Undetected Baffle Strike
The title of this article is ironic. So let’s get that out of the way. But it gives me an opportunity to talk about suppressor issues. Specifically baffle strikes.
The setup: Doc was on the range with his tried and true Thunder Beast suppressor. Was running it on a bolt gun that day. Taking things out to just past 500 yards, there comes a point where I want to eliminate x,y and z factors when looking at impacts.
Usually during this process, the statement is made, “Make sure your suppressor is tight”. Which Doc does, etc, etc. No problems. At some point the question then comes up to check for baffle strikes. And a quick, cursory glance at the crown of the suppressor shows no strikes, copper, scrapes, etc.
Good to go, right?
I am not so sure, so at this point, I take the suppressor off and skylight the opening against the sky. Crown side. Slowly rotating, looking for anything unusual or not concentric, and then I see it. Non-concentric damage.
Flip the can around and sky light the opposite way, but don’t see the damage. Pull out my flashlight and viola! Major damage on the first baffle!
Lessons and summations: We didn’t see anything really amiss this day to suspect a baffle strike. Cursory glances by two shooters showed no signs of a strike. But after some thought, Doc now suspects the damage happened, a while ago, when he was having major, MAJOR problems with his SCAR-20. He just never detected the suppressor damage.
Personally I am surprised at myself for not seeing the damage readily and quickly. So from now on, when I am analyzing a suppressor for damage, I will be going through the tube as if it’s trying to hide something.
Sincerely,
Marky
www.John1911.com
“Shooting Guns & Having Fun”
Areas of focus: Defense and National Security, Modern Light Weapons, Small Arms, Weapons Training.
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