Suppressors OCL Polonium 5.56 or B&T PRINT-XH RBS 5.56

[Chief_Rick]

Suppressor Summit 2024 numbers for these two are very comparable.

OCL is 17-4 stainless, 5.8" long x 1.625" diameter, 14.5 oz.

B&T is Titanium & Inconel, 7.28" long x 1.73" diameter, 17.3 oz.

For use primarily on an AR, is the B&T worth 2x as much?

I'm not planning mag dumps or full-auto. Range training and a little hunting.

I might put 1k rounds down-range with this rifle, in it's current/non-suppressed configuration, per year.

Will the B&T outlast the OCL due to materials?

How many rounds (and at what rate of fire) would it take to realize the difference?

 

[Bluedog82]

Do you tune your rifles for suppressed usage? What length ARs are we talking about?

 

[J-Fonz]

I've been very happy with the Polonium

 

[spife7980]

I’m happy with my polonium but I don’t ever shoot without the can so having gas tuned for a bare muzzle as well is no issue to me.
If I did plan to shoot it both a low back pressure would be more valuable, it’s just not to me personally.
I wouldn’t worry about “lasting longer”

 

[Chief_Rick]

Do you tune your rifles for suppressed usage? What length ARs are we talking about?

16" barrel, complete BCM upper.

I have an assortment of buffers and springs, but it's never been suppressed.

I do not want a rifle that has to be suppressed in order to function.

 

[Bluedog82]

16" barrel, complete BCM upper.

I have an assortment of buffers and springs, but it's never been suppressed.

I do not want a rifle that has to be suppressed in order to function.

I’d do the XC then, no question (the compact version, not the one you listed).

 

[flogxal]

I'll give a 3rd vote for the OCL Polonium 5.56, I have the K model and I swap it among 3 different 5.56 rifles.

One thing I'd ask is, once you have the can, what is the reasoning for the rifle to be used with and without the can? Why not just put on the can and tune the gas/buffer for the can, and be done?

If you absolutely have to be able to run with and without -- then you could tune to run w/o the can and maybe be overgassed when suppressed to such an extent your bolt runs too fast... thus more tuning; or you could use a Superlative Arms bleed-off block and tune in bleed-off mode for no can, and let it bleed off the excess when suppresssed.

 

[Ape_Factory]

Having shot a traditional baffle suppressor on a gas gun, flow through low back pressure is the way. I just about gassed out after 20 rounds, admittedly at an indoor range. It'll just run so much better. I'd also go for the shorter version of the B&T as it's optimized for 14.5" and greater barrel lengths.

 

[Chief_Rick]

I'll give a 3rd vote for the OCL Polonium 5.56, I have the K model and I swap it among 3 different 5.56 rifles.

One thing I'd ask is, once you have the can, what is the reasoning for the rifle to be used with and without the can? Why not just put on the can and tune the gas/buffer for the can, and be done?

If you absolutely have to be able to run with and without -- then you could tune to run w/o the can and maybe be overgassed when suppressed to such an extent your bolt runs too fast... thus more tuning; or you could use a Superlative Arms bleed-off block and tune in bleed-off mode for no can, and let it bleed off the excess when suppresssed.

I have two additional ARs (11.5 and 18) and a bolt rifle I plan to use this with. There's probably little reasoning to run any without a can, once I get it.

I am looking for maximum noise reduction.

I don't mind a little overgassed with the can as long as it cycles properly.

 

[flogxal]

Probably comes down to length of shooting strings. Ape Factory tells above on extended strings. I haven't ever shot more than 5 in a row rapidly, and it was outdoors. Yes gassier than no can, but not that much gassier than I expected. I expected a cloud that messed with my sinuses and my vision. Maybe since my local ranges are almost always breezy I don't notice.

 

[flogxal]

Chief Rick -- Since quiet is important to you, Polonium full size is quieter than my K version according to OCL guys, Hydrogen supposedly quieter/nicer tone still, with lower weight. And more $$.

 

[Bluedog82]

I have two additional ARs (11.5 and 18) and a bolt rifle I plan to use this with. There's probably little reasoning to run any without a can, once I get it.

I am looking for maximum noise reduction.

I don't mind a little overgassed with the can as long as it cycles properly.

Very few guns are so overgassed with a can that they don’t run at all; they just get very unpleasant to shoot very fast. Looking for maximum suppression on an AR is, in my book, not the best way to go about it.

 

[Chief_Rick]

Very few guns are so overgassed with a can that they don’t run at all; they just get very unpleasant to shoot very fast. Looking for maximum suppression on an AR is, in my book, not the best way to go about it.

I appreciate your input and think I understand. I'm relatively new to suppressors and trying to learn. I have a HUXWRX Flow 762 Ti (my first can) and I'm looking for something quieter with less concussion (if that makes sense).

Not trying to get hearing safe, as I feel that's an unrealistic expectation. I wear Otto electronic in-ear hearing protection.

 

[Bluedog82]

I appreciate your input and think I understand. I'm relatively new to suppressors and trying to learn. I have a HUXWRX Flow 762 Ti (my first can) and I'm looking for something quieter with less concussion (if that makes sense).

Not trying to get hearing safe, as I feel that's an unrealistic expectation. I wear Otto electronic in-ear hearing protection.

Makes perfect sense. Most cans in conjunction with ear pro make for a very pleasant shooting experience. The XC would do a great job of being short and light, while still being decently quiet and low backpressure. The Polonium will likely be quieter but much more gassy. I have a Polonium K and it’s a great can, but does best with some tuning.

 

[FuhQ]

Polonium hands-down... I've had mine since 2022, and it's been excellent. Super tough, sounds amazing, precision built (minimal POI shift), and is very quiet for it's size.

 

[FuhQ]

16" barrel, complete BCM upper.

I have an assortment of buffers and springs, but it's never been suppressed.

I do not want a rifle that has to be suppressed in order to function.

You'll want to at least throw an H3 buffer in there to slow that bolt down and help keep port pop to a minimum, and keep gas down. Adjustable gas block is best, but not necessary, especially if you don't plan on rapid fire, or full-auto mag dumps.

 

[FuhQ]

I have two additional ARs (11.5 and 18) and a bolt rifle I plan to use this with. There's probably little reasoning to run any without a can, once I get it.

I am looking for maximum noise reduction.

I don't mind a little overgassed with the can as long as it cycles properly.

Then in this case, get the Polonium... And yes, once you start shooting suppressed, you will never want to shoot unsuppressed ever again. There really is no going backwards with this. It will just make everything about your hunting/shooting/range experiences better. You will definitely buy more, and probably start buying one for every rifle individually. I started with 3 to "cover all my bases", and quickly ended up at 14... It gets addicting.