Although it diverts a lot of gas sideways, a brake will concentrate the forward gas flow rather than let it spread out in a cone like a flash hider. What this does is create more wear on the part of the first baffle closest to the bore aperture. On barrels less than 14.5 inches, this gas flow is more like a plasma torch bathing parts with high velocity, partially burned powder particles at temperatures in excess of 4,000 deg F. The shorter the barrel, the more stress and wear on the suppressor, especially when one plays cowboy with 100 round beta mags.

Sand-pitting is not significant wear, and you will replace the barrel many times before you actually erode away the Inconel portion of the blast baffle. In this suppressor, the geometry of the blast baffle is such that the Inconel insert protects the remainder of the blast baffle from any significant degree of erosion. Inconel is not terribly "strong," but it does have a very high heat tolerance, which is why it is used in the jet engine and silencer industries. With its high nickel content, it is heavy.

We have longevity studies on several of our older 5.56mm suppressors (both the M4-96D and M4-02) with lifespans in excess of 100,000 rounds with no effort at cleaning. These were shot on the M16 and M4 carbines (20, 16, and 14.5" barrels), and there is very little carbon buildup on sectioning (more copper than carbon). They were shot with a mix of semi and normal (not abusive) full auto firing.

The currently available 5.56mm ammo all has a large surface of copper jacket and a small mass of lead in the core. Heat from both friction and the flame will raise the bore temperature well above the melting point of lead in about 100-150 rounds of full auto fire with resultant softening of the lead core creating bullet instability. The resultant yaw will damage baffles. This does not happen in the larger calibers due to a different ratio between copper surface area and lead core mass.

I can destroy anybody's (including ours) 5.56mm suppressor in less than 250 rounds with hammer-down abusive full auto fire, and I have done it on a number of occasions. It is an ammunition issue. Shorter barrels yield higher temperatures and pressures in the suppressor along with decreased bullet stability while at the same time reducing the lethality of the ammunition (which was designed for a 20" barrel).

Like anything mechanical, a suppressor will last a life time with reasonable use or can be killed with abuse. Most autos will last a quarter million rounds or more if cared for, but filling the fuel tank with nitromethane for drag racing or failing simple maintenance (oil or water level) can destroy the engine in a heartbeat. I once threw a rod in a sports car I had by over-revving the engine (an expensive repair requiring a new block).