Ive marked the carbon tubes using a hammer and stamps, there was no noticable deformation. Spacer tube and baffles fit fine afterwards.

Followup on 'maker' vs 'manufacturer' comment above:
R&D ain't legal for a 'maker', right?
Yet I read this:

Yes and no. The combo he may be refering to may have been the order of various spacer lengths and baffles which wouldnt be an issue as theres no adding new parts.

Adding more baffles would clearly be making a new "suppressor" per the NFA and illegal without a new Form1 approved.

Removing a baffle and destroying and using another spacer may not be, however I havent seen that in writung from the NFA branch anywhere.

However, whatever the ATFs legal opinion is, I think its best to not post that you're tinkering with your form1 cans to improve performance after they're built.

This seems to be the current "middle of the road" approach - especially the part I highlighted in red. The "cover your ass" folks believe that doing anything with your suppressor once it's finished is a big no-no. But to be clear - there is no NFA Branch letter or opinion on this...so unless you get your own letter - replace the baffles/destroy the old ones at your own risk.

Destroying baffles that are substandard during the making process is standard, possesion of untaxed spare baffles is clearly a crime. Ive never heard of anyone removing a functional baffle, I just used it as an example of something that wasnt directly addressed. Most people want more baffles, not less in their cans.

OK, time to start really moving forward on this. I put in my Application lastnight so I have 2.5months till build time!

Guns I know I will shoot thru it (subsonic and sonic rounds):

• 6" barrel 9mm AR
• 10" barrel 300blk

Possible others:

• 6.5 Grendel
• 16" 556
• something 264 or 308 if I build one

I chose 8" length, D-cell and will be drilling for 9mm. That should give me the volume to handle even 308 and plenty of clearance to baffles.
Big question I have currently is material. Light is nice, but I am not sure I want to go all Ti either and that gets $$$$ fast.

I do not think Aluminum will be strong enough for 308 or will it? Let me know what you guys have experienced with using your Form1 rigs!

My understanding is that you want either steel or titanium.

I went with the titanium tube, but I have steel end fittings.

BTT

Still waiting to build my homemade suppressor.

Pardon me for injecting reality into the discussion, but until the day you're required to submit a blueprint of your proposed suppressor to the ATF prior to stamp approval and starting your build (they don't currently require this), there is nothing that documents how may baffles you used or how they were spaced or how they were shaped - UNLESS you gleefully published your plan or assembly photos in, say, an internet forum . . . .


NWRed's last paragraph is what the Mormons call a 'word of Wisdom.'

If you're going to break the rules, why file a Form1 at all?

Well, I certainly won't break any rules. I told the ATF I intended to build a 10" x 9mm Model ST-FP and that's just what I'll do if they deign to approve a build to those specs.

A Form1 is an application to make a firearm, not a license to experiment with what works best. Its a one and done sort of thing, you can't legally reconfigure the design after it's built without paying another $200 tax unless you're a licensed manufacturer.

Are you going to get caught if you have spare parts and numerous end caps with different thread pitches for different firearms? Probably not, however its pretty well documented at this point that adding baffles or swapping out the end caps that retain the baffles is illegal , i.e. extra suppressor parts. Build a suppressor where the baffles and spacers are retained in the tube without the end cap and you can replace the endcap with another thread pitch endcap to your heart's content.

The commercial manufacturers make pistol cans with different pistons and threaded inserts , or rifle cans with a universal type QD attachment to allow multicaliber use without violating the NFA.

If you're going to break the law, why fuck around with stupid stuff like illegally rebuilding your can when you're not happy with the dB reduction when you could just build non taxed cans from the start? Or build 3 cans all marked the same as the 1 you filed the Form1 for? A felony is a felony, no matter how stupid the law is. Go big or go home.

Hrmmm I think you are on to something! The challenge with a "maglight" type tube is threading the inside further to allow for a second retaining cap internally and you end up eating up valuable space for a freeze plug. Maybe a simple snap ring to just retain the stack when switching thread protector. Then the thread protectors preload that snap ring but once installed so the snap ring is not holding the force of the shot...

Internal threaded jam nut with a shortened blast chamber, not much loss in volume. Or secure the blast chamber with a machine screw through the tube, or spot welded to the tube, or peen out the blast chamber so its holds the baffles by itself. Lots of possibilities if you just want the baffle stack to stay put while you swap the muzzle endcap.

Still waiting...

Day 68 I think... I lost track of all the hash marks on the wall...