Suppressors Alignment rods - steel or carbon fiber

Chief_Rick

Chief_Rick

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Aug 12, 2020
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#1
I know some on here feel they aren't necessary. If you're one of those, no need to comment.

I would like a 30 caliber alignment rod.

I see some are made of carbon fiber, some stainless steel and some tool steel (maybe others that I haven't seen).

I've always been told to never put a steel rod down the barrel when cleaning, so I was looking at getting the carbon fiber alignment rod.

Are there pros/cons to using one material over the other with regards to alignment rods?
 
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#2
I know you said no need to comment, but I just received my SS rod the other day and I put a witness mark on the end. Insert the rod with the mark at 12:00, everything looks good. Rotate the rod 180° and it indicates there will be an issue. I did this with 3 cans of the same model on 2 different rifles. Waste of $75.
 
#3
corey4 said:
I know you said no need to comment, but I just received my SS rod the other day and I put a witness mark on the end. Insert the rod with the mark at 12:00, everything looks good. Rotate the rod 180° and it indicates there will be an issue. I did this with 3 cans of the same model on 2 different rifles. Waste of $75.
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So you're saying your rod is either not straight, or not the same diameter for the entire length?
 
#4
corey4 said:
I know you said no need to comment, but I just received my SS rod the other day and I put a witness mark on the end. Insert the rod with the mark at 12:00, everything looks good. Rotate the rod 180° and it indicates there will be an issue. I did this with 3 cans of the same model on 2 different rifles. Waste of $75.
Click to expand...
Really think you had a bent alignment rod.
 
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#5
probably not straight. i was getting front end cap strikes on my tbac u9. the previous owner claims he didn't get any end cap strikes with his u9 when i inquired about it with him. that's why i bought the rod, hoping to see if i had tolerance stacking from the barrel, to the mount, to the can. only thing i found out was that i have no idea what the issue is. only thing i can do now is go shoot each can with the 3 different mounts and hope i find a combination that doesn't have an issue.

i do suspect the one particular can having an issue. this is the 2nd rifle i had end cap strikes with this one can.
 
#7
corey4 said:
probably not straight. i was getting front end cap strikes on my tbac u9. the previous owner claims he didn't get any end cap strikes with his u9 when i inquired about it with him. that's why i bought the rod, hoping to see if i had tolerance stacking from the barrel, to the mount, to the can. only thing i found out was that i have no idea what the issue is. only thing i can do now is go shoot each can with the 3 different mounts and hope i find a combination that doesn't have an issue.

i do suspect the one particular can having an issue. this is the 2nd rifle i had end cap strikes with this one can.
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So, a con of the steel rod (if manufactured correctly to begin with) is the likelihood of being bent - negating the usefulness of the alignment rod.

I wonder if this makes a carbon fiber rod "more accurate"?
 
#10
i chose the SS over the carbon because i remember a discussion some years ago about CF cleaning rods holding debris in the fibers and potentially causing harm to the barrel. am i misremembering and could i be full of shit? probably, but that's how i based my decision.
 
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#11
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#15
theblackduck8907 said:
I used an arrow, manufacturer spec on them can vary but is usually +/- .001", .003 or .006
I was able to grab a mis-cut from our cut off room at work for free 99. Works for my 30 cal, I can grab the size if your interested
Click to expand...

I use a carbon arrow as well - Beeman ICS Hunter 340 (9.3 grains per inch) for 30 caliber. Wrap a piece of tape around the shaft to keep it from falling down the barrel; works perfectly!
 
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#17
Chief_Rick said:
I bought a couple rods from McMaster-Carr.
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I have Geissele's but McMaster=Carr has some close-tolerance rods that you can pick to the thousandth in diameters; I have used them for some suppressed .22, and as Geiselle advises on his rods, you just need "minute of eyeball" accuracy.

Screenshot 2025-02-01 at 6.30.08 PM.png
 
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#21
corey4 said:
a buddy of mine and i were talking about that earlier today but i don't know anyone with a glass table. so next time i go to ikea im taking my alignment rod with me lol.
Click to expand...

Anything reasonably flat will work, countertop, table, chuck it in a drill and see how true it runs, etc, etc.

