AllOutdoor Review – Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor

With a lot of political talk nationally as to whether “silencers are going to be deregulated, we won’t need to pay tax stamps, or who knows what else,” it is a great opportunity to acknowledge some of the silencers and brands that are evolving in an ever-evolving political, silencer landscape. One of which is Engaged Industries. They are bringing to the table a whole new design on low-back pressure silencers with their Operator 5.56mm Suppressor. It sports patent-pending VLB25 baffles, which utilize Vacuum Expansion (VE) technology to restrict the flow of gas – which significantly reduces – the reverse flow of gases causing that dreaded “gas blowback.” So, in today’s AllOutdoor Review, we are going to take a look at the Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor to see how it performs out on the range. Let’s dive in!

Silencer Coverage on AllOutdoor

Technical Specifications – Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor

The Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor that we are reviewing here today is the QD Stealth LoK™ version (their is a 2nd option as well) that carries an MSRP of $929. That places it in a very competitive space below the $1K mark. This silencer only adds roughly 5.88” – 6.11” to the overall length of your weapon system depending on barrel thread length you might have. Some of the important specs that you may want to know are listed below as presented by Engaged Industries:

Weight: 12.0 Oz Suppressor Only | 13.6 Oz with Stealth LoK™ QD System | 16.2 Oz with Flash Brake
Length: 5.9″ Suppressor with No Mount | 6.2″ with Stealth LoK™ Mount

As alluded to earlier, there are two potential options for the Engaged Industries Operator based on whether you want to go for QD (quick disconnect) or a Direct Thread variant. Those two choices are listed below:

A Word from Engaged Industries on the Operator 5.56mm Suppressor

The Operator 5.56 is a compact suppressor rated for Cartridge rounds of .224” diameter or less due to the bore size of the baffles, most notably the 5.56mm NATO cartridge. It is rated for any barrel length, and limited full auto rated to 100 rds before cool down. This suppressor will exceed the SOCOM/NSWG/MILSTD testing protocol.
The patent pending VLB25 baffles utilize Vacuum Expansion (VE) technology which restrict the flow of gas without allowing (significantly reducing) the reverse flow of gases causing “gas blowback”. The gases are compressed in the distal end of the suppressor and relieved via the endcap. This technology does not require a vented endcap so muzzle flash can remain minimized as much as possible, however vented caps are optional.
With the extreme low gas blowback this suppressor has a different tone than compared with tradition baffle suppressors. The VLB25 baffles may look like a baffle but do not behave like a classic baffle and behave very different.
The Operator suppressor comes in either a direct thread or quick disconnect configuration using the Stealth Lok™ QD system. One 1/2-28 Hybrid Hider muzzle device is included in purchase of QD model.

What’s the Upsell? What’s the 30 Second Elevator Pitch?

There are numerous quality silencers out in the marketplace. So, why buy the Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor? What’s the upsell? What is the 30-second elevator pitch for someone to dive in on this one? For me, it boils down to 3 main points for anyone who is looking for a hard-use suppressor:

VLB25 Baffles with Vacuum Expansion (VE) Technology – Muzzle flash is minimized, no need for a vented endcap, and significantly reduced gas blowback. What more could you ask for?
SOCOM/NSWG/MILSTD Testing Protocol – Many of us are hunters, range shooters, and protectors of our families. While we use our gear hard, we are not abusing it on a daily basis. Well, this silencer exceeds the SOCOM/NSWG/MILSTD testing protocol. You are good to go.
Stealth LoK™ QD System – I am late to the game on this one, but quick-disconnect silencers are awesome! It’s not that we’re looking to chase bad guys in the night. They’re simply a luxury and so convenient. Once you try one, you won’t go back.

What’s in the Box? Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor

One of the most common and recurring questions I receive reviewing firearms and their related products is, “what’s in the box?” Meaning, what do you all get with your purchase. This is important because what you do, and do not get, will dictate what type of accessories you need to additionally buy depending on what you want your end-product or weapon system to look like. All this being said, this is everything that you will receive with a QD Stealth LoK™ version of the Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor, which is the variant we are reviewing here today:

Included in the Box

Operator 5.56mm Suppressor
Suppressor Ready Flash Hider (1/2″ x 28 TPI)
Plastic Travel Tube

Field Use – Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor

So, how did this perform out on the gun range?… My test rifle is a Springfield Armory Saint Victor 5.56 NATO. This is a rifle that I have competed at Tactical Games events with, have done CQB defense courses with, and generally shoot the most out of my modest arsenal. It is trusted, I know how it shoots, and its reliable. It was a good placebo or baseline to test the Engaged Industries Operator.

I ended up shooting a variety of ammunition through the Engaged Industries Operator to see if the tone, sound, blowback, or basically anything would be different depending on my ammo. These are all of the different types that I fired:

M193 55 Grain FMJ (Full Metal Jacket)
M855 62 Grain Green Tip
77 Grain OTM (Open Tip Match)
an assortment of other random ammo I had strewn about in an ammo can

While shooting this, it was very consistent. There wasn’t an obvious “first round pop,” the sound was the same from one ammo to another, and it cut down noise really well.

The QD Stealth LoK™ system is all-performance, no gimmicks. I have not been a big fan of QD silencer systems in the past, but the simplicity of the QD Stealth LoK™ system makes me think that more companies should take note of what Engaged Industries is doing. A simple flash hider, a quick turn of the wrist, and you’re locked on. Easy-peasy.

With a simple roll pin that indexes on the rear end of the can, you can twist your can on and off super slick.

As far as any potential point-of-impact (POI) shift, I saw none while shooting. My optic was sighted-in before I began this review and it stayed there throughout. Nearly every silencer I have ever tested had some type of movement or shift – not significant, but definitely something – and the Engaged Industries Operator remained true.

Additional Engaged Industries Coverage by TheFirearmBlog.com

Final Thoughts – Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor

So, what are my final thoughts on the Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor?… Overall, this silencer did everything it advertised, and then some. With its pricing varying from $749 – $929, I find that to be affordable when it comes to a quality centerfire silencer. It’s becoming more rare nowadays to see silencers priced below $1,000. Add in the fact that Engaged Industries has created a clever new way to achieve low gas blowback with less flash signature and durability testing beyond what we need… this is a dang good suppressor!

In closing, I want to say thank you to Engaged Industries for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Engaged Industries Operator 5.56mm Suppressor is something worth spending your money on? Would you take one with you while out on a western hunt? Deploy one while shooting a competition? Top off a home defense rifle with one? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Engaged Industries and their new Operator 5.56mm Suppressor in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

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Adam Scepaniak