It’s official; the silencer market has gone modular. Which makes sense given you’re asked to plunk down $200 in Federal tax and wait about as long as it takes to make a new human being before receiving approval to take that new suppressor home.
Long can? Short can? Booster? Fixed mount? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. The very modular Gemtech Lunar 9 is here.
In the box from Silencer Shop (I’m assuming you’re buying through them, since nobody makes the process as easy as they do) your Lunar 9 will include a 1/2×28 booster for use on most 9mm pistols, two modules with a bevy of baffles for each, and a front cap.
Fixed mounts and pistons with different thread pitches are sold separately. Gemtech GM-9 mounting components are compatible with the Lunar 9.
In its short configuration, the Lunar 9 is only 4.7 inches long. With a 17-4 PH stainless steel blast baffle and 7075 aluminum everything else, it’s also extremely lightweight at just 7 ounces.
Take the front cap off the mount module, move it to the end of the add-on module, and screw them together and you have the Gemtech Lunar 9 in its full-length glory. It’s now 7 inches long and weighs in at just 10 ounces.
Each of the Type III Hardcoat anodized baffles snaps onto the baffle before or after. In this way a relatively well-sealed inner tube is created, keeping the inside of the external suppressor tube fairly clean and providing much more wall strength than a can with typical K baffles inside.
Some of these baffles will only work in their specific locations, but thankfully there’s no way to assemble the Lunar 9 incorrectly.
If you get it wrong inside either of the modules, the front cap won’t install flush with the mouth of the tube. (yes, that’s a standard 3/8-inch socket drive in the front cap)
Likewise, the front module won’t install properly onto the base module. While some modular suppressors can be a tad complicated and require proprietary tools, a careful owner, and actually reading the owner’s manual, I found the Lunar 9 to be very user-friendly and self-explanatory.
As a 9mm-native suppressor we can obviously run the Lunar 9 on handguns. In full-length mode it’s very quiet. Competitive with most of the quality suppressors on the market.
In shorty mode I was very surprised with how good it sounds. What I was expecting was something just barely this side of 140 dB. “Hearing safe” but not entirely comfortable. That’s typically the goal of these “how-short-can-we-go” suppressors: make it as small as it can be without exceeding 140 dB.
But the Gemtech Lunar 9 was comfortable to my ears. Sounded quieter than another suppressor I own that’s effectively the same length. In full-length mode the Lunar 9 met expectations, but in shorty mode it definitely exceeded them.
While I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of aluminum inside suppressors, I am a massive fan of how little mass the Lunar 9 put on the muzzle of my guns. This darn thing is so lightweight it’s barely noticeable and it scarcely affects the handling characteristics of a pistol.
Out on the range, it’s that light weight that is perhaps the most noticeable feature of the Lunar 9 compared to most of its competition. I really enjoyed shooting a suppressed handgun more than I usually do. The lack of an anchor hanging off the muzzle and the maintaining of a handgun’s quick handling characteristics was awesome.
Of course, swapping over to a fixed mount means the Lunar 9 isn’t only for handguns.
On a PCC or “large format pistol” or other pistol caliber “subgun,” the Lunar 9 also shines. With the longer barrel length and muzzle farther away from the shooter, shorty configuration is typically all you’ll need.
Looks good on that Kalashnikov USA KR-9, right? It’s also only twice the weight of a fairly typical muzzle brake so, again, it’s barely noticeable out there.
Being aluminum, you won’t want to run the Gemtech Lunar 9 on your machine gun. Well, not much. Technically it’s rated for 4-8 round bursts every 4-8 seconds. On a semi-auto 9mm you don’t have much to worry about as rate of fire goes.
9mm not enough? Gemtech’s Lunar 9 is also rated for 300 Blackout, though with subsonic ammunition only.
I installed it in full-length configuration with a 5/8×24 fixed mount onto my 8.3-inch 300 BLK SBR. And I was really impressed!
My previous experience with pistol suppressors on 300 Blackout hasn’t been all that positive. Quiet enough, sure, but leaving a heck of a lot on the table as compared to an actual, .30 cal rifle can. Much to my surprise, the Lunar 9 was legit quiet. It sounded great and my carefully-tuned AR ran flawlessly and smoothly with it on.
