Suppressors, remove after hunting, or not?

[devon deer]

I know some on here don't believe it's necessary, but I do.
Thought I would share this from one of the most respected gunsmiths in the UK
I air on the side of caution and remove mine, after all what's a minute of our time to potentially avoid a wrecked rifle.

BTW, I'm not a fan of them, unbalances a beautifully designed rifle, I'm considering leaving mine off permanently.

 

[np307]

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I'm not seeing the correlation between chamber corrosion and leaving a suppressor attached after hunting?

 

[X13]

I checked out the other photos on their Facebook page. The owner of that poor Tikka rifle caused that, not the suppressor. Though probably a good idea to take them off, clean the crown, and lubricate the threads from time to time.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

I take mine off for storage, but when season comes in in mid October it lives on my rifle until January 15

 

[ARK0M0]

I have to take mine off because the rifle and suppressor won't fit into the safe together. I have not seen any POI change between taking it on or off. I have the same POI change every time between off and on.

 

[Cap’n Crunch]

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I'm not seeing the correlation between chamber corrosion and leaving a suppressor attached after hunting?

Agreed

 

[devon deer]

Maybe I'm just dumb, but I'm not seeing the correlation between chamber corrosion and leaving a suppressor attached after hunting?

Taken from a shooting magazine
'Corroding issues
Problems with erosion and corrosion are caused to rifle bores from not taking off the moderator after shooting.

When you shoot the rifle, all that burnt powder and very corrosive gas residue is left in the moderator, either stuck to the baffles or loose in the body. The main products from combustion are carbon monoxide, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

These can start to corrode the moderator from the inside out, but if the can is left on the rifle and put away standing upright, the moisture and corrosive mixture can and will migrate down into the first section of the barrel. If the rifle is left there unshot for a while, then pitting and rust to the internal surface of the bore will occur.

Sometimes it gets so bad that a moderator and barrel literally become fused together by corrosion.'

 

[Forkyfinder]

Taken from a shooting magazine
'Corroding issues
Problems with erosion and corrosion are caused to rifle bores from not taking off the moderator after shooting.

When you shoot the rifle, all that burnt powder and very corrosive gas residue is left in the moderator, either stuck to the baffles or loose in the body. The main products from combustion are carbon monoxide, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

These can start to corrode the moderator from the inside out, but if the can is left on the rifle and put away standing upright, the moisture and corrosive mixture can and will migrate down into the first section of the barrel. If the rifle is left there unshot for a while, then pitting and rust to the internal surface of the bore will occur.

Sometimes it gets so bad that a moderator and barrel literally become fused together by corrosion.'

I thought corrosive powder hasnt been a thing for many years?

Cleaning corrosive ammo requires windex (ammonia) to clean it out, solvent will not do it.

 

[kodiakisland]

Isn’t the same powder residue in the suppressor the same that’s in the barrel?
My SBR rarely has the suppressor off and only gets cleaned when it’s too dirty to run. Hasn’t been an issue.

 

[Cap’n Crunch]

Taken from a shooting magazine
'Corroding issues
Problems with erosion and corrosion are caused to rifle bores from not taking off the moderator after shooting.

When you shoot the rifle, all that burnt powder and very corrosive gas residue is left in the moderator, either stuck to the baffles or loose in the body. The main products from combustion are carbon monoxide, water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

These can start to corrode the moderator from the inside out, but if the can is left on the rifle and put away standing upright, the moisture and corrosive mixture can and will migrate down into the first section of the barrel. If the rifle is left there unshot for a while, then pitting and rust to the internal surface of the bore will occur.

Sometimes it gets so bad that a moderator and barrel literally become fused together by corrosion.'

I understand. So, in the case of the pics, is this weapon located in a high moisture environment? Exposed to sea air or high humidity situations?

It just seems so extreme and I don’t doubt that the build up can eventually cause this but there has to be an excess of more than just powder & residue? Interesting & learning here, thanks!

 

[bluegrassdan]

My suppressor comes off after every match and after each hunt so it fits in the case and it allows me to make sure it gets cleaned and the crown and threads get cleaned. If you don't, and shoot a lot, suppressors and brakes will get so fouled with powder residue, the threads almost get permanently seized, risking damage to the threads when you do manage to get it loose. So, take them off, clean them and always use a dab of anti seize when it goes back on. I have yet to get a POI shift if I torque it back on the same each time. The typical 5/8-24 threads will strip or cross thread easier than you think when they get full of powder residue. I don't necessarily see that it would cause corrosion, but that is more of a humidity issue on where you store the rifle. I cant tell you the number of customers that tell me they store them in a case thinking it protects them.

 

[devon deer]

I understand. So, in the case of the pics, is this weapon located in a high moisture environment? Exposed to sea air or high humidity situations?

Too be honest I don't know, I guess that could be a factor.
Or in some cases it might just be a metallurgical issue with some manufacturers.

I just read the guys observations and thought I would share.

Since I bought my first suppressor and subsequent suppressors from different gun shops they all advised to not store it on the rifle, so I air on the side of caution

 

[Kiwi]

Most people here in New Zealand hunt with suppressors and all the people I know remove them. Not really sure why but I do remember it was related to moisture and NZ generally has high humidity.

Heres a pic from a hunting store I was in a couple of weeks ago, plenty of suppressors for every one.