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SHOP NOWClassic Firearms heads to Gun Owners of America’s 2025 goals event in Knoxville for a full range day, testing Dead Air suppressors and XAR’s ultra-light 9mm carbine while interviewing reps about design, performance, and what’s coming next.
The video is filmed at the Gun Owners of America goals event in Knoxville, Tennessee, where numerous manufacturers and companies exhibit new products, similar to SHOT Show or NRA events. The Classic Firearms crew has already spent time on the range shooting various firearms and suppressors, and viewers see some of that footage overlaid. The plan is to walk the event floor, visit different exhibitors, and highlight what is new or noteworthy. The focus is on sharing real range impressions and observations from the products just tested, rather than only looking at them on the table.
At the Dead Air booth, the discussion starts with the RXD30 suppressor, a 3D-printed .30-caliber silencer developed in collaboration with Ruger. It is fully 3D-printed titanium, using a hybrid internal layout with Triscalian baffles and Nomad baffles toward the front, plus an E-brake printed into the body. It is positioned as a strong option for hunting and precision bolt guns, with a listed weight of about 12.4 ounces and a retail price around $1,199. On the range, it was fired on a .308 rifle without ear protection and was described as extremely comfortable, with recoil and sound levels noticeably better than typical .308 or 5.56 setups that still require hearing protection. Dead Air notes it also performs impressively on higher-pressure calibers like 7mm PRC.
Dead Air then introduces the RXD22 Ti, a rimfire suppressor launched alongside the RXD30. It uses a 3D-printed titanium single-piece core with Triscalian-style baffles adapted for rimfire, housed in a machined tube. The can is described as very quiet in testing, with performance comparable to the Mask and no noticeable first-round pop. The titanium core is PVD coated to make cleaning easier, addressing how dirty .22 LR and other rimfire rounds can be. A notable feature is the included XRF muzzle brake, a quick-detach mounting system with threads that allow the user to install brakes on multiple .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, and even 5.7×28 firearms, then move the suppressor between them. The core can also be configured to run as a direct-thread can by torquing the muzzle device into the body.
The conversation shifts to the Mojave line, focusing on the Mojave 45 suppressor. It takes lessons from the Mojave 9 and applies them to a .45 ACP pistol and compact automatic platform can that is full-auto rated and noted to sound excellent on MAC-10 style builds. The Mojave 45 is modular, allowing short or long configurations, and uses a hybrid baffle system combining Triscalian baffles in the main module with a different baffle style in the extension. Dead Air has been pursuing these hybrid stacks to balance tone, back pressure, and sound performance. The Sandman X is also highlighted as a favorite 30-caliber suppressor for AR-15s, AR-10s, and semi-auto rifles from 5.56 and .308 to 6.5 Creedmoor and up to .300 RUM. It is described as extremely durable, suitable for high round-count drills and long range days, with low back pressure, low tone, and low perceived decibels, using another hybrid baffle stack and HUB threads for mounting flexibility.
Range footage shows a shooter running through a lineup of Dead Air suppressors on various calibers. The sequence includes a .22 setup, the Mojave 45 on .45 ACP, a 5.56 rifle with the Sandman X, and a .308 rifle also with the Sandman X. The RXD30 is then fired on .308, and the shooter comments on how much that can is liked. Additional shots are taken with a .44 Special and a .45-70, demonstrating Dead Air cans across a wide range of pressures and bore sizes. The discussion emphasizes that Dead Air products are known for reliability, ruggedness, and sound performance, but the representatives stress that tone is as important as raw decibel numbers. They explain that Dead Air focuses on achieving a comfortable, low-tone sound signature rather than chasing only meter readings.
The video then moves to the XAR booth, where a 16-inch 9mm pistol-caliber carbine is presented. It is described as the lightest 16-inch 9mm PCC the host has handled or fired, weighing just under 3 pounds without an optic. XAR explains that this rifle was built as a concept to test the waters beyond their usual budget PCC segment and to show what they can do for competition-oriented shooters. The upper and lower receivers are made from a carbon fiber composite to achieve the extremely low weight. On the range, the carbine is noted for having exceptionally light recoil for a 9mm PCC, reinforcing its suitability for fast, competition-style shooting while remaining easy to control.
XAR details the internal design of the 9mm PCC, highlighting a proprietary roller-delayed blowback system developed to be as maintenance-free as possible. The goal is reliable function and longevity when run clean and dry, without relying on lubrication. The system uses ceramic rollers and special surface treatments to support this approach. The muzzle device is a very lightweight compensator or brake of XAR’s own design, made from polyether ether ketone, a high heat-tolerant polymer, which helps keep overall weight down while still providing noticeable control despite the relatively low gas volume of 9mm. The handguard is carbon fiber, and the barrel has an effective length of about 5.5 inches with a permanently attached sleeve to reach a legal 16 inches. XAR reports months of testing and estimates 3,000 to 4,000 rounds through this particular rifle during development.
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