The Lunar 9 may be even more at home on a 300 Blackout bolt gun, like this Black Collar Arms Pork Sword Pistol with a 9-inch barrel. No concerns about a high rate of fire getting things too toasty, and it’s wonderfully comfortable and hearing safe while out hunting hogs or steel targets.
At the end of my testing I was more impressed with the Gemtech Lunar 9 than I expected to be. On paper it didn’t jump out at me, but once I held it, the appeal became more obvious.
The design is really clean and well thought out, shaving weight everywhere possible — for instance, the mounts are all aluminum and only the thread insert is steel — and the machining, fit, and finish are all fantastic. It’s a great design that’s flawlessly executed.
More importantly, the Lunar 9 performs. It sounds great on handguns, PCCs, and 300 Blackouts. It fully met my expectations for a modern pistol silencer in full-length configuration, and it exceeded them in shorty format. All while barely changing the balance of the host gun. And the Gemtech Lunar 9 delivers all of this for under $600 through Silencer Shop.
Specifications: Gemtech Lunar 9
Caliber: 9mm, 300 Blackout subsonic
Diameter: 1.4″
Length: 7″ long, 4.7″ short
Weight: 10 oz long, 7 oz short
Mount Type: 1/2×28 booster included. Compatible with GM-9 mounts
Tube Material: 7075 Aluminum
Tube Finish: Matte Black Type III Hardcoat Anodize
Baffle Material: 7075 aluminum except for 17-4 PH stainless steel blast baffle
Full Auto Rated: Yes (limited to 4-8 round bursts every 4-8 seconds)
MSRP: $616
Ratings (out of five stars):
Utility * * * *
The Lunar 9’s modular design and readily available mounts bring tons of utility to the table. Aluminum baffles limits caliber and rate of fire options, but that’s a trade-off for its exceptionally light weight.
Suppression * * * *
Typical of a full-size, 9mm suppressor when in full-length configuration, and quieter than I expected in shorty mode. The Lunar 9 was also quieter on 300 Blackout with better tone than I expected. Overall, I was impressed.
Overall * * * *
The Gemtech Lunar 9 offers great versatility in an extremely lightweight, well-made package. And, of course, it’s quiet.
All photos by the author.
Real question is do they honor the warranty. Purchased a Rebel Silencer DFNDR9. Only put 20 rounds down range before baffles came apart. Sent back and now they are suddenly out of business. No refund either. Bunch of ripoff Texas yeller bellies whom lied about being Veterans. American Veterans anyway.
Gee… if only someone had warned us about those guys.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/silencer-review-rebel-silencers-sos-hunter/
Funny… I have multiple rebel cans, and one of them I did a dumb with – blew a 5.56 round through the 9mm compact can. Torpedo’d half the can downrange… I didn’t do it intentionally, but they recognized it was a legit ‘oops’ and covered the can anyway, sending me back a repaired can.
I’ve heard and seen other complaints but I have multiple friends who also have rebel cans, and not a one of them has had the issues that everyone panned them about.
The Gemtech can, bluntly, looks like a more heavily milled Rebel knockoff, and the description of the components just reinforces that to me.
Lol… so proud of you.
Go be poor somewhere else.
The extreme simplicity of the Rebel design and the lack of proper hardcoat ano and the fact that they were selling aluminum cans for use on rifle rounds are MASSIVE differences between these two designs. While the Lunar 9 employs 7075 aluminum baffles, they are of a far more complicated and effective design and are actual Type III Hardcoat anodized AND the critical baffle, the blast baffle, is 17-4 PH which I doubt Rebel was even capable of machining. You may as well say that Ferrari is a Kia knockoff because they both have gas engines and are made from steel and aluminum. You’re equally off-base, Darryl.
“The extreme simplicity of the Rebel design and the lack of proper hardcoat ano”
“proper hardcoat ano”? I don’t believe Rebel used anodizing, at all. All of the cans I’ve got are cerakoted externally, with no anodizing internally.
“and the fact that they were selling aluminum cans for use on rifle rounds are MASSIVE differences between these two designs.”
The basic design of all Rebel cans, to my eye, was the same: modular, screw-on-stack baffles, no external tube, and user-interchangeable mountpoints. Change diameter to address caliber differences, wash/rinse/repeat.
