What Is Suppressor Alignment?
Welcome back to the True Shot Academy blog! We're delighted to have you with us once again. Today, we're diving deep into the world of suppressor alignment—a topic that's critical for both seasoned firearm aficionados and newcomers alike.
Ensuring the correct alignment of your suppressor not only maximizes performance but also safeguards your investment. So, whether you're here to refine your knowledge or explore the intricacies of suppressor alignment for the first time, we've got you covered. Let's get started!
Why Suppressor Alignment is Important:
Simply, if a suppressor is misaligned, you run the risk of incurring a baffle strike. Essentially, a baffle strike refers to the impact of a bullet within the suppressor itself.
While issues with ammunition can play a role in causing a baffle strike, they are more often caused by improper alignment of the suppressor. They can range from mild to severe depending on how bad the misalignment of the suppressor is.
In fact, Surefire states that 90% of baffle strikes will not impact the performance of a suppressor. While that figure of 90% is reassuring, we can’t simply forget about the other 10% as there is still a potential for damage. Luckily for all of us suppressor owners, the means of checking the concentricity of a firearm is a painless and fast process.
Causes of Suppressor Misalignment:
First, let’s go over some factors which can contribute to the misalignment of a suppressor or a muzzle device intended for mounting suppressors on.
Muzzle devices which act as suppressor mounts can make attaching suppressors a breeze, but they can also contribute to misalignment of the device if installed incorrectly. User error is the most common cause of baffle strikes. If a muzzle device is not installed correctly, the mounted suppressor will not be concentric to the bore.
It is easy for one to think that muzzle devices that function as suppressor mounts are mounted just like any other muzzle device – this is not the case. Commonly used crush washers are to be avoided when dealing with suppressors, more on this later.
These shims often accompany quick attach mounts or can be purchased separately. These will aid in both ensuring that the muzzle device is timed properly and also aiding in providing a flat, even surface to index the mount off of. Additionally, most quick attach muzzle devices are recommended to be installed with a compound such as Rocksett to ensure the muzzle device itself doesn’t come close.
Specifically, differences in barrel manufacturing can require additional attention when intending to mount a suppressor. Some barrels will have a distinct shoulder which serves as an index point for a muzzle device while other barrels differ in geometry in this area. Some examples will have a slight taper while others may feature a sheer-cut, flat shoulder.
To compensate for this, some manufacturers such as Surefire will include a radiused shim to interface with a tapered shoulder and ensure that the mounting area is consistently flat. Generally, if these shims are not used, there can be potential issues
AK rifles are infamous for their lack of concentricity - threads are generally not cut concentric to the bore. Not impossible to fix, but this is definitely something to keep an eye on and consider when wanting to suppress a Kalashnikov.
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The Issue with Crush Washers:
Don't use crush washers, they will likely cause misalignment. The use of crush washers can even lead to the revocation of warranty from Otter Creek Labs.
Crush washers are literally crushed as a muzzle device is installed with one and often are not compressed evenly. As a result of this uneven compression, the muzzle device can be misaligned. This is not an issue for standard muzzle devices which are not intended for use with a suppressor as they will never be misaligned enough to impact the muzzle device.
Importance of Alignment Rod:
An alignment rod is essentially a metal rod that is machined to be perfectly straight and test the concentricity of a firearm’s bore. With an alignment rod, you can ensure that everything is straight and concentric without even firing a single round. Alignment rods can be acquired from a variety of sources such as Surefire/Geissele, HuxWrks, and Griffin Armament.
Some may balk at the price of an alignment rod, but they are worth their weight in gold in the grand scheme of things. When you consider the price of a suppressor, the tax stamp, and the time waited to acquire the unit, it is a worthy investment to make use of a tool to ensure they are properly installed.
One could also consult with a local, trusted gunsmith and see if they could make use of an alignment rod that they may have if they do not wish to get the tool for themselves. Granted, it may be worth acquiring the tool for yourself if you plan on owning multiple suppressors and suppressing multiple firearms.
Conclusion:
The process of checking alignment when using a suppressor is an important process that will aid in protecting your investment and ensuring a long service life for your suppressor. The short time it takes to check a firearms concentricity is nothing compared to the headache and heartache associated with the repair process from a bad baffle strike.
At the end of the day, you would rather be shooting than worrying about alignment, so its worth getting everything straightened out before going to the range. Happy shooting, and avoid those baffle strikes!
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