Silencer 101

Guns Magazine, July, 2000 by Cameron Hopkins

The Seberger device registered 890 F and the shooter had to wear an asbestos glove to protect himself from the trigger, which reached close to 200 F. The government inspectors weren't just impressed, they were amazed. They checked the audiometer -- absolutely no degradation of the sound suppression or accuracy.

OPS Inc., Seberger's company, received a substantial order for the $825 3rd Model can. That, by the way, is dirt cheap for what everyone agrees is the best suppressor on the market. A rival company sells a similar, albeit less durable and poorer quality unit for twice as much.

Why would Seberger virtually give away his design? "To me, the money isn't important if I can save some guy's life. I was in World War II. I know what it's like when your friends don't come home," said the affable veteran of the European Theater.

"Phil sells his can as cheaply as he does because he wants the operators to have the best," said Barry Dueck, a former Marine who conducts research and development testing for OPS Inc. "He never wants an agency to forgo his suppressor just because it doesn't have the budget."

If $825 is too much, how's $750 for a 12th model or $575 for an M4 model? Still too rich? How's free? During the Gulf War, Phil was contacted by a Marine from a very respected company in the Corps asking how many suppressors his unit could purchase for a stated amount. Phil responded, "How many do you need?"

The puzzled Marine tried to explain he had only X-funds allocated for silencers. Phil again responded, "How many do you need? No Marine is going into combat without a piece of needed gear due to funding limitations." The Marines were sent all the suppressors they needed!

Building A Better Suppressor

Seberger's cans come in two sizes: 5.56mm and .30 caliber. He is said to be developing a third for the .50 BMG caliber, but that is still in the skunk works of his northern California hideaway.

The MBS series of suppressors have been in use by U.S. Forces since 1988, seeing action in Panama, Iraq, Somalia and Haiti. "These silencers have seen combat duty all over the world. We've had over 90,000 rounds through individual silencers and we've never had a production failure. I don't think anyone else can say that," Seberger added. His strongest competitor is only getting 5,000 rounds before failure of their suppressors.

How exactly is a silencer made? The answer is, very carefully. There are 121 individual welds inside a 11" long Seberger 12th Model 308 can with a series of baffles and chambers configured to create the "out of phase" effect.

Exactly how many baffles, how thick, in what location, Seberger ain't telling. But you can find out if you want: just look up his patents. He has several, and they're all still valid.

Seberger has built elaborate test equipment to measure the sound attenuation from his suppressor, duplicating the equipment capability at the government's Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Starting with a very expensive Larson Davis microphone hooked to a Techtronics oscilloscope, Seberger rigged up a sound-measuring device that is so accurate, the device has to be calibrated to the electrical current that powers it.