3 Legged Thing Airgun Moderator review

“Grenade, take cover!” Danny Lenihan, founder and CEO of 3 Legged Thing, has decided to chuck some explosives into the moderator market to mix things up a bit with some exciting new products: the Reservoir Mods and The Modfather airgun moderators. Furthermore, it has been announced that these new products will be exclusively distributed in the UK by Range Right, ensuring they are readily available to airgunners nationwide.

Founded way back in 2010 in a Bedfordshire “chicken shed”, 3 Legged Thing is a British-engineered brand primarily known for revolutionising camera support systems. Before expanding into airgun moderators, the company built a global reputation for high performance tripods, monopods and L-brackets. The company is particularly recognised for introducing vibrant colours to the industry and also for its modular designs.

What are 3 Legged Thing airgun moderators?

I am pleased to say Danny has brought his desire to “corrode conformity” and provide airgunners with that same blend of scientific precision and innovative flair. By translating 3 Legged Thing’s engineering DNA into the Reservoir Mods and The Modfather ranges, he has delivered ultimate sound suppression paired with a striking selection of designs and signature colour combinations. It is a bold, high performance line-up that proves silencers can look every bit as good as they sound.

The moment you pick one up, it is clear the Reservoir Mods are meticulously engineered and finished to an exacting standard. True to the brand’s reputation for versatility, the series offers two distinct lengths to suit different rifles and requirements. Unlike traditional one-piece silencers, these are built from multiple individual sections that can be unscrewed, allowing you to add or subtract modules to find the perfect balance between length and suppression. The XL version features eight of these sections, while the standard features five. Both models are designed for use with .177 and .22 calibres.

How does the 3 Legged Thing Reservoir Mod perform?

Adding to the customisation options, both versions are available with either a “Wavy” or “Chamfered” profile, no doubt helping the product appeal to a wider audience. The XL has an impressive internal capacity of 95ml, measures around 20cm in length, has a 34mm diameter and weighs 204g. The standard model measures 14.5cm and weighs just 134g, with a 59ml capacity.

Both versions utilise a standard ½in UNF thread, ensuring compatibility with the vast majority of air rifles on the market. What truly sets these apart from the drab, black tubes we are used to is the finish. Available in signature colourways including orange, olive drab green and, of course, black, they are designed to be as aesthetically striking as they are functional.

If you open the moderator up, you will find that each chamber contains a precision-cut wool and polyester gasket disc, and according to the specifications, this material has a density of 277 kg/m³, which is nearly four times that of high-performance acoustic panels. I may only have a GCSE in Physics, but even I can tell you that this material looks and feels well up to the task, and compared to some of the materials I have seen in other airgun silencers, it represents a significant step up.

Is The Modfather the best modular airgun silencer?

This is the company’s flagship moderator, displaying a completely different form factor from the Reservoir Mods. It delivers on every front. It is modular, adaptable and strikingly bold. It also boasts a substantial feel in your hand, no doubt due to the aerospace-grade magnesium alloy build. True to Danny’s mantra, you aren’t short on choice. The unit features three interchangeable exoskeleton patterns, including “slotted”, “chevron” and “spiderweb”, available in black or orange-anodised finishes.

For further personalisation, the inner tubes come in four distinct colours: orange, black, olive drab green and blue. The Modfather’s modularity also means that you can swap the front end cap from .177/.22 to .25/.30 and the rear end cap to accommodate ½in UNF, M14x1.25 and M14x1 LH muzzle threads.

However, what truly defines the Modfather is the science behind its internal architecture. Moving away from traditional baffles, it utilises a carefully selected high-density acoustic foam with a density of 24kg/m³ that’s even user-washable.

Now, the standard version weighs 222g, features two chambers, measures 12cm long and boasts a substantial 45mm diameter, giving it an impressive 92ml capacity. Want to boost this? Well, purchase the optional extension tube to add a third chamber to increase the internal volume even further. You can even stack two Modfathers using an extension ring. I don’t know about you, but I want to see that!

Are 3 Legged Thing moderators effective for sound suppression?

So, how do they actually stack up? For the testing, I paired both with a BRK Brocock Ranger XR2 in .177. The XL proved to be an incredibly effective silencer, definitely holding its own against the very best on the market. Interestingly, my groups noticeably tightened with it fitted, which was a great little bonus that I definitely was not expecting.

Unsurprisingly, reducing the length and capacity of the unit by removing a few sections leads to a louder report and a change to the airgun’s balance and handling characteristics. The real advantage here is the versatility on offer, giving the shooter the freedom to prioritise either compactness or suppression as they see fit. I like it!

When it came to the Modfather, the results were intriguing. Despite its larger diameter and “flagship” status, my ears suggested it was a sniff louder than its more slender sibling, the Reservoir Mods XL.

Now, before we start declaring a winner and a loser, it’s worth remembering that these two exist to give shooters options. The XL offers excellent performance in a traditional format, albeit with some proper flair and modularity, while The Modfather allows you to swap end caps for bigger calibres, change thread types and completely overhaul the look with those exoskeleton patterns.

For the pure weight-saver and silence-seeker, the XL is my choice. But for the shooter who wants an incredibly well-built modular statement piece that can be adapted across calibres and thread types, the Modfather remains a formidable piece of kit.

The final word

It’s refreshing to see a British brand like 3 Legged Thing inject this much energy into the moderator market. With the Reservoir Mods XL coming in at £89.99 and the standard version at £69.99, the company offers incredible value and performance that surprised me.

While The Modfather sits at the higher price point of £139.99, as the customisable flagship, both ranges prove that silencers don’t have to be boring black tubes. If you want to support homegrown innovation while giving your rifle a serious performance (and style) boost, you really ought to check these out.