With all the CoronaZombies out and about I’ve upped my EDC gun to a Brownells BRN-180S upper on their BRN-180M lower (review coming soon). Chambered in .223 Wylde and in my case shooting either 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington, this beast needed to be suppressed . . . but in the most compact, unobtrusive way possible.
Cue the Yankee Hill Machine Turbo K.
Long range / hunting on top (Black Collar Arms Pork Sword), “home defense” in the middle (BRN-180S pistol with FS1913 brace), and personal defense at bottom (SilencerCo Maxim 9). Amirite? All suppressed, all the time.
Thanks to Silencer Shop for loaning me this YHM Turbo K for review. They make the process easier than anyone else in the country and have the best pricing on the most suppressors. Check them out!
Here’s the deal. There are some suppressors on the market that aren’t designed to be as quiet as possible. Rather, they’re made to be as compact and lightweight as possible while remaining just this side of the generally-accepted 140 dB “hearing safe” threshold. This is where the YHM Turbo K lives.
In my experience, this is also where most experienced suppressor owners and shooters end up. We all start out chasing dB numbers and looking for the quietest thing around, but after actually using the darn things, a lot we all gravitate toward smaller cans. Especially for a defensive weapon.
This YHM Turbo K is the original model, whereas the ones shipping currently are v2.0 with a more aesthetically exciting, better-at-flash-hiding muzzle end. Sound suppression is the same, though.
Included with the YHM Turbo K is a 1/2×28 muzzle brake or flash hider QD mount, and the corresponding mount installed in the suppressor. A spring-loaded collar pushes four detents into the suppressor-side mount, preventing it from coming loose while shooting.
This is a very simple, efficient, full-auto-rated design needing only about one-and-a-half rotations to go from removed to fully tightened or vice versa.
The Turbo K works with all YHM legacy mounts, too. Better yet, its tube features what has become the industry standard mounting size of 1.375×24 (1-3/8×24) threads. That means the YHM Turbo K is compatible with literally dozens of mounting systems from lots of other companies, including Dead Air, Q, SilencerCo, and so darn many more.
Whether you want to go direct thread to save weight or use another company’s QD system, your options are wide open.
To achieve that full-auto rating, the Turbo K employs an Inconel blast baffle and 17-4 PH stainless steel everything else. And by “everything else” I mean both other baffles.
Yeah, there are only three baffles in this unique, tubeless design. It’s amazing how open this suppressor actually is on the inside.
And, of course, that leads to the Turbo K’s light weight of just 8.83 ounces. Or, with the QD mount system seen here, 11.7 ounces. For an Inconel and 17-4 can, this is incredibly lightweight.
Yankee Hill Machine’s Turbo-K is also only 4.75 inches long should you go with a flush, direct thread mount as seen a few photos up. With the QD mount seen in the rest of the photos, it’s still only 5.5 inches long. My wife didn’t find this impressive, but I’m quite pleased.
Two wrenches are included with the Turbo K to assist with removing the mounts and such. Most of the time I was able to do it by hand, though, as the 5.56-shaped grooves at the base of the suppressor are more than just cool looking, they’re grippy.
Out on the range the YHM Turbo K does exactly what you’d hope. It completely and totally eliminates all blast and concussion and greatly reduces muzzle flash. Naturally, it also reduces sound levels down to below that 140 dB threshold with a mil-spec test rating of about 138 dB.
Accuracy was either not affected or actually slightly improved with the addition of the Turbo K. Though I missed a couple coyotes at approximately 650 yards (they were way out in a pasture waiting for a cow to give birth so they could eat the calf), I came close enough to scare them off. Way off.
My hunting buddy nabbed another coyote with this setup, and shots on steel at 100 yards remained tight and on the 12″x12″ target regardless of whether the suppressor was attached or not.
At the shooter’s ear on a 10.5-inch semi-auto like the BRN-180S the YHM Turbo K certainly isn’t what you’d call quiet, but it causes no discomfort and is just what the doctor ordered for hunting or for the Flu Manchu boogaloo.
Combine the performance and features with an MSRP of just $485 and a going rate from Silencer Shop of only about $375, and the Turbo K is a clear standout and “best buy” in the realm of compact 5.56 suppressors.
Specifications: YHM Turbo K
Caliber: .223 Remington / 5.56 NATO
Diameter: 1.562″
Length: 4.75″ without mount. 5.5″ with QD adapter
Weight: 8.83 ounces without mount. 11.7 ounces with QD adapter
Mount Type: accepts 1-3/8×24 mounts
Materials: Inconel blast baffle, 17-4 PH SS everything else. Tubeless
Full Auto Rated: Yes
Decibel Rating: 138 dB
MSRP: $485
Ratings (out of five stars):
Utility * * * *
While a dedicated 5.56 suppressor is a fairly niche product by default, the tough construction and the 1.375×24 mounting system on the Turbo K are easily worth an above-average rating in the utility category.
Suppression * * * *
Achieving sub-140 dB performance out of a 5.56 can this small and this lightweight, yet still full-auto rated, is impressive, indeed.
Overall * * * *
Yankee Hill Machine’s Turbo K earns a very strong four stars. Heck, I’d happily call it four-and-a-half. The Turbo K is everything a defensive use 5.56 suppressor should be with the bonus of a universal mounting system and a low price point as cherries on top. It’s a fantastic choice to protect your homestead from the hordes of Kung Flu victims coming for your toilet paper.
All images by Jeremy S. for TTAG.