.30 caliber titanium rifle suppressor build~

[cal50]

After getting sidetracked with numerous auto & home repairs and the work thing I managed to complete my .308 titanium can.....

Finished OAL length: 10.250"
Diameter 1.750 OD.
Wall thickness is .070"
End cap is 24 TPI.
Finished weight: 872.4 Grams / 30.77 oz / 1.9 lbs.
Direct thread mount : 5/8-24

The tube is grade nine (9) from Tiger Metals. The tube started at 12" long and I checked it for internal straightness and run out and cut it down and faced it to its finished length. I originally was going to make both ends threaded but changed my mind and pressed and welded one end and threaded the muzzle cap. Baffles are traditional cone shaped baffles that stack on each other. Grade five (5) titanium for the baffles and end cap. My blast baffle is stainless steel as well as the blast chamber spacer. I turned a bronze plug to gauge the ID or the tube and pressed it thru until I had a nice fit. I made my baffles .002" smaller than this plug.

It has 6 titanium cones , one stainless steel blast baffle and rebated / counter-bored end cap of titanium.


The large gas lens ( CK ) works well for shielding once I cranked the argon flow rate up. My first weld was a darker color but once I had the gas flow right the rest were shiny. I used the plug gauge I made for a support and to rotate it welding the seam where the tube and mounting piece meet. I put my ground clamp there and back purged it with a hose of argon in the muzzle end.

I had Veritas do the laser engraving and they did an EXCELLENT job on the tube.

Now I am looking forward to hit the range and try it on my SIG 716 & 556R

The thinking phase.....

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0118_zpsv0chzzqo.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0118_zpsv0chzzqo.jpg.html)


Cutting baffles~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0143_zpstvov1313.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0143_zpstvov1313.jpg.html)


Tube with gauge plug and steady rest marks~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0149_zpsfyxh8fex.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0149_zpsfyxh8fex.jpg.html)

Some obscene stainless steel for the blast baffle and spacer~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0119_zpshwroczhr.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0119_zpshwroczhr.jpg.html)

Pile of baffles~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0193_zpsvcwlt9qd.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0193_zpsvcwlt9qd.jpg.html)

Measuring the stack and doing some math~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0159_zpscnqy6sit.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0159_zpscnqy6sit.jpg.html)

Threading Mount~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0156_zpsgjexhxut.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0156_zpsgjexhxut.jpg.html)

Getting ready to press into main tube. 1/4" diameter hole in tube X 6 to plug weld thru. Insert to tube has a .002" press fit.

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0172_zpsflcbuof9.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0172_zpsflcbuof9.jpg.html)

Pressed in and ready to weld~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0174_zpsizkck01c.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0174_zpsizkck01c.jpg.html)

[cal50]

Welded ~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0010_zpsr6iehoo0.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0010_zpsr6iehoo0.jpg.html)

Weld hit with Scotch Brite~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0014_zps8ixq4rkl.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0014_zps8ixq4rkl.jpg.html)


Done with all the guts~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0015_zpsfrvt5lyb.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0015_zpsfrvt5lyb.jpg.html)

[Artful]

Well that's a lot of good work - I'm hoping it sounds good.

I am surprised at the weight that's almost as much as my Stainless AAC Cyclone

[cal50]

The AAC Cyclone is a great can.

The weight increases quickly when increasing length & diameter. The Cyclone is 1 1/2" X 9.5 long and mine is 1 3/4" X 10 1/4" long.

The cost of titanium jumps quite a bit in the larger diameters.
Heck, even the smaller stuff in a grade 5 is a pain in the wallet.

I wanted the added volume in the can and you pay for it in cost & weight.

[garandsrus]

What was the approximate cost to make the can in titanium? I am considering making one. Thanks...

[cal50]

What was the approximate cost to make the can in titanium? I am considering making one. Thanks...


I think the material was around $275 total for the grade 9 tube and grade 5 round titanium.

If you price material the grade 5 round titanium ( solid bar ) really jumps in cost in the larger diameters. Its around $10 per inch or a little higher.

Ebay has some good deals for material if you are patient. Titanium tube is not bad in cost by comparison to the round bar.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
That was very well done and enjoyable to read. Well done on the photos ! Hope to get a place one day and have a lathe when we finally settle up north there.. Mike in Peru

[andremajic]

Very nice. How long do you suppose the titanium should last due to hot gas erosion? I understand the SS will get the brunt of the blast.

I'm impressed it's so light. I'm thinking about the cost to longevity to weight benefits of Ti.

Here's a pic of internals for inspiration to those that haven't committed to a form 1 yet.

Andy

[Artful]

Oh, I like those suppressor internals
http://truthaboutguns-zippykid.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/P1310407-900x601.jpg

how about a little X-ray action
http://blog.cheaperthandirt.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/09/suppressor-x-ray_FINAL.jpg

[Elkins45]

Artful, what's that one with the offset holes 9th from the left? I assume that is some sort of form 1 can because it has so much excess metal?

[Artful]

I don't know it was a pull down picture from google search

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/10/foghorn/cutaway-silencers/

Kevin Brittingham has quite the selection of silencers in his collection. Every silencer company in the world looks at their competitors’ products to see what they’re up to and while some are happy with simply having x-ray images of the internals, Kevin likes to actually saw the cans in half to examine their guts. Make the jump to get a closer look at some of the autopsy photos . . .

