The baffels in my Gemtech HALO are chipping. Is this normal wear and tear?
I have about 2500 rounds maybe 3000 through my Gemtech HALO. Over time I have noticed portions of the baffles chipping off where the bore goes through the suppressor. It does not seem to affect the accuracy or sound reduction but I was wondering if this was considered normal wear and tear? I remeber reading somewhere that this suppressor will last about 25,000 rounds before becoming worn out. I know I'm nowhere near that now but this caught me by surprise.
chipping? sounds like you may be getting baffle strikes, check with Gemtech would be my advice.
it could be possible that your barrel is worn out and maybe your getting some yaw in the bullet? or the threads on the barrel are perfectly concentric to the bore...either way call Gemtech ASAP and let us know what you find out
Sounds like erosion to me. Some of that is expected with a few thousand rounds through the suppressor.
Mark
Originally Posted By BookHound:
Sounds like erosion to me. Some of that is expected with a few thousand rounds through the suppressor.
Mark
It seems more like erosion than anything else. I was just wondering if this was usual. I have a throat erosion gauge as well as a bore straightness gauge and I recently guaged all of my AR's I do the straightness with the suppressor on too and every thing still guages as basically new. The two rifles I shoot suppressed the most are my M4 and M16A4 and I have no problems hitting man size targets at the steel plate range out to 500m with both and on a good day out to 600m. So its not the barrels and I dont think these are baffle strikes. the chipping is slight and occuring around the circumferance of the bore on each of the baffles.
It may be buildup of lead on the baffle that is coming lose?
I'm guessing, if you have a baffle strike with 223, even if it's slight, it would be catastrophic.
I dont think so as the chips have sharp corners and there is no lead like residue seen on the baffels when I shine a bright light in there. Not to mention I dont see there being a significant build up of lead occuring with FMJ 223 ammuniton as there is so little exposed lead and the temps in the suppressor are high enough that when I have done mag dumps it would have vaporized and expelled any lead in the suppressor.
Keep in mind that it might not be chipping. From what I can remember, Halo baffels have a recess cut in to them. I forget why, but they are there.
