A Shift in Technology
Few areas in the world of firearms are advancing as rapidly as suppressors. It seems like every week there are new designs, metal mixes, and manufacturing processes, with more designs becoming antiquated. Suppressor manufacturers must be diligent in research and development, or they will easily be left behind.
Dead Air has not been slacking in this area. The company has moved its suppressor manufacturing to a 3D-printing process that allows for more complex baffle designs. This creates a system with better sound suppression, a reduction in recoil, and a reduction in sound signature.
Dead Air’s new 3D-printed design is called the Triskelion baffle system. Originally introduced with the Mojave 9, the line gets a caliber upgrade with the Mojave 45.
The Design
The Mojave 45 is part of Dead Air’s AUTO suppressor lineup, meaning that these cans are designed to take major abuse. At the same time, the Mojave is constructed of titanium, keeping it light at 12.7 ounces in its full configuration.
Speaking of configurations, the Mojave 45 is also modular. A removable extension lets the user run 8.6 or 6.8-inch configurations. The suppressor is full-auto rated for pistol calibers up to .45 Auto with no barrel restrictions and for other calibers like .300 Blackout subsonic in an 8-inch barrel.
The suppressor includes a Nielsen device (piston system) for use with semi-automatic handguns. The included thread pitch is .578x28, a common .45 ACP pitch. However, the company has many adapters with other pitches, along with barrel spacers to replace the spring on the piston when shooting from a fixed barrel.
On the Range
It’s tough to beat the vibe of shooting .45 ACP suppressed. The round is naturally so slow that the sound of a suppressed .45 is more of a “thunk” in the action. I grabbed an FNX-45 and a Dan Wesson Vigil 1911 from the Guns.com Certified Used inventory to enjoy some quiet range time.
Related: .45 ACP History – ‘The Lord’s Caliber’ & John Browning’s Legacy
While the Mojave 45 looks long, it is incredibly light. I couldn’t feel much difference in the balance point with either the FNX or 1911 when I added the suppressor. In the truncated configuration, it is even easier to maneuver and still very quiet.
I have shot several .45-caliber cans, and I have to say that this is probably the best. At a certain point, the sound of the empty casing hitting the table seemed louder than the actual firearm. You can hear the “thud” in the dirt from the round. While it is louder in the shorter configuration, it is significantly quieter than almost every other caliber that I have shot suppressed.
I had a few short-stroke issues on the 1911, but I am positive that was just because the gun was too dry, as I had zero malfunctions in the FNX.
It’s worth noting that the suppressor did not seem to retain heat nearly as much as some cans I have handled. On multiple occasions, I shot several magazines, set the handgun down, and was still able to handle the suppressor after a couple of minutes to move it to the other platform.
Summary
