Supressor cleaning

[bobinpa]

I know this has been talked about on here before but I can't seem to search and find a thread on it. Anyway, how many rounds can you typically put through a supressor before it needs cleaned. I have read that you can go by the weight also, but I can't remember the details. Does anyone know of a rule of thumb for when to clean a supressor?
Thanks
Bob

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Centerfire rifle cans can go pretty long; so much so that several mfgs will actually tell you they never need cleaning.


That said, after 3,000-5,000 rounds mine have gotten quite a bit of carbon in them; this is obviously dependent on barrel length and powder type etc.


I've had good luck with tumbling mine in a wet tumbler *without* any media. Just dawn and lemishine. It didn't harm the finish, and it took out ~80-90% of all the hard carbon in there (several ozs)....it just kind of melts away. I wouldn't have believed it until I tried it. It won't 'peen' any of the threads either, provided you put it in there by itself, and do it without media.


I've heard of others using ultrasonics with various chemicals as well, but obviously the chemicals may be harmful to the finish.

Pistol w/ lead rounds through them, or rimfire are obviously different.

As always, you can contact the mfg too; many of them offer cleaning services in house.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

To throw a wrench in the works- some suppressors cant even be taken apart!! Ultrasonics with purple power will fix em right up. Of course i cant say whether or not your particular cerakote job will hold up so use caution of course

 

[fyrewall]

If I had to clean up a suppressor I would squirt it full of Gunslick or some other kind of mild copper dissolving foam. let soak overnight followed by a bath in boiling hot soapy water then blast it out with compressed air. In addition to powder fouling, copper particles would be plastered inside. My experience with ultrasonic has been limited to clean up soft fouling on delicate parts - for suppressors the innards would be subjected to high temp, small particle copper fouling and all sorts of high temp powder fouling. Hooking up a tube to a steam source and blasting out the insides is also a possibility.

 

[69mach]

My yhm magnum rated suppressor can’t be taken apart and I was dumb enough to run a lot of 300 blk out and 22rf through it. It got
Pretty well plugged up. I mixed 50% hydrogen peroxide 50% white vinegar like I read about on the internet and it seemed to work well. Over a week I dumped the suppressor and refilled 4 or 5 times. Now it’s back to shooting with out accuracy loss and working well.

 

[moondog]

You should weigh it when new, clean it when it gets 1oz heavier. Thunderbeast will clean it free once a year. Absolutely the best guys to deal with in my opinion. I don't care about the finish on mine and bead blast to metal if they get marked up. They wear covers anyhow right? I use CLR in an ultrasonic cleaner for the smaller ones. A PVC tube capped for the larger ones. Follow up with a 5 gallon pail filled with water. Shake the can while submerged in the water. Do this process a few times and follow up with a Borescope.
I use to clean mine once a year. Now, about every 500 rounds. If you wait too long, it can be a pain in the ass to get all the carbon out.
Always ck with the manufacturer for chemical compatibility.

 

[rogina]

You should weigh it when new, clean it when it gets 1oz heavier. Thunderbeast will clean it free once a year. Absolutely the best guys to deal with in my opinion. I don't care about the finish on mine and bead blast to metal if they get marked up. They wear covers anyhow right? I use CLR in an ultrasonic cleaner for the smaller ones. A PVC tube capped for the larger ones. Follow up with a 5 gallon pail filled with water. Shake the can while submerged in the water. Do this process a few times and follow up with a Borescope.
I use to clean mine once a year. Now, about every 500 rounds. If you wait too long, it can be a pain in the ass to get all the carbon out.
Always ck with the manufacturer for chemical compatibility.

How fast the carbon builds up depends on the powder. In my 223 I brned h322 powder and my surpressor gained 5oz in 1000 rounds. I switched to h4198 and I cannot detect a weight gain after 1000 rounds, weighed with a good postal scale. I may not have toclean my Lane suppresor again.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Have to clean my HVT as it is about 4 oz heavier than what I was told was 24oz new? Been reading that "CLR" is used? Is that the Calcium, Lime, Rust, cleaner sold for cleaning/descaling bathroom fixtures etc, or is there another "CLR"??? Also read that the peroxide/vinegar mix turns to lead acetate when used and is highly toxic?

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Geez, I hate that you cannot edit or add! I have shot probably 1K 223 with mostly TAC through it and probably 6-800 of 308 with 2495BR and 6.5L w/H4350. So not a lot of rounds compared to some.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I don't care about the finish on mine and bead blast to metal if they get marked up..

You blast the serial number off you could be in deep doodoo.

 

[MikeMcCasland]

Have to clean my HVT as it is about 4 oz heavier than what I was told was 24oz new? Been reading that "CLR" is used? Is that the Calcium, Lime, Rust, cleaner sold for cleaning/descaling bathroom fixtures etc, or is there another "CLR"??? Also read that the peroxide/vinegar mix turns to lead acetate when used and is highly toxic?

Yeah the CLR they're talking about is Calcium, Lime, Rust Remover. Comes is a grey bottle....$5 at WalMart. It works amazingly well on carbon, it's just harmful to some finishes. That said, I pour a little into a small glass, and put my brakes/suppressor mounts in there.

All that hard carbon that is impossible to get off without a wire wheel will literally wipe off with a paper towel.

 

[Nightraider]

You blast the serial number off you could be in deep doodoo.

Smdh, you don't own a can do you?

I have about 9,000rds on my current one and 12,000 on my backup without cleaning. There is zero reason to clean a suppressor. Carbon build up is minimal due to the direct blast and pressure.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Smdh, you don't own a can do you?

Yes I do. Half a dozen. You obliterate the serial number by bead blasting and they become illegal. I agree there is no reason to clean them.

 

[xswanted]

I was told by a guy at Dakota Silencer to clean every 100 rounds.

I asked the guy what do you do if you’re shooting a few hundred rounds through an AR or a bolt gun in one session. He really didn’t have a great answer than “every 100”

I don’t buy that but hey, they sell the things.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You blast the serial number off you could be in deep doodoo.

This is why the law has minimum depth requirements for engraving firearm and other restricted item serial numbers

 

[MGYSGT]

Have a Lane. After a few hundred rounds with Varget (.223) it's pretty tuff to get apart. I always squirt some carbon solvent and then into the vibrating bath. Most of the time a little nudge with a wooden dowel does the trick.

 

[SDWhirlwind]

Took mine to our local lumber yard/hardware store and their scale showed 1.72lbs the lady said. No oz reading she said. Close as I can figure is roughly 28 ounces and at that time Gemtech claimed the HVT was 24 ounces. Sure wished I would have waited a bit longer and then bought a different brand and titanium. Back then not but 2 or 3 dealers this side of the state and long delays in getting anything and dealer had this on hand. A yr later and more choices in dealers and brands.

 

[moondog]

Beg to differ on the cleaning. I'll go with TBACs recommendations on that. I've blasted one of mine multiple times. Serial # looks the same. And like ANYONE has ever asked to see the paperwork I keep with me.
Nobody gives a s@*t out here. Never heard or seen anyone get checked. I still keep it with me though.

 

[Nightraider]

Yes I do. Half a dozen. You obliterate the serial number by bead blasting and they become illegal. I agree there is no reason to clean them.

No, you don't obliterate a SN by blasting it. Just because the number isn't visible doesn't change the fact it's there.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Your manual will tell ya when/ what to do if it’s not performing right.
At least my DeadAir TI book does...