"Old-school" Silencers

MisterWhite · January 26, 2011, 04:45 PM

Howdy fellas,

While I was attending college I had a professor who's a former Ranger and he and I would often 'talk guns'. We got onto the topic of silencers one day and I was saying how Silencerco machined the baffles for the osprey(I went to school for toolmaking/manufacturing engineering so this was a pertinent subject for us).

Anyhow...He said when he was overseas the silencers that they used were pretty much a can filled with a material similar to steel wool. I was wondering if any of you had anymore information on this style of silencer and/or if anyone still uses this method.

Just curious, any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris

Scorch · January 26, 2011, 06:29 PM

Do they work? Sure. Are they high-tech? No. Are they as effective at silencing a firearm as baffles and wipers? Probably not. But they do work, and if all you are trying to do is quiet down a sporting rifle, they probably work just fine. Remember, unlike the USA where they think that only criminals and Special Forces operatives need suppressors, in a lot of countries you have to have a suppresor to hunt. I saw a civilian suppressor from Israel that was a cylinder with threaded adapter at one end, and it was filled with flat washers separated by springs, maybe 15 or 20 of them, and it worked really well.

Maximus856 · February 16, 2011, 11:22 AM

Scorch, what kind of pressure is coming out when the gasses exit the barrel? I've often thought a few washers in a tube welded in place, with holes drilled in each washer (one hole each at the 1, 2, 3 oclock and so on) would be fairly effective. I just don't know what kind of pressure is coming out and was curious if that would just turn into a pipe bomb of sorts.

I know it wouldn't be legal, but it was just a thought

-Max

fireman1291 · February 16, 2011, 11:31 AM

^
It would be legal on a approved ATF Form1.

And the pressure is extremely high, from a centerfire rifle cartridge.

5.56mm is right around 52,000PSI at the breach.

Poodleshooter · February 17, 2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

I've often thought a few washers in a tube welded in place, with holes drilled in each washer (one hole each at the 1, 2, 3 oclock and so on) would be fairly effective.

Ever seen the guts of a YHM Mite? It's basically washers welded on at an angle to a top and bottom guide bar that slides into the can. There's no complicated, highly machined baffles as in some other brands, yet it works reasonably well.

Maximus856 · February 17, 2011, 12:00 PM

My experience is quite limited with items such as suppressors. I've become interested in them lately though and am starting to learn a bit about them. I've been thinking about the AA Ranger 2 for my AR. I found a threading kit for the barrel and grand total for everything would be about $800. But now I am rambling, so thanks for the info

-Max

fireman1291 · February 17, 2011, 08:53 PM

The Mite is a LOUD rimfire can. It meters at 130dB compared to the AAC element at 115. (on a pistol)

Thats a HUGE!!!!!!!!!! difference. Pay once, cry once. Dont cheap out on somethings whos cost is performance driven. Not to mention your stuck with it for life.

January 26, 2011, 04:45 PM	#1
MisterWhite Member Join Date: October 7, 2008 Posts: 90	"Old-school" Silencers Howdy fellas, While I was attending college I had a professor who's a former Ranger and he and I would often 'talk guns'. We got onto the topic of silencers one day and I was saying how Silencerco machined the baffles for the osprey(I went to school for toolmaking/manufacturing engineering so this was a pertinent subject for us). Anyhow...He said when he was overseas the silencers that they used were pretty much a can filled with a material similar to steel wool. I was wondering if any of you had anymore information on this style of silencer and/or if anyone still uses this method. Just curious, any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Chris

January 26, 2011, 06:29 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Do they work? Sure. Are they high-tech? No. Are they as effective at silencing a firearm as baffles and wipers? Probably not. But they do work, and if all you are trying to do is quiet down a sporting rifle, they probably work just fine. Remember, unlike the USA where they think that only criminals and Special Forces operatives need suppressors, in a lot of countries you have to have a suppresor to hunt. I saw a civilian suppressor from Israel that was a cylinder with threaded adapter at one end, and it was filled with flat washers separated by springs, maybe 15 or 20 of them, and it worked really well. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 16, 2011, 11:22 AM	#3
Maximus856 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 547	Scorch, what kind of pressure is coming out when the gasses exit the barrel? I've often thought a few washers in a tube welded in place, with holes drilled in each washer (one hole each at the 1, 2, 3 oclock and so on) would be fairly effective. I just don't know what kind of pressure is coming out and was curious if that would just turn into a pipe bomb of sorts. I know it wouldn't be legal, but it was just a thought -Max __________________ "In 1968 for my senior field trip I was sent to RVN" -Hunter Customs "It is far more important to be able to hit the target than it is to haggle over who makes a weapon or who pulls a trigger." -Dwight D. Eisenhower

February 17, 2011, 12:00 PM	#6
Maximus856 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 547	My experience is quite limited with items such as suppressors. I've become interested in them lately though and am starting to learn a bit about them. I've been thinking about the AA Ranger 2 for my AR. I found a threading kit for the barrel and grand total for everything would be about $800. But now I am rambling, so thanks for the info -Max __________________ "In 1968 for my senior field trip I was sent to RVN" -Hunter Customs "It is far more important to be able to hit the target than it is to haggle over who makes a weapon or who pulls a trigger." -Dwight D. Eisenhower Last edited by Maximus856; February 17, 2011 at 12:03 PM. Reason: Got recon mixed up with Ranger..Recon is cooler anyway :)

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February 16, 2011, 11:31 AM	#4
fireman1291 Junior member Join Date: December 12, 2005 Location: Land O' Lakes, FL Posts: 99	^ It would be legal on a approved ATF Form1. And the pressure is extremely high, from a centerfire rifle cartridge. 5.56mm is right around 52,000PSI at the breach.

February 17, 2011, 08:53 PM	#7
fireman1291 Junior member Join Date: December 12, 2005 Location: Land O' Lakes, FL Posts: 99	The Mite is a LOUD rimfire can. It meters at 130dB compared to the AAC element at 115. (on a pistol) Thats a HUGE!!!!!!!!!! difference. Pay once, cry once. Dont cheap out on somethings whos cost is performance driven. Not to mention your stuck with it for life.