Thread: Muzzle Forward or OverBarrel

For pure target work, it's muzzle forward and for hunting it's overbarrel.
I don't know why most 22LR suppressors are muzzle forward.

Noise reduction mostly depends on muzzle forward length - it counts for twice what length behind the muzzle does.
You get the most suppression for your weight from muzzle forward and it adds the most to the angular inertia of the system so it is an advantage in target competition.

If you're ever going to slip over and fall on your rifle you need overbarrel.

I thought hard about the Atec muzzle forward model but went for the over barrel CTM4. It has a bushing, is mounted with just a smidgeon of clearance and has been bumped and fallen on a few times but still shoots well after about 5 years and 2000 rounds. I use it with 2 baffles (modules) removed which certainly compromises sound reduction but reduces length and balance weight a worthwhile amount. Only Atec and DPT have removable baffles as far as I know at the moment.

Hi,

Not saying that there are no good back over the barrel suppressors, however all of our current suppressors are front mounting / muzzle forward and for good reason.

Most of the weight of back over the barrel suppressors is still in the front where the baffles are and they can also have more added length than our short SL5i for example.

They can also be heavier than the SL5i, which is c. 340 grams.

In our tests, there is very minimal difference in the balance point across different back over the barrel suppressors, compared to the SL5i.

Which is as effective as many of the larger suppressors or in some cases even more effective.

Often larger back over the barrels have a higher first round pop than our smaller suppressors, good example is the large A-Tec Carbon 03.

It is c. 4-5 dB quieter on 5 shot string than our SL5i, but on the first shot they are within 1 dB.

The area also that has the best ratio for suppression ( whether sound or flash ) is the area in front of the muzzle, the benefit given by the rear section is is smaller.

Best Regards!

Tuukka Jokinen
Ase Utra sound suppressors

Originally Posted by Bagheera

For pure target work, it's muzzle forward and for hunting it's overbarrel.
I don't know why most 22LR suppressors are muzzle forward.

Noise reduction mostly depends on muzzle forward length - it counts for twice what length behind the muzzle does.
You get the most suppression for your weight from muzzle forward and it adds the most to the angular inertia of the system so it is an advantage in target competition.

If you're ever going to slip over and fall on your rifle you need overbarrel.

I thought hard about the Atec muzzle forward model but went for the over barrel CTM4. It has a bushing, is mounted with just a smidgeon of clearance and has been bumped and fallen on a few times but still shoots well after about 5 years and 2000 rounds. I use it with 2 baffles (modules) removed which certainly compromises sound reduction but reduces length and balance weight a worthwhile amount. Only Atec and DPT have removable baffles as far as I know at the moment.

As I also wrote in the previous message, yes the muzzle forward area is more critical for suppression ability.

The slipping and falling is often brought up about over barrel suppressors,

There are many differences in materials and build in suppressors and a front mounting suppressor can easily be stronger than an over barrel suppressor in this regard also.

We have had no issues in this regard with our fully welded steel or stainless steel designs.

Best Regards!

Tuukka

Interesting does this apply to all calibres from 22 rimfire to the Weatherby magnums?

Hi Tuukka,
It's really good to have someone in the trade speaking up here. If there are problems, you wiil have seen them.
Perhaps steel suppressors are stronger than aluminium ones. Something must also depend on mounting technique, shoulder bearing surface and so on ?
Do ASE offer a warranty against baffle strike or bent muzzles due to falls ?

Hi,

Yes, we have our way of manufacturing products but of course we have learned a lot over the past 25 years.

Also, if people have seen how I comment on our competition and suppressors in general, I prefer it the simple way, speaking honestly as I have no need to make up things.

We have primarily used steel and stainless steel as many of the same suppressor bodies have also gone to MIL/LE use.

Aluminium does have the weight benefit, but it can also have its drawbacks. For example with the SL5i, we are in the weight range of aluminium or even carbon fibre suppressors, with a fully welded stainless steel design.

If a suppressor is damaged due to falls, it does not really fall under the manufacturing and material guarantee.

But we would usually replace them anyway as a show of customer service. From the top of my head I do not recall a warranty replacement though for a cause like that as the suppressors do not get damaged that easily.

Best Regards!

Tuukka

I've got a couple of A-tech muzz forward cans...best I've had for sound suppression and super light at 220g... but I do find they come loose frequently, but not many suppressors done due to heating and cooling. However over barrel is a little more forgiving is it does come loose whereas with a muzz forward can it is more prone to bullet strike. My current preferred suppressor is the DPT over barrel at 260g.

One inch of suppressor in front of the barrel is more effective/efficient than one inch of suppressor over the barrel. You need something like twice as much over barrel, to get the same effect as one part in front of barrel.

Another issue that hasn't been brought up that I just discovered, forward reflects light from scope mounted torch more than an over barrel