Suppressors Suppressor Newbie - when to stop shooting?

[glock24]

I've recently taken delivery of my TBAC 30P-1, and have tried it on a couple of centerfire rifles. My plan is to use it on my 223 Remington, 6.5 Lapua, and 7mmRM.

In the limited time I've had it, I have experienced the mirage from its heat signature. I also know it is popular to put a cover over the suppressor to reduce this mirage. Before I do any of that however, I'm looking for feedback on any special precautions I should take regarding heat management. I'd like to avoid damaging it by overheating. Obviously cherry-red is a bad thing, but is there anything special I should know outside of common sense? I haven't overheated any barrels thus far. Can a suppressor be handled with similar practices as a hot barrel, or is it a different animal?

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Zak Smith]

If you don't have a thermal cover and it's on a precision scoped rifle, you will see a lot of mirage in the scope before it gets too hot (unless there is no mirage for some other reason).

You will probably have noticeable mirage from your barrel if you do have a thermal cover before it gets too hot too.

Most people will perceive that their precision rifle's barrel is too hot to the touch (for conserving its "life") before the can is too hot.

If you want to do it scientifically, you can get an IR temperature gun or use thermal crayons.

 

[glock24]

Thanks Zak.

Out of curiosity (I'll never approach it intentionally), what's the critical temperature to avoid with your cans?

 

[Zak Smith]

For ones that are titanium, 700-800 degrees is the threshold. We have gone much higher in testing but that level is safe.

 

[Ryo]

I thought the 30P-1 wasn't rated safe for continous semi auto fire.. At least that's what I thought I heard before.

 

[velillen]

I thought the 30P-1 wasn't rated safe for continous semi auto fire.. At least that's what I thought I heard before.

Think it depends on exactly what sort of semi auto firing you are doing. 10 rounds in a minute followed by a 5 minute break....you'll be fine. 10 rounds a minute every minute for 10 minutes...might be a bit much. Mag dump after mag dump...not ok. One mag dump followed by a good break to cool would probably be ok as well.

Like zak said just got to keep it under 700 degrees so use common sense and it will be ok

 

[Zak Smith]

Continuous is the ambiguous word here. Does that mean you're going to fire a couple mags with aimed fire and then let it cool, or does that mean shooting one round per 5 seconds for an hour (720 rounds per hour)?

For perspective, Knight's Armament's recommendation for the SR25 is "firing no more than five rounds per minute for four minutes, then a two minute cooling period with the bolt open." But nobody realistically thinks you can't fire faster than one 20-round magazine of .308 every 6 minutes with an AR-10 pattern rifle.

For our current Ti cans, mag dump after mag dump not what they're built for. If you want to shoot a couple/few mags from your OBR at a rapid but "aimed fire" pace, go for it, just keep an eye on the temp and let it cool.

 

[Ryo]

Thanks for the clarification. I was talking about mag dumps which Ray had told me during the training class that it wasn't meant for that. .

 

[Jig Stick]

I just shot my new 30p-1 on my 300winmag and 6.5x47 yesterday. It is STUPID quiet on the 6.5x47. On the winmag…no ear plugs required anymore, way less recoil. First 5 shot groups with each gun about 1/4 inch at 100yds. almost no change in POI with the can on vs off. I was surprised however how hot the suppressor felt after just 5 shots. I noticed a touch of mirage coming off the can, but still was able to shoot accurately. However, it was too hot to grab on to and hold. I screwed the can back on my winmag and went to hunt ground hogs for a few hours. Now it wasn't sustained fire, but I was throwing groundhogs 3 feet into the air as fast as I could cycle my action, and not once did the can get to hot that it worried me or have mirage bad enough for me to not see woodchucks at 300-500yds.

If it makes you feel better, keep an IR thermometer in your bag and take a reading every once in a while. I doubt you will get it too hot with a bolt gun.