B&T Brings Cutting-Edge Tech to SHOT

Although B&T is one of the most trusted brands by special operations units around the world, there is nothing clandestine about the B&T booth at SHOT Show. Thanks to the company’s incredible engineering, it has one of the most popular booths every single year.

Print XH Suppressors

B&T’s flagship Print XH line sets the standard for suppressors. We all know that 3D printing is the way of the future when it comes to suppressor manufacturing, but it has long been thought that heavy-duty suppressors would always be heavy, while light suppressors would never be able to stand up to heavy-duty use.

B&T has completely smashed that concept with its Print XH series of titanium 3D-printed suppressors that are full-auto rated. The Print XH design incorporates a reduced backpressure system with an anodized titanium coating that helps reduce sparking. I have been incredibly impressed by the performance of these suppressors.

B&T is adding to this line with two hunting specific designs: the TiRe-X and the STiLLE.

TiRe-X

The TiRe-X is an over-the-barrel reflux suppressor with a .30-caliber diameter. It is sealed and does not feature the same flow-through design as other B&T offerings.

The B&T hard anodization process “seasons” the titanium, eliminating the spark and flash that normally accompany titanium suppressors. Here you can see a StiLLE suppressor before (top) and a TiRe-X can after the treatment (bottom). (All photos: Seth Rodgers/Guns.com)

The advantage of the reflux suppressor is that the extra expansion chamber sits over the barrel, meaning just a little over 4 inches is added to the length of the rifle. This allows for a quiet shooting experience while keeping the rig compact and helps reduce any impact on barrel harmonics.

The reflux section of this suppressor can be removed, and a direct thread cap can be added for those who just want to use the extended part.

STiLLE

The STiLLE is a .300 Blackout or 8.6-caliber range that is also a sealed end cap design. This suppressor is massive but weighs less than 10 ounces and does a great job of cutting down on the overall sound signature.

TiGER 22

The TiGER 22 is a lightweight titanium suppressor designed to handle .22 rimfire through 5.7 with a full-auto rating. The suppressor can also handle 5.56 in a bolt-action platform. B&T also says that you can absolutely run it on a 5.56 gas gun, but it will erode the baffles much quicker than under normal use.

APC9 SD Pro

The APC9 SD Pro is an integrally suppressed 9mm sub gun that is short and compact. The barrel is ported with a sleeve-over suppressor design that drops standard supersonic ammo to subsonic speeds, keeping it extremely quiet.

The APC9 SD Pro is the same as the other APC designs with a quick rip stock or brace that easily collapses for compact storage. The lower can be swapped for any lower that runs whatever 9mm magazines that you want.

The suppressor is modular, with a subcompact, compact, or full-size length, depending on if you want a quieter or more compact design. This is a modernized MP5SD replacement.

KH9 S Covert

The KH9 S Covert is a sub gun system that folds easily for compact storage. This design is Hotchkiss Universal meets STEN meets KH9. The KH9 S Covert has a left-mounted magazine well, much like the STEN gun. This magazine well, along with the stock and the pistol grip, can all be folded for compact storage.

The KH9 S folds into a compact package and can be rapidly deployed. The side-loading magazine of the KH9 S is akin to the STEN and helps break up the silhouette of the firearm while also making it easier to shoot from prone.

The idea of the KH9 S Covert is that the side-mounted magazine will help break up the silhouette of the firearm. It is not as predictable, and it also makes shooting prone easier.

Glock 19X Hush Puppy

The Glock 19X Hush Puppy is a clandestine take on a popular modern handgun. This handgun features a Hush Puppy switch that lets the user lock the slide, making the shooting experience extremely quiet when paired with the B&T wiped suppressor. The idea behind this is that you eliminate the noise from the action on a semi automatic firearm, while also preventing any spent casings from being ejected.

The design is akin to the Welrod, VP9, or the Model 39 Hush Puppy. The switch allows the user to have a quiet shooting experience when engaged, but if the handgun needs to perform in a normal sense, the switch can be disengaged to run the firearm like a normal semi-auto handgun.

Here's a closer look at the Hush Puppy switch.

The “X” marking in the suppressor wipes allows the bullet to pass through and the wipe to seal behind it, creating a quieter shooting experience as the gases are trapped in each chamber.

While wiped suppressors are not new technology, they are rarely used today. That is sad, because a wiped suppressor is incredibly quiet, although it does require more upkeep, as the wipes must be replaced. The idea is that each wipe through the can closes off as the bullet passes through, truly trapping the expanding gas. The result is an incredibly quiet shooting experience.

The Hush Puppy series also includes a direct cut for the Aimpoint ACRO P-2 to be mounted on the side.

B&T and Blue Aether Hard Kill

The B&T booth had an eye-catching robotic device in the media room. I noticed this device actively tracking my face with a set of darts ready to launch towards me. This is the Hard Kill, developed by B&T in tandem with Blue Aether as a U.S. Air Force project. The Hard Kill is designed to use AI to actively track drones and shoot them down.

This is a man-portable anti-drone system that can be accessed on a phone or tablet with software that actively tracks targets and sends them to a human operator to determine if they should be engaged or not.

The Hard Kill is much like the CWIS or Phalanx, but this system can track and move four times faster than those systems. Average engagement cost is around $10, significantly less than other larger systems.