Rebuild my F1 can?

Tim

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I 'built' my F1 can a couple years ago before the solvent trap craze really got started. I'll admit to building it without having done much research.

Anywho...it was filed as a 9mm can. Ti tube, Ti valve spring retainers for baffles and Ti tubing cut for spacers. Then a big honking valve spring to pressure fit it all together. Not a very effective design. The end cap and VSRs are all bored .429", so oversized for the 9mm.

I think I want to repurpose this for 5.56/.223. Since commercial cans are readily available with swappable end caps, I'm assuming there isn't an NFA issue with my rebuilding this can as I see fit, right?

The AR 9 has been fun, but the blowback and suppressed system isn't very lefty friendly.
 
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You’re talking about replacing the internals? Or just having another end cap with a smaller bore?
 
The tube is Ti, 5.5” without caps, 1.5” OD and ~1.435 ID. Threaded however SDTA threaded their stuff.
 
Repair of a silencer cannot change the caliber.

If you’d registered it as 9mm, and wanted to shoot .45 through it, there’s no mandated rules around oversized bores.

But if you registered it as 9mm, and a 9mm projectile won’t fit through it because the baffles are now made for 5.56, you’d have a hard time explaining that.


...and don’t think that makers (F1) play by the same rules as manufacturers (F2/F4).
 
Repair of a silencer cannot change the caliber.

If you’d registered it as 9mm, and wanted to shoot .45 through it, there’s no mandated rules around oversized bores.

But if you registered it as 9mm, and a 9mm projectile won’t fit through it because the baffles are now made for 5.56, you’d have a hard time explaining that.


...and don’t think that makers (F1) play by the same rules as manufacturers (F2/F4).



 
Remember you also have the option of having somebody like ECCO do a recore. Might be cheaper (and better) in the long run if you’re buying internals instead of making them.
 
So. You can't recore it yourself, but You Can have it done by a manufacturer?
The first half of that question will get you into a 9 vs 45 length debate...the second is a definite “yes”.
 
The first half of that question will get you into a 9 vs 45 length debate...the second is a definite “yes”.
I thought the illegal bit was not recoring, which you can do or a manuf can do, but changing caliber (ie bore to small for approved caliber) which neither you nor a manuf can do. Have I got it wrong?
 
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I thought the illegal bit was not recoring, which you can do or a manuf can do, but changing caliber (ie bore to small for approved caliber) which neither you nor a manuf can do. Have I got it wrong?
As much as I hate to say it, I don’t know. And I’m not asking the ATF.

Since I’ve been in the F1 game the common answer is as a Maker you cannot make additional baffles once the can is complete. There have been several to argue that point, but not many.

And I’m sure quite a few others have done it and never posted about it.

The Bardwell letter (link I have is busted, but you might be able to find it) included:

In regard to the two parts in your cited example, we consider a baffle to be a silencer, but a wipe, which is usually nothing more than a rubber or plastic disc with a hole in it, is generally not
considered to be a silencer. Thus an individual owner could replace a wipe.”


Then a couple years ago the ATF told Dead Air that wipes were also silencer parts. Uggh.
 
My form 1 paperwork never told the NFA how many baffles my can contains, nor the dimensions other than OAL. It did state 9mm as the caliber.
 
They may consider a baffle a silencer, but that’s really an assumption on their part. I do remember the BS around wipes.

Most importantly, I applaud your wisdom in terms of not asking!
 
As much as I hate to say it, I don’t know. And I’m not asking the ATF.

Since I’ve been in the F1 game the common answer is as a Maker you cannot make additional baffles once the can is complete. There have been several to argue that point, but not many.

And I’m sure quite a few others have done it and never posted about it.

The Bardwell letter (link I have is busted, but you might be able to find it) included:

In regard to the two parts in your cited example, we consider a baffle to be a silencer, but a wipe, which is usually nothing more than a rubber or plastic disc with a hole in it, is generally not
considered to be a silencer. Thus an individual owner could replace a wipe.”


Then a couple years ago the ATF told Dead Air that wipes were also silencer parts. Uggh.
So I did not ask an official question, but I had a candid conversation with a field agent while I was working at a local gun store.
He told me that each baffle will be considered a suppressor, so if you have extras floating around it would be treated the same as a unregistered can. But different end caps would not.
I'm not going to put my opinion on open form but I know what I would do
 
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So I did not ask an official question, but I had a candid conversation with a field agent while I was working at a local gun store.
He told me that each baffle will be considered a suppressor, so if you have extras floating around it would be treated the same as a unregistered can. But different end caps would not.
I'm not going to put my opinion on open form but I know what I would do


Well, it's a good thing I don't have spare baffles lying around. But if anyone needs a Ti valve retainer for their race engine, I have some extra car parts in the shop.
 
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My form 1 paperwork never told the NFA how many baffles my can contains, nor the dimensions other than OAL. It did state 9mm as the caliber.
I think you have your answer then. As long as the OAL is the same and it is in accordance with the caliber rules (confusing but it sounds like the holes can be oversized) it would remain the exact same device.
 
I think you have your answer then. As long as the OAL is the same and it is in accordance with the caliber rules (confusing but it sounds like the holes can be oversized) it would remain the exact same device.
I think one issue would be, repurposing it as a 5.56 can would make the holes undersized though.
 
Well, with F1 stuff being so cheap and easy these days, I guess I’ll just build from scratch.

i may rebuild this one into a more effective 9mm, or just shelve it.
 
Sounds like maybe he could redo his baffles at maybe .357 diameter, which would still be 9mm but would perform better with 5.56?

That way he still matches what's on the form.

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