Dead Air Sandman-S Suppressor Review
Dead Air Sandman-S Suppressor Review
By JohnyMac
Many folks have asked me, “why plop down $1,000- or so for a suppressor?” You will read in a future article published at American Partisan on the suppressor buying experience for you readers who would like to go down that path; However, in the meantime, I would like to share with you my review on the suppressor I chose to buy. Keep in mind the initial investment is only part of the expense. You also must pay for a $200- NFA stamp (National Firearm Amendment 1934) which could take up to 18-months to acquire IF you are approved. Then there is the time that your expensive investment sits in a Class III dealers safe waiting for the approved transfer. Bottom-line, in my case it was my failing hearing that prodded me to go down this path.
Many states now permit and even in a few cases, encourage the use of a suppressor for center fire hunting with rifles and handguns during big game season (s). To be honest, I do not know why other than to protect snow flakes from the sound of gunfire during hunting season; However, for folks like me who are trying to protect what hearing they have left it is a God send. Pennsylvania, my AO-state is one of the few northeastern states that allow the use of a suppressor as of 2012. Check your states hunting regulations to see where you stand.
Last, I would have to point to the “cool factor”. However as stated earlier, that is low on my “need to have” excuse Vs. keeping the remaining hearing I do have. If I can protect my hearing so I can listen to some more Blue Oyster Cult, at full volume, then I am all in.
With all of that written in order to set the stage for this review lets chat about the Dead Air Sandman-S suppressor.
Here are the spec’s:
Length 6.8-inches | Caliber 17 hornet thru .300 Winchester Magnum |
Weight 17.7 ounces | Diameter 1.5-inches |
Finish – Cerakote | Barrel length restrictions – None |
Automatic fire rated – Yes | MSRP $1,049- Many dealers around $900- |
Attachment to barrel, QD Keymount Muzzle Break System |
While I waited for my NFA transfer paperwork to come back with my stamp, my Class III buddy would take the suppressor out of his safe so we could test it on a various selection of rifles. We would play with it on semi-auto and bolt action rifles up to and including his Remington-700, 7.62×51 Nato (.308 Winchester for you Joe Biden supporters). In the beginning we were not impressed with db (Decibel) reduction. Jump ahead 25 or so rounds while we had the Sandman-S on a bolt action rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoore, we noticed a dramatic reduction in db. At that point my usually empty dome remembered reading in the instructions that over a period, the db levels would drop. Well for me it was 25-rounds.
Last week, I dropped into my AR a Geissele SSA trigger. I used the Sandman -S suppressor exclusively for a review of that trigger which you can read by going here. During that shoot I did not use any hearing protection with no ill effects. Yes, there was the usual sonic crack as the bullets were traveling around 3,000 fps but that crack happened further down range rather than right in front of my face.
The Sandman-S uses a quick detach procedure called the QD Keymount Muzzle Break System. This system is a proprietary muzzle break. Line up the keyway on the suppressor with the keyway mark on the muzzle break; pull down the suppressor on the muzzle break and with a clock-wise turn of about one complete turn you are locked on the rifle. To take the suppressor off you reverse this procedure.
I bought two 1/2 x 28 tpi. QD Keymount Muzzle Break’s for my AR-15’s and one 5/8 x 24 tpi. for my .30-caliber rifles. With the muzzle breaks came shims of different thicknesses to align the keyway on the muzzle break to the center of your barrel. Once I removed my OEM muzzle break I played with the different thicknesses of shims till I got the keyway of the muzzle break aligned with the top of my rifle barrel. I removed the muzzle break and applied Rocksett to the threads and then re-seated the muzzle break, using about 20-pounds of torque.
As stated earlier, during the wait time I took my Sandman-S suppressor out of my Class III’s holding cell safe and tried it out on different rifles. The first thing I experienced was at times, the bolt of my AR-15 would not remain open after the last round was stripped from the magazine and shot. Another observation was the expended brass would not eject the same distance as before the suppressor was installed. We solved this dilemma by installing a lighter buffer weight. The OEM buffer weight on my AR was 3.8-ounces. I replaced that buffer weight with a 3-ounce buffer. This seemed to fix the bolt periodically staying closed after the last round was discharged. I also noticed that the ejected brass was back to its normal distance from the rifle after discharge. This is unusual as when using a suppressor on an AR you typically need to increase the weight of the buffer. Oh well, every rifle is different.
The end cap of the Sandman-S was ordered in .30-caliber. You can order ones designated for the caliber you are using. If I had swapped the 30-caliber with a 5.56-caliber end cap I am sure the db level would be reduced even more. However, I will be the first to admit that there would be a time I would forget to take off the 5.56-caliber end cap, replace with a .30-caliber end cap and attach the suppressor to one of my .30-caliber rifles and with a squeeze of the trigger screw up a $1K piece of equipment.
One day playing with the rifle, my buddy handed me a fistful of sub-sonic 5.56 Nato ammo he had rolled himself. Although the subsonic ammunition fired with the suppressor on greatly reduced the db it was not powerful enough to cycle the bolt. I did some research and found a company that claimed to sell subsonic 5.56 Nato that would cycle. The name of the ammo was Atomic 5.56×45 Tactical Cycle Subsonic. Purchased a box from MidwayUSA and a couple of days after it arrived, I gave it a test. My first rounds put through the rifle my bolt would not cycle properly and would not remain open upon the last round being stripped from the magazine and sent down range. The ammo wasn’t as quiet as my friends reloads and it wouldn’t cycle – Bummer. Just for kicks and giggles I swapped out the Falcom 37 charging handle to my AR-15 for a Raptor Charging handle I had in my miscellaneous AR parts box. Well the Atomic ammo cycled flawlessly. The db level was about half of what I heard firing standard 5.56 Nato ammo with the suppressor on. Comparatively speaking, the db level was equal to firing a non-suppressed .22LR round through my rifle. Still not bad.
