Re: Seen a cool 223 suppressor today
Good question, the advantage of the reflex design was intended to:
1. Reduce overall suppressed platform length.
2. Provide the means to insure bore alignment through multiple attachment points and having those points be seperated along the same axis.
3. Potentially provide for a more robust barrel/suppressor lock up.
All were accomplished including one that wasn't anticipated when reflective suppressors were designed, that being, dealing with the reverse gas pathing created by QD breaks. In that instance those gases could path rearward (as intended) and limit the disruption caused.
But, as with all things, there were consequences.
1. Barrel heat retention was excessive. Retained heat at the end of the barrel rose much higher than anticipated. Now the barrel didn't only deal with the new dwell time heat build imposed by suppressors, but also the heat "wrap" effect of the reflective design. Barrels didn't cool as effectively. Faster mirage effect that was also retained longer was experienced.
2. Trapment of debris. Early reflective designs threw the intial particulate laden gases rearward, creating an unusually high amount of debris at the one point within the new designs that was the most difficult to keep clean and was least likely to benefit from the newer "pass through" baffling. In speaking with the guys that did the cleaning, they told me that pitting was also a problem.
One company that did a great deal of departmental and military suppressor rebuilding themselves provided early reflective designed suppressors. They stopped quickly in their own production and to this day still open up reflective cans to clean and rebuild them for "others." According to them, barrel life from reflective designs was cut significantly, especially in high volume of fire applications. They also stated that a major complaint was very poor accuracy as strings opened up quickly on light barrel profiles.
Que BJ....
Early Ritchie Windrunner (fielded) incorporating the barrel profile that supported a reflective can's back end. In the absence of the reflective can, this 38+/- pound beast would have been even longer.
