Dead Air CT5P Suppressor: Reviewed

Suppressors have grown significantly in popularity over the last decade, and modern suppressors are optimized for specific applications. There are over-the-barrel suppressors designed to keep overall length to a minimum on hunting rifles, light rimfire suppressors specialized for small-caliber target and hunting loads, and pistol suppressors that are engineered to function on your favorite semiauto handgun. But arguably the most specialized of all suppressors are those that are designed for use on duty guns. These cans are built to withstand hard use and rapid rates of fire during potentially dangerous, high-stakes encounters.

One of the newest duty suppressors on the market is Dead Air’s CT5P Patrol, a low back pressure, lightweight, short 5.56 can that serves centerfire carbines up to 6mm ARC. Building on their experience gathered while designing the successful Lazarus 6 and Sandman X cans, the team at Dead Air set out to create the ultimate suppressor for military and law enforcement professionals. The CT5P is the result of those efforts, and it meets the requirements for a daily duty suppressor.

Building a Better Hard-Use Suppressor

The CT5P is 3D printed from Haynes 282, a strengthened nickel-based superalloy that is commonly used for aerospace and jet engine components. Haynes 282 withstands extremely high heat exposure, but it’s also very light. The CTP5 weighs as little as 13.7 ounces so this lightweight 5.56 suppressor adds very little mass to the end of a duty carbine. Dead Air prints the mounting system (your choice of direct thread, XENO, or KEYMO) directly into the can itself so there’s no need for a hub system. By eliminating the need for a traditional hub design, Dead Air reduces the overall length of the CT5P to as little as 5.5 inches, when using direct thread. Short, lightweight 5.56 suppressors are important for duty guns because you need the combined length of the carbine and can to fit through narrow spaces like crowded hallways or cluttered rooms. Reduced mass also makes it easier to hold the rifle on target for extended periods, which is an important consideration for LE professionals. The CT5P is tested to the SOCOM SURG standard and has proven durable enough for hard use and is full-auto rated.

CT5P suppressors feature a high temperature Cerakote exterior finish in either black or FDE. The finish is designed to withstand both high temperatures and rough handling. Duty carbines are shuttled in and out of patrol vehicles each day and are subjected to high-speed drills that inevitably result in impacts and abrasions. The Cerakote high-temp finish shrugs off this abuse and keeps the can looking new and in working order. You may also notice the ridges on the exterior of the can, a design feature that increases surface area to speed cooling. The ridges also offer an anchor point when loosening or tightening the suppressor by hand—just be certain not to do so until the suppressor has had sufficient time to cool down after firing.

Internally, the CT5P features the patent-pending Compact Triskelion Gas Management System which is designed to optimize performance and shooter comfort. Unlike traditional baffle arrangements, the baffles in the CT5P vent excess gas forward through ports in the front of the suppressor. The innovative design benefits shooters by reducing back pressure and gas exposure to the face.

By reducing back pressure and gas flow through the action, the CT5P suppressor prolongs the life of the weapon and makes shooting a gas-operated AR more enjoyable. Adding a suppressor to your AR can cause excessive gas to flow back through the operating system. This, in turn, speeds bolt velocity and increases wear and damage to the rifle’s parts. Bolt carrier groups and springs require more frequent maintenance and have a shorter lifespan when guns are overgassed. The CT5P’s Triskelion Gas Management System substantially reduces blowback and keeps your gun in working order.

That excess gas can also escape through the action. When a rifle jettisons excess fumes in this manner it exposes the shooter to toxic gasses, and this is particularly problematic for LE and military professionals who may be exposed to those gasses on a routine basis. The CT5P’s Triskelion system greatly reduces the returning gasses and makes shooting much more pleasant—and safer.

One of the requirements of duty suppressors is that they reduce flash, and the CT5P does just that. It also serves the primary purpose of a suppressor which is to reduce noise exposure to safe levels. Dead Air’s Triskelion Gas Management System is one of the best baffle designs available to LE professionals because it checks all the boxes—reduced noise, reduced muzzle flash, low backpressure, and minimal jetting of gasses through the action—and it does all of this in a light, rugged, duty-ready package. MSRP is set at $899 for the CT5P, which is an outstanding value for such a well-rounded and versatile duty suppressor.

Range Testing

I had an opportunity to test the new CT5P on a Rock River Arms’ Lar BT-2 LE 5.56 carbine with a 14.5-inch barrel. The rifle was topped with a Burris FastFire E red dot optic as well. The setup would make an excellent option for LE professionals because of its functionality and compact size.

That compact size was thanks in part to the short CT5P suppressor with direct thread mounting system which added just about five inches to the overall length of the rifle. I fired 55-grain Fiocchi Range Dynamics FMJ at a torso target at the range and was impressed with the sound reduction. Using a NIOSH sound level meter, I tested the rifle without the suppressor in place and found that the unsuppressed RRA carbine produced noise levels of 137 to 140 decibels (dB) at the shooter’s ear. Since 140 dB is sufficient to cause permanent hearing loss shooting that rifle/load combination would require hearing protection.

With the CT5P in place sound levels dropped to 129 dB. That may not seem like a very dramatic reduction, but you must remember that sound is measured logarithmically. Every 10 dB increase represent ten times as much sound energy, so the CT5P reduced noise substantially. More importantly, the suppressor drops sound levels to hearing safe levels so that you can shoot the rifle without the need for hearing protection. The reduction in sound and blast also made shooting the rifle quickly much more enjoyable.

Sound reduction matters to LE professionals who train frequently, but it’s also important to gun owners who aren’t law enforcement professionals. Reducing sound to safe levels reduces risk of hearing loss and it also allows you to shoot your rifle at home or the range without drawing ire from the neighbors.

Besides noise reduction, the CT5P also does an outstanding job managing backflow of gasses. I don’t care for shooting suppressed rifles that spew toxic gasses from the receiver, but the CT5P was easy to shoot for extended periods. This is particularly important for suppressors designed for hard use since the shooter will likely be pulling the trigger many times each day. Reducing exposure to harmful and obnoxious gasses is always a good thing, but it’s practically a requirement on a duty suppressor. Plus, the gas management reduces the wear and tear on the gun—and the shooter--from a hard-cycling bolt.

To really appreciate the performance of the CT5P we had to slow things down. Mark Sidelinger filmed a series of shots in slow motion, and only then that you can truly observe the Triskelion Gas Management System in action. With each shot we could see the gasses escaping forward from the front of the suppressor. It wasn’t so much gas that the rifle failed to operate, but it did help make for a more pleasant shooting experience.

With tax stamp prices dropping to $0, the growing tide of interest in suppressors is prompting more manufacturers to enter the silencer game. It’s tough to know which brand and style of suppressor suits you best, but I must say that the CT5P from Dead Air is very impressive. The company has been manufacturing suppressors for years and they continue to design well thought-out cans. It’s clear that the CT5P designers understood the mission—to create a rugged and quiet suppressor that manages gas properly and doesn’t break the bank. Mission accomplished. 

Dead Air CT5P Suppressor

• Caliber: 6mm
• Max Muzzle Energy: 2,200 foot pounds
• Construction: 3D Printed Haynes 282
• Overall Length: 5.49 to 6.55 inches (depending upon mount)
• Weight: 13.7 to 14.9 ounces (depending upon mount) ounces
• Diameter: 1.60 inches
• Finish: Black or FDE High Temperature Cerakote
• Usage: Semiauto (full auto) duty guns
• Mount: Direct thread, XENO, or KEYMO
• MSRP: $899
• Contact: Dead Air Silencers, deadairsilencers.com