Icon Logo Gun Mart

Quicksilver 17HMR moderator

Quicksilver 17HMR moderator

I have been criticised in the past for my comments on the high price of titanium moderators; but this material is undeniably expensive from your average shooter’s view. With fullbore cans it does offer the advantages of lightness, rapid cooling and longevity, which must be considered in relation to the cost. However, it occurred to me that would a rimfire unit offer anything over the normal steel and aluminium builds currently available? George Balbino (Quicksilver Moderators UK) offers a 17HMR unit, which I have been testing.

Double Duty

First up this is not a dedicated rimfire but the standard Quicksilver 22 centrefire can with a .17” baffle stack. It makes sense as the moddy is light and compact weighing 8 ½ oz and is 6 ¼ x 1 ¼”. A comparable sized, all-aluminium Wildcat CUB II that will do up to 22 Hornet/22 Rem is just ½ oz lighter.  Internally there are four, cone-shaped baffles and a primary blast baffle at the muzzle end. The finish is a grey, Pvd titanium nitride. Unusually this moddy came with a titanium thread adaptor that allows it to step down to ½ x 20” UNF, which is extra…

The Quicksilver was tested on a 22” barrelled, Browning T-Bolt using both the 17-grain ballistic tip and 20-grain JHP loads. To be honest and from past experience I was not expecting anything life changing, as I have tested a lot of ‘super’ 17 cans and all have been much of a muchness. I tend to use the SAK rimfire moderator as my benchmark for this calibre, as it represents a cost effective solution…

Marginally Quieter

story continues below...

I used the SAK and the Wildcat CUB II up against the Quicksilver. As before I have no sound measuring equipment, as sad to say expense outweighs usage. So it was down as always to the Mk I ear. Both comparison units are for .22s, so there will probably be a tad more free bore than on a dedicated .17” - here’s what I found.

In terms of noticeable sound reduction the Quicksilver did seem fractionally quieter, compared to the CUB II and SAK. Though it could be tonal as the two materials might give different harmonics. Typically heat build-up was faster with the titanium and by comparison the two alloy moddies did not get that hot at all. However, in a rimfire this is hardly an issue.

The bottom line is it works well enough; the cost is prohibitive even when compared to the more expensive alloy and steel units out there at around £130. I know that plenty of people balk at paying that sort of money for a rimfire can! Plus you will have to buy the adaptor too. To be honest I do not think that you need titanium as the aluminium seems to go on forever, and even if they don’t you would have to go through a lot of them to reach the cost of the Quicksilver. Titanium is more justifiable for a centrefire where you are getting the benefits of lightness and longevity.

For: Will probably last for ever

Against: No massive advantages over comparable aluminium units

Verdict: Marginally quieter but very expensive

PRICE: £385 + vat, thread adaptor £40 + vat

  • Quicksilver 17HMR moderator - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Quicksilver 17HMR moderator - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • Quicksilver 17HMR moderator - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

Arrow