Silencer Shop Authority: Bowers VERS 9S Review
I’ll be the first to admit: for a long time, I thought dedicated subgun silencers were unnecessary. Since many modern pistol suppressors perform so well, they often leave very little room for metered improvement, regardless of the host firearm or ammunition. To me, it just did not seem like taking on additional weight and length to support a silencer that may not be quieter than smaller options was worth it.
As someone who likes to review firearms and accessories, there’s an ongoing challenge to question my preconceived opinions and beliefs. After all, if I don’t look at every piece of gear fairly and objectively, what sort of value do I have to share?
A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to put my opinion of subgun suppressors to the test. The guys over at Silencer Shop recently picked up a Brethren Armament BAP9 MP5 (review to come), and I’ve been itching to try it out. After I managed to secure some time with the roller-locked beauty, the folks down in Austin recommended I try it with Bowers’ subgun-centric VERS 9S. Though I could have sampled a much more glamorous, do-it-all pistol suppressor, I decided to take Silencer Shop’s advice. I’m glad I listened. Read on to see how the VERS 9S changed my opinion of subgun suppression.
Size & Weight
The VERS 9S is, by pistol caliber standards, a large suppressor. Coming in at 9.25″ long and 1.75″ in diameter, most pistol suppressors are usually nearly half of an inch narrower and at least an inch shorter. With these sorts of stats, it may be difficult to believe that the VERS 9S is the smaller brother to the VERS 9.
Even though the VERS 9S is dimensionally larger, it doesn’t weight much more than other pistol-caliber suppressors on the market. According to my postal scale, Bowers’ silencer weighs 15oz and, with its 3-lug mount installed, weighs in at 22 ounces. For comparison, a Rugged Obsidian 9 weights 12.7oz, so the Bower’s silencer weighs about 2oz more. But it should be noted that there are two versions of the Bowers VERS 9S. The base model is entirely aluminum, while the upgraded VERS, rated for supersonic .300 BLK, features a mix of aluminum and stainless. Silencer Shop’s demo example is the ruggedized version, and it weighs two ounces more than the base 9S.
Now before we move on, it is important to realize why it is perfectly acceptable for the VERS 9S to be larger than standard 9mm silencers. Though the silencer is made for 9mm ammunition, it is not intended to be used with a pistol. Bowers doesn’t even make a piston assembly for the silencer. Instead, the VERS 9S is made for use on submachine guns and pistol caliber carbines. In this role, it excels. The large volume means the silencer heats up far slower than your average pistol silencer, and its roomy interior gives the VERS excellent sound quality. I’ll touch on these features a bit more later on.
Materials & Design
The Bowers VERS 9S, as reviewed here, is made almost entirely out of aluminum. As I noted previously, Bowers offers two versions of the 9S: a standard model rated for ammunition up to 1,300 ft/s and a .300 BLK version that supports supersonic BLK and Whisper rounds up to 2,200 ft/s. The difference between the two models is that the latter possesses a stainless blast baffle.
Even with so much aluminum, the 9S is still incredibly beefy, so I don’t worry about durability, and apparently, neither does Bowers. While the VERS 9S naturally shines on 9mm carbines, it is also rated for subsonic .300 BLK and full-auto use. The upgraded model, as mentioned, can take even more abuse. The outer tube is finished in a ceramic paint that seems to be similar to Cerakote.
Both versions of the VERS feature four evenly-spaced stepped baffles. Each of the baffles feature scalloped ports in their bores, which help to create turbulence inside the suppressor and shave a few decibels off the firearm’s report. Since the VERS 9S is large and has so few baffles, the inside of the silencer offers ample space for gas expansion. Bowers’ product truly is evidence that you don’t necessarily have to pack an abundance of baffles inside a silencer to achieve excellent performance.
I was fortunate to be among the first to try Bowers’ new 3-lug mount adapter for the VERS. This insert replaces the standard Versadapt thread adapter inside the can’s AIMS (Adapter Integrating Mount System) that is present on several of Bowers’ VERS silencers. Like the Versadapt inserts, the 3-lug features wrench flats at its base that allow users to properly snug the adapter into the silencer. In my opinion, 3-lugs are the best quick attach mounts available, and Bowers’ new offering does not disappoint. It is quick to mount, easy to remove, and securely locks into the barrel’s lugs. What more could you want?
Range Report
For testing purposes at the range, I paired the VERS 9S with Silencer Shop’s custom Brethren Armament BAP9 MP5. The MP5, with its 3-lugged barrel, was a perfect complement to the VERS. Even if the suppressor made the gun a little front heavy, thanks to the MP5’s short 8″ barrel, the suppressed firearm remained very manageable.
When it comes to performance, the VERS’s size is not wasted. I don’t have meter numbers for the can, but I would estimate that it probably offers around 30 to 33 dB of attenuation at the muzzle. In practice, the silencer sounds better than I expect the meter would show. Its large volume contributes to offer tone deeper than any other pistol caliber suppressor I’ve tested to date. Riding with the MP5’s roller delayed action, the pairing resulted in what was, from the shooter’s perspective, the quietest combination I’ve ever heard, including rimfire. The low backpressure VERS and the Brethren Armament MP5’s delayed blowback system rendered port noise almost non-existent.
With a silencer like the VERS 9S, you might expect considerable first round pop (FRP). In truth, I barely noticed the phenomenon. If you watch the video posted above, you’ll see that the 158-grain Prvi ammo had just a slight amount of FRP, but the 165-grain HUSH ammo from Freedom Munitions was supremely quiet. There’s plenty of space for oxygen to fill the VERS, but the first rounds through the freshly-mounted suppressor seemed only marginally louder than subsequent ones. I’m left to assume that the size of the 3-lug adapter (it is quite large) and the volume it consumes within the silencer’s blast chamber must be at least partially responsible for this performance.
The MP5’s point of impact did not seem to be significantly affected by the VERS 9S. To be completely honest, I only tested out to 50 yards, but realistically, if you’re looking to hit something farther out than that, an intermediate rifle cartridge is probably the better option. Regardless, at 50 yards, my point of aim required no adjustment to consistently smack my 8″ steel plate, both with the can and without. Shooters who run the VERS on longer barrels might notice more shift, but the rigid, hammer forged, 8″ barrel of the Brethren Armament MP5 was unfazed.
Conclusion
There are a couple of different ways to approach subgun and pistol-caliber carbine suppression. The most common and economical route is to use a silencer made primarily for pistols and adapt it to fit the role. This approach is often totally workable for most shooters, and performance can still be quite useful.
Still, for those looking to squeeze the best possible sound quality out of their subgun/suppressor, a specialty can like the VERS 9S is the logical best choice. Thanks to its increased internal volume, the VERS not only sounds better than your average pistol silencer, but it also stays much cooler during heavy use. Whereas most quick-detach, silencers get warm enough to negate their monikers, even after a few magazines, you can still remove the VERS 9S without discomfort. Overall, the VERS 9S is much more suited for full-auto abuse than many of the silencers we might consider competitors.
If you’re looking to shush your subgun or pistol-caliber carbine, Silencer Shop carries the VERS 9S for a little over $600.
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.