#5.56

In the first part of this article, I talked about the history of the INSAS rifle and the problems that were described in the Indian press. After reading countless articles about INSAS, I had a chance to travel to India and asked every Indian serviceman I met about those problems.

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the brand new YHM 338 Bad Larry Suppressor. I would like to thank Erik for running point on last weeks edition with a look at the very obtainable suppressors from The Nordic region. This week we get back on the range with a simple and compact direct thread rifle suppressor – the SIG Sauer SLX556C. When it comes to longer barrels and supersonic rifle rounds, compact silencers are a blessing. Let’s take a look at this small but mighty can from SIG.

Good evening everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the brand new YHM 338 Bad Larry Suppressor. Last week we jumped in the Delorean, put on our new AR googles, rubbed the crystal ball, or whatever future-predictors do and took some educated guesses at the next 20 years of silencers. This week, with the groundhog giving us a bit of a Spring preview, we get back out on the range to test the flash hiding capabilities of the SureFire RC3 suppressor. After the sun starts to drop behind the trees, I’ll be back with some results.

SIG SAUER unveiled their MCX-SPEAR LT series of firearms in the fall of 2022, following up from the prior release of their large-frame SPEAR model. The original SPEAR is essentially the commercial version of their DoD Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program entry to replace the military’s aging M4 carbines. The LT versions were added to maintain the design’s advantages while bringing additional options to buyers in further chamberings, such as 5.56 or 300 BLK. Now SIG has announced the release of a new special edition of their popular SPEAR LT, which is offered in Multicam thanks to their partnership with custom Cerakote gurus Blowndeadline, rather than the series’ standard FDE or black. The text of SIG’s announcement email is copied below for further details.

Hodge Defense Systems has become a hot-ticket name in the AR-15 world in recent years. Their rise to popularity brought with it an air of exclusivity, as their products created enough demand to sometimes necessitate “drop”-style releases that would sell out in minutes. B&T has dabbled in AR-style and similar firearms before, including a prior collaboration with German manufacturer C.G. Haenel. Now the vaunted Swiss firm is set to enter a new partnership, this time with Hodge, to offer a new AR series. It will be called the BT-15 HD, based on Hodge’s extant MOD 1 and MOD 2 designs. These new B&T/Hodge ARs are estimated to be slated for a mid-2024 release and should be offered in either 11.5″ or 16″ variants.

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 got a look at the Knight’s Armament QDC/MCQ-PRT 5.56mm rifle suppressor, This week we get a look at one of the most anticipated AR-15 suppressors in many years – the SureFire SOCOM RC3. Can the RC3 live up to the standards of its RC2 predecessor? We’ll find out in this multi-part series dedicated to the latest SureFire release.

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 paused briefly for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This week we get to spend some time with the KAC QDC MCQ-PRT ultra compact 5.56mm suppressor. Can a 4″ silencer perform well enough to justify an NFA purchase? Let’s take a look.

Welcome back to Part 2 of my Springfield Armory Hellion 20-inch review. Part 1 was more of a first look at this gun than a full review. It was a quick-turn piece timed for the announcement date of the new Hellion rather than an in-depth piece. Now that I have spent more time with the Hellion, it is time to share my thoughts with the benefit of some recollection and range time.

Zenith Firearms has been making roller-delayed blowback firearms for a number of years now after they separated from MKE. They just announced their latest roller-delayed blowback firearm. The ZF-56 is a firearm chambered in 5.56 and appears to be a hybrid of typical roller-delayed rifles like the HK93 and an AR-15.

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 started off with an introduction to the YHM Turbo K-RB and this week we continue the YHM 5.56 showdown with a Turbo vs Fat Cat reduced back pressure battle royale. Did one winner take all? Let’s find out.

Brownells continues to expand its BRN-180 offerings with the addition of new barrel lengths. Those new models have either a 14.5 or 13.9-inch barrel. This is excellent news for people who like pinned and welded muzzle devices.

Imagine an M-16A4-style rifle but with an 18-inch barrel. The Anderson Manufacturing A4 Short Rifle is just that. This unique setup is a blend of old and new. Let’s see how it performs.

ZEV Technologies has just announced its latest offering to the semi-automatic rifle market – the new Core Combat Rifle series. This new series of full-size and intermediate-chambered AR rifles are built to be rugged, accurate, and built to outlast other rifles. Available in 5.56, 308, and 6.5 Creedmoor, the new rifles will also feature from-the-factory Cerakote finishes and forged upper and lower receivers.

Good evening everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM Turbo T3 5.56 rifle suppressor. Last week we installed a flash hider using the Precision Armament Accu-Washer system. Today we get a look at a short silencer on a long barrel – the SureFire SOCOM556-MINI2 – and compare it to a longer silencer on a shorter barrel. Which combination would you choose? Let’s get behind the two setups.

Good evening everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM Turbo T3 5.56 rifle suppressor. Last week we discussed the SIG Sauer MCX-SPEAR – a 13″, 7.62×51 mm piston rifle. This week we take its little brother out on the range: the 16″  SIG MCX-SPEAR LT in 5.56×45 mm paired with the SIG SLX556-QD suppressor. Let’s take a look at how it performed.