Kevin in case you don't know was the owner of AAC before it was sold to
Remington/Freedom Group Family of Companies (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAAahUKEwj56dqeiN7GAhVVL4gKHRbfBYk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freedom-group.com%2F&ei=dc6mVbnbN9XeoASWvpfICA&usg=AFQjCNFF5Dh1q-D0jOOh2ezu_MHUwEeuzg&bvm=bv.97949915,d.cGU)

[cal50]

Very nice. How long do you suppose the titanium should last due to hot gas erosion? I understand the SS will get the brunt of the blast.

I'm impressed it's so light. I'm thinking about the cost to longevity to weight benefits of Ti.

Here's a pic of internals for inspiration to those that haven't committed to a form 1 yet.

Andy



If the rate of fire is kept within reason ( can not abused by mag dumps or automatic fire ) it will outlive me given normal use.
The blast baffle take the most abuse and its why some people run muzzle brakes for their mount to lessen the impact on their suppressor.
Short barrels and large capacity cases are punishing on suppressors. Rifle and carbine length tubes are less punishing.

My can is actually heavy for a titanium can due to the thick walled tube , length and number of baffles and their thickness.
Its light compared to steel or stainless steel cans the same size.

I wanted a removable end cap so that required me to use thicker tube.
If I was making a sealed can I could have used much thinner tube & baffles then fully welded the baffle stack and pressed it in the main tube for strength and weight savings.

[cal50]

Mixed bag for the 1st range trip....

I overlooked a detail on my SIG 716 host rifles with the factory barrel thread and my mounting design. SIG does / did not relieve the threaded diameter against the barrel shoulder. The minor diameter is .574 and SIG leaves it turned at .616 diameter which means my suppressor will not screw down tight against the barrel shoulder and the mounting surface on the suppressor.

( I discovered this at the range)

I did screw it on until it stopped and test fired a few shots. No baffle strikes ( good ) but a sharper tone than I anticipated. I was on the fence about clipping the cone baffles so this made the decision easy to give it a try. I simply removed the end cap and pushed the baffles out. I clipped all of them except the blast baffle. I also made a precision spacer to locate the suppressor against the barrel shoulder. I will tweak the length if I get an impact shift from the clipped baffle stack.

A trip to the range hopefully tomorrow.


Thread NOT relived to minor diameter ( .574 ) mic's at .616 so a can will NOT shoulder out on my SIG 716~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0022_zpsfrddsywr.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0022_zpsfrddsywr.jpg.html)


Parallel machined spacer to mound against barrel shoulder~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0023_zpstpaclebc.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0023_zpstpaclebc.jpg.html)

My Clipped baffle / .250 diameter mill .130 deep from edge~

http://i1329.photobucket.com/albums/w560/jkh62/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0013_zpsu8wzgbno.jpg (http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/jkh62/media/titanium%20308%20can/NCM_0013_zpsu8wzgbno.jpg.html)

[cal50]

Just returned home from the range after test firing with a smile on my face.
This trip I was able to properly attach my suppressor to my rifle and run some ammo thru it. My spacer allowed me to tighten down the suppressor against the barrel shoulder as I intended. Test firing with and without the suppressor and all round went to the same point of aim / impact. I am shooting Portuguese ball ammo and its does 2 MOA in this rifle and did the same with and without the suppressor attached.
My crappy cell phone video does not do the can justice but a few things can be seen. Recoil is reduced quite a bit with the suppressor attached. I am firing under a steel roof and concrete floor and its louder than firing out in the open. The suppressor REALLY drops the muzzle blast and you can hear the sonic crack down range.
(You can hear a guy with a lawnmower in the background ) I walked out in the open and fired a few shots and its pretty sweet.
I will say there is a HUGE difference in muzzle signature using the same baffles clipped vs UN-clipped. I aligned all "clips" the same way inserting them into the tube.
All baffles are clipped except the blast baffle. I want to put a radius on the inside area of my end cap and tweak a few other things to see if it improves.
I can also thin out some of my baffles to increase volume and drop some weight but it sounds nice and hopefully only get better.


Crappy cell phone video~

Unsuppressed 5 shots ball ammo~


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpf6J6XTtR4

[cal50]

Suppressed~


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhUAskXPoYY

[Artful]

too bad you didn't do a video before clipped and after - you might try alternating the notches 180 deg from each other and see if it helps some more.

[cal50]

too bad you didn't do a video before clipped and after - you might try alternating the notches 180 deg from each other and see if it helps some more.


Its a crappy video but I definitely know there was a sharper sound using the cone baffles WITHOUT any clipping.
BIG difference in clipping them.

Clipped baffles perform best when all lined up with each other in a straight line. This comes from published data with people using lab sound equipment and meters. If they are randomly oriented there is a slight sound increase but a small amount.

I wish I had the job and the equipment to tinker all day with designs and ideas.

[Artful]

Clipped baffles perform best when all lined up with each other in a straight line. This comes from published data with people using lab sound equipment and meters. If they are randomly oriented there is a slight sound increase but a small amount.

Interesting that you said that because I have several suppressors and conflicting information from the makers - one suggests put them in a line position and another says alternate them. I too wish I had the funding to get really accurate sound measuring equipment and have time to try different Ideas.

[MaryB]

For random testing a smart phone app would work to see differences https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.sira.sound&hl=en is an android based one I just tried. Records max values on the meter and has graphing. Long as the phone doesn't move and the rifle doesn't move it would let you see small changes.