{"id":244,"date":"2020-04-04T11:40:50","date_gmt":"2020-04-04T11:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c3junkie.com\/?page_id=244"},"modified":"2024-08-05T16:12:42","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T16:12:42","slug":"the-ultimate-9mm-smg-suppressor","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/c3junkie.com\/?page_id=244","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate 9mm SMG Suppressor (for my needs)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Curtis Tactical CT9KS, now offered by Shaw Armament as the MK9<\/h2>\n

For a long time, my favorite 9mm SMG suppressor has been the Gemtech MK9K.  The larger diameter always looked right on SMG’s as well as it relatively short length (8″) compared to other suppressors of its time.  I got my first one back in 2001.  I’ve had 3 or 4 of them at one point as well as other ‘modern’ SMG suppressors but always went back to the MK9K for it’s pleasing tone and low back pressure.  Many of the more modern compact suppressors have a higher pitch and are marketed to people that also want to put them on pistols which typically results in a skinnier tube so it doesn’t occlude iron sights.  These skinnier tubes are typically using a baffle stack that yields higher back pressure, have a higher pitched tone and just don’t look right on a SMG.  <\/p>\n

Lately, other cans have been coming out to be more focused on actual SMG \/ PCC use but many of those offerings have been sealed and therefore not user serviceable. If you look at my cleaning page<\/a> you can see how fouled my MK9K got where the ports going into the outer chamber were getting clogged…there is no point to having a large diameter coaxial design if the ports going to the outer tube get clogged and you are no longer utilizing that increased volume.<\/p>\n

Besides the cleaning aspect, having a completely serviceable suppressor also future proofs your suppressor for upgrades or if there is a core failure, you should be able to get it repaired \/ replaced assuming the outer tube is not damaged (assuming the tube is the serialized part).<\/p>\n

All that said, while I really like the MK9K, I thought it could be shorter and I really didn’t like how the inner core was never meant to be user serviceable.  (I know some people have managed to totally break them down but that was never condoned by Gemtech).  In addition, the MK9K uses an aluminum outer and inner tube and blast baffle while the remaining baffles are made from SS.  So no harsh chemicals should be used on the majority of the components.  Fast forward to 2019 and GSL has re-introduced the MK9K as the Phoenix<\/a> and have released it as being completely serviceable but again they are using aluminum tubes and baffles as well as retaining the original length and weighing in at 18.2 oz.<\/p>\n

I had an approved Form 1 and was thinking about doing a 4th MK9K variant but wanted something completely serviceable with NO aluminum and shorter than the MK9K.  <\/p>\n

In late 2019, I reached out to Joe at Curtis Tactical<\/a> and told him of what I wanted to do.  I told him that I wanted complete serviceability, short length, complete backward compatibility with my MK9K mounts and was willing to give up some of the performance I had with the longer MK9K.  The way I saw it was that it can’t be any worse than an Omega 9K or Wolfman as the end result would be larger in diameter than both of those options.  I don’t think he was too keen on making it backward compatible with my MK9K’s and retaining the coaxial design but I convinced him to make it this way for me as I’m a believer in the performance of the increased volume even if it does introduce fouling to the outside of the baffles….However, this is no longer an issue since I’m using the .005″ SS shim stock mentioned in the cleaning page.<\/p>\n

It took some time to get it built but I think Joe himself was surprised \/ impressed with the results and as result has been making some more spin offs of the design.<\/p>\n

This video shows a comparison of my custom Curtis Tactical can compared to my old Gemtech MK9K.  Note that the GoPro is closer to the Curtis Tactical can and it seems to magnify quieter sounds.  When listening to it recorded from a phone, they sound the same.  In person, neither of us could tell a difference in sound.<\/p>\n