Suffice to say, interest in sound suppressors is at an all time high in the commercial market. Being legal for ownership in 42 states and legal for hunting in 39 of those states, the market is booming. One of the most iconic names in the sound suppressor business is Utah’s SilencerCo. Not only is the company an industry leader in sound suppression technology, but it has also joined NRA and the American Suppressor Association in leading the charge in the political arena to make sound suppressors less onerous to obtain by pursuing legislation to take them off the National Firearms Act (NFA) list. Should this legislation pass and be signed into law, purchasing a suppressor will become as simple as purchasing the firearm to which it will be attached.
Its newest addition to SilencerCo’s product line was introduced in 2015 and it exceeded the manufacturer’s sales expectations by selling more than 5,000 in the past year. The new Omega suppressor combines technology from the Saker and Harvester designs to produce what the company claims is the shortest and quietest suppressor in the industry. The Omega is designed for ammo ranging from the small 5.7 mm to the potent .300 Win. Mag. The suppressor has an overall length of 7.09 inches, a diameter of 1.56 inches, and a weight of only 14 ounces. The strength comes from the material from which it is made: Titanium, Stellite and stainless steel. It is not cheap, with an MSRP of $1,130, but as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
According to SilencerCo, its Omega suppressor has a rating of 119 dB with .300 BLK., 133 dB with a 7.62 NATO and 130 decibels with 5.56 NATO ammunition. Also, the suppressor is full-auto rated, making it an all-around/all-purpose sound suppressor.
SilencerCo offers different mounting apparatuses for the Omega. End caps are available in both .308 as well as .223 diameter. You can fire a 5.56 mm (.223 Rem.) projectile through the 7.62 NATO-caliber end cap with only a slight increase in report. The rearward end cap is removable. Caps are offered in direct-thread (5⁄8x24 and 1⁄2x28) end caps as well as the quick-detachable ASR (Active Spring Retention) rear mount. The quick-detach model uses the SpecWar ASR muzzle brake or flash suppressor. The use of the front end cap (or anchor brake) is purposefully designed as an enhancement. When most suppressors fail, it is usually due to a baffle strike on the end of the suppressor. By having the end cap, the last baffle in the Omega is not a fixed baffle but a removable piece that can be replaced by the user, rather than having to be boxed up and shipped back to SilencerCo.
The Omega is designed for 5.56 mm-chambered barrels as short as 10 inches. The Omega will accept up to a 16-inch 7.62 NATO barrel and up to a 20-inch .300 Win. Mag. barrel. According to SilencerCo, the anchor brake on the Omega is responsible for the reduction of the felt recoil of the 7.62 NATO cartridge down to that of a .243 Win. I tested this suppressor on a Noreen Firearms BN36 chambered in .300 Win. Mag. and the combination of noise reduction and recoil reduction made the powerful rifle a pleasure to shoot. The Omega was also tested on a 16-inch .300 BLK LMT MRP as well as an Aero Precision 16-inch 7.62 NATO rifle. Both displayed a reduction in recoil as well as excellent suppression. The anchor brake may be removed if the end user wishes for the shorter (6-inch) configuration of the Omega suppressor with direct-thread attachment as opposed to the 7.5-inch length including the ASR mount. Due to the titanium and Stellite construction, the Omega weighs only 14 ounces without the ASR Mount and anchor brake.
The Omega package comes with the sound suppressor itself and .308 and .223 end caps. It also ships with the ASR brake, as well as the 5⁄8x24-inch direct-thread adapter. Two wrenches are provided. One takes care of the end caps and the other, which is a spanner wrench, is used on the ASR mount. Additionally, the kit comes with a protective carrying case. According to SilencerCo, the Omega does not require disassembly for cleaning due to its being used with a centerfire rifle cartridge. However, the company does not recommend firing lead projectiles, fearing these will fill the suppressor with lead vapor and deposits.
If you are looking for one of the most advanced sound suppressors in the industry today, you need not look further than the SilencerCo Omega. Be sure your firearm fits within the barrel-length and caliber specifications. This suppressor’s capabilities and design make it ideal for any rifle within those specs, and an excellent all-around choice.
