BigWaylon
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Note(s): solvent traps are not NFA items, but can be converted into NFA firearms; this is no different than legally owning an AR pistol or a 16” AR and wanting to convert it into an SBR; you need to be aware of all NFA regulations, and do not modify anything without an approved Form 1; remember, there are also engraving requirements that must be met for all NFA items, and they’re even more involved for a firearm you make by starting with a non-firearm (similar to starting with an 80% lower); feel free to ask any questions you want relating to this topic in the thread, or send me a PM and I’ll answer if I can
I made a comment in chat last night about DIY silencer kits and it resulted in a couple PMs last night and this morning. I got my latest two kits in the mail today, and figured I’d post some pics and talk about some options for a minute.
I currently have seven Form 1 cans. The first six were done at the same time and are somewhat similar. I made two “sets” of 3. One set was Ti tubes and one set was SS tubes. All had SS ends. All the baffles were formed freeze plugs. These are your basic D-cell (named after Maglite tubes) sized silencers you’ll see when looking around online. I bought a pile of $.69/ea freeze plugs and formed them on my kitchen island with a 6-ton HF press. Drilled the hole and used a Dremel to clip them. They don’t look too bad.
I averaged ~$150 into each one of them. Used the air dry high heat (C-series) cerakote. The SS set has different adapters. One is 1/2-28, one 5/8-24, and one is YHM. They’re all the same externally, so I can swap the mounts between different length cans and never have extra parts. All the baffles in all six are big enough for .30 cal. The Ti cans all have YHM adapters.
I had the SS tubes turned down between the threads to reduce weight. There’s a 7”, 8” and 9” of each style. I was lucky enough to talk my way into a testing session when I went to visit Mike and Henry at Rugged Suppressors. The Ti (Gray) cans were freeze plugs and some spacers. The SS (Burnt Bronze) were as slammed full of freeze plugs as I could get them. The SS ended up being ~5dB quieter than the Ti. All of them were in the same ballpark as some SiCo and YHM commercials cans I took with me...sometimes a little quieter, sometimes a little louder.
I also had the opportunity to go shoot with Joshua from Capitol Armory and Jeremy from Silencer Shop, took some of them with me. One trip to Austin for business, two separate trips to the range with them. Both were very interested in seeing how freeze plug can performed, and both admitted they were blown away by the tone, backpressure level, and overall performance. $150 sounded about the same as $900...obviously no real warranty and not as short/light as current offerings. But it was good learning experience for me.
The 7th one I have is a 2-piece monocore (similar in design to a Gemtech 300BLK silencer) that’s dedicated to my AR57 upper. It wasn’t a kit, rather a project I got some local help on. It’s a Ti tube and Ti core, roughly 1.25”x6”. It was over three years from submission to the time I actually had it in my hands. Mainly because I had a Spectre on the rifle already, and didn’t put a lot of effort into getting the help I needed to finish it.
This brings me to my current projects. I originally asked the guy for three rimfire cans. I was going to keep one and two other members here wanted the others. We opted for the cheap route, since they would be for 22LR only. Aluminum tube, I honestly don’t remember on the ends, and a “baffle stack” that was staggered length Ti spacers, 2 SS cones and 4 Ti cones. Looks similar to this except the tube is raw Al and actually has the factory specs printed on the outside still.
At some point after I ordered, I test fit my AR57 F1 can on my 15-22, and really liked the way it looked...better than the 1” Spectre.
I made a comment in chat last night about DIY silencer kits and it resulted in a couple PMs last night and this morning. I got my latest two kits in the mail today, and figured I’d post some pics and talk about some options for a minute.
I currently have seven Form 1 cans. The first six were done at the same time and are somewhat similar. I made two “sets” of 3. One set was Ti tubes and one set was SS tubes. All had SS ends. All the baffles were formed freeze plugs. These are your basic D-cell (named after Maglite tubes) sized silencers you’ll see when looking around online. I bought a pile of $.69/ea freeze plugs and formed them on my kitchen island with a 6-ton HF press. Drilled the hole and used a Dremel to clip them. They don’t look too bad.
I averaged ~$150 into each one of them. Used the air dry high heat (C-series) cerakote. The SS set has different adapters. One is 1/2-28, one 5/8-24, and one is YHM. They’re all the same externally, so I can swap the mounts between different length cans and never have extra parts. All the baffles in all six are big enough for .30 cal. The Ti cans all have YHM adapters.
I had the SS tubes turned down between the threads to reduce weight. There’s a 7”, 8” and 9” of each style. I was lucky enough to talk my way into a testing session when I went to visit Mike and Henry at Rugged Suppressors. The Ti (Gray) cans were freeze plugs and some spacers. The SS (Burnt Bronze) were as slammed full of freeze plugs as I could get them. The SS ended up being ~5dB quieter than the Ti. All of them were in the same ballpark as some SiCo and YHM commercials cans I took with me...sometimes a little quieter, sometimes a little louder.
I also had the opportunity to go shoot with Joshua from Capitol Armory and Jeremy from Silencer Shop, took some of them with me. One trip to Austin for business, two separate trips to the range with them. Both were very interested in seeing how freeze plug can performed, and both admitted they were blown away by the tone, backpressure level, and overall performance. $150 sounded about the same as $900...obviously no real warranty and not as short/light as current offerings. But it was good learning experience for me.
The 7th one I have is a 2-piece monocore (similar in design to a Gemtech 300BLK silencer) that’s dedicated to my AR57 upper. It wasn’t a kit, rather a project I got some local help on. It’s a Ti tube and Ti core, roughly 1.25”x6”. It was over three years from submission to the time I actually had it in my hands. Mainly because I had a Spectre on the rifle already, and didn’t put a lot of effort into getting the help I needed to finish it.
This brings me to my current projects. I originally asked the guy for three rimfire cans. I was going to keep one and two other members here wanted the others. We opted for the cheap route, since they would be for 22LR only. Aluminum tube, I honestly don’t remember on the ends, and a “baffle stack” that was staggered length Ti spacers, 2 SS cones and 4 Ti cones. Looks similar to this except the tube is raw Al and actually has the factory specs printed on the outside still.
At some point after I ordered, I test fit my AR57 F1 can on my 15-22, and really liked the way it looked...better than the 1” Spectre.
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