Havok7416 said:
I see AAC offers a 91T ratchet mount, but most of their 7.62 silencers seem to come with the 51T ratchet mount . Are they interchangeable and/or compatible? (I would guess no).
No. The 51T mount is what they used on their previous-generation rifle silencers. It's inferior to what most companies are offering now. The 90T is the improved mounting system they use on their latest-generation cans. For example, the 5.56 M4-2000 and the 7.62 SDN-6 are both previous-generation cans and they use the 51T mount. The SR5 is the updated version of the M4-2000 and the SR7 is the updated version of the SDN-6, and both use the 90T mounting system.
Havok7416 said:
The Saker weighs 23-plus ounces, which is far heavier than anything else I've looked at so far, but does the sound reduction make up for that?
The Saker 7.62 has similar sound reduction to most other 7.62 cans, but it's extremely strong. It has a full stellite baffle stack and it's rated up to .300 Remington Ultra Mag and it can handle 5.56 out of a 7" barrel. Very few rifles silencers are that strong.
Havok7416 said:
Dead Air doesn't seem to offer any attenuation data on their website, which is a critical aspect IMO.
It's not a critical aspect at all. You should completely ignore all manufacturer data on sound reduction. It's absolutely useless information.
There is no industry standard when it comes to silencer sound levels. Test numbers will vary wildly depending on the equipment used, the ammo used, the testing setting, the testing perameters, and the weather conditions. And that's assuming the companies are honest about their testing numbers in the first place. No, the only useful information on sound levels comes from third-party comparison tests where the silencers are all tested at the same time and under the same conditions. And then keep in mind that dB numbers don't tell the whole story; the subjective tone of a silencer matters a lot too, and that's not measured in tests.
Here's the thing: Centerfire rifles firing supersonic ammo are all still loud when suppressed. None are "hearing safe" and the shooter should still use some form hearing protection if more than a few shots are being fired. Of all the factors I look into when buying a rifle silencer, actual noise reduction is a low priority. Mounting system, gas back-pressure, length, weight, strength, and the manufacturer's customer service are all more important to me. As long as the silencer has dB numbers that are relatively close to other top models, that's good enough for me.
Now, for a dedicated 300 Blackout silencer, you might put sound reduction as a higher priority if you're planning to shoot lots of subsonic ammo. In that case, check out real-world third-party comparison tests and ignore the manufacturer numbers. I don't pay attention to those third-party dB tests that much, but from the ones I've seen, the SilencerCo Omega does really well with subsonic 300 Blackout. And I can tell you that in person it's pretty darn quiet; it's definitely not noticeably louder than any other rifle silencer I've fired.