB is a compact silencer that is the perfect complement for a shorty AR.
SILENCER SATURDAY #294: The YHM Turbo K-RB 5.56
Unlike other manufacturer’s forward-venting models, the Turbo K-RB does not have any external gas vents.
SILENCER SATURDAY #294: The YHM Turbo K-RB 5.56
I hate to be a tease, but it’s Labor Day weekend and I have chicken on the grill. BUT, I have 1,000 rounds set aside for the Turbo K-RB, Turbo K, and YHM Fat Cat comparison showdown over the next two days. We’ll look at the results next weekend.
Have a great week. Be safe, have fun, and we’ll see you back here next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.
