Dead Air Unveils Wolf-9SD Subgun Suppressor
Few firearms are more enjoyable to shoot than 9mm pistol caliber carbines (PCCs) and submachine guns (subguns) loaded with subsonic ammo and equipped with a suppressor. Aside from suppressed .22 LR, nothing really comes close to the relative silence of subsonic 9mm leaving a silenced PCC. With that said, many suppressed PCC owners use silencers that are designed primarily for pistols. While these cans work perfectly fine on carbine-sized hosts, they aren’t exactly optimized for that use and are typically longer and narrower than is necessary for the PCC use case.
Thanks to the folks at Dead Air Armament, subgun and PCC aficionados now have another suppressor option – the Wolf-9SD. The Wolf isn’t just any subgun can, though. It’s modular, with two configurable lengths, interchangeable end caps, and support for direct thread, 3-lug, and piston mounts. Dead Air’s description and the full specifications of the Wolf-9SD can be seen below.
Even without the modularity, the Wolf-9SD is a unique suppressor. First, it’s 1.618” in diameter. That’s quite a bit fatter than most pistol suppressors, which hover in the 1.375” area, and the SilencerCo Omega 9K, which is 1.47” wide. The large diameter makes a lot of sense for low pressure ammunition like 9mm and even .300 BLK. In my experience, I have found that these rounds take full advantage of wider suppressors that offer more expansion space for the gasses that propel the round.
Secondly, the length and weight options for the Wolf-9SD are very compelling. The short configuration measures only 4.1” long and weighs just 7.5 ounces. It should be barely noticeable at the end of a carbine. Then, adding the front module brings the suppressor to 7.58” long and 14.7 ounces. In this long format, it’s heavy for a pistol-caliber suppressor, but should offer top-of-the-line sound reduction. With the Wolf-9SD, shooters no longer face the difficult decision between choosing a shorter, lighter suppressor and one that offers top-end performance.
The only concern I have with the Wolf is that it isn’t user-serviceable. Sure, centerfire ammunition is nowhere near as filthy as rimfire rounds, but I’ve seen plenty of subgun cans that have filled up with debris after thousands upon thousands of rounds of use. Most of us won’t ever get there, but there’s a certain peace of mind associated with being able to clean a suppressor. The added internal volume provided by the Wolf’s diameter should help in this regard.
An information security professional by day and gun blogger by night, Nathan started his firearms journey at 16 years old as a collector of C&R rifles. These days, you’re likely to find him shooting something a bit more modern – and usually equipped with a suppressor – but his passion for firearms with military heritage has never waned. Over the last five years, Nathan has written about a variety of firearms topics, including Second Amendment politics and gun and gear reviews. When he isn’t shooting or writing, Nathan nerds out over computers, 3D printing, and Star Wars.