Joyful. That’s the word I use to describe shooting suppressed. Every time I shoot suppressed, I talk about wanting to get a suppressor. What stops me is a myriad of things. For one, I don’t know which gun to suppress. I feel like a 5.56 suppressor would be the handiest, but I shoot 9mm way more than 5.56. I also hunt with a .308, and I feel, in all reality, the most practical use for the suppressor would be hunting. I don’t want to deal with the NFA process multiple times, so what am I to do? Well, it seems like SilencerCo has heard the cries of shooters like me and addresses it via the SilencerCo Hybrid 46M.
SilencerCo graciously sent a model for me to test and review, and I’ve got a fantastic opportunity to spill some lead downrange. More than ever, I’ve found myself wanting a suppressor, and the SilencerCo Hybrid 46M was love at first shot. The more I’ve learned about it, the more I’ve begun to think I’ve found the one suppressor I can use for all those roles.
Diving into the Hybrid 46M
The Hybrid 46M suppressor is a sequel to the original Hybrid 46.
What’s the big difference?
Well, the M in the name, my friend. In reality, it’s a lighter suppressor that’s modular (that’s where the ‘M’ comes in) with two different lengths. The Hybrid 46M’s full-size configuration is nine inches long and weighs 14.9 ounces. In its more compact form, the suppressor is 5.78 inches long and weighs 12.2 ounces total.
It’s fairly lightweight for its length, and the diameter is 1.57 inches. The reason why I think this could be that one perfect suppressor for guys like me is the fact it’s a 46 caliber can. I can use this thing on my 9mm, my .308, my 5.56 rifle, and beyond. I can go up to .458 Socom and 45 ACP. It’s tough enough to take the hits from a 338 Lapua Magnum and keep on functioning.
Sound suppression works best when a suppressor matches the caliber of the weapon. That is true, but SilencerCo does mitigate this. The front caps of the suppressor can be swapped to accommodate various calibers to help improve suppression. The Hybrid 46M comes with a 46 caliber cap and a 30 caliber cap. You can also purchase a 9mm cap, a 5.56 cap, and a 6.5mm cap.
One Suppressor to Rule Them All
I can snap this thing onto any firearm in my collection and start popping suppressed shots off. Besides just utilizing different caps, the modular capability to reduce the length and weight of the suppressor ensures things stay light and short for weapons that are light and short.
I might toss the Hybrid 46M on my 308 rifle in the long configuration to maximize my suppression. If I’m rocking a 9mm PCC, well, why then I go short and sweet. It’s a good way to mix and match your suppressor to your various firearms while maintaining their overall purpose.
Putting It In Action
Reviewing NFA items can be a hassle. It would take 6 to 9 months or maybe longer to transfer the suppressor legally to me to take it home and give it the old bang bang. Instead, it was sent to my FFL/SOT, who was gracious enough to allow me to use the weapon on his property and under his supervision. Big thanks to Big Bend Outfitters for all their help.
To keep with range restrictions and overall safety, I brought my favorite subgun, the APC9K, a direct thread adapter, and a butt load of subsonic 9mm. I strapped the Hybrid 46M to my APC9K, and it just looked like it was at home. Even in the long configuration, the weight wasn’t so much so to throw the short little fella off balance.
I started in the long configuration and began blasting through 9mm. The first shot was a little snappy but not enough to ring my ears. Follow-up shots were nice and quiet. I blazed through the first mag and me and my friend talked about kids, our favorite steak houses, and why we both wished we had a lever gun with a threaded barrel for this test.
Keep It Down
We talked as we took turns firing. The weapon was quiet enough that we didn’t need ear protection of any kind. The little snap and pop of the 9mm weren’t enough to interrupt us. Keep in mind this wasn’t with the 9mm cap, but with the standard 46 caliber cap.
I’m not the most knowledgeable in regards to suppressors. I get that can-heads love to talk dBs, barrel lengths, loads, and sound reduction, and it is truly fascinating. However, what matters to me is if it can make the gun hearing safe. The Hybrid 46M certainly made my little APC9K hearing safe when mixed with subsonic ammunition.
We took a break, let the suppressor cool, and then broke it down to the short model. SilencerCo includes all the necessary tools to remove the cap, attach and detach the suppressor, and everything you’ll need to do with the little fella. Taking it down to a lighter, short profile made the Hybrid 46M fit the APC9K like a glove. The lighter, shorter suppressor matched the short, light gun very well.
Both sizes reduced muzzle rise and recoil a crazy amount. The Hybrid 46M works better than a standard compensator. The gun barely bucks and moves between shots. It makes it really easy to fire ten rounds with the gun barely moving. It’s full-auto rated, so it’s not like I was going to burn it down.
Back to the Pew
Again, the first shot had a little extra pop, but after that, the gun was plenty quiet. I ditched ear pro after the first two rounds, and we resumed our conversations as we shot. There was a slight difference between the longer can and the short can, but it remained hearing safe.
I’m sure you guys want a little more information than that on how well the gun suppresses other calibers. I mean, it’s easy to see why you’d want that info, so I scoured the net. By that, I emailed SilencerCo and asked what performance they saw from a wide variety of calibers, and they happily provided me the information.
For reference, OSHA states that sudden loud noises up to 140 dB are hearing safe. However, constant repeated exposure can reduce the safety.
The Hybrid 46M In Action
I don’t want to send this thing back. It’s so utterly awesome that it’s making me want to deal with the Federal government.
The 46M from SilencerCo works like a dream. It made my little APC9K incredibly quiet and perfect for home defense. It’s also modular enough for me to attach it to a wide variety of guns, and it fits everything in my current crop of firearms if you’re like me and wants to truly buy once and cry once the Hybrid 46M is for you.
If you are also a beginner with cans, SilencerCo is the way to go as well. They make tons of accessories, parts, and pieces to match the suppressor to whatever task you put upon it. Check it out at SilencerCo, and let me know what you think below.
