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Gunsmithing How to check Supressor Alignment?

Barney88PDC

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 22, 2009
783
149
Ft.Worth, TX
Ok I have started the ball rolling on gettting a suppressor in .30 caliber. I already have a Noveske 21" upper in .308Win that is threaded for the Vortex. I am pretty sure that it is 5/8x24 but I will have to confirm. If not I can get a 1/2x28 cap if I need. The question is I obviously do not want to spend the cash and go through the wait to put it on there and have the thing fly down range on the first shot cause the threads were not true to the bore. Is there any way I can check this? I was thinking possibly getting a laser .308 cartrage that is used to bore sight and make sure the beam came through the suppressor. If I put the beam shining on a wall then attach the can and verify the dot did not get smaller or say become a half moon.

I am also going to get a smith to thread a barrel on a bolt gun as well.
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

The laser is a good idea or, just remove the upper and the BCG and run a cleaning rod through it with the can attached. You can also just look through the upper with the can on it.
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

I have a Flash Suppresser Alingment tool from the Army's M14 Maintainance tool kit. Seems like with would work to check allinement of a brake.

If the brake isnt perfectly lined up, this sucker isnt getting to the bore of the rifle.
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

Perhaps it was assumed that there was a QD mount/brake combo being mounted first.

Ok, Mr.Nitpick go ahead and state the chosen can or cans for your builds.

+1 on just mounting it and looking down the barrel.
From the chamber end before you ask.
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

my gunplumber got a mandrel....he jocks up the suppressor and sees how plumb the maker made the suppressor......found one once that was way-the-fuck-out.....as in ...it would have really really hurt the user........thank you Gene Williams
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

also found .......a real high-end rifle maker (AR-type) that did not thread the barrel concentric to the bore,,,,,,which resulted in 9 inch groups at 100yd w/can on......which was somewhat better than with can off.....as it was doing 12" groups at 100yd.....
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

I have a factory threaded AR upper that I wanted to just remove the flash hider and thread on my Gemtech M402 and was worried that the threads might not be perfectly concentric to the bore.

The first thing I did was thread the suppressor on and look down the barrel. It looked ok but I was still worried about FUBARing my can.

I called Gemtech and they recommended getting a piece of drill rod just smaller than the bore and long enough to "carefully" insert in the barrel with the suppressor attached. Worked fine and I have not had any problems.

I got the piece of drill rod at a specialty hardware store and it was pretty cheap.

Good luck.

Joe
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

The human eye can pick out inconsistencies fairly easily.
Look down the bore and you will easily see if it is alligned or not.

You may also want to check with Gemtech to see if the end cap and baffels are oversized.
I have found the especially with cans designed to go on ARs, MFGs build in some slop to minimize the chance of baffel strikes.
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is not a brake it is a suppressor/silencer/can/muffler/ect. Any other suggestions.</div></div>

What Co. Made the Can cause not all are the same
wink.gif
Gemtech???

Call me after 5:00 PST I am happy to help 310-275-8797.

Mike
Tac Ops
 
Re: How to check Supressor Alignment?

The only true way to make absolutely certain that the suppressor bore and suppressor threads are concentric to one another is the make a threaded mandrel in the lathe or wait until the barrel is threaded (concentric to the rifle bore) and screw the suppressor on. Spin the chuck by hand and let an indicator run in the suppressor bore and check for TIR. Now, there may be run out because the threaded end cap (main threads) baffles and muzzle end cap are all separate parts that were manufactured separately. Different set ups if you will. After completion, if the suppressor manufacturer reamed or bored the suppressor bore while the suppressor was on a trued mandrel, then maybe the TIR will be minimal or non existent.

Either way, baffle strikes do suck.