A suppressor is an integral accessory that many gun owners will want to have. It helps to absorb the noise produced when shooting as well as prevent muzzle blast. As such, it is a handy tool to have.
However, like any other accessory, the suppressor is vulnerable to being worn down. This is especially true for many guns as the heat produced can quickly wear it down.
To prevent this and increase the longevity of a suppressor, you must learn to do proper suppressor maintenance, which this article will try to help you with.
Carbon Build up
A gun used carelessly can prove to be very dangerous. As a result, some precautions need to be taken, and safety guidelines followed.
The main thing to keep in mind is to remove or reduce carbon build-up. Most impurities will be burned up by the heat in the barrel when a trigger is pushed. However, multiple uses of the gun will inevitably cause the build-up of carbon.
If carbon accumulates, it will cause the gun to jam at times and might even cause the suppressor to get stuck onto the gun.
A suppressor’s performance decreases a lot with the carbon build-up. As such, you need to make sure to schedule regular maintenance, usually after 200 to 250 rounds.
Type of Suppressor
Suppressors have different types, mainly about which type of gun or caliber they are used for. As a result, some suppressors have a different structure or mechanism, and maintenance might vary.
Rifle suppressors often need less maintenance as the exhaust gases produced during firing will blow away most of the carbon, so helping it clean itself.
However, this may not be the case for other, more complex suppressors that are often sealed, and thus, taking them apart for cleaning is impossible. Due to their nature, they often come with special instructions and tools that can be used to clean them.
If a particular gun does not produce enough power to blast away some of the carbon or impurities, then the suppressor will need to be cleaned more times with use.
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Suppressor Maintenance Guidelines in 2023
As has been said before, there are many types of suppressors, and as a result, there is no one rule or guideline that can help you maintain them.
As such, it is always important to ask an expert experienced in a particular model or look up the instruction manual for tips or guidelines.
Even so, some general maintenance habits are common to ensuring your suppressor keeps running for a long time. They are:
Preventing Overheating
Firing a round will result in a lot of heat being released. Rapid firing shots will cause this heat to be built up at a fast rate, which will cause the suppressor to be worn out much faster. One can easily avoid this by making sure not to rapid-fire your gun.
Usually, there are very few cases where you’ll do this, and thus, it is easy enough to avoid. Always wait until your gun cools before firing another round unless necessary. This will prevent heat build-up and increase the longevity of your suppressor.
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Cleaning Your Suppressor
Cleaning your suppressor is important, and there are different ways to go about it. It should be noted that investing in an ultrasonic cleaner is the best option for cleaning your suppressor. And it cleans by using high-frequency sounds to break up deposits of impurities.
An ultrasonic cleaner is much easier to use to clean a suppressor as it can reach places that are impossible to reach with a brush. You should also invest in a baffle removal tool.
For cleaning, you will need to make use of solvents to dissolve carbon and lead. A good solvent to use is CLP or acetone. Use a nylon brush to apply the solvent and remove the carbon.
Try to avoid using stiff plastic to clean the carbon deposits unless there is a large amount, and scraping them is not easy. Trying to scrape off the carbon can cause the suppressor to be scratched and damaged.
So be careful when doing this. If your suppressor is self-maintained, then you can disassemble it and clean each part properly. Make sure to reassemble it properly with no loose parts. Before reassembling, make sure all solvents are dried up or evaporated. Wet parts can cause damage to the gun.
Working in Proper Conditions
When cleaning and maintaining your suppressor, make sure you wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated room. This makes sure the solvent dries more easily and ensures that the parts do not corrode or rust.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know how to maintain your suppressor. It is quite easy to do, and following the steps and your instruction manual, you can keep your suppressor working for a long time.