Silencer Shop Authority: Reviewing the Erector By Q
The National Firearms Act of 1934 and subsequent “add-ons” was one of the worst pieces of legislation ever forced upon American gun owners. Forget that it requires registration information and regulates inanimate objects like barrels, stocks, design shapes and trigger mechanisms for a moment. The NFA restriction of silencers, devices that can’t actually do anything on their own, hinders their ownership and possession by millions of U.S. shooters and sportsman. However, in recent years technological advancements and the willingness of forward-thinking companies to push the boundaries of suppressor science has given consumers hope for the future. At the top of the list is the Erector by Q; a user configurable rimfire silencer that is the current king of adaptability and swerves past ridiculous NFA traps (legally) with ease.
Traditional silencers rely upon a single outer tube with a series of cones and chambers to capture expanding gasses, slowing and cooling them prior to exiting the endcap. The result is (hopefully) a reduced report.
The logistical problem with the overwhelming majority of single tube silencers is that owners are stuck with one length for all their hosts. If they want a shorter suppressor for a longer rifle barrel, for example, they are forced to buy a different model, pay the required $200 NFA tax and wait a year or more before finding out if it fits into their requirements.
Enter modular silencers. Instead of having to purchase multiple cans for different use cases, manufacturers have recently identified a way to give users options without having to undergo additional NFA struggles. The focus has been on having a single section that can be unscrewed to provide the operator two lengths to choose from – short and long. These configurable cans have become increasingly popular, helping buyers avoid having to be taxed and wait for slightly smaller silencers that will just be used on the same hosts anyway.
The Erector takes modularity to the next level.
The genius, creative and twisted minds at Q (www.liveQordie.com) have created the Erector – a .22 long rifle silencer with 10 length combinations ranging from just over an inch to less than eight inches. Each section is a baffle that can be screwed or unscrewed using two clamp-like tools to either decrease or increase its overall length.
The result is a choose-your-own-adventure type of silencer that can be adapted to your “mission”. No, not you, Bond, Jr. – when I say mission I mean like super quiet plinking so your neighbors have no idea or suppressed rifle hunting with just enough Erector length to avoid ear plugs.
So, how does it work? Let’s find out:
Unboxing
The Erector comes neatly laid out in a Q-Styled box with instructions, tools and a soft case. The Portsmouth, NH based design team certainly didn’t skimp on the design or implementation of the Erector’s packaging. Think of it as an R-rated version of an iPhone box – sleek and stylish with a hint of innuendo.
As with all new purchases, it is your responsibility to read all of the manufacturers’ supplied information. This goes double for new silencer owners. Even if you think you know the secrets of mounts, thread pitches, and overall maintenance, each manufacturer has different requirements. This is especially true for an ultra-configurable silencer like the Erector.
A Closer Look
Each section of the Erector is featherlight – almost impossibly so. You’ll want to take some time to admire the design of the sections, baffles and endcap. The whole Erection is a pretty amazing feat of engineering; a testament to the decades of experience housed at Q.
The first segment is the 1/2″ x28 thread mount portion of the Erector and is the only part of the silencer that can be mounted to a firearm, allowing the design to be NFA friendly (only one silencer can be assembled at a time).
The second segment is the steel blast baffle which takes the brunt of the deflagration of unburnt powder in pistols or short rifle barrels.
Erector by Q Specifications:
- CALIBER – .22LR
- MOUNT – 1/2-28
- WEIGHT – 2.6 oz.
- LENGTH – 7.6″
- DIAMETER – .99″
- MATERIALS – Stainless Steel/Aluminum
- MSRP: $499
- STREET: ~$475 (depending on local dealer pricing)
Assembly, Disassembly, and Maintenance Instructions:
As you can see, the Erector’s instructions are slightly more complicated than your standard rimfire silencer. Relax, it’s pretty simple if you boil it down: 1) use/clamp the tools properly 2) loosen or tighten (to six to eight ft-lbs) the baffle sections 3) secure the endcap.
Although I urge you to follow the instructions included with your Erector, if I’m honest, the majority of my time shooting with the Q can I only hand tightened the sections. Even though I checked for tightness intermittently, none of the sections unscrewed on their own.
Let’s take a look at the all of the Erector length combinations:
For perspective, the host weapon is a Ruger MKII with a TacSol Pac-Lite upper/barrel.