Not unlike having different hammers for different DIY projects around the cabin I also have AR’s set up for different tasks. I think my CQB AR is going to be set up with my Dead Air Sandman-S suppressor, my EOtech XPS2 optic, and loaded with the Atomic subsonic ammunition. With the reduced db output, I would be able to take on any job inside a closed structure. Unwanted visitors beware!
In closing, was the cost and wait for the suppressor worth the efforts? ABSOLUTELY! In the end, the total cost from my dealer was, $926- (Includes sales tax) and $200- for the NFA Stamp. So, for $1,126- and a personal investment of 354-days waiting for my paperwork from the BATF&E, I am very happy with my Dead Air Sandman-S suppressor.
Freedom Through Self-Reliance©
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12 Comments
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As a hunter I can’t think of a good reason NOT to want one.
In my state and area your allowed 2 doe and a buck. Many times I’ve taken 2 or all at the same time. This would definitely help facilitate that.
Many times game and predator hunting as well as in the military and law enforcement my buddy has blown out my eardrums taking shots beside me when multiple targets are obtained. This would definitely help in hunting and tactical.
That being said I’ll not plop down a K and wait for anything and make yet another list no matter how cool anyone thinks it is.
For me that K can go to better preparedness in food, medicine, training etc but each of us has to make their own choices on it and many may be set and have it spend.
I’d also have to do some serious testing on penetration with subsonic ammo in the house setting. My house 5.56 stuff relies on speed for expansion.
Matt in OK,
I am glad to read that you are spending your prepping money wisely.
We are at a point to be closer to our prepping goals in the triple B’s to spend a little coin on the suppressor. In all, seriously, my hearing is a serious issue and MrsMac supported the expense.
Good comments and thanks for reading then posting.
God Bless Brother!
“why plop down $1,000- or so for a suppressor?” ,when one has a metal lathe and shop!
Seriously,interested in your wait experience and the other hoops ect. but do not think would bother with a suppressor personally,we all have different situations and thus all need different gear,beyond the basics which we all need.I think with the stamp one can if they want and have the skill make their own,sad the scotus turned down the case recently.
James,
anybody can make anything. That goes double for any NFA item. \”/
Used select-fire M-16’s for example are going for $20K. DIAS (Drop In Auto Sear) are going for $30K and the natural American tendency may be to… “I will just build one.” Yupper and if you do not get a Form 1 approved prior to your build, and you get caught; you get an all expenses paid vacation from Uncle Sam that lasts 10-years or so.
You would save money if you built your own; However, you still have to wait for your Form 1 to be approved plus the $200- for the stamp.
Any how, good stuff James.
Thanks Brother for playing ;-)
I am not making one but could in a couple of hours in buddies shop.I imagine there are a lot already out there,”unstamped” given the response to states like Ct./n.j./n.y. and getting folks to register their firearms ect.,feel that is a growing movement to disregard govt,. laws.Soon will be illegal for citizens to own firearms/bows/crossbows/knives ect.,already happened to a large degree in Europe.
Anyhow,enjoy your new toy and can you now shoot without muffs/ear plugs with silenced firearm?
Roger that James. \”/
Electronic form 1’s are now being approved in like 2 months. There’s places online that have the information someone may need to build their own, legally, with quality parts from other sources. http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/ is a good reference. With that said, we have 4 cans in nfa jail right now, as the e form 1 option was not available when those cans were purchased almost a year ago. As soon as silencershop has their e form1 service working, I’ll do one so I can leverage my existing trust and info stored there at silenershop.
Brian,
The site you put in your comment is a pretty good site. I followed during my 354-days.
On another hand…Once the BATF&E receives your paperwork and cashes your check they scan your information. A class 07 guy (FFL Manufacturer) told me that by doing an electronic Form 1 or 4 does speed up the process but in his experience only a week or so. My Senator told me that “they” (BATF&E, NFA, & FBI) are way over whelmed with all of the NFA transfers happening at the moment – Most of which are suppressors and SBR’s. He has been fighting to take both off the NFA list but is getting a lot of “push-back” from the GOP and DEM leadership in DC.
Not to start a debate here on this subject however, a basic background check like one goes through when you buy a non-NFA firearm would make this process much simpler.
Thx Brother for commenting.
Thanks for the article. Of course you have to be on their list to own one. But I guess anyone who has purchased a firearm from an FFL is on a list via the FBI background check, that the NRA lobbied for (they love gun control).
This may sound bat house crazy, but could it be that using a 7.62 cap may create a slight (brief) vacuum when a 5.56 bullet passes through? Just enough to retard the pressure to the bolt carrier briefly?
Have zero experience with suppressors, but do have some with fluid dynamics…kind of like a venturi on a carburetor.
Maybe Greg.
Good comment Brother!
Well I liked your observations, it was easy to hypothesize. They say “Observational Science is dead.” Guess not…Thought of a better example of “Low Pressure Zone.”
SR71’s have an adjustable intake cone on the engines to maximize the low pressure zone as speed and air density dictates.