Well I got to head out to the range with the new 556-212 today and thought I’d post a short range report and a few pics.
First off, this is the first suppressed rifle I’ve ever shot and I’ve only heard a couple others so I can’t really give you an opinion on noise reduction versus other models. I can tell you that on my Charles Daly Defense (RIP) M4LE that I could easily shoot it without ear protection. It sounds about like a .22 magnum.
My barrel length is 16 inches so the rifle is fairly long with the suppressor attached. Length added is 4.3" and it weighs 16 oz. so you can tell it’s hanging off the end but it’s very manageable and after shooting for awhile the added length and weight is forgotten.
Now for me, with this rifle, there was about an inch shift to the right for POI at 50 yards. Certainly not a huge shift but a little more than I was expecting based on other people’s reports. I am happy to put up with that shift, however, because it also decreased my group size with this rifle from about 2-2.5 MOA to about 1.5 MOA. I’ve shot only 55 grain PMC stuff through this 1 in 7 twist rifle so there may be other heavier stuff that it likes better but I have thousands of rounds of the PMC so am not in a huge hurry to investigate (and even less so now that it seems this suppressor had increased the consistency of the rifle).
The Surefire uses a quick-detach system that makes mounting and removing the suppressor very fast and easy. I have a Surefire muzzle brake on this rifle and a Surefire flash suppressor on my S&W M&P 15T (haven’t shot it with the suppressor yet).
You can see the carbon buildup on the brake after only about 150 rounds through the suppressor.
Knowing how hot suppressors can get after seeing a few of them in use at the local tactical match, I took great care not to set it down on the carpet covered benches at our range. Not enough care, apparently, because when I got home there was a quarter-sized patch of melted carpet on the underside of the suppressor. Oh well, it cleaned off easily enough.
So, all in all, I love the can. The only problem is that I shoot left-handed so definitely catch some extra hot gas and particulate matter on my right cheek with the can attached. I’ll also be doing USMC03’s DIY Gasbuster mod on both my rifles.