If you’ve spent much time shooting, you’ve probably wondered at one time or another about suppressors. Maybe you debated their usefulness or tried to decide if they’re worth the investment of time and money—or maybe you want one and just don’t know where to start. SilencerCo is one of the leading suppressor manufacturers in the country, and their entire line of devices is known for fantastic quality. We ran the SilencerCo Omega 36M at the range and out hunting—and on different guns—all so we could come back and tell you how well it worked and if it’s worth your hard-earned money.
What’s the SilencerCo Omega 36M?
The SilencerCo Omega 36M is a modular suppressor that’s compatible with multiple calibers. It’s made for use on different platforms, including rifles, handguns, and even submachine guns. The modularity in its design means it can be used in different lengths simply by unscrewing—or screwing back on—the end portion of the device. It’s fully auto-rated and compatible with calibers from 9mm Luger to .338 Lapua Magnum. Of course, barrel length does play a role as well. This suppressor can be used with .223 Remington/5.56 NATO barrels down to 10 inches in length, .308 Winchester barrels down to 16 inches in length, .300 Winchester Magnum barrels down to 20 inches in length, and .338 Lapua Magnum down to 18 inches in length.
What’s the SilencerCo Omega 36M made from?
This suppressor is made from a combination of metals: Cobalt 6, Inconel, Titanium, and 17-4 stainless steel. Cobalt 6 is, as its name suggests, a cobalt-based material that’s made for fantastic impact and heat tolerance, as well as having a low coefficient for friction. Inconel is a nickel-chromium-based superalloy that’s known for being extremely high-strength and resistant to corrosion. It’s also highly weldable, which is important for the Omega 36M, which is a fully welded suppressor. Titanium is a low-density metal that is also high-strength and corrosion-resistant. Also, titanium is significantly lighter weight than Inconel. 17-4 stainless steel is a chromium-nickel-copper steel used for its strength and versatility. Overall, the various metals work together to deliver a durable, high-strength suppressor designed to withstand the stresses and high heat of live fire and noise suppression.
What are the specifications of the SilencerCo Omega 36M?
Since the Omega 36M is a modular suppressor, it has two different lengths. In its larger configuration, it’s 6.85 inches long and weighs 12.5 ounces. With the front end removed so it can be used in its shorter length, it’s 4.90 inches long and weighs 9.8 ounces. It has a diameter of 1.57 inches in both configurations. The Omega 36M has a black finish that’s resistant to use-related wear and also helps reduce glare during use.
The level of suppression depends on different factors, including the length of the suppressor during use and the caliber and specific load being used. According to SilencerCo, the muzzle average for decibels with proper use of the Omega 36M is 130.6 dB with 5.56 NATO, 124.1 dB with .300 Blackout,136.9 dB with .308 Winchester, 139.5 dB with .300 Winchester Magnum, 141.4 dB with .338 Lapua Magnum, and 123.3 dB with 9mm. Keep in mind that you get greater levels of sound suppression with the Omega 36M being used in its full length as opposed to when the front end is removed.
How does the SilencerCo Omega 36M mount to a gun?
The Omega 36M is compatible with the Charlie ASR (Active Spring Retention) mount, which is included with the suppressor. The ASR mount is a quick attach/detach device that makes taking the suppressor off and on your gun simple. It works with the ASR Flash Hider, ASR Closed-Tine Flash Hider, ASR Muzzle Brake, and ASR Single Port Muzzle Brake. Putting an ASR-compatible muzzle device on your gun is as easy as unscrewing the existing device and screwing the ASR device into place with the correct amount of torque. Generally speaking, the correct amount of torque for a muzzle device is between 25 and 30 foot-pounds.
This suppressor is easily mounted to your gun, which is nice. The mount has a locking ring that clicks into place and holds the device securely in place. That’s nice because it means your suppressor isn’t rotating during use—something you have to watch for more closely with screw-on-style attachments.
How does the SilencerCo Omega 36M work?
For this review, I first mounted the Omega 36M to the Acme Machine 25-216 Flagship AM-15, which is chambered in 5.56 NATO. It was extremely easy to mount with the ASR muzzle device in place, and it was nice not to have to worry about the suppressor slowly unscrewing itself during live fire. In this case, I was using it with a thermal riflescope for hog hunting and had the gun zeroed within three shots (no, the scope wasn’t previously zeroed on that gun; it was actually on a .308 Winchester before).
The Omega 36M delivered great sound suppression with both .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO ammo. Using it has the two-fold effect of helping protect my hearing and making it easier to communicate with whoever I’m hunting with. And since I regularly hunt alone, having a suppressor makes it a lot easier to hear what’s going on around me than when I have ear protection on. That means hearing hogs coming and also just being situationally aware of my surroundings. Just because you’re in the woods doesn’t mean you don’t need to be aware of what’s going on around you.
Because this is a multi-caliber suppressor, the suppression isn’t quite what it would be on a caliber-specific model, but it still works well. In fact, it’s unlikely the average person would really notice the difference between suppressor types. Leaving the Omega 36M at full length is what I prefer to do because I want all the suppression possible. That goes for use on handguns, too. You might find you want a shorter configuration on a pistol for the sake of balance, but really, the weight difference and length are so slight that using it at its full length isn’t difficult. It might feel a bit different at first, but you get used to it quickly.
Heating Up
Remember that suppressors get hot fast, so it’s not a good idea to grab it with your bare hand or rest it on a surface that isn’t sufficiently heat resistant. It cools down relatively quickly, so you won’t be spending ridiculous amounts of time waiting on it. However, you need to remember that the hotter a suppressor gets, the more it can affect the point of impact. It’s a good idea to allow it to cool down at least a bit during lengthy live fire sessions. That’s really no different than barrels, which also heat up to the point it can begin to affect shot placement. It’s simply a factor to be aware of.
Should you get a SilencerCo Omega 36M?
The SilencerCo Omega 36M is a great suppressor, especially if you really want one that is multi-caliber, capable, and modular. It’s convenient to change the suppressor’s length as desired, and it’s fantastic that it can be used on a wide variety of guns. As much as we’d like to have a suppressor for every gun we own, it tends to be unrealistic. With the Omega 36M, I can switch it from my 10mm handgun to various rifles in everything from 5.56 NATO to .300 Win Mag and back again. It’s well worth the investment of time and money to get one, so what are you waiting for?
