Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturers of the small, but mighty, YHM Turbo K suppressor. Last week we took the KAC NT4 out on the range for some select fire testing. This week we stick with a similar bayonet-style mounting system of the B&T ROTEX-X carbine and rifle suppressor. How does it sound? Let’s take a look.
- SILENCER SATURDAY #228: How To Mount-NATO! B&T ROTEX-X Rifle Suppressors
- SILENCER SATURDAY #230: B&T USA RBS Suppressor QDR Mounting System
- New B&T ROTEX-X Suppressor Now Shipping
- [SHOT 2022] B&T Unveils Massive New Lineup of Guns and Suppressors
Here’s one for all my polymer mag bros from last week’s edition…
SILENCER SATURDAY #234: Swiss Watch – B&T USA ROTEX-X Carbine Performance
I have three thank you notes to go out today:
Thanks to Freedom Trading Co and Ben R. we will have an important new testing platform starting as soon as next week.
Much thanks to Kyle at RIFLESPEED who is helping me with what I think are the best adjustable gas blocks currently available. We’ll have 5.56 and 300BLK setups fairly soon.
And thank you to The Modal Shop who is assisting me with the procurement of a Larson Davis sound meter for future reviews.
SILENCER SATURDAY #234: Swiss Watch – B&T ROTEX-X Carbine Performance
The term “like a Swiss Watch” is steeped in history. Swiss watchmakers we’re typically peasant Protestants who were forced to innovate when restrictions on wearing jewelry were put in place by John Calvin in the mid 1500’s. Up until this time, time pieces were predominantly pocket watches, hidden away only as utilitarian necessities. After the ban on jewelry, Swiss watchmakers designed watches to be beautifully ornate pieces, with the added functionality of timekeeping to subvert the discriminatory laws.
The industry flourished, focusing on watch movement design and the intricate parts that are needed to keep accurate time. Today, a timepiece doesn’t need to be built in Switzerland to be given the ‘Swiss Watch’ designation. A certain amount of design, funding and value must be derived directly from the homeland to be branded with the historic term.
In the case of the B&T USA ROTEX-X and their other firearm suppressors, a similar lineage can be derived. The National Firearms Act (NFA) and subsequent laws, prohibit the importation of firearm silencers. While the B&T models that have been available to us in the United States are not made in Switzerland, they are made with identical machinery, materials, and designs making them Swiss Suppressors much like the way Swiss Watches are labeled today.
People are drawn to well engineered machines. Without any markings, items like knives, watches, firearms, and even suppressors, can have an innate feel of quality – high or low. High quality engineering has an efficiency of design that allows for the use of less material to accomplish high strength, a smoothness of movement where surfaces meet, and overall accuracy and precision to specifications. B&T and B&T USA exude quality and performance through efficient design.
The B&T ROTEX-X uses the Quick Detachment NATO (QDN NATO) flash hider mount that attaches to a standard A2 birdcage muzzle device AFTER it has been installed and verified using shims and not a crush washer. Check here for our ROTEX-X mounting procedures.
B&T USA ROTEX-X Specifications:
- Part Number: SD-122983-US
- Product Page: (BT-USA.COM): https://bt-usa.com/products/rotex-x-5-56mm-compact/
- Manual (BT-AG.CH): https://bt-ag.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/TM-SD_RIFLE-EN.pdf
- Data Sheet (BT-AG.CH): https://bt-ag.ch/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DS-123029-EN-Rotex-X-Kal-556.pdf
- MSRP: $675
- Buy Now:
- Color: Grey/Black Cerakote
- Finish: Bead Blast
- Material: Thermax/Inconel
- Caliber: 5.56mm
- Attachment Options: NATO-Spec A2 Flashider
- Length: 6.6 in
- Diameter: 1.5 in
- Weight: 19 oz.
SILENCER SATURDAY #234: Swiss Watch – B&T USA ROTEX-X Carbine Performance
At 6.6 inches, the 5.56MM ROTEX-X is the perfect length for short barrel rifles with barrel lengths between 10.3” to 14.5”. Of course it will work on longer barrels, and will probably sound better, but the overall length will start cutting in to the practical utility of the complete system. Weighing in at 19 ounces is on the heavier end of the scale, but is not a deal breaker. Lighter options will most likely be made of titanium or will be shorter which both have additional considerations. But I would like to see future revisions shave off a few ounces if possible.
In comparison to last week’s NT4 review, the QDN mount locks up solidly without any rotational play, not that I think it matters much one way or the other. But with the gate/latch and ratcheting system, the QDN mount is not going to work itself loose.
Let’s take a look at the video.
The QDN ROTEX-X is a great sounding rifle suppressor. With my left plug partially removed, the majority of the noise feels like it is coming from the rounds breaking the sound barrier about 12 feet down range. I could also hear bullet impacts on the target berm which is one of my non-scientific litmus tests for the makings of a quality supersonic rifle silencer.
But what really sells me on the ROTEX-X is the price. With an MSRP of $650, a sub $600 street price is obtainable. And with no added costs for mounts, this Swiss Watch feels like a no brainer. If you are ok with a slightly heavier weight, you’ll land on both price and performance.
Thanks for reading. Be safe, have fun, and we’ll see you back next weekend for another Silencer Saturday.
Silencer Saturday is Sponsored by Yankee Hill Machine
