Bowers Group Wardog Silencer Review
When I first heard about the new Bowers Group Wardog, I thought there was no way a 9mm silencer could be shorter than a box of 9mm ammunition and still be quiet. Well, I was wrong, not only does it perform on 9mm but 300 Blackout as well.
All Bite no Bark
At only 4.3″ long, the Bowers Wardog is smaller than my cell phone but doesn’t make as much noise. Bowers Group says it is the shortest hearing safe 9mm / 300 Blackout silencer on the market that doesn’t use wipes. The fact that it is so small is a testament to the work that Tom Bowers has put into the silencer. Bowers Group has a long history in the industry as one of the oldest silencer manufacturers in America.Â
"When you look at our silencer line, you see some interesting stuff that other people don't make. That is because I make things that I want to shoot."
Traditionally Bowers Group has made silencers that are larger in diameter and length than other manufacturers because they make silencers for calibers that other people don’t. Their popular 458 and 50 caliber Vers series is an example. In the past few years, Bowers Group expanded its line and made improvements to existing models.Â
About two years ago, Bowers Group launched the Bitty, a .22 LR silencer that fits into a 50 round 22 box. It is the shortest, quietest, and lightest 22 silencer on the market that doesn’t use wipes. After the public market reception of the Bitty, Bowers Group turned their attention to a new 9mm silencer.
The Bowers Group Wardog was a prototype silencer for many years before it came to the market. The previous 9mm silencers were designed for submachine guns and hard use, but they were standard size. Since Tom Bowers makes silencers that perform, he didn’t want to produce a silencer that wasn’t hearing safe on the intended platforms.Â
After a lot of testing and prototypes, the Wardog was born. It seems that the time is right for the smaller and lighter silencers, as many manufacturers have moved in that direction.Â
I could keep going about the backstory of the Wardog, but the video below speaks volumes to the performance of the Wardog.
A New Breed
The Bowers Wardog performs well on 9mm and 300 Blackout, but if you are using 300 Blackout, I suggest a 16″ barrel. When you go shorter than that with supersonic ammo, it is a bit snappy. Hearing protection is recommended for short barrel 300 Blackout.
On 9mm, the Wardog performs excellent down to the short barrels of the MP5 K. It is not a surprise; the silencer was designed with subguns in mind. It is short enough that at the end of a UZI, it fits in the side door storage of an F-150, ask me how I know.Â
A three-lug mount does work in the Wardog but it takes up a lot of volume in the silencer. If you want quick attach the three-lug is the way to go but if you want some extra sound performance then go with a direct thread Versadapt insert.Â
Lastly, if you want a silencer that is super quiet this isn’t the one. You should look at the Bowers Group Vers 9S for that. I is a regular-sized silencer but incredibly quiet.Â
The Wardog shares several of the hallmark features of the Bowers Group silencers. First, it uses the Bowers Group Versadapt thread adapting inserts. This allows you to change the insert to any thread pitch that you might have. There are over 30 different Versadapt inserts to choose from, including mounts explicitly made for the UZI, MAC, and VZ-61.
As mentioned earlier, the Wardog is wipeless. So no need to worry about changing out parts that wear out like some other silencers.Â
Lastly but probably one of the most important and overlooked features is the warranty that Bowers Group offers on all of their silencers. If something goes wrong pick up the phone and give them a call. You can even talk directly to Tom. If your silencer ever gets so grimy and dirty and you don’t feel like cleaning it, then sent it to Bowers Group, and they will give it a good cleaning and have it looking as good as new for a small fee. I do this often with the silencers that I use for my youth Marksmanship Camp. After thousands of rounds over a few weekends, it sure is nice not to have to clean them.Â
So if you are in the market for a super short 9mm silencer for your subguns or pistol caliber carbines, then check out the Bowers Group Wardog. You won’t be disappointed.Â
Key Features: Bowers Group Wardog
- Length: 4.3″ long
- Diameter: 1.7″Â
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- Full Auto Rated
- No Barrel Length Restriction
- Rated for 9mm and 300 Blackout
- MSRP: $635
Dustin is well known for his influence in the firearms industry, runs a Youth Marksmanship Camp program and directs a summer Christian Kids camp – Camp His Way. He became well known after winning Top Shot Season 3 on the History Channel.