The YHM Turbo T2 is dedicated 5.56 suppressor that began shipping in early 2020 as the replacement for the original Turbo that was released in 2017. YHM also offers an even shorter, lighter “K” can called the Turbo K.
Features of the YHM Turbo T2
- Notched rim and tri-port muzzle on the end cap for flash suppression
- 1-3/8″x24 threaded mount making it compatible with mounting systems from other manufacturers such as the SilencerCo ASR and Dead Air Key-Mo
- Tubeless design made from heat treated 17-4 stainless steel
- 4 baffles (3 heat treated 17-4 stainless steel baffles plus 1 heat treated 718 Inconel blast baffle)
- Full-auto rating
- Phantom QD adapter
- Minimum barrel length of 10” (it used to be 10.5″, but YHM updated this on their website).
YHM Turbo T2 Specs
- Weight: 13.625 oz (including Phantom QD Adapter which itself weighs 2.75 oz)
- Diameter: 1.5625″
- Length: 5.59″ (6.5″ with Phantom QD Adapter)
- Mount: 1 3/8″-24 Adaptable Interface
- Decibel Rating: 134 dB
What’s Included with the YHM Turbo T2
The YHM Turbo T2 ships with:
- 1 Phantom QD adapter
- 2 suppressor wrenches
- 1 YHM-5M2 QD muzzle brake
- Barrel shims
- Owner’s manual
Pricing
MSRP is $525 but the street price before COVID-19 was about $370.
YHM Kurz Phantom QD Adapter – Make Your Turbo T2 Shorter
The YHM Kurz Phantom QD Adapter (available in steel or titanium) enables you to shorten your Phantom QD mounting system by almost 0.75″ giving the Turbo T2 a total overall length of about 5.75″.
The steel version of the Kurz QD adapter will also save about 3/4 of an ounce in overall weight for a total overall weight of 12.875 oz for both the Turbo T2 and the steel Kurz QD adapter, but is supposed to be about 1-2 dB louder.
According to my scale, the Kurz QD adapter made from steel weighs approximately 2 oz, while the titanium version weighs only about 1.125 oz.
YHM Kurz QD Adapter (below left) vs Standard QD Adapter (below right)
Compatible Muzzle Devices for Kurz QD Adapter
Initially, I was told by a representative at YHM, that the Kurz QD adapter requires the use of the YHM “Mini” Phantom QD Muzzle Brake and that the standard-sized Phantom QD muzzle brake is NOT compatible with the Kurz QD adapter when using a Turbo T2 or Turbo K. However, I have subsequently been told by someone else at YHM that the standard-sized Phantom QD muzzle brake IS compatible with the Kurz adapter.
Just to be on the safe side, I have decided to only use mini Phantom QD muzzle brakes with the Kurz QD adapter on a Turbo T2. Additionally, the “mini” Phantom QD brake (3.25 oz) is a little lighter than the standard Phantom QD brake (3.875 oz).
YHM sRx Low Profile QD Adapter
YHM recently introduced a new QD system, which includes the SRX low profile QD adapter made from 17-4 PH Stainless Steel (no Titanium version yet) and a choice of sRx compatible muzzle devices. Unfortunately, the sRx low profile QD adapter is NOT compatible with the original Turbo, nor is it compatible with the Phantom muzzle brakes and flash hiders. Instead, you will need to use a compatible muzzle device (sRx QD mini muzzle brake, the full size sRx QD muzzle brake or the sRx QD flash hider). The sRx QD muzzle brakes are supposed to weigh 1.4 oz while the sRx QD adapter is supposed to weigh 1.92 oz (the Titanium Kurz Phantom QD adapter weighs approximately 1.125 oz).
Turbo T2 vs Turbo K
The Turbo K is supposed to weigh about 2 oz less that than the Turbo T2. If you compare the Turbo T2 with a Kurz QD adapter (5.75″ overall length) to the Turbo K with the standard QD adapter (5.50″ overall length), the Turbo T2 is then only about .25″ longer, and weighs only 1.25 ounces more (Kurz QD adapter made from steel) than the Turbo K. If you put a Titanium Kurz QD adapter on the Turbo T2, the overall weight will only be .4 oz more than the Turbo K with a standard QD adapter. BUT, the Turbo T2 will give you one more baffle making it quieter than the Turbo K.
If your goal is to have the shortest and lightest 556 suppressor while using a QD mount, you could just put a Titanium Kurz QD adapter on the Turbo K and call it a day. This would give you a total weight of about 9.875 oz (according to my scale) and an approximate overall length of just 4.75″.
However, if you prefer to have better sound suppression while still being as light and short as possible, then the Turbo T2 with a Titanium Kurz QD adapter may be the way to go. This would give you a total weight of about 12 oz with a Titanium Kurz QD adapter (12.875 oz with a steel Kurz QD adapter) and an overall length of about 5.75″.
What Happened to the original YHM Kurz “Kit”?
Originally, YHM offered the Kurz “Kit” which had included the Kurz low profile QD adapter, Mini Phantom muzzle brake and barrel shims. YHM has since discontinued selling the Kurz low profile QD adapter and the Mini Phantom muzzle brake together as a “Kit”. The Kurz QD adapter (available in steel or titanium) and mini muzzle brake are now sold separately.
