Suppressors Gem-tech HALO

[BOL556]

Picked up the HALO on Monday and today went to go have fun with it. Recently, I seen a friend with a HALO and had the retaining collar flare out on him. Tried being careful because of seeing this happen. I fired six rounds and the retaining collar started to show signs of flaring on me as well. Contacted Gem-tech CS when I got home sent some pictures and now I am waiting on a reply back. The bad thing is that the CS said they didn't have any of the collars in stock at this time, which suck because I already waited eight months for the paper work to come back and now I have to wait yet again to get it up and running. Does anyone have a video that clearly shows how the suppressor attaches along with the points of contacts. I searched YouTube already and there really wasn't anything clear.

 

[Midwestside]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

Can you post the pics up here to show the problem?
What type of hider are you using it on?

 

[Bedlam]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

The pictures in the manual seem pretty clear. Hopefully they help.

http://stonemountaingunsngold.com/HALO.pdf

 

[Helidriver]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

Pics!!! You have me wondering. I'm considering a halo.

 

[BOL556]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

The picture are clear for the muzzle break that they are depicting. I could be wrong but thats not a standard NATO spec flash hider/muzzle break. In case your wondering yes I had to use all those shims the break would not index correctly without that many. Spent a lot of time putting on and taking off before it finally got to the right place.

 

[346ci]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

What type of barrel is that? That is using a lot of washers. They didn't seem to be tight either since they kicked to one side. That could have been the force from the can though. You did put the barrel in a vise to torque that brake down right?

What type of muzzle device does your friend(friend whos collar warped also)have on his?

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

It kind of seems stupid for the manual to be showing the demonstration of mounting using a Sig flash hider with a tapered rear mating surface. The mount collar in the manual has a tapered mating surface that obviously is not present on the above pictured damaged HALO mount collar. This would seem to be NOT-COMPATIBLE with the as pictured SIG Flash hider.

-------------------------------------------------------------

What probably happened with the unit in question is that the PWS flash hider fit inside the HALO but either could not tighten fully and take up slack due to the flash hider prongs fitting into the smith enterprise intended slots and lack of sufficient geometrical length to the rear shoulder, or the collar was simply not tightened fully.

It looks like you would need a running start under pressure to develop sufficient kinetic energy to make the unit fail (begin to show obvious signs of surpassing part/material yield strength) like that.

Or if that didn't happen, that part is just terribly weak, which I would not expect to be the case. The part obviously has been lightened from the original circa 1994 specs so it could be possible.

 

[BOL556]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

Both rifles were SCAR 16's. Per Gem tech website they say the Halo can be used with any NATO spec flash hider and according to Gem tech CS the PWS/FN break was designed to be used with the halo. Also the break was in a vise and tighten as much as it could. The pics dont show it that good but looks like in person the collar slipped over the bottom of the break and became loose somehow.

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HAVOC615</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Both rifles were SCAR 16's. Per Gem tech website they say the Halo can be used with any NATO spec flash hider and according to Gem tech CS the PWS/FN break was designed to be used with the halo. Also the break was in a vise and tighten as much as it could. The pics dont show it that good but looks like in person the collar slipped over the bottom of the break and became loose somehow. </div></div>

If they said the PWS was good to go, it will be interesting to see what they determine to be the cause of this. Maybe the part is too light.

 

[Midwestside]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Griffin Armament</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It kind of seems stupid for the manual to be showing the demonstration of mounting using a Sig flash hider with a <span style="font-style: italic">tapered</span> rear mating surface.... </div></div>

I thought that tapered shoulder was extremely odd too, and was kind of anticipating the OP to be posting a picture that depicted that, rather than a square shoulder. I could see a tapered hider pushing out on the collar if severely over torqued.
... But wow, I can't believe the low round count and the problems you've already experienced. FWIW, I run mine with the A2 hider and have never experienced anything like that. I believe Gemtech has revised the design over the years, but I thought it was more with cosmetics (texture on the collar)

 

[KYS]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

You appear to be using the wrong flash hider. I was under the impression that the FH was supposed to be a simple A2 style birdcage. Your washers are also sticking out, that can throw off alignment. I would dump that FH and get an A2.

After your pictures loaded up, you have way to many washers. You need to dispose of those and try and use as little as possible. Or have a smith time it for you. That pencil barrel could also lend some headaches for you down the road. Think of how much heat you're asking it to handle and then hanging a weight off the end?

 

[CTown137]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

PWS does make a break compatable with the Halo, however the break in your pictures is not the one that is. Your break is the FCS556. The model compatable with the Halo is the SM556. The fcs is a different size than the standard A2, where they specifically made the SM556 to the exact dimensions of an A2. If you are wanting to run a PWS break you will need the correct one.
Also, as people have mentioned you need to get rid of as many of the shims as possible. It will affect the timing of the break.

 

[Midwestside]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

I've also used a Vltor hider with the HALO, with no issues:

They make a few different products that appear to be geared specifically for that can.

 

[KYS]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

I believe the consensus is get rid of the shims as much as you can, and get the correct brake. If Gemtech sees what brake you were using they might chalk it up to customer abuse..... I hope they fix you up.

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Gem-tech HALO

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYS338</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You appear to be using the wrong flash hider. I was under the impression that the FH was supposed to be a simple A2 style birdcage. Your washers are also sticking out, that can throw off alignment. I would dump that FH and get an A2.

After your pictures loaded up, you have way to many washers. You need to dispose of those and try and use as little as possible. Or have a smith time it for you. That pencil barrel could also lend some headaches for you down the road. Think of how much heat you're asking it to handle and then hanging a weight off the end? </div></div>

http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/ar.access.html#fsc556

Military Morons shows the Halo mated to this syle of flash suppressor, but his HALO is a pre-Vortex compatible unit.

I couldn't find a picture of a new style mounted using the PWS SM556, but it appears that the collar would go behind the rear of the unit, and the tines of the flash hider would go into the Smith Enterprise slots.

So that would seem to suggest this combo could possibly appear compatible (and would be tight), until the suppressor rotated slightly and then the unit could potentially telescope back toward the firer as much as ~.35-.4" and would then fly forward when fired.