Gemtech’s product looks interesting, and I’m contemplating trying one out just for giggles – and, the concept of “modularity” isn’t there to quite the degree that your article suggests. Swapping between two optional sizes is nice, to be sure, but that’s not quite the modularity that Rebel’s design offered – similar, in appearance, but Gemtech could have done better, IMO.
“While the Lunar 9 employs 7075 aluminum baffles, they are of a far more complicated and effective design and are actual Type III Hardcoat anodized AND the critical baffle, the blast baffle, is 17-4 PH”
That’s a curious statement. It’s my understanding – but I have no direct line to the guys who ran Rebel, nor do I have any extensive metallurgy experience or knowledge – that the newer cans (after the first generation) were all 7075 aluminum exterior, with press-fit 17-4 baffles.
“You may as well say that Ferrari is a Kia knockoff because they both have gas engines and are made from steel and aluminum. You’re equally off-base, Darryl.
Thanks Jeremy, but I think perhaps you missed the actual statement I made.
“The Gemtech can, bluntly, looks like a more heavily milled Rebel knockoff, and the description of the components just reinforces that to me.”
LOOKS. I’m not saying it is, I’m saying that’s the appearance.
The description you offer, as I said, reinforces to me, as a reader, that it’s little better than an attempt at a knockoff of Rebel’s design.
I wish you guys were as quick to prod the arrogant pricks who start in with the “poors” crap, as you were to start nitpicking comments without impartially reading comments from others. For that matter, I wish you guys were a lot more impartial in your reviews, too, btu then again, I suppose that’s your “thing”, and you do’nt want to upset potential advertising revenue streams – can’t blame you for wanting to persist your business (I wish Rebel had been a little more aggressive in that regard, bluntly), but it does leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth when I read your review articles.
“The basic design of all Rebel cans, to my eye, was the same: modular, screw-on-stack baffles, no external tube…”
Your eye seems to be the issue here ;-). This description of yours has zero to do with how this or any Gemtech can is made. These aren’t screw-on baffles and this can does have an external tube. What you’re saying makes no sense at all. There are ZERO similarities between these two suppressors other than both of them have parts made of aluminum. I mean that’s literally it, dude. Nothing about them beyond one of the raw materials used is similar. Also, suggesting that Gemtech ripped off Rebel is ridiculous, as Gemtech has been making suppressors of this style since the early 90’s and probably never even knew that the tiny, niche, young (2016) little company of Rebel Silencers ever existed.
Wow. way to be a dick…
It’s pathetic that a friend who pointed out this thread to me, saw – literally hours ago – that someone, and I quote, sounded like “…stinks of “Wot, mate, the poors are at it again!””
Thanks princess, you proved my point pretty well, even if it took you a couple of hours to get around to point out your bias and condescending attitude.
But yeah, I’ll happily go be “poor” somewhere else – with my select-fire stable, and double-digit selection of silencers…. including a 9mm and .30 cal can, both of which at this point have multiple thousands of rounds through them, in both semi-auto and automatic-fire… right past that big ol’ “REBEL SILENCERS” label on them.
Owns a “stable” of select-fire firearms.
Buys cheap poorly constructed aluminum silencers (a lot of them too apparently) from a bootleg company that apparently has already gone under based on the original comment we are all responding to (yes google seems to confirm this as well).
Yep… story checks out to me.
“Owns a “stable” of select-fire firearms.”
Four, right now. Stamps for two more pending.
“Buys cheap poorly constructed aluminum silencers (a lot of them too apparently)”
Aw, someoen does’nt like his opinion disputed… and then has to use emotional language to get a point across instead of facts and numbers. About the only thing correct in that line was “aluminum” and “a lot”.
“from a bootleg company that apparently has already gone under based on the original comment we are all responding to (yes google seems to confirm this as well).”
It’s a shame you aren’t coming to this battle of wits better-armed. An effective search shows that Rebel did not, in fact, “go under” – their FFL was revoked. From what little is available, it reads like the ATF came and stomped on Rebel because of a LEA that played fast and loose with personal vs. departmental purchases, and ATF couldn’t very well put the boot on the neck of their “BORTHERS IN BLOO” now, could they?
“Yep… story checks out to me.”
Frankly, given your comments, I don’t particularly care about what does or does not check out to you. I’ve got a Surefire SOCOM mounted on an M4, too… you wanna call either of those “cheap” or “from a bootleg company”?