If you’re getting baffle strikes, you have serious problems, most likely in your muzzle threading or attachment.

Good luck!
 
#22
oldrifleman said:
I bought carbon fiber because I hate the thought of steel in barrels. I clean after each range visit so the barrels are pretty clean.
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Carbon fiber is very abrasive , polished steel rod is best you can hope for steel on steel contact ,harder the steel the better
 
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#23
smoooth1 said:
If you’re getting baffle strikes, you have serious problems, most likely in your muzzle threading or attachment.
Click to expand...
same rifle
3 different tbac mounts
2 tbac ultra 9s, sequential serial numbers

i had to fiddle fuck around a bit and narrowed down the end cap strikes (not baffle strikes) to that one certain mount on that one can on this particular rifle. Fucking weird! i have also had end cap strikes with the the same can on a different rifle a few years ago (scar 17) but am unsure of which mount was used, more than likely the same mount. i have also had this mount and can on a GAP rifle with out issue. this particular mount is my most used mount judging by the amount of carbon build up compared to the other 2, which are fairly clean.

i took my 3 mounts, and 2 cans and just started swapping parts. Used red marker to color the inside of the end cap to look for end cap strike and put cardboard 50yds out. Mount 2 and 3 with can A and B, perfect holes. Mount 1 with can A, missed the target completely which was 2 pizza boxes placed next to each other on target stands. i did not use mount 1 with can B.

Then to confirm everything, put carboard out at 300yds and perfect little holes.
 
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#27
corey4 said:
same rifle
3 different tbac mounts
2 tbac ultra 9s, sequential serial numbers

i had to fiddle fuck around a bit and narrowed down the end cap strikes (not baffle strikes) to that one certain mount on that one can on this particular rifle. Fucking weird! i have also had end cap strikes with the the same can on a different rifle a few years ago (scar 17) but am unsure of which mount was used, more than likely the same mount. i have also had this mount and can on a GAP rifle with out issue. this particular mount is my most used mount judging by the amount of carbon build up compared to the other 2, which are fairly clean.

i took my 3 mounts, and 2 cans and just started swapping parts. Used red marker to color the inside of the end cap to look for end cap strike and put cardboard 50yds out. Mount 2 and 3 with can A and B, perfect holes. Mount 1 with can A, missed the target completely which was 2 pizza boxes placed next to each other on target stands. i did not use mount 1 with can B.

Then to confirm everything, put carboard out at 300yds and perfect little holes.
Click to expand...


Did you contact TBAC, pretty sure they would like to know about this!
 
#28
Holliday said:
3D printer guys claim mirrors are the flattest, over glass…… 🤷
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I can believe that being any distortion would be very noticeable in a reflection. So my next thought would be, only on the back surface with the reflective coating or both surfaces.?
I work with two guys that come from the glass industry I will ask them if they know.
 
#29
Mulepackhunter said:
little trick is a carbon arrow shaft for the 30 cal checks, arrow is within .002 straight works well for 30. I think 400 spine is the right diameter. quick and dirty
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Is that .002” per ft for straightness tolerance? That would be very good. I was going to suggest using motion shafts, which typically give you a straightness tolerance of 0.00XX” per ft (or inches) of length on top of the diameter tolerance.
 
#31
Arrows are actually measured over the entire length so .002 over 25 plus inches. Nice thing is they can bend some and return to straight. its close enough for checking a can alignment. I buy drill blanks from mc master carr for other calibers but usually screw the can on and run my tailstock in and check on the lathe. Not an option for everyone
 
#33
corey4 said:
Or Just enough tolerance stacking between the muzzle threads, mount and can to cause an issue.
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This is quite possibly true.

Going back a bit, my friend @GBMaryland was getting strikes on an U-9 using Area 419 Uni Adapters on a PVA spun barrel.

Turns out there was a bit of a contribution from both the adapter and the threading/shoulder with pretty much most of it due to Area 4119's adapter. 419 and PVA did a great job diagnosing and fault isolating the issue and 419 conveyed that indeed they had a bad batch of adapters and pulled them all from inventory. Shit happens, right.
 
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#34
I bought a carbon fiber one and I found that it was not the quality I wanted it to be….

Steal ones all the way. Make sure that when you’re done with them you coat them in oil.
 
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