Good evening everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the new YHM Turbo T3 rifle suppressor. Last week we recapped the silencer coverage from the 2023 SHOT Show. Hours before I hopped on the plane to Vegas for the show, the new FN RUSH 9Ti pistol suppressor arrived for a review. Since this is FN’s first entry into the suppressor market, you might be wondering how it stacks up? Let’s take a look.
- Just Announced: FN RUSH 9Ti 9MM Pistol Suppressor – FN America
- [SHOT 2023] .45 is Still Alive! The Modernized FN 545 Tactical Doublestack
- [SHOT 2023] FN Finally Makes a 10mm Pistol: The FN 510
- [SHOT 2023] The New Short Barrel FN SCAR 15P
Jumping into the suppressor market with a new release is tricky, especially for seasoned and respected firearms manufacturers. The expectations are generally high, with a focus both on build quality and performance. Even though the utility of pistol suppressors is debatable, there is a definite focus on hearing suppression. Unlike supersonic rifle rounds, heavy subsonic pistol rounds can be pretty quiet with the right host. Let’s suspend the reality that adding a suppressor to a pistol doubles the length of a platform designed to be compact and concealable.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
To keep everything in the family, today I’m using the FN 509 Compact Tactical. I like this little pistol – it comes from the factory with a threaded barrel, suppressor height sights, and is micro red dot ready.
- Manufacturer’s Page: https://fnamerica.com/products/fn-509-series/fn-509-compact-tactical-fde/
- MSRP: $1,104
- User Manual: https://fnamerica.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/04142021-1906_FN_509-OM_66-100498_R1_.pdf
- CALIBER: 9mm
- OPERATION: Double-action
- MAG CAPACITY: 10 or 12/24 Rd.
- WEIGHT: 26.2 oz.
- BARREL LENGTH: 4.32″
- OVERALL LENGTH: 7.4″
- TWIST RATE: 1:10″ RH
- HEIGHT: 5.3″
- WIDTH: 1.35″
- TRIGGER PULL: 5.5 – 7.7 lb.
- SIGHT RADIUS: 5.6”
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
The RUSH 9Ti and 509 Compact Tactical is a neat little combo. The magazine extension makes this setup point easier for me. If you are carrying AIWB (without the RUSH) I’d pick the short flush fit magazine. Let’s look at the details on the RUSH .
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
FN RUSH 9Ti SPECIFICATIONS:
- Manufacturer’s Page: https://fnamerica.com/rush9ti/
- MSRP: $849
- User Manual: https://fnamerica.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/120622_FN-Rush-9Ti.pdf
- CALIBER: 9mm
- LENGTH: 7.3″
- TUBE DIAMETER: 1.375″
- WEIGHT: 10.8 oz.
- PISTON: 1/2″x28 TPI
- MATERIALS: TITANIUM, STAINLESS STEEL, ALUMINUM
- FINISH: HT CERAKOTE
- ½” X 28 TPI PISTON
- END CAP AND FRONT CAP ASSEMBLY TOOL
This is a unique can in that it is made with titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum. The tube is titanium to save weight and for added strength, the first blast baffle(s) are made from stainless steel to take all the punishment, and the remaining baffles are aluminum for weight savings.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
With the piston assembly installed the RUSH 9Ti weighs about 13.25 ounces which is pretty good for a full size pistol suppressor. Not feather light, but not a brick either.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
Below, from right to left, is the booster assembly, blast chamber, blast baffle, the aluminum baffle stack, and the end cap.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
Below, to the right of the tube is the piston assembly, comprised of the locking ring, spring, piston, and booster housing which has a silicone O-Ring that seals off the space between it and the booster. A small set screw keeps the locking ring from backing off of the housing when shooting.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
The user manual is slightly confusing when it comes to disassembling the piston assembly. The sixth step below omits using the included end cap tool to twist off the locking ring by engaging the wrench flats on the piston itself. I skipped down to reassembly where it mentions the tool and it twisted off. Maybe I’m just a moron or needed more caffeine today.
Figure eight shows the set screw location.
Note the lubrication points (no one likes a dry piston).
The parts diagram helps explain the order of assembly. The data ring is interesting and is reminiscent of the Energetic Armament serial number ring that they mentioned they would be licensing to other manufacturers.
Range Time
The blast chamber, perforated blast baffle, and the tulip baffle must be working some magic because the RUSH Ti is very quiet for a semiautomatic host setup. The pitch is high which makes for a deceiving combination of quiet and that “that doesn’t sound like a gunshot” feeling. Either way I was impressed with the performance and I was reminded of the first time I shot a really good pistol suppressor compared to one that’s just average.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
My somewhat minor concerns only center around the set screw, which seems like it might get lost during cleanings, and the price, which seems on the high end of the curve fir 9mm suppressors.
However, the FN RUSH 9Ti is well engineered to be light and provide great sound reduction performance. And this what matters the most. If you want to suppress a 9mm pistol, the results better be quiet. And it feels like FN nailed it.
SILENCER SATURDAY #264: The 9mm FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor
