Hands-On with the New Dead Air Nomad-L

In the early summer of 2019 a large group of silencer manufacturers got together to do a massive amount of decibel testing all at once with ammunition manufacturer Discreet Ballistics. You can view all of the testing data here, but one silencer absolutely stood out from the crowd. Labeled the ‘Nomax', this prototype longer Dead Air Nomad was put through the paces. For example, it metered at a remarkable 120.5dB at the ear using subsonic 300blk and a 16-inch barrel. In fact, the top three quietest silencers with this rifle/ammo combination were all made by Dead Air. The Nomax was talked about so much that they decided to produce it in the form of the Dead Air Nomad-L.

Essentially the Dead Air Nomad-L is simply a normal Nomad with three more baffles in it. Though it doesn't sound like much, it adds just under 2-inches (1.89) to the length and 4.3-ounces to the weight. And of course, this is naked without the optional Nomad E-brake or a quick-attach mounting system.

You still retain all of the normal attributes of the Nomad such as the low-pressure design and larger diameter. Adding an E-brake to a standard Nomad makes it almost as long as a Dead Air Nomad-L, and if you add a Keymo it exceeds the length.

While we've seen the data for subsonic 300blk, almost everything sounds great with it–especially with a 16-inch barrel. Then the folks at Dead Air told us that it metered around 130dB when using 6.5 Creedmoor. To the range we went, and it exceeded our expectations. Kurz cans have been all the rage, but size and weight really don't matter as much when we're talking about a precision rifle shot off of a barricade or bipod.

Here's what Dead Air has to say about it:

The highly anticipated Nomad-L is here. Its initial debut was admittedly a bit of a tease in its prototype phase, but the numbers were nothing short of impressive. The Nomad-L has been worth the wait and we think you’ll agree. It ships in its direct-thread configuration with 5/8×24 threads. If you are already a fan of Dead Air muzzle devices, you’ll be happy to know the Nomad-L is Key-Mo compatible. That means your Nomad-L can have the same robust and proven quick attachment method as our Sandman models, giving you the best of both worlds. Plus, the Nomad-L is compatible with all Sandman front caps.

*Accessories such as Key-Mo and E-Brake shown in images are not included.

*Rated up to .300 Norma Mag.

Specifications include:

For more information, hit up Dead Air online here.

More on Suppressors

• Stealth Project Suppressors: You're Gas System won't know it's being Suppressed.
• Mini-Me: Dead Air Sandman E-Brake takes what little sting left and cuts it down.
• Reviewing the Dead Air Nomad that takes a shot at the champs.
• The Dead Air Nomad-Ti: Lighter Weight, Lower Pressure.