Hardy IV surpressor. Any further feedback?

[prohunter78]

My first post since my intro so here goes!!

I'm looking for a lighter mod for my .243 and like the look of the Hardy mods. I'm currently using a Wildcat 8 which is alot heavier and ruins the balance of the rifle.

It would be used entirely for work with no target work other than occasional zeroing. I get through around 200-300 rounds a year.

I've read earlier threads with interest and wondered if anyone has any other comments to make after using a Hardy over a longer period of time? I'm told noise reduction is as good as the wildcats/T8's so what downsides has anyone found after regular use?

Looking forward to hearing your experiences.

Regards

Prohunter.

 

[danpd]

Have had one on demo for a few months now, my honest opinion is that it is a well made and lightweight mod. It does cut down recoil well, but it is not quiet by any stretch of the imagination, definitely nowhere near as good as a T8 or Others, despite the porky pies that Riflecraft have been telling. I paid for my own mod before I did any testing (as I do with any products I am thinking of selling) and this is what I have come up with. You will find that any of the gunshops who heavily promote the Hardy have had freebie mods for sales staff, and so are biased. If you read the NZ forums then you will see that some people regard Hardy can as loud and dangerous for use with larger Calibers.

 

[prohunter78]

The obvious question is whats the best reflex style lightweight mod on the market? I'm nervous of changing as I'm aware there's no clear winner. If there was, we'd all be using it!!

PH.

 

[Cottontail killer]

I think the ASE mods take some beating but they are no lightweight tho mine is lighter than my P8

 

[Selous]

I like my third eye tactical spartan mod very much, it's neat and light and does a decent job of reducing the sound. Can't give you a side by side comparison with anything else though

 

[jon2]

Have had one on demo for a few months now, my honest opinion is that it is a well made and lightweight mod. It does cut down recoil well, but it is not quiet by any stretch of the imagination, definitely nowhere near as good as a T8 or Others, despite the porky pies that Riflecraft have been telling. I paid for my own mod before I did any testing (as I do with any products I am thinking of selling) and this is what I have come up with. You will find that any of the gunshops who heavily promote the Hardy have had freebie mods for sales staff, and so are biased. If you read the NZ forums then you will see that some people regard Hardy can as loud and dangerous for use with larger Calibers.

That is the sort of review/info I like. Great impartial appraisal.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I think the ASE mods take some beating but they are no lightweight tho mine is lighter than my P8

I like the Ase Utra (AU-SL5) as per the 260 Rem in my gallery. http://www.aseutra.fi/s-series-sl5-vaimennin Regards JCS

 

[William Grant]

I bought this mod about 4 months ago and put it on my .270. I do not agree certain negative comments by others and IMO find it very quiet, light and it balances the rifle weight unlike the northstar i use on my .223 barrel. Bullet strike seen and heard on open hill/woodland with each shot. Im well impressed with it.

ATB wallace

 

[Effnjeff]

Have had one on demo for a few months now, my honest opinion is that it is a well made and lightweight mod. It does cut down recoil well, but it is not quiet by any stretch of the imagination, definitely nowhere near as good as a T8 or Others, despite the porky pies that Riflecraft have been telling. I paid for my own mod before I did any testing (as I do with any products I am thinking of selling) and this is what I have come up with. You will find that any of the gunshops who heavily promote the Hardy have had freebie mods for sales staff, and so are biased. If you read the NZ forums then you will see that some people regard Hardy can as loud and dangerous for use with larger Calibers.

That's disappointing to hear that the noise reduction is inadequate. Which cartridge(s) did you test it with? Also, was the bullet aperture in the mod suited to the specific calibre?

 

[danpd]

Tested on 6.5x47, 7mm08, 308, 270, 30-06.

Mod just comes in one aperture size...Large! which certainly does it no favours.

If you have to have lightweight it is an option, but certainly not if you fire more than a few shots a week, or value your hearing to any degree. To be honest none of the new moderators which have cropped up up perform very well in the sound reduction department, the old favourites still ruling the roost, with the Jet Z still king of the hill.

 

[Freerange]

Hardy suppressor

I have one on a heavy barrel .243 and also my regular hunting .308. Both can be used without ear protection but the .243 is heaps quieter. I can hear bullet impact with both rifles.
The thing is I hate hunting with suppressors as they alter the balance of the rifle for snap shooting and are also too heavy. My .308 shoots around three inches high and a couple of inches to the right so no chance of just putting it on for the deliberate prone shot which in my ignorance I thought I could do. I suppose it depends on the rifles harmonics and I am unlucky that mine doesn't suit. I will also state this is the only suppressor I have ever used and if I was ever tempted to buy one again I would be trying it first or simply not bothering.

 

[Effnjeff]

Tested on 6.5x47, 7mm08, 308, 270, 30-06.

