Suppressors Suppressors cause immediate cartridge corrosion??

Odysseus1911

Piled higher and Deeper
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 14, 2019
578
1,217
Arkansas
Was shopping bulk ammo on the Wilson Combat website when I saw their claim that suppressors will cause brass-cased ammo to corrode so quickly and severely that it will be difficult to extract the cartridge within 48 hours. I don't know how else to say it. . . I'm skeptical. Seems like if this was really a thing, the armed forces would have switched entirely to nickel-plated cases or would have some strict guidance on not allowing a live round to remain in the chamber of a suppressed weapon for more than a few hours after the weapon was fired. But my first suppressor is still in jail, so what do I know?

Here's their claim and a photo posted on their site to back up the claim:
"Cartridges shown HERE were left in the chamber of a suppressed weapon for 48 hours after firing 5 previous rapid fire shots. Note the dramatic difference the corrosive effect of hot chamber ammonia has on a brass case compared to a nickel plated case. The nickel plated case extracted easily while the brass case was stuck in the chamber and was hard to extract."

3C874D36-FA8D-4F1C-9DEB-B909D88CE4BB.jpeg


So you're telling me. . . that in an otherwise clean gun with a suppressor, if I burn through 5 rounds rapid fire, and leave the sixth round chambered, that in 48 hours it's going to look like it was fished out of the lake from a boating accident years before?
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
Reactions: Snuby642
Was shopping bulk ammo on the Wilson Combat website when I saw their claim that suppressors will cause brass-cased ammo to corrode so quickly and severely that it will be difficult to extract the cartridge within 48 hours. I don't know how else to say it. . . I'm skeptical. Seems like if this was really a thing, the armed forces would have switched entirely to nickel-plated cases or would have some strict guidance on not allowing a live round to remain in the chamber of a suppressed weapon for more than a few hours after the weapon was fired. But my first suppressor is still in jail, so what do I know?

Here's their claim and a photo posted on their site to back up the claim:
"Cartridges shown HERE were left in the chamber of a suppressed weapon for 48 hours after firing 5 previous rapid fire shots. Note the dramatic difference the corrosive effect of hot chamber ammonia has on a brass case compared to a nickel plated case. The nickel plated case extracted easily while the brass case was stuck in the chamber and was hard to extract."

View attachment 7444771

So you're telling me. . . that in an otherwise clean gun with a suppressor, if I burn through 5 rounds rapid fire, and leave the sixth round chambered, that in 48 hours it's going to look like it was fished out of the lake from a boating accident years before?

Yep. Even rounds in the mag can look like that from blow back. This is a reason why piston uppers work so well, and why you should at *least* get an adjustable gas block to minimize blowback. Also cans like the OSS will minimize blowback by design, so there is less of that going to happen. There is definitely less in bolt guns because typically extraction happens WELL after the chamber pressure is back to zero, but even then you still get a little bit.
 
I'm thinking the car wax I use in tumbler helps mitigate that.

None of mine come out that nasty.

9, blk, 308, 223, 45,.

I do get a filthy chamber especially if I (wet) a can for first round.
 
I read this from a post by Bill Wilson himself. He pig hunts on his ranch in North Texas and keeps a loaded AR in his UTV at all times and has had to start using nickel cases for his 300 HAM’R rounds.
 
The short answer is, "it's complicated." When humidity is high, it is worse.

But yea, piston guns helps quite a bit, but you still get gas moving back through the bore, so it is still a thing.

In bolt guns, you get it, but not nearly as bad, it mostly depends on how quickly you open the action, giving that stuff still in the can a chance to seep back toward the chamber. But is isn't pressure- and heat-baked on, as with an auto.
 
I purchased a WC 300 HAM’R almost a year ago and have been in constant communication with Bill Wilson throughout the time I’ve spent shooting this rifle. The first 200 rounds shot were 125 gr TNT brass casings.

I then put a Nomad L on the rifle and began shooting with different Lehigh ammo (some brass and some nickel casings) were used. I realized real quick that after 20-30 rounds the chamber began to get so dirty that the brass casings would not fully seat after cycling. Apparently, the ammonia and brass corrode very easily. Nickel cycles just fine even when chamber is dirty. Bill verified all this as I was shooting different casings. That’s why WC/Lehigh offer nickel cases in a lot of the 300 HAM’R ammo.

My questions I bring: Is this occurring in other gas guns when guys are running a longer silencer? Other stories out there similar to mine? What would happen if a shorter silencer were used? Why isn’t there more discussion about the this? And yes, why isn’t other operators using nickel casings?

Thanks guys and gals
 
I have 3 guns chambered in 300 blackout.
16 inch bolt gun
16 inch semi automatic
And a 10 inch tramp stamp baby.

The bolt gun never showed corrosion signs. The sbr runs hot and subs without an agb dirty as heck but runs.
I set up the 16 with an agb, +2 buffer, flat wire spring +10%.

It runs fine as well . Evidently I also shoot my mags empty unless hunting.

Possibly a powder selection thing?
 
Not sure on powder…
So, it’s an 18” bbl with the long long can. I have a SupArms AGB that is in almost full bleed off.
What should I do on the buffer and spring? I’ve looked at the JP silent captured spring setup and I’m possibly gonna try it.
 
That would make sense because it’s not a hot topic and also would make even more sense that WC started offering (few years back) nickel coated casings.
I’m gonna try a different can-like a high bypass.
I’ve been looking at the CAT ODB. I think HUX makes one also.

Also, I’m a right to say that I would have less issues (as far as blowback) with the SBR 11” version of this rifle??
 
If you leave your chamber with a nice coating of carbon, it doesn't do it.

I've never seen brass corrode in the chamber. I also am really lazy about cleaning ARs. I just slather the BCG in Mobile 1 every 6 months, and clean them every few thousand rounds.