My latest silencer project

[Ian]

And now for something completely different......

Springfield Armory M1A. Suppressed. It's da bomb.

Quicksilver (Dan) got me fired up about the M1A again after posting about his excellent experiences shooting cast in his Garand. A lightbulb went on in my head and a quick internet search revealed several options for suppressor adapters that fit the M1A. I picked one and it came in today. That's when the trouble started...

Long story short, the adapter needed to be heated, straightened, trued with a file in about four places, and the muzzle crown squared before everything lined up and didn't go wongo when torqued. I stuck one of my Acme-thread muzzle brakes on it and timed it, and got this new can fitted up nicely. To the range when I got home, packed a couple boxes of M-80 ball and an Allen wrench for the Shuster gas plug, got the gas relief set properly for the can in four rounds and sighted in at the same time. I'm really impressed with how quiet this system is once the gas pressure was set right, even with all the venting going on inside the stock and through the gas plug. I'll say one thing though, I just thought I knew what "gas face" was like (AR-15) but an overgassed, suppressed M1A, fired left handed, brings a whole new meaning to the term! I was pretty sure a primer blew the first shot, that's how bad it was. Anyway, this thing is really fun and even quieter down-range than my 20" bolt-action .308 shooting full-power jax, no earplugs needed and very little port nose at all.

Now to start working up some powder-coated cast bullet loads, since I can shoot this rifle suppressed as much as I want to on my property.

 

[Full.lead.taco]

you should take some video Ian, so we can all appreciate how good it sounds!

 

[Ian]

Working on that. I bought a cheap video camera a few weeks ago and have sorta kinda learned how to use it, now I need to get going with utoob and learn how to upload videos. Will probably have to do uploads from work on my lunch breaks because the internet is so glitchy at home.

 

[Full.lead.taco]

Well, let me know if you have questions or need help with anything.

 

[Ian]

Thanks, I may need it. My wife has been trying to get me to buy a 'smart phone' for years, but my old flip phone has worked fine for the last decade. Brad insists that I'm a Luddite, he's not far off.

 

[Brad]

Your wife sounds like a very wise woman. What she is doing with you I can't say?
I use my IPhone for many photos I post, most of them actually. I have a low end GoPro I use for video and am looking to upgrade it soon. It is just easier to use than the phone for video.
Biggest advantage to me of using a smart phone is that I always have it with me.

 

[fiver]

biggest advantage to my flip phone is that I never have it with me.
I forget to charge it sometimes and don't even notice until I see it on the counter and think maybe I should check for missed calls.

 

[Ian]

biggest advantage to my flip phone is that I never have it with me.
I forget to charge it sometimes and don't even notice until I see it on the counter and think maybe I should check for missed calls.

That's exactly how I use mine. I have it for MY convenience, not anyone else's.

 

[Elkins45]

I made a 10" 30 caliber can using a D cell tube. Baffles are coned freeze plugs, but for spacers I tried something odd and used 1" square tube with offset asymmetrical holes. The square tube just fits snug and creates chambers where the gas flow can stagnate.

It's quieter (or at least very close) than the commercial can I paid $600 for, and I have maybe $100 in materials in it...plus the $200 for the Form1 stamp. It now stays on my Ruger American 300 Blackout and the commercial can stays on my AR 10" upper.

 

[358156 hp]

Did you use the Autozone flashlight?

 

[Elkins45]

No, I bought a D tube from SD Tactical.

 

[Ian]

Here's my first attempt at being a utoober...

 

[Brad]

Well done. The suppressor certainly makes the subs quiet. The full load sounds about like a full load. A little quieter but not much.

 

[Ian]

You can't tell with camera mics what it really sounds like due to the automatic suppression, but I assure you the silencer is doing a fine job and you'd never ever want to touch off a full-power load without at least 27 dB hearing protection. The 20" barrel and muzzle brake make it a little painful to shoot unsuppressed even with 25 dB muffs. Keep in mind I put the camera in front of the muzzle, so you get the full blast effect (plus it was in the shade there). Oddly, the silencer is even more quiet on my M1A, probably because of all the gas leaks through the gas port and adjustable, vent-type gas plug.

My internet service at home uploads at around .3 to .5 Mbps so it took an hour to upload a two-minute video. Got another on the way...

 

[Ian]

Here's the M1A.

If I'd shoot it like a Marine instead of an ordinary shmuck maybe I'd keep my fingers out of the works.

 

[freebullet]

Omg! Ian beat me on to utoob, o'my...

Yes, that is very much silenced vs. my 308 without a can.

I had to work & didn't get to the range. On the plus side my dog rolled around on a dead bird. So, I got to watch the wife hose him down outside.

 

[Ian]

Well, I guess we know who's more of a Luddite...

Here's what an AAC Cyclone sounds like on a Socom 16, for comparison.

 

[Brad]

You still get the crack from the sonic boom but the muzzle report is greatly diminished.

 

[Ian]

Putting the suppressor on when shooting full-power rifle loads has the same effect as donning premium hearing protection, which is about 30 dB reduction in sound to the shooter and bystanders, which in most cases makes the system safe for hearing, at least on a limited-exposure basis. "Silencer" is somewhat of a misnomer, unless the system is purpose-built to be quiet, which usually means a single-shot or repeater platform using sub-sonic ammunition and one heck of a good suppressor.

I'll do more videos now that I know how, and feature some of the "stupid quiet" stuff I have. Being able to buy custom, heavy-weight moulds, powder coat, and tailor my ammunition to be as quiet as possible makes the most out of silencer ownership.

 

[fiver]

Ian just for giggles try a couple of my 300 AAC load.
the LEE on top of 3.5-4.0 grs of a fast powder [700-X/red-dot etc] with a rifle primer.
you'll have to operate the rifle like a K-31 of course but I'd like to see just how quiet they could be through a suppressor.