SILENCER SATURDAY #215: SIG Sauer SLH300TI & SLH762 Suppressors

Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM Phantom 22 rimfire suppressor. Last week we finally got to finish up our initial look the the LMT-AT ION 30 rifle suppressor (I’m a fan). This week we continue our discussion on SIG’s newest additions to the suppressor market – the SLH300TI and SLH762 models. Do they take full advantage of the benefits of additive manufacturing? Let’s find out.

Our man James does a quick breakdown on the “pending research” message when submitting Form 1 applications. It’s a good reminder on not to panic when emails from the ATF drop into your inbox.

This time frame ultimately proved to be correct, as the process took 13 calendar days and exactly 10 business days before my form cleared “Pending Research” and changed to “Submitted/In Process.”

In summary, there appear to be several circumstances under which you may encounter a “Pending Research” status when you submit a Form 1, but it appears that the research procedure will add “just” two weeks to the process.

From our friends at the American Suppressor Association:

The Definition of ‘‘Frame or Receiver’’ and Identification of Firearms is scheduled for publication in June 2022. If enacted as proposed, the primary objective of this rule is to establish broad regulations on homemade firearms and 80% receivers. As it pertains to suppressors, it will establish a new definition of a silencer frame or receiver and “complete muffler or silencer device“.

Analysis:

In a just and fair world, this new ruling would end the practice of requiring individual silencer parts being regulated as controlled items that require taxes and registration (see the Diversified Machine situation). However, I surmise that this new ruling/interpretation will restrict manufacturers to using the tube/main body as the serialized part. In recent years, many manufacturers have serialized bases or other parts to make repairs easier and not a taxable event. As noted by TFB staff, one alternative may be an re-interpretation of “solvent trap” parts. Cups and tubes that are just metal parts may become silencer parts at some undetermined point and time.

To me, both of these seem like additional penalties for people already complying with draconian laws. The real answer is complete deregulation and removal from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

From our friends at the American Suppressor Association:

ATF has stated that they will continue to focus resources on the considerable backlog of paper forms. Nonetheless, if you are going to buy a suppressor ASA strongly recommends that you submit all new transfers via eForms.

Two reminders:

Analysis:

As we discussed in the EForms update in December, the new system promises to be faster and more efficient. Form 4 approvals are now coming back from late December of 2021 – about six weeks. However, if you have paper applications in process, do not scuttle them in order to submit one via the new EForms system. The ATF has said that doing so will create lengthy delays. The real answer of course is complete deregulation and removal from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

SIG Sauer has a fantastic reputation in the silencer world. The now out-of-production SRD line of silencers are fairly light, rugged, and very quiet with the right host and ammunition. But additive manufacturing, the internal multi-flow path, and a new mounting system throws a wrench into the mix. Can SIG maintain a top spot in suppressor performance ratings?

When it comes to sound performance, the answer is yes. The SLH300TI is very quiet with subsonic ammunition on the SIG MCX. I have shot at least 20 different rifle suppressors on both the 6.75” and 9” MCX rifles and the SRD762QD-TI has always been my favorite. The SLH300TI-QD is just as quiet.

Both the SLX and SLH were developed to meet the demands of the U.S. military, and are designed to deliver cutting-edge performance.

The brake with the ability to time just the end piece is not my favorite however; it may have been that the crush washer was too hard or I was simply impatient. Either way, I’d rather have the flash hider. And while it was definitely the quietest, I did experience some short cycling on the 6.75” MCX. This gun was built to be suppressed so I have some investigating to do.

The SLH is ideal for users that use both supersonic and subsonic ammunition, and are optimized for sound reduction.

Comparing old and new:

I am happy and relieved to know that the SLH300TI is just as quiet as the SRD762TI on my favorite rifle, the SIG MCX Virtus in 300BLK. If you have the choice, my suggestion is opt for the one piece flash hider instead of the two piece brake. The last tests we will see with these cans is some full auto cycles of both 300BLK and 5.56mm. I’ll also report back on the 6.75” MCX cycling observation.

Thanks for reading. Be safe, have fun, and we’ll see you back next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.