Suppressor, baffle erosion, biggest factor causing it.

nwshooter3540 · Feb 12, 2025

Been doing some reading recently about baffle erosion. I recently got a Spectre nine, titanium suppressor. Haven't shot it in the dark yet, but I've read that silencer co. designed to have no sparking. Rumors are the sparking is titanium baffle erosion. What is the biggest factor causing baffle erosion? It sounds like cleaner ammo causes more baffle erosion?? Is anybody aware of this? I'm assuming it's because it's thoroughly burning, potentially making a hotter fire at the end. I'm using the cherry bomb and Plan B for my host. Q says that the cherry bomb dramatically reduces baffle erosion. I've read about some guys spraying oil to coat the inside of their suppressors prior to shooting or other guys talking about shooting lead 22 rounds to get lead coding in their suppressor.

Camelfilter · Feb 12, 2025

Silicone coating to prevent leading baffles for rimfire.

It's a process, not just spray & your good. Cleanup is also a process if not done reasonably quickly post use (as in same day).

No idea on erosion. Haven't experienced such, so hadn't considered concerns over such. If there are any.

Note: relatively new to suppressors. So there's that…

ORhutner · Feb 12, 2025

Unless you are abusing your suppressor outside the manufactures guidelines, most of us would go poor shooting enough rounds to cause baffle erosion to the point of it being an issue. It is in the same camp of worrying about shooting out a barrel. Most firearms owners will never shoot out a single barrel yet worry about barrel life of a given caliber. We as shooters should look at barrels, suppressors, etc... as consumables like tires on a car. If you can get the 2,000 or 5,000 or 50,000 rounds down range necessary to wear out a given item such as a suppressor, barrel, springs, etc... we should be happy to have been able to of had the time and funds to afford the ammo to make it happen.

You have a nice setup, shoot it, enjoy it and don't worry about it.

nwshooter3540 · Feb 12, 2025

Lead fowling is pretty easy to deal with if you have a non corrosive type metal can. I have a inconel/SS can and I use vinegar and an ultrasonic hot bath cleaner, blows the lead out fast and the can looks new after. It's a hybrid 46. My whore can, it screws on everything and sees a lot of lead 22lr. It has a ti sleeve that comes off. After cleaning I'll blow it out carb cleaner then gun oil. Screw it all back together and run it for another six months. The baffle erosion is a new thing I'm hearing more common to Ti and aluminum baffle cans. I'm not running piles of rounds only 35 rounds a day for the first two weeks I've had it getting to know the set up and it sounds like I did good running the Q cherry bomb host. They specifically made it to mitigate baffle erosion.

Nwcid · Feb 13, 2025

Wait, you are supposed to clean them?

I got my first .22 can in 2005. It has early seen well over 10,000 rounds and never been cleaned. I am sure it is probably not as quite as it once was, but it is still silly quite with SS ammo.

Erosion typically comes from abrasive materials hitting the first baffle. This abrasive material is usually hot, unburned power from shorter barreled guns or some powder is more abrasive/dirty than others. For example I found W231 to be terribly dirty and gritty in and moved to Titiegroup for my 9mm ammo. Of course the abrasiveness will also depend on what material it is hitting and how it is being hit. Changing the hardness of or the angle of the material can change these affects.

ilikegunspdx · Feb 13, 2025

Nwcid said:
Wait, you are supposed to clean them?

I got my first .22 can in 2005. It has early seen well over 10,000 rounds and never been cleaned. I am sure it is probably not as quite as it once was, but it is still silly quite with SS ammo.

Erosion typically comes from abrasive materials hitting the first baffle. This abrasive material is usually hot, unburned power from shorter barreled guns or some powder is more abrasive/dirty than others. For example I found W231 to be terribly dirty and gritty in and moved to Titiegroup for my 9mm ammo. Of course the abrasiveness will also depend on what material it is hitting and how it is being hit. Changing the hardness of or the angle of the material can change these affects.

Unburnt powder you say? My 8.5" .308 mp5 clone