Mod just comes in one aperture size...Large! which certainly does it no favours.

If you have to have lightweight it is an option, but certainly not if you fire more than a few shots a week, or value your hearing to any degree. To be honest none of the new moderators which have cropped up up perform very well in the sound reduction department, the old favourites still ruling the roost, with the Jet Z still king of the hill.

The new Gen4 is available with two bullet apertures, the small for up to 6.5mm, and the large for up to .308". The older Gen3 was only availabe with the large aperture. Is it possible you have confused the two?
I have a 6.5mm Gen4 for my 6.5x55 on order, and it will be interesting to compare it with my Ase Compact JetZ when it does arrive.

 

[danpd]

The new Gen4 is available with two bullet apertures, the small for up to 6.5mm, and the large for up to .308". The older Gen3 was only availabe with the large aperture. Is it possible you have confused the two?
I have a 6.5mm Gen4 for my 6.5x55 on order, and it will be interesting to compare it with my Ase Compact JetZ when it does arrive.

Hi,

yes I know they are now available in more calibre specific options now, which should help hopefully, but I only obtained the large one, as stocks were low in 14x1 threads.

Its not a bad mod, but I just think people should know the truth as opposed to the hype.

 

[Effnjeff]

Hi,

yes I know they are now available in more calibre specific options now, which should help hopefully, but I only obtained the large one, as stocks were low in 14x1 threads.

Its not a bad mod, but I just think people should know the truth as opposed to the hype.

Thanks for info, I appreciate your input.
Hopefully the smaller aperture will help some, and the Swede has quite a mild bark. I'm not after ultimate suppression, but enough to protect my hearing whilst balancing the rifle better.
I'm looking forward to trying it out, but I've been waiting a couple of months due to customs restrictions from New Zealand. I'm getting quite bored of waiting...

 

[I. Farticus]

I'm about to order one on a 1:1 via my RFD to put on my Sako 6.5x55 to replace the brick of a T8...

Might wait a bit and see how this thread pans out, but if it's 55% lighter overall, 52% lighter over the end of the barrel, and moderates to a similar degree, what's not to like?

Cheers
iain

 

[Moray Outfitting]

We've a test model due up from the new batch. It's free for the trial ( I'll try not to abandon my morals Danpd - though in seriousness, do appreciate what you are saying regards a lot of the 'marketing' that goes on ). Guesty - Bentley at Riflecraft advised new batch due with them at tail of last week.

Interested to see how it does perform.

In the meantime, for us, the Ase SL-5 and ATEC Maxim4 do sterling jobs.

The moderator market can be a bit confusing as there's a balancing act - weight/size/ performance/ longevity - and the ideal is going to be different for different shooters - and its arguable whether the 'ideal' has yet been made!

In terms of the key role - noise reduction - there's hard scientific measurement and perception to user; not unlike recoil. In reality a human ear is not going to differentiate a few dB's - and the most honest distributor statement I've seen in a long while was from Peter Jackson who said as much.

That shows on SD - and the NZ forums - not just regards Hardy, moderators etc, but for virtually every piece of gear we use. Few items seem to sit in the middle ground - it's either love or hate. In these every greyer times that's quite refreshing; but doesn't make choosing any easier!

 

[Lucozade]

i was at andrew from riflecrafts private range a few weeks ago and he had one on a .338, to me it worked really well however i have only ever shot a 338 once before unsupressed, if i hadnt just recently bought a third eye tactical and i was in the market for a mod i think the hardy would be towards the top of the list

 

[prohunter78]

Thanks for your replies and opinions. I'd be interested in how the new model performs with the smaller aperture. My rifle is carried alot more than it's used so balance and weight is important to me. Aslong as sound surpression is near to a T8 type mod then that would do me. I suppose you can't expect a smaller/lighter product to perform aswell in that department.

One thing I have learnt from talking to gunshops. The best mod ever made is allways the one they stock! As was said before. Opinions differ so much. Risking £300 isn't the issue for me. The hassle of the variation going in twice if it's no use would be more of a pain.


Anymore comments greatly received. Esspecially regarding it's use on a .243.

Regards

PH.

 

[Blackdog]

Hi, I have the new Hardy Gen III on my 7mm-08 and I find it is quieter than the T8 on my .22-250 not to mention a bit lighter.I know its difficult to compare when the rifles are different calibres. It certainly quietens the 7mm-08 rifle substantially but I dont think it would be appearing in any future Bond films!

Regards
Steve

 

[AnthonyR]

I have the latest Hardy Gen4 mod on my 270WSM, I had to have the 308 version, I would agree with Danpd that it is not quietest mod in the world, it is definately louder than my old Predator 8, but the 270 is my stalking rifle which places a premium on lightness in my book and it that area in scores very highly, the rifle feels much better balanced, it is also very nicely made.