dakota.potts
New member
I'm getting a small lathe here soon and if it turns as well as I hope, I'm really thinking about building a silencer on a Form 1. I do have a couple of questions though.
Because of the hassle and cost involved, I plan to use one suppressor on a number of guns that I currently own and will own in the future, including a CETME, VZ 58, .30-06 Montana Bolt Action Rifle, AK 47/74, and undoubtedly at some point in time a short barreled .308 (FAL/HK pistol or something of the like). I am willing to sacrifice weight and length for something that is durable and moderately effective at reducing noise. Looking more for hearing safe than silent.
I'm thinking for baffles I'll turn some stainless steel step baffles as I'm fairly confident with turning and boring operations on a lathe. My understanding is that stainless steel step baffles are fairly effective at sound moderation and should also be fairly durable. I plan to definitely encompass .30 caliber and also .32 ACP if possible because a VZ 61 skorpion is definitely on my short list to build. I'm looking for something versatile, relatively efficient at sound moderation (doesn't have to be the best on the market) and above all very durable. I was thinking of a bore diameter between .350 and .375 for plenty of clearance, but I'm not sure how that will work on smaller calibers like .223, so further research will be necessary to determine the best bore size for my needs. If I wanted the versatility to do things including .30-06, short barreled .308 etc. in the future, would an arrangement like this be suitable for the higher pressures of those uses?
As far as a tube and endcaps, can I use other products that I could buy online? I'm not as comfortable threading larger diameter parts and I don't have any experiencing turning inside threads. I don't believe a tap and die job would be concentric enough to work. I notice that on the internet there are steel maglite tubes as well as endcap muzzle attachments designed for the maglite tubes. Threaded steel tubes would seem to have the yield strength for a centerfire rifle suppressor. However, I understand that "silencer parts" are considered silencers also and therefore can not be sold freely. Is there a clear line between what is a silencer part and what isn't? What about something not intended for a silencer part that I buy with the intent to use as such? Is there a clear legal answer on this somewhere, or do I need to be coming up with a way to make the tube and caps myself?
As far as the tube, can I send it off to be engraved prior to receiving the Form 1? Can an item like that be sent through common mail without an FFL?
I'm sure I'll have more questions. I'm not jumping into anything, just starting the research/consideration phase to see if it's something feasible and a process that I'm comfortable with. Just trying to collect my thoughts on this so experienced opinions or references to knowledge are much appreciated
Thanks
Because of the hassle and cost involved, I plan to use one suppressor on a number of guns that I currently own and will own in the future, including a CETME, VZ 58, .30-06 Montana Bolt Action Rifle, AK 47/74, and undoubtedly at some point in time a short barreled .308 (FAL/HK pistol or something of the like). I am willing to sacrifice weight and length for something that is durable and moderately effective at reducing noise. Looking more for hearing safe than silent.
I'm thinking for baffles I'll turn some stainless steel step baffles as I'm fairly confident with turning and boring operations on a lathe. My understanding is that stainless steel step baffles are fairly effective at sound moderation and should also be fairly durable. I plan to definitely encompass .30 caliber and also .32 ACP if possible because a VZ 61 skorpion is definitely on my short list to build. I'm looking for something versatile, relatively efficient at sound moderation (doesn't have to be the best on the market) and above all very durable. I was thinking of a bore diameter between .350 and .375 for plenty of clearance, but I'm not sure how that will work on smaller calibers like .223, so further research will be necessary to determine the best bore size for my needs. If I wanted the versatility to do things including .30-06, short barreled .308 etc. in the future, would an arrangement like this be suitable for the higher pressures of those uses?
As far as a tube and endcaps, can I use other products that I could buy online? I'm not as comfortable threading larger diameter parts and I don't have any experiencing turning inside threads. I don't believe a tap and die job would be concentric enough to work. I notice that on the internet there are steel maglite tubes as well as endcap muzzle attachments designed for the maglite tubes. Threaded steel tubes would seem to have the yield strength for a centerfire rifle suppressor. However, I understand that "silencer parts" are considered silencers also and therefore can not be sold freely. Is there a clear line between what is a silencer part and what isn't? What about something not intended for a silencer part that I buy with the intent to use as such? Is there a clear legal answer on this somewhere, or do I need to be coming up with a way to make the tube and caps myself?
As far as the tube, can I send it off to be engraved prior to receiving the Form 1? Can an item like that be sent through common mail without an FFL?
I'm sure I'll have more questions. I'm not jumping into anything, just starting the research/consideration phase to see if it's something feasible and a process that I'm comfortable with. Just trying to collect my thoughts on this so experienced opinions or references to knowledge are much appreciated
Thanks