based on extensive experience with Torrent’s standard .30 cal
suppressor, the T3. I have run this original .30 cal suppressor
on everything from .300 Blackout to 6.5 Creedmoor with very
impressive results over the past few years.
The Gospodin 7 and TMIL-7 differ only by the materials (
Titanium vs Stainless Steel ) used inside to withstand the
extensive heat of sustained full auto fire. The design is the same,
highly effective baffle system but different in cost ( Titanium
being much a good deal more expensive in raw material and
production ). The average AK enthusiast shouldn’t have to pay
for the expense of producing a full auto rated product if most
of them are never going to be able to sustain the amount of
heat needed to warrant such a product. Torrent agrees and for
a sub US$900 suppressors, you still get a very durable product
that can handle moderate full auto fire without the high price
of this quality of a product. The Military Only version, the TMIL-
7’s more expensive Titanium construction may cost more to
produce but can easily handle the intense heat generated in a
prolonged gun fight if needed.
On the outside, the sleek, sexy appearance of these two
AK suppressors look just like Torrent’s original line of .30 cans
such as my older model T3. This is not purely cosmetic because,
construction wise, the AK suppressor is simply a T3 threaded
with a 14x1 LH pitch common in AK-47 rifles such as our
Romanian SAR 1 test model. For me, the fact this is basically
the same suppressor minus the thread pitch change is a huge
bonus because the T3 has already proven its effectiveness with
a wide range of calibers and ammunition over the past 3 years.
A few factors come into play when it comes to why even
suppress the AK platform. First, the AK-47’s 7.62x39mm is the
same diameter of the highly effective .308 round in which as a
former SWAT sniper, I made a career out of mastering.
The reliability and high capacity of the AK-47 chambered
in 7.62x39mm has made it a very formidable foe of both .308
and .223. The 7.62x39 is also loaded to lower pressures than
that of its .308 counterpart and combined with the host rifle’s
piston operated system, the entire platform lends itself to
being suppressed relatively well using standard battle-ready
ammunition.
To prove how well the AK could be used suppressed in the
battlespace, we decided to focus on using standard, easy to
source ammo like that used by private military contractors and
specialized operators around the world. So why not specialized
subsonic ammo testing you may ask? Traditionally, the AK is
not the ideal platform to run subsonic ammunition through and
expect a rifle designed like a 1930’s washing machine to run
smoothly or quietly. Keep in mind, the main attraction of using
a suppressor for the AK platform is to reduce hearing damage
and flash signature in clandestine operations. Material: Ti 6Al-4V (Grade 5)
Rating: Responsible FA (Godspodin), Full Auto (TMIL-7)
Price Point: Godspodin7 US$850
SPECS Overall, I enjoyed running the Torrent AK Suppressors during our
3-month test period. For sound suppression, Torrent continued
to match or beat others on the market given the ammo used
throughout all the AK testing our team does. What greatly
stood out was the lack of flash was just as impressive as its
lack of shift. These two variants flawlessly help cycle over 500
rounds of test ammo during several range visits and continued
proving to be worthy of the company’s reputation from top
quality products.
As with other suppressors I have tested in past from
Torrent, I found the AK models were very well made and at an
As good as the Torrent suppressors looked, it would be on the
range where they really shine. Using a Romanian SAR 1 AK-47
as a host rifle, it was a simple switch from the flash hider to
installing the suppressor in order to get started. Using a mix
124 grain FMJ Wolf Military Classic ammo and 122 grain FMJ
ammo from TulAmmo, I loaded up several 30 round magazines
before getting started. Within the first 10 shots, I could already
tell a difference in noise level from the first shot to the last.
The AK’s regular recoil began to feel more like recoil
impulse as the piston system digested the increased gas blow
back and continued to work thought each round unphased.
(It’s an AK, did we expect any less?). Obviously, the supersonic
round was still loud, but easily tolerable while shooting without
hearing protection for the entire day. Roughly a 27 - 30 dB
difference was noticed via two different sound meter programs
downloaded onto my smart phone.
After over 200 rounds of immediate fire, the suppressor
was heating up quickly. When sitting the rifle on the shooting
bench, I made sure to use the Liberty Defense handy mat sent
over with the suppressors from Ms. Clover at Torrent. This came
in handy for not burning the table with the hot suppressor as
well as making sure the suppressor remained tightly fitted on
the rifle. These mats are made from the same high temperature
resistant materials that Liberty Defense makes their amazing
line of suppressor covers from. These have served well on
many of the full auto rated suppressors when have tested at
past events using both the M4 and AK platforms.
One of the many misconceptions of the AK platform is they
are inaccurate, and whilst the AK is NOT a precision rifle, it can be
a very spot-on battle rifle. The three AK-47 rifles in my personal
collection are a short-barreled Krinkov configured Yugoslavian
built NPAP from Zestava, a full-length Russian made Saiga and
the Romanian test rifle. All three have performed very well at
common combat distances in both accuracy and offer stellar
reliability. What impressed me the most about using the Torrent
suppressors on my AK rifle was the total lack of shift between
point of aim and point of impact unlike several suppressors I
have attempted to use in the past from other manufacturers.
This basically means, where I aim in coloration with where
the rounds strike when shooting suppressed is practically the
exact same as when I shoot unsuppressed. This is often a factor
needed to be considered with lesser suppressor products.
FINAL THOUGHTS
RE
Test rifle: Romanian SAR 1
Caliber Rating: 7.62/30 cal
Thread Pitch: 14×1 LH (AK -47)
Color: Black / FDE / Ti RAW
Color Finish: High-Temperature Cerakote®™
Length: 7.75”
Diameter: 1.48”
Weight: 10 oz
Sound Reduction: AK 128 dB (unsuppressed AK 159 dB)
RANGE TIME