Thread: Quick question about suppressors

Do they lose their noise reducing effectiveness over time ie the more rounds fired?

the more the "hole" gets bigger thru erosion/corrosion then yes. however having baffles that have slight pits etc are better than smooth polished ones.

No but apparently they do have a finite lifespan. You get a new suppressor when you get a new barrel, im told.

Originally Posted by Bagheera

No but apparently they do have a finite lifespan. You get a new suppressor when you get a new barrel, im told.

That could be a long time for me I mostly shoot cast bullets, Modern steel barrels never wear out with lead projectiles,
DPT's stainless steel baffle should hold up well and protect the other baffles from erosion .

They also loose their effectiveness when they slowly fill up with shit that never gets cleaned up and the internal volume gets smaller and smaller.

I haven't noticed my DPT getting any louder on my .223 compared to any of my others and I can nearly poke my index finger through the first baffle it has had that many shots fired through it. Never cleaned it and other than a bit of corrosion there doesn't seem to be a huge deal of build up either.
Be getting replaced at some stage so be interesting to see if the new one is notably any quieter to the ear.

Back when using cheap GC ARs the suppressor, Gunworks ones, got replaced when rifle wore out which was 4-5 thousand rounds. Suppressor was usually pretty full with crap but still effective. Got quieter from new with use as a carbon layer built up inside. Still use Gunworks suppressor as well as a Neilson Sonic. Obviously can’t clean a Gunworks one and never cleaned the Sonic, only done approximately 800 rounds, and don’t intend to. Both work as well as each other but swapping both on Howa M1500 the Gunworks one shoots tighter groups as a rule. Waitaki Engineering can was probably the best but a bit weighty maybe. Indestructible though. Just my observations.

Originally Posted by woods223

Back when using cheap GC ARs the suppressor, Gunworks ones, got replaced when rifle wore out which was 4-5 thousand rounds. Suppressor was usually pretty full with crap but still effective. Got quieter from new with use as a carbon layer built up inside. Still use Gunworks suppressor as well as a Neilson Sonic. Obviously can’t clean a Gunworks one and never cleaned the Sonic, only done approximately 800 rounds, and don’t intend to. Both work as well as each other but swapping both on Howa M1500 the Gunworks one shoots tighter groups as a rule. Waitaki Engineering can was probably the best but a bit weighty maybe. Indestructible though. Just my observations.

Why can you not clean a gunworks suppressor ? There are solvents that would do a great job of removing carbon or better yet ultrasonic cleaners....just food for thought

Originally Posted by Friwi

They also loose their effectiveness when they slowly fill up with shit that never gets cleaned up and the internal volume gets smaller and smaller.

That is why you follow your advice and clean them. Dead simple. Ours are as still as sharp as ever with noise reduction. Not talking rocket science.

Originally Posted by Friwi

They also loose their effectiveness when they slowly fill up with shit that never gets cleaned up and the internal volume gets smaller and smaller.

rather than the carbon having a dampening effect?
I remember robbie tiffen telling me years ago that it will get quieter with a bit of carbon in there

the heli guys would aparently use 10k bullets thru them then bring them back for a clean

Like most things, regular maintenance will prolong the life of the object considerably. Sealed units can be cleaned by soaking them in an appropriate solvent for a few hours followed by thorough shaking and draining. Ultrasonic cleaning may also be possible. Strippable units are easier to maintain. For those not so inclined, most suppressor manufacturers will service their units for a modest fee. High-power cartridges can erode the baffles closest to the muzzle, especially aluminium alloy types. The life of the suppressor can be enhanced by having the first baffle made from, or sleeved with, stainless steel. It is a known fact that baffles with an irregular surface give superior performance in noise reduction over smooth ones, so some erosion of the baffles is no bad thing. Servicing suppressors depends on the design but most should go 1,000 rounds or more without attention. Suppressors that include wipes (not commonly used in NZ as they are for specialist military use) need servicing every 10-20 rounds. With proper maintenance a good suppressor should last the life of the user.

Originally Posted by Bill999

rather than the carbon having a dampening effect?
I remember robbie tiffen telling me years ago that it will get quieter with a bit of carbon in there

the heli guys would aparently use 10k bullets thru them then bring them back for a clean

Both can be true.

Two opposing principles are at work.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" will over time, sadly, eventually, be overtaken by "outa sight, outa mind".

Likewise, internal carbon coating will have some dampening effect, but in extremes, where the suppressor volume eventually gets reduced below a certain level by the carbon crud, it will start to get louder. From playing with suppressor fillers and noticing the benefits or irregular surfaces inside it (even when you put a lot in) I suspect it the tipping point will be a very, very heavy amount of fouling.

Originally Posted by Cordite

Both can be true.

Two opposing principles are at work.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" will over time, sadly, eventually, be overtaken by "outa sight, outa mind".

Likewise, internal carbon coating will have some dampening effect, but in extremes, where the suppressor volume eventually gets reduced below a certain level by the carbon crud, it will start to get louder. From playing with suppressor fillers and noticing the benefits or irregular surfaces inside it (even when you put a lot in) I suspect it the tipping point will be a very, very heavy amount of fouling.

So I should stop planning on getting a suppressor for the .50 muzzle loader then?