B&T Print XH Hybrid review, hard as woodpecker lips.

B&T Print XH Hybrid review.

It was just before SHOT show that these two silencers arrived for review the full-size and subcompact Print HX Hybrid models for 5.56×45. These cans were designed to withstand the high pressure of the 5.56×45 cartridge and incorporate the B&T RBS (reduced backpressure system). The reason the reduced back pressure system or flow through is essential for your AR-style firearm is due to bolt speed and overspeed. You see, with a standard baffle stack silencer, you will get increased back pressure down the bore and gas system. This will cause a bolt overspeed event, which can induce a malfunction. Once the bolt is ripped back in the overspeed event, it can pull the extractor off the extractor groove of the case before extraction is complete, thus inducing the malfunction. The shorter the barrel and/or the harder you run the gun, the more likely you will have a malfunction. With B&T’s RBS, you will only achieve approximately a two percent increase in bolt speed, which is genuinely negligible. Neither can has barrel length restrictions and is rated for full-auto use.

I am aware there are ways to mitigate bolt overspeed, such as an adjustable gas block, an adjustable gas tube, adding a heavier buffer, and a buffer spring. So you can tune your rifle for your silencer; however, once you get it tuned to your can, once the can is removed, you may be undergassing the gun and have to deal with that and the malfunctions that can crop up due to that—finished in Type 2 hard anodizing, holding up well to extreme use.

With the B&T Print XH Hybrid, you can run the gun with or without, and as far as the gun is concerned, it does not matter. This was evident as we ran both the full-size and compact on a Barnes Precision Machine 7.5″ SBR, as reviewed here, Colt 6933 SBR, as reviewed here, and a Barnes Precision Machine carbine. There were no malfunctions from any of these rifles with whatever B&T can we attached.

The Print XH Hybrid ships threaded 1/2 x 28; however, it can be easily adapted to the HUB system or the B&T Rotex QD setup, providing you with plenty of options for mounting your can.

The endcap is made of stainless steel and designed to suppress any visual signature; however, the blast baffle features a 718 Inconel insert to increase its service life significantly. The rest of the can is 3D printed titanium. Utilizing 3D printing technology, complex parts can be printed much quicker than by machining, resulting in time and cost savings that are passed on to the end user. As many of us know, titanium silencers, although durable and lightweight, can spark or flash due to the titanium. However, this can was designed to eliminate that sparking.

I preferred the subcompact slightly due to its size, measuring only five inches, and its lightweight nature, weighing just under 9 ounces. This allowed me to mount it in my BPM 7.5″ SBR, still keeping the footprint small and balanced, but hearing safe for me.

The full-size model, measuring seven inches and weighing just under 11 ounces, remains a compact package while offering slightly more suppression.

Both of these cans performed as expected and had no impact on reliability or accuracy, regardless of the AR platform on which they were hosted. B&T has an exemplary reputation for its silencers and firearms, and the new Print XH Hybrid is no exception. Silencer Shop is running a promotion on many B&T cans. If you buy the can from them, they cover the cost of the tax stamp.