What baffle is strongest?

[Ranb]

For thoe of you who make their own silencers, what baffle shape do you think is strongest? I thnk the K baffle while easy to keep aligned, is the most likely to collapse in a silencer made for a high powered rifle. I used K baffles in my 5.56 and 338 RUM silencers, but it might have been a mistake to do so in the 338. I think I will go to step baffles if they work better than the smooth ones.



Ranb

 

[PTK]

Cones are the strongest, but stepped cones are the bee's knees in terms of dB reduction, while K baffles are good for rimfire.

Those are just my observations. I still stick with stepped cones for anything over .32acp.

 

[Windknot]

Holes in the K-Baffle?

Ranb,

Was wondering why the K style baffles have the gas ports milled into them and the Conical and Step style do not?

I'm just getting into this (this is actually my first post) and still trying to get my brain wrapped around the physics of suppressor construction.

 

[Ranb]

The cone shaped baffles make for a path the requires the gun powder gases to reverse direction to get back to the center hole. If there were no additional holes in the K baffle, then there would be wasted space between the front flange and the cone. The size position and shape of the two holes in K baffles varies greatly from maker to maker. It is mostly voodoo to me. I have settled for the simpler shape shown in my drawing.

Ranb

 

[boya]

my first post. could anyone buy baffles? and who sells them, and what cost?
I fired a friends MAC- 10 .45 with a home made suppressor, using flat washers and migged on spacers. that heavy beast was quiet enough.
no silencer, I like the cone type, but wonder how the step design would be better, and friend is now trying for a co-axial and larger blast chamber design.

 

[Ranb]

In the USA anything intended for use in a silencer is by itself a silencer. Anyone can buy baffles, as long as they pay the $200 tax and submit an ATF form 4 and live in one of the 37 states that allow them. You can find a list of silencer manufacturers here; http://www.silencertests.com/links.htm .

If you want to upgrade a silencer, it is probably better to send it to a class 2 manufacturer for an upgrade. They can do any repair/replacement that does not change the tube, lengthen it or change the bore. You can also make new parts yourself by submitting an ATF form1 and paying the $200 tax. You can also make a new silencer by submitting the ATF form 1.

I have made several cone and K baffle silencers. My next few projects will be step cone.

Ranb

 

[jmorris]

I think a mono core has the ability to be the strongest but most I have seen are pretty delicate due to the amount of material removed. On the other hand it only has to be strong enough to withstand the force delivered to it. Any stronger and you just sleep better at night.

 

[R3dundantC]

http://www.rh-custom.net/product_info.php?cPath=18&products_id=67

I just stumbled across this accidentally. This all seems a little sketchy.

So, all I need to do now is send in my Form 1 and monies to the BATF -- <Sam>, and if they ever get around to approving it I can build a can for my .22 for $100?

 

[jmorris]

I just stumbled across this accidentally. This all seems a little sketchy.

So, all I need to do now is send in my Form 1 and monies to the BATF -- <Sam>, and if they ever get around to approving it I can build a can for my .22 for $100?

The stamp is $200 and about 4-6 months for approval. If you don't charge for your time there isn't $20 in materials in most .22 cans.

 

[R3dundantC]

I could make one out of random stuff in my house and a gerber multitool. But that's not worth the $200 for something that would last me a magazine. This RH Custom stuff looks like a good start for someone who doesn't have access to lathes and whatnot and still be on the economical end.

 

[Ranb]

My silencers only cost what it takes to buy some tubing and bar stock. Inconel and titanium are the most expensive. Stainless is not cheap either. I use mostly 4130 and aluminum for mine. Aluminum is the cheapest and just fine for pistol and subsonic rifle rounds. I also spent $1600 on a lathe which was the cheapest one I could find with a 1.125" spindle bore to allow me to easily threads most rifle barrels. Steel is required for the higher powered rifles. It is also a good idea to make the first baffle from steel even if it is going to be used for a semi-auto 22lr pistol. Steel resists erosion much better than aluminum.

For those here in the USA, silencers are legal for unlicensed civilians in AL, AR, AK, AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MO (with C&R), MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY. Two good sources of info are http://www.silencertests.com/links.htm and http://www.subguns.com .

Ranb

 

[Ranb]

http://www.rh-custom.net/product_inf...products_id=67
I just stumbled across this accidentally. This all seems a little sketchy.

This is the website for a Swedish company. You would need an FFL/SOT class 1 to import some of that stuff legally.

Ranb

 

[crushbup]

I could make one out of random stuff in my house and a gerber multitool. But that's not worth the $200 for something that would last me a magazine. This RH Custom stuff looks like a good start for someone who doesn't have access to lathes and whatnot and still be on the economical end.

The RH Custom stuff looks to be a good start for someone who wants a felony charge. As these are even labeled as suppressor parts, the ATF would nail you without a Form 4.

 

[Mikey_P]

Since you are assembling it wouldn't a form 1 work? All sorts of items are produced from pre-manufactured parts.

 

[PTK]

Every single component of a silencer is viewed as a silencer. There used to be mail-order "kits" where you could just pop everything together, they are illegal without a Form 4/F1, just as any silencer is.

 

[Ranb]

If you are using an ATF form 1 to build a silencer, you can "sub-contract" parts made for you if you are present while they are being made. You can also obtain parts fom anywhere that are intended for other uses (engine block freeze plugs are popular) and modify them yourself for a form 1 silencer.

You cannot import from outside the USA actual silencer parts without a license, the ATF form 1 will not suffice.

Ranb