I've been a big fan of these cans since I first saw one on a Mk 12 way back when. Haven't seen a thread dedicated to them, so thought I would create one! Anything you spy that is incorrect, let me know.

The Firearm Blog article on Allen Engineering written by our own @goloud

5.56 Cans
Ops Inc cans
Ops Inc Family pic courtesy of @The_Accuser. Top picture from right to left: M4S, M4M, Model 14th, 15th, 16th and 12th:


Ops Inc 3rd Model
1989 Panama (Paul Howe on far left)
 

Mid-90's in use by Delta (photos found by @10Point3)

1990-1991 Gulf War:

 



1992 joint training w/ SAS in Hereford

1993 Somalia



Possible 3rd model as used by Craig "Sawman" Sawyer (h/t to @Augee and @bigbore for detective work)

More recent photos of 3rd model (found by @MDStroup):


Original alignment collar (courtesy of Ron Allen (@k31user), owner of Allen Engineering and long-time maker of cans at Ops Inc)

Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length past muzzle: 5 inches
Overall length: 10 inches
Weight: 24 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel
Endurance: Meets SOPMOD objective of 30,000 rounds under various firing schedules.
(Note: Currently these devices have surpassd 90,000 rounds operational use without failure)

M4-S
 

Caliber 5.56mm / .223 caliber
Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length Past brake: 1 inch
Length past muzzle: 2.25 inches
Overall length: 4.5 inches
Weight: 11.2 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel
(Note: Currently these devices have surpassd 90,000 rounds operational use without failure.)

M4-M MBS
 


@pistolpete's 12.5" upper with M4M


Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length Past brake: 2.5 inches
Length past muzzle: 3.75 inches
Overall length: 6 inches
Weight: 14.6 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel
(Note: Currently these devices have surpassd 90,000 rounds operational use without failure.)

12th Model SPR MBS 5.56
Mk 12s
 

Matt Axelson's with James Suh (RIP ) Mk 12 Mod 1



@Rogue4's

Mod Holland's (h/t to @Glass1, @18E3V, and @Nikiel09):

 




Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length past brake: 5 inches
Length past muzzle: 6.25 inches
Overall length: 8.7/8 inches
Weight: 21 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel
Endurance: Meets SOPMOD objective of 30,000 rounds under various firing schedules

14th Model CQB MBS

Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length past brake: 3 inches
Length past muzzle: 4.25 inches
Overall length: 6.5 inches
Weight: 15.5 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel

15th Model CQB MBS


15th model? In use by Canadian SOF




Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length past brake: 3.5 inches
Length past muzzle: 4.75 inches
Overall length: 7 inches
Weight: 17 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel
Endurance: Meets SOPMOD objective of 30,000 rounds under various firing schedules.

16th Model CQB MBS


@BookHound's 16th Model:

@pistolpete's 16th Model

Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length past brake: 4 inches
Length past muzzle: 6.25 inches
Overall length: 8.5 inches
Weight: 19 ounces
Construction: Fusion welded 300 series stainless steel
Endurance: Meets SOPMOD objective of 30,000 rounds under various firing schedules.
Allen Engineering (AE) cans

AE22

Length: 8"
Weight: 20.1oz
Finish: Black Oxide
Lifetime Warranty

AEM5
@RTUtah's:

Length: 8 7/8"
Weight: 21oz
Finish: Black Oxide
Lifetime Warranty

AEM4

Caliber: 5.56
Length: 8.5"
Weight: 20oz
Finish: Black Oxide
Lifetime Warranty

AEM3

Length: 7"
Weight: 18.2oz
Finish: Black Oxide
Lifetime Warranty

AEM2

Length: 6"
Weight: 15oz
Finish: Black Oxide
Lifetime Warranty

Which AE can is roughly equivalent to an Ops Inc Can?
AE22 = Ops Inc 3rd model 5.56
AEM5 = Ops Inc 12th model SPR MBS
AEM4 = Ops Inc 16th Model CQB MBS
AEM3 = Ops Inc 15th Model CQB MBS
AEM2 = Ops Inc M4M

A E M 5

Is anybody making 10.5" barrels with the collar and break already installed?

For what suppressor?

AEM5

I don’t think you can go shorter than 12”

11.5 with an M4 collar is about as short as you can go. You might be able to do an 