Honest Review: Yankee Hill R9 Suppressor

Located in Easthampton, Massachusetts, Yankee Hill Machine is a third-generation family-owned company founded in 1951. Not only do they manufacture their own AR-15s, they also make the accessories to outfit the guns. On top of that they have a highly regarded suppressor lineup with a reputation for being affordable, but with some of the highest build quality available.

My first experience with Yankee Hill was with their Phantom series of aggressive “saw tooth” flash hider/compensators. Not only do they look great but they divert some of the gases forward, helping with recoil. My next experience with them was with their low-profile gas blocks. These are a must when you have to remove an AR-15 front sight post to use a free float hand guard. The best part is that the MSRP for some of them start at under $20! The crazy thing is there’s no quality sacrifice, and in fact, unlike some other brands, everything is manufactured in-house in the USA. I can assure you that if it carries the name Yankee Hill it will be a quality affordable product.

This brings me to one of my latest Yankee Hill acquisitions, the R9 9mm Suppressor. After about 10-month wait, the ATF approved my ownership of this fantastic can. I currently own 15 suppressors from all kinds of different companies and in all kinds of different calibers, lengths, and configurations. This is not to brag, but for you to understand that I do have experience with different suppressor companies, and some of the intricacies of suppressors. Many consider the R9 to be a beginner’s suppressor, because it is widely adaptable for different mounts and has the ability to shoot many calibers.

Interchangeability

Yankee Hill decided to use a suppressor-industry-standard (well, as close to “standard” as it gets in this business) 1-3/8”-24 rear mounting threads. I know of at least 13 different suppressor manufacturers that use that hub thread pitch inklings, like SilencerCo, DeadAir, and others. This means that you will always be able to find adaptors or mounts that will work with this suppressor.

Oh yeah—remember when I said that Yankee Hill is known for quality and affordability? The same goes for their suppressors. Yankee Hill makes a whole lineup of adapters, quick detach mounts, and devices. Going back to my flashy Surefire or HUXWRX suppressors they give me the privilege of shelling out $150 – $170 per muzzle device just to mount them. To put that in perspective, I could buy either three muzzle devices for those other companies, or I can just buy another R9 suppressor. Yankee Hill’s cost for a direct thread adapter comes in around $40.  

Tough as Nails

The R9 suppressor is manufactured from 17-4 PH Stainless Steel with an Iconel blast chamber for even more increased blast erosion resistance. The stainless steel construction means that it is a heavier suppressor when compared to say an Aluminum pistol suppressor. But this can is full-auto rated made specifically to use on a sub-machine guns! Being fully welded means that you cannot take the suppressor apart, except for the rear mount. Some find this as a limitation, but I find it as an advantage.

The toughness of this can means that you can use it with all calibers that will fit down the bore, with a few barrel length restrictions. You need a 16-inch barrel length if you want to use this can on your .308 or 6.5cm rifles. Again will it be the best suppressor for a 308? No there are quite purpose built suppressors. But my thinking, for the price of an R9, I like that I have the ability of doing so if I want to tame the blast down.

Budget Can?

I don’t like calling the Yankee Hill R9 a budget can, since “budget” has so many negative connotations. Let’s call it “cost-effective” instead, yeah? For a real world street price of $350-$399 plus the $200 tax stamp, it is one of the more affordable cans available.

Unlike other budget suppressors that look like plain old cylinder cans, the R9 has some great styling. Yes Yankee hill wants their suppressors to not only shoot great, but they need to look good doing it. Here is why that is important, one way to save manufacturing costs is to cut any fancy decorative cuts, since each decoration costs time and effort. The front of the R9 has a great 3 lug looking exit hole to help vent the gases evenly, acting as a muzzle brake. The end of the suppressor is scalloped and has a smooth rounded surface with no sharp edges, a real refined classy look. Moving to the back end of the suppressor is my favorite part, in between the spanner wrench hook points are some bullet engravings that just look tacticool as hell.

What did I not like?

So you have to remember that this can was designed for use on full-auto sub machine guns. That’s the reason for the weight and not being able to take it apart. I do like the ability to take my suppressors apart, especially in a .22-caliber suppressor. But in all honesty all you need to do is submerge it in some carbon cutter cleaner every once in a while, and a can like this should outlive several barrels.

Put it this way, if you could afford to shoot enough ammo through the R9 to clog it, then you can afford to just buy another one. The weight is a byproduct of the construction and its intended use. I was able to use the R9 on both my Springfield Prodigy and Echelon pistols with a Nelson Booster mounting device. The Echelon seemed to be more picky with the weight and wanted to be freshly oiled. The Prodigy shot it like a champ.

My last complaint is that the R9 is a chunky, short suppressor, which is good for short barreled PPC rifles. But the diameter of the can means that on a pistol the suppressor will most likely block the sights. On the flip side, how far are you shooting with a hand held pistol? My technique is to line up the sights and just look through the suppressor and this will allow you to shoot accurately at combat distances.

What Do I Love?

I love that Yankee Hill is still family-owned by two brothers. They care about their products and customers. Yankee Hill could charge more for their products and they would still be a value. But they don’t and I appreciate that they make world class products. I also love that just because their products are affordable does not mean that they look generic, this is the same company that also has a “Cats Ass” suppressor. Mm-hmm.

I love that Yankee Hill makes a whole host of adaptors and mounting devices to give each of their suppressors a wide flexibility. Not only that, but those mounts are in an industry standard thread pitch meaning cross compatibility. You would think that with a “budget suppressor” that the warranty would limited and not cover anything? How about a lifetime limited warranty?

While I have not had to use it for the suppressor, I did have to use it for the 3 lug QD adaptor for an MP5. My first one would slip over the barrels 3 lugs, but did not give any spring pressure to lock in place. A quick call, and I had an RMA and a prepaid shipping label. I had a brand new unit back in my hands in less than a week. For a so-called budget suppressor the R9 has a lot going for it, and it will make you wonder why the hell do other suppressors cost so much.

James The “XDMAN” Mr. UnPewFessional Himself!