So I am just about finished with my 18" SPR build and want to choose a suppressor for it. I have narrowed my choices down to the Surefire SOCOM 556 RC and the SilencerCo Saker 5.56. Anybody have any experience with these and what would you recommend? Im looking for minimal POI shift

Thanks

Looking at the cans you've chosen. If you have a bunch of Surefire mounts on your rifles already, I'd go with the Surefire. If you have a bunch of 51t AAC mounts, then I would get the Saker with 51t module. If you're not worried about mounts and will get them, I'd get the Specwar K. Or see if the shop mentioned in another thread still has the standard Specwar for $400. Link

I don't have any mounts because I was waiting to see what suppressor I would end up choosing. This will be my first rifle suppressor. But is the Specwar just as durable as the Saker? Cause I may also use it on a sbr build that I have coming up.

I own both, I prefer SF.

How is the POI shift on both?

My Surefire is my favorite can.

The Saker is a shortened Specwar with a changeable mount on the back.  Per Silencerco the Specwar is quieter and just as strong.  Saker is more versatile.  Me, I've gone Surefire.  I'll probably add a Saker 762 to the collection at some point though....

Can you elaborate?

I was thinking of buying a Saker but if you like the surefire better I'm curious why?

I have a surefire and aac M4-2000 and the aac is better imo

Surefire is very minimal, Saker is about 1 MOAish and somewhat repeatable.

Better mounting system and repeatability. The Saker's mount is lacking.

ETA: The blowback difference is rediculous. Saker is soooo gassy.

I got my Saker 7.62 last week and did some testing.












 

My first criteria isn't for sound performance for centerfire cans. Full disclosure.

Lacking what exactly?

I have to wonder how the forthcoming Sandman line of cans will compare...?

Understood.  In fact, its arguable that sound attenuation is the least important factor sometimes.

 

I only own the Socom 556 RC and I really like it. To my eyes from the shooting i've done the there is no POI shift on my particular setup. The mount is rock solid, simple, and it works. 5.56 is loud so if your chasing db's that's a lost cause.  My only gripe with the can is, is once it gets hot, it can be a tad difficult to get off... But with that being said just let it cool down and all is well. (Someone recommended the fireclean treatment which I will put to the test on Jan 2)

I can't comment on the Silencerco as i've only shot one at a store demo. Seems like a great product

Except it isn't just a few decibels. The 7.62 was so loud Silencershop omitted it from their comparison because they thought something was wrong with it. If I wanted a can that loud I'd be using a mini.

I specifically am speaking to the trifecta mount. They rushed it to market, it was supposed to be much better. There have been numerous occasions when the mount gets stuck or you have to use the included tools to get it to come off.

That same old rhetoric huh? Sample size of 1 does not hold true for all their cans.

My whole post was in reply the the 556 can the OP mentioned

Are you saying the can Silencershop tested was defective? OR their test was defective? And yes I'm speaking of the 7.62 not the 5.56.

Check out Thunderbeast too. If the CB cans had been available when I bought, I would have gotten that instead of a SF.

I cannot speculate because I wasn't there or handled that can but it's ridiculous to base that all SOCOM cans are louder because of one test. I own both and to my untrained ear I cannot tell a difference. Not scientific but a lot more credible than a YouTube video.

I think I'll trust the guys at Silencershop and their metering equipment  over your untrained ear but thanks for your opinion. But you are right, it isn't fair to base all the Socom cans on the performance of the 7.62. The 5.56 Socom did fine in there test video other than a 146dB frp. I'd love to see a side by side of the Saker K and Socom 5.56.

Fair enough.

Wrong. Tests by professionals with thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment beat one dude giving it the ear test.


Also remember I am fairly certain sure fire doesn't release their internal decibel tests with their cans. hint. hint.

So much hate against SF, it's funny.

I'm not hating on Surefire. They make excellent cans and they have an excellent mounting system. But from the testing I've seen they are louder than many competitors. They also demand a premium price over the other competitors for both cans and mounts.

I hate on them a little because they have outrageous pricing and the company is pretty cocky about their products. they really try and shove the socom gov selected thing in people's faces too. Like seriously sf, we got it.
Plenty of gemtech and AAC keepin us safe at night too.

They make some great products, and they make some OK products. I carry a surefire light with me every day, but I prefer my AAC sdn6 and m4-2000 to any sf cans.

I prefer my SF can over my AAC one. I can shoot all day on auto and not worry about the mounting of my cans.

I'm not aiming for the quietest can though either. I wanted a tank and good mounting. I do agree they are priced at a premium which sucks.

Have you used one? I have a Saker 556 and 762 and their mounts are not lacking in anyway.  Quite the opposite actually, they a very good mounts and easy to use.  I am only aware of the getting stuck issue occurring when allowing the suppressor to cool all the way down before trying to remove it.  It's mostly due to the tight tolerances they are machined to and as you use it more it becomes less likely to happen.  It's also very easy to get it off by shooting a few rounds to warm it back up or a couple of whacks with the palm of your hand and it will pop right off.

Surefire cans can also get stuck. Certainly isn't unique to the Saker.

That silencershop test is literally the only one I have found that shows that disparity. Typically, SF suppressors are 1-3dB louder than their competition at the muzzle. This is usually because Surefire suppressors in some cases have a larger bore ID, and are typically smaller and lighter than the competitors, such as when comparing the full-size 5.56 Surefire 556 against the full-size M4-2000. You will note the AAC can is slightly larger, heavier, and quieter. My data has come from competitors of SF, SF, independent tests from random owners, and personal experience with my admittedly untrained ears.

