I’m not sure I will get a lot of responses here since most of the discussion is about hunting rifles, but I figured I would start here.

I shoot a lot of 300 Blackout thru a suppressed AR, and the silencer causes increased back pressure and subsequently gas leaks out of the charging handle opening. Even with safety glasses it’s not very pleasant. I’m wondering if switching to a side charging upper might not be a worthwhile investment for keeping some of the gas out of my eyes? Does anyone have experience with side-charging guns?

Try a Geissele airborne charging handle.

There are other charging handles made for suppressor use.

https://silencerco.com/silence...ing-charging-handle/

Mike

Try an adjustable gas block

Interesting, I've never thought of that. I'm about to suppress an AR also I'll have to look into that.

An adjustable gas block is a must for shooting an AR suppressed. With my new POF Renegade (.308) I get some slight gas in the face (right cheek). I'm going to try one of the Radians charging handles and see if that helps.

The other reason to use the adjustable gas block is to help minimize "chamber pop" from the direct impingement system.

It's somewhat difficult to tame the noise on an AR. You have both the muzzle blast, and the redirected gas that cycles the action. It's sort of a balancing act to find a happy place.

The other thing you'll find out is a suppressed AR is incredibly dirty. Load a 10 rd mag and shoot 5 rounds, look at how dirty the remaining rounds are from all the gas blowback.

I have an AR-.308 with a 16.5" barrel, Dead Air Nomad-30 with enhanced ebrake. It's hearing safe enough for hunting, but not necessarily for moderate bench plinking.

I know this thread has gone stale, but another option to consider is a free-flow suppressor such as Huxwrx Flow 7.62

I might look at trading out my Nomad to one of these after I read some more reviews.