The suppressor industry has been dominated for decades by premium brands charging $800–$1,500 for what most shooters really want: quieter guns, less concussion, and better range experiences. But that model is changing fast — and a recent influencer review of the Tuna Cans Fat 9 XL shows exactly why.
In a hands-on YouTube comparison, the Fat 9 XL went head-to-head with two well-known competitors:
- Hux Works 9K TI (Titanium)
- SilencerCo Omega 36M (Stainless Steel)
Despite costing hundreds of dollars less, the Tuna Can not only held its own — in several tests, it outperformed the more expensive cans.
Here’s what the reviewer found.
Why Tuna Cans Is Disrupting the Suppressor Market
The reviewer opens by explaining why Tuna Cans is getting so much attention in the first place.
For years, suppressor pricing was inflated by:
- NFA tax burdens
- Import costs
- Boutique manufacturing
- Premium materials used more for marketing than function
With the removal of the federal tax and modern CNC manufacturing, Tuna Cans took a different approach:
strip away unnecessary cost while preserving real-world performance.
That’s how Tuna Cans can offer:
- 9mm suppressors under $300
- 5.56 suppressors under $300
- Fully modular designs
Meanwhile, most competing brands still charge $500 to $1,500+ for comparable performance.
Meet the Fat 9 XL
The Fat 9 XL is Tuna Cans’ flagship 9mm suppressor. It isn’t trying to look fancy — it’s designed to perform.
Key Design Features
- Modular baffle system
- 12 baffles standard
- Review unit had 13 baffles
- Can be run:
- Full length (“long boy”)
- Mid-length
- Short configuration
This gives shooters control over:
- Overall length
- Weight
- Sound suppression
You don’t get that flexibility with most traditional suppressors.
Raw Aluminum Finish: Why Tuna Cans Chose It
One thing that stands out immediately is the raw aluminum finish.
The reviewer explains that this was a deliberate decision:
- It keeps costs low
- It avoids unnecessary coatings
- It lets users customize the look with high-temp paint
Instead of paying $200 more for Cerakote, you can:
- Rattle-can it
- Match it to your firearm
- Repaint it anytime
Functionally, nothing is sacrificed — it’s purely aesthetic.
Live Fire Sound Test Results
The real test was how the Fat 9 XL performed against premium suppressors.
The reviewer tested three ammo types:
- 115 grain
- 124 grain
- 147 grain
And compared:
- Tuna Cans Fat 9 XL
- Hux Works 9K TI
- SilencerCo Omega 36M
What He Heard
Across nearly every configuration:
The Fat 9 XL was quieter than the Hux Works 9K TI.
That’s impressive, because the Hux is:
- Titanium
- Lighter
- More than double the price
The Omega 36M sometimes had a slightly deeper tone on heavy grain ammo, but the difference was small and subjective.
In several setups, the Tuna Can sounded just as quiet or quieter, especially in real-world shooter perception.
Material Differences & Sound Tone
The reviewer also broke down how materials affect sound.
| Material | Sound Character |
|---|---|
| Stainless Steel (Omega 36M) | Deeper, lower-frequency tone |
| Titanium (Hux 9K) | Slightly sharper |
| Aluminum (Fat 9 XL) | Clean, efficient suppression with a slightly higher pitch |
What matters most isn’t the pitch — it’s total sound reduction, and that’s where Tuna Cans delivered.
Weight Comparison
| Suppressor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Hux 9K TI | Lightest |
| Fat 9 XL | Moderate |
| Omega 36M | Heaviest |
Titanium is lighter — but the reviewer points out something important:
Weight doesn’t matter if the suppressor isn’t as quiet.
The Fat 9 XL strikes a strong balance between:
- Weight
- Suppression
- Modularity
- Price
Price vs Performance: The Real Story
This is where Tuna Cans truly shines.
| Suppressor | Price | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Fat 9 XL | Under $300 | Quieter than Hux, competitive with Omega |
| Hux 9K TI | $$$ | Louder in most tests |
| Omega 36M | $$$$ | Slight tone advantage, much heavier |
The reviewer’s takeaway was clear:
“You’re not paying for performance — you’re paying for brand.”
Tuna Cans is proving that modern suppressor design doesn’t need luxury pricing.
Why Shooters Are Switching to Tuna Cans
The Fat 9 XL hits a sweet spot:
- Modular
- Quiet
- Affordable
- Upgradeable
- Customizable
For first-time buyers, it removes the biggest barrier: price.
For experienced shooters, it offers flexibility that most “premium” cans don’t.
Final Verdict
The YouTube reviewer summed it up best:
Tuna Cans may not have flashy finishes or marketing hype — but when it comes to what actually matters on the firing line, the Fat 9 XL competes with suppressors that cost two to four times more.
For shooters who care about:
- Performance
- Value
- Modularity
- Real-world results
…the Fat 9 XL is one of the smartest suppressor buys on the market today.