Tips About Attaching and Removing the YHM Turbo T2 and Possible Issues
When attaching your Turbo T2, YHM recommends that you use a quick snapping twisting motion to ratchet your suppressor down. In other words, don’t slowly twist the suppressor when you get to the point where you need to begin ratcheting it down.
Please note that when attaching your Turbo T2 for the first time on a brand new muzzle brake, the ratcheting down motion may be a bit choppy due to some resistance from the teeth on the mount and the muzzle brake. Once you’ve shot through your Turbo T2 and wiped down the muzzle brake, ratcheting down your Turbo T2 should become easier and smoother, especially after you ratchet it on and off several times to put some wear on the teeth.
In the YouTube video below, go to 1:29 (you may need to turn your phone sideways to see the time) to see how to ratchet down the Turbo T2.
When removing your Turbo T2, grasp it (while wearing a heat resistant glove or mitt) from the bottom around the notches of the Phantom QD adapter.
If you ever have trouble removing your Turbo T2, you can use one of the spanner wrenches that is included with your Turbo T2, to break it free. To do this, position the spanner wrench at the bottom along the notches on the Phantom QD adapter itself and turn it counter clockwise.
How quiet is the YHM Turbo T2?
According to YHM, the Turbo T2 (with the standard Phantom QD adapter) has an average sound pressure level of about 134dB on a 14.5” AR-15 using 55 gr ammo. This is why Yankee Hill Machine can tout that their Turbo T2 is well below the hearing safe threshold of 140 dB.
Is the YHM Turbo T2 Hearing Safe?
I believe that no suppressor is truly hearing safe. Regardless, I always double up on ear pro, even when shooting suppressed. Keep in mind that one loud blast (impulse noise), such as from gunfire or an explosion, of less than 1 second, can cause permanent and immediate hearing loss. For example, it has been reported that impulse noise which exceeds 140 decibels can immediately damage your hearing.
Hearing damage really boils down to the length of exposure to noise at a particular decibel level. For instance, The National Institute of Occupational Safety (NIOSH) states that for 115 decibel noise, the exposure limit is 28 seconds. The exposure to any sound louder than the 70 dB (EPA safe noise level) over 24 hours will damage hearing. Below is a chart from the American Suppressor Association that can help put exposure to sounds in perspective.
At the Range
Due to the ammo shortage, I was limited to what and how much I could shoot. That said, after shooting several hundred rounds of M193, the YHM Turbo T2 eliminated concussion and noticeably reduced the flash signature, while bringing the sound level well below that of a typical 9mm handgun.
Especially if you are shooting indoors with a muzzle brake, this makes shooting 5.56 NATO a surprisingly pleasant experience. In fact, many people have tapped me on the shoulder to ask what brand of suppressor I was using and/or whether I was shooting subsonic ammo because they were amazed by how much quieter the YHM Turbo T2 (with the Kurz mount) made my SLR Rifleworks AR build as well as other hosts. I also did not notice any difference in sound suppression when using the shorter Kurz QD adapter compared to the standard QD adapter.
More Gas to the Face and Eyes
Please keep in mind that the primary drawback when using the YHM Turbo T2, like with many other suppressors, is the increased gas to the eyes. It is for this reason I also use the Griffin Armament SN-ACH Charging Handle (another option would be the SilencerCo Gas Defeating Charging Handle) along with an adjustable gas block.
I also use electrical tape to cover the gaps between the upper and lower receivers, which really helps to cut down additional gas to the eyes. If you have a forward assist, I recommend covering the end of it with electrical tape as well to mitigate gas leakage.
A Bootleg adjustable bolt carrier group is an alternative to an adjustable gas block. However, a Bootleg adjustable carrier may require the use of a heavier buffer, particularly if your host has a shorter barrel. In such cases, it may be preferable to use the Aero Precision adjustable gas block rather than the Bootleg adjustable bolt carrier because you’ll have greater control over the amount of gas that enters the action.
Should You Use Frangible Ammo with your YHM Turbo T2 Suppressor?
According to the YHM Turbo T2 owner’s manual:
“Thinly jacketed and frangible ammunition can cause jacket separation resulting in damage to the suppressor. Damage resulting from the use of ammunition where jacket separation was present will not be covered under warranty.” It goes on to say that: “Damage caused by the use of subsonic or frangible ammunition will not be covered under warranty.”
Final Thoughts
The YHM Turbo T2 is an affordable, durable and impressive dedicated suppressor for 5.56 NATO from a reputable manufacturer, Yankee Hill Machine. The Turbo T2 also has a relatively short overall length, particularly if you purchase the Kurz QD adapter (approximately 5.75″).
Another awesome feature is that the YHM Turbo T2 uses a 1-3/8″x24 threaded rear mount making it compatible with a variety of mounting systems from other manufacturers including the SilencerCo ASR and Dead Air Key-Mo.
Truth be told, I prefer having an even smaller and lighter suppressor which is why the YHM Turbo K (with a Titanium QD adapter) is my absolute favorite suppressor. That said, the Turbo T2 is still a great suppressor.
Relative to other brands of suppressors, the YHM Turbo T2 costs about half of what many other popular suppressor brands have to offer. It is also shorter, lighter and quieter than many of those other more expensive suppressors. Whether this is your first suppressor, or another one you’d like to add to your collection, I don’t think you’ll find a better performing suppressor for the money.