Seriously bubba. Get a grip – and I mean on something other than your wallet and tangential claims to affluence. People like you strike me as sad little things who think that how much they can buy is what determines their worth.
I’m more interested in sharing what I know and have experienced, and sometimes that means helping people figure out that they can get a less-durable can for a lot less cash… like a Rebel can instead of a Gemtech. That’s not to demean gemtech at all – that’s to point out that their price point isn’t viable for some – the “poors” as you seem to like to refer to them.
You have a nice day, now, bub.
https://i.imgur.com/nJsIqeK.jpg
Ah, there’s the journalistic integrity and hard-hitting integrity I’ve come to associate with TTAG…
You’ll find the integrity and the integrity in all of the reviews and articles. The comments section I treat more like Thunderdome. Sorry, man, I didn’t realize this was your first exposure to the internet. It’s a trip!
“You’ll find that in all of the reviews and articles.”
Sure, from poofers like Tex300blk. From an article author? That’s just sad.
“Sorry, man, I didn’t realize this was your first exposure to the internet. It’s a trip!”
Meh, I’ve been around since before you knew it existed. Seriously. Put up my first HTML code 3 months after TBL released HTTP and HTML; built one of the first data-driven websites out there.
Thunderdome? That’s cute. You guys have a long way to go before you get anywhere close to that… Maybe I’ll invite some 4chan acquaintances over to show you how it’s done.
“NYPA” – that 4chan haxor
Gemtech is owned by the newly spun off Smith & Wesson Brands. I don’t expect you’d have any problem with warranty service if you need it down the road.
Thanks Dan. Just venting. Should read your review first like Tex said. Found Gemtech store here in my hometown. Will try it outq
Gemtech makes good equipment….the Lunar 9 appears to fulfill what most people want in a pistol can.
That said, for a little more $$ I purchased a Rugged Suppressors Obsidian45 a couple of years ago that has a rating of 123 db for 9mm in the full length config (and in it’s short “K” configuration of 130 db for 9mm). Granted, it weighs a few ounces more with the positive attribute (at least to me) that the baffles are ALL 17-4 SS…and, it goes all the way up to .45 and sub-sonic .300 BLK.
Thankfully, Montana still “allows” The People to exercise their 2A Rights relatively unencumbered. Now, if only the Latte Liberals in Missoula and Bozeman would re-locate to California, New York or New Jersey the State would be much better off in almost every way.
apply tar and feathers liberally and they might just do so 🙂 at least that is how it used to be done…. along with putting them on their horse facing backwards
I have had their aluminum SFN-57 (5.1oz I think) for over three years and about 1500 5.7 rounds and it has worked very well so far. My gun now feels better with the can on than off. Anyway, no complaints from me about the company or the can I got from them.
I have 2 Supp. YHM sidewinder 9 mm an YHM Phantom 223,,,,, cost some but IAM done with that wait time an all
Since Gemtec is made in Idaho, when are they gonna make it so Idahoans don’t have to pay the stupid $200 tax and the long wait? A silencer isn’t a weapon and shouldn’t be taxed by a corrupt government that opposes the constitution for which I served to protect.
Smith & Wesson isn’t in Idaho. Gemtech of the old days has been gone for years, but is now also physically gone from the Gem State.
I have to say I am tired of the GemTech misinformation in the Lunar 9 directions (see page 27). I will say that the GEMTECH web site does NOT list direct thread Lunar 9 end caps in 1/2 X 28 or 5/8 X 24. I am not able to purchase these through the GEMTECH website. The site does not list them. They do not sell direct but rather, have me find a dealer. I found NO GemTech dealer that had the end caps, for direct thread, available. I did find the 1/2X28 at AT3 website. I do believe that this sort of suppressor flim flam has to stop. If I would have known the false advertising at the time I purchased, I would have bought the Hybrid M instead. GemTech lies in their Lunar 9 suppressor directions. Read it yourself on page 27. I am not a satisfied customer. At this time I am NOT able to attach the Lunar 9 to my 300 Black Out and fire subsonic ammunition. In short, I wasted my money and 9 months of waiting. No stars.
Out of the box mine only came with tri-lug attachment, for the past year of waiting to pick it up, I found that S&W has discontinued the LID device needed to use it on any pistol with tilting barrel (Browning locking action). So long story short, DONT BUY THIS SUPRESSOR. Take it from me.