Suffolk Rifle Co 22 Moderator

This test initially threw me a bit of a curve ball as I have here the new rimfire moddy from Suffolk Rifle Co the SRC-22 Reflex. Fine, I’ll stick it on my semi-auto and also on my 22 LR and 17HMR bolt guns; however the more I looked at it I it realised was considerably bigger and heavier than a comparable SAK or A-TEC rimfire can. On voicing my concerns I was told that it was made primarily for SRC’s 12.5” conversion they offer for the S&W 15-22.

Here they cut the barrel and re-thread it 1⁄2 x 28 UNEF, OK 1⁄2” over the legal length limit, but we Brits seem to have a penchant for short tubes and in a rimfire semi it gives very little away. Me I’ll stick with my 16” Smith as I use it both for fun shooting and rabbits and even hares out to 100 yards and it’s a sweet little machine. My can of choice is a 4-baffle A-TEC rimfire muzzle mounted, as it’s light and as effective as anything out there!

SMITH-SPECIFIC!

With this class of rifle – military look-a-like, fashion in terms of what you can bolt on to it is perhaps considered by many more essential than function. Plus with the seeming ease you can get a moddy these days then making something specific is perhaps a good idea. The SRC-22 Reflex is 8.5” long and 1.5” in diameter, 5” from the front this reduces to 1.25”. The build is technically a reflex (over barrel) in truth on a rimfire performance/ effectiveness is imperceptible from a muzzle-mounted can, due in the main to the limited capacity of the expansion chamber area.

I would also point out that reflex rimfire cans do tend to collect unburned powder in the rear section, which can build-up and ignite as has happened to me on a bolt-action. On a semi-auto this could be more prelevant so I’d say keep it clean and don’t go crazy!

SD LOOK

The reason for the stepped rear is that this section fits inside the free-float forend of the Smith. Internally there’s a rather complicated looking alloy matrix with lots of angles, baffles and ports, which looked a bit familiar! The end result is a bit like that of the suppressed HK MP5 SD (Schalldämpfer) sub machinegun, which I can see the appeal of.

Sound suppression was acceptable with sub-sonics and adequate with standard and HV ammo too, again identical performance to 99% of rimfire cans. Purely Gucci and eye catching is the 5-slot, star-shaped nose cap; well why not, as moddies are boring looking things. On a 16” Smith this can does not look right and also imbalances what is a light rifle anyway, an aspect that is not noticeable on the 12.5” carbine conversion.

FOR: Well built and effective
AGAINST: Large and heavy by comparison. Primarily for the 12.5” S&W
VERDICT: A product- specific design. Also available in 1⁄2 x 20 UNF thread