What I CAN tell you is that SF is NOTICEABLY less gassy. Even their legacy suppressors were. I had a Noveske 14.5" gun with a switchblock. Noveske does all of their SB calibration (or did at that time) with the M4-2000 suppressors. My rifle had to be CLEAN to function suppressed on the suppressed setting, and when it wasn't flawlessly clean, I got FTRB's. Shooting 5.56 in it, it cycled extremely soft. Reliability was an issue. Further, Noveske recommended 1 buffer lighter with the Surefire suppressors on their 300BLK rifles, IIRC, than with the AAC suppressors.

That said, across the board, Surefire is also quieter at the ear than most competitors. Green0 on here even posted a test which concluded as much, and we all know that  Green0 isn't shy about taking a shot at Surefire if he feels it's legit. The reduced backpressure of the SF suppressors causes less ejection port noise, less fouling, and reduces wear on the operating system.

To me, the quieter signature at the shooter's ear, the increased reliability, and the smaller, lighter suppressor with a great mounting system is THE way to go, vs. chasing "1m left of the muzzle dB numbers" when the bullet flight is 150dB in and of itself. Sadly, most testing is done with the "1m to the left of the muzzle"  protocol, and while this does offer a data-point, it is not the data-point that the shooter will be affected by. For example, I almost bought an AAC SPR/M4, the huge reflex can...until I saw independent data that showed it as louder to the shooter's ear than their MINI can! People can get all wrapped up around the wrong numbers for their purpose sometimes. Now, that is not to say that low muzzle dB doesn't have its place, but if I had to pick whether I wanted 133dB at the muzzle and 143dB at the ear, or 138dB at the muzzle and 140dB at the ear...I'd pick the latter. Those numbers also, as I stated, hint at lower back-pressure, and all the benefits thereof, as well.

YMMV, and everyone has a different reason for their preferences.

 










 

I have both 762SOCOM suppressors (mini and full-size). I have fired the full-size SOCOM using 300BLK VorTx supersonic ammunition. It sounded similar to my suppressed 5.56, maybe a little quieter due to less ejection port noise due to the pressure curve of the 300BLK. Beyond that, I cannot speak for their performance from a personal standpoint. I can tell you that independent metering results for the 762SS compared favorably with other 762 cans. I do not have independent data for the 762SOCOM except what Silencershop has provided, which, IMO, is questionable at this time in its validity.

I have shot both in testing,
The Saker is quieter, better mount & mount opinions.
the Saker is also a stronger can.
The shaker is less $$ to.

You obviously missed the part where I said I own both. I have a 556 and 762 Saker.

I don't see any issues with the trifecta mount. Its damn solid, very fast on/off, and doesn't rely on silly latches at the base. Where did you get "They rushed it to market, it was supposed to be much better." from?

A bit of this on the muzzle brake ended my "stuck" problems for good when my Surefire can was new.  The best part is it's completely impervious to heat:
http://www.shop.myturfsupply.com/LOX-CEASE-20-20-ANTI-SEIZE-LUBRICANT-791.htm?categoryId=-1
The down side is that, as far as I can find, there is no way to buy a small quantity of this.  The container is enough for a couple of generations of shooters if that's all you use it for.
Edit:  I'm certain it will work just fine on Sakers as well...

That looks pretty nice. I'll keep it in mind if i ever have issues. Thanks for the link.

I have the Saker 5.56. Honestly, I purchased it because it's built like a tank. It has a full warranty on full-auto down to a 7" barrel which is both unique and impressive. With the threat of the passage of 41P, I thought to myself "if I only had one chance of getting a can, I wanted something that would last my lifetime and my kids lifetime", so I chose the Saker. It's not the lightest and doesn't have the cool buzzword SOCOM in it, but it's packed with features that sold me.

Also, I like the Saker mount over the Surefire mount (both fantastic mounts) due to the fact that you can mount the can on the end of a barrel that is hidden (recessed) under a handguard. Simple on/off twist unlike the Surefire. Not a deal-breaker, but still...

Love the Cerakote job.  I am thinking to do the same to mine once it comes in.  Did you do it yourself or have a shop do it?

Had a local shop do it. It's the high temperature version of Cerakote. Magpul FDE.

Very cool.  Was there anything special they had to do to it?  Like take of certain pieces or anything like that?

Two of the people who helped design it.

Nope. Just separated the mount from the suppressor body using the included wrenches. Didn't take apart the mount or anything like that. Just Cerakoted the outside of it. Very satisfied. I'm a sucker for anything FDE and I had to get it done. Only $55.

I have both a 556 SF SOCOM and a newly arrived Saker 7.62. I like 'em both fine. PS After I studied the Saker lock mechanism and lubed it up, I have had zero, nada, no issues getting it on and off. There is one last little slip of the ring that frees the lock washer, and if you do not make that last click - it ain't coming off. No need for whacking. Ever. The Saker likes lube down there. Never had an issue with the SF, either. I wanted a solid can I could bash around and not worry about on a carbine, and the SF fills the bill.

I really have nothing bad to say about either the SF or the Saker. I'd buy the SOCOM for the 5.56 and a Saker for 7.62 - oh wait, I DID!!!

They wouldn't be two people who went and made another suppressor company, would it?

Where do you lube the Saker and how much further do you twist once the ring is in the notch?

You can see the difference in the position of the two rings.  The one on the right that looks like it's out of place is the correct way to put it on and take it off.  If those notches are fitted together like the left one, you won't be getting the can on or off.

I'm still trying to tune my MicroMOA gas block to run optimally with my Surefire. I have the three position plate. With the standard suppressed setting it wouldn't cycle .223 only Lake City 5.56. I drilled it out to the next larger port size. It still doesn't have enough back pressure to cycle 100% reliably, so I'm using it on the unsuppressed 5.56 optimized setting until I can further open the hole.