Shooting the Erector
There’s no reason to beat around the bush; for pistols, I found a happy medium of optimal length paired with overall suppression quality to be about six and seven total baffles (including the steel blast baffle). Sure, the longest configuration was quieter, and the shortest configuration was the neatest pocket carry setup with the Walther PPK/S. But if you are packing up for a hike or a long-range trip with the goal being usability, my advice is to set the Erector baffles for your needs and go enjoy.
“In its longest configuration using subsonic ammo in a bolt gun, the Erector by Q is one of the quietest rimfire silencers I have ever shot.”
Still, ultra-compact has its place. While it’s not the smallest available host, the Walther PPK/S paired with a two baffle Erector is a sweet “around the woods” gun when paired with the right ammunition.
On the topic of ammo, I’m always going to suggest a quality subsonic round to avoid the crack of the bullet breaking the sound barrier. My current go-to round is the Gemtech Subsonic 42-grain load. It is quiet, accurate, and fairly clean burning for a rimfire cartridge. Paired with the Erector in one of your ‘sweet spot’ combinations, this ammo is accurate and quiet enough for any style of shooting.
For peak giggle factor, however, the CCI Quiet Segmented Hollow Point ammunition is a sure bet. Even though it’s best in a bolt action rifle (or turning your pistols into single-shot repeaters), the CCI Quiet line is worth keeping on hand. With the Erector at full length on a bolt action rifle, the sound level can be described as “firing pin only.” In shorter lengths, and on pistols, the combo is louder, but still, awe-inspiring.
Besides, check out the size of this suppressed CZ455.
And as a testimonial to true adaptability, here’s the Q can in one of its quietest length/host combinations.
The Erector end cap makes a surprising amount of difference to suppression levels, especially when it comes to shorter lengths. Using the PPK/S as a host, I ran a few magazines through a two-baffle setup both with and without the end cap installed. As you can imagine, the effect was noticeable – so even though you have a choice, remember to install the end cap. Besides, I can’t think of any reason to run the Erector sans cap.
On both pistols and rifles, this silencer is a lot of fun to shoot. If you are anything like me, you’ll spend some time trying out length combinations for all your hosts, making notes as you go. Again, officially I have to recommend following all of the included instructions, but I was able to hand tighten and loosen baffle segments for desired length testing, skipping the torque and vice steps. Use this technique at your own risk.
In its longest configuration using subsonic ammo in a bolt gun, the Erector by Q is one of the quietest rimfire silencers I have ever shot. As expected, reducing its overall length reduces its suppression levels. Find what fits your needs and run with it, knowing that you can always make changes with just a few minutes worth of work.
Cleaning the Erector
I probably don’t have to tell you, but rimfire silencers need to be cleaned more often than their centerfire kin. The Erector owners manual advises cleaning every 1,000 rounds, which seems par for the course when it comes to .22LR suppressors. And although I only ran 700-750 rounds of various types of ammo through the Erector, I wanted to clean it before returning it to Silencer Shop home base.
Because the Erector is mainly aluminum, a solution called “The Dip” cannot be used since it will degrade the metal along with the debris. Besides, due to its high toxicity levels, it’s not a technique I can safely recommend to anyone.
However, using a “green” solvent like Ballistol, I was able to wipe away the majority of fouling with a simple combination of a nylon brush and Q-tips. Be sure to avoid using metal tools that could damage the Erector’s threads or cones.
For long term use, if this were my personal silencer, I might consider using a touch of Nickel Anti-Seize on each of the segment threads to prevent fouling from creeping in and possibly messing with disassembly. But, since there are no long-term use cases, I’d suggest following the steps in the Erector owners manual for best results.
Wrap Up
With high-speed tech comes great responsibilities. Much like you wouldn’t toss the keys of a Porsche turbo to a recent Driver’s Ed graduate, the Erector may not be the best choice for first-time buyers. Baffle segments need to be torqued to 6-8 ft-lbs; using the two clamp tools can take some practice, and the aluminum construction means that cleaning and caliber choices are limited. I’d much rather hand a newbie a no-nonsense performer like the El Camino than a silencer that needs any user input.
Having said all that, the Erector by Q is probably the most advanced rimfire silencer on the market. With ten length options and a sub three-ounce weight, it can virtually disappear at the end of a barrel. This is next-level suppression with design and engineering features that will have other manufacturers racing to keep pace.
The ERECTOR by Q is the first of its kind. Suitable for use on both pistols and rifles, you can run it fully assembled with all 10 baffles for maximum sound reduction or easily remove baffles to find your perfect balance of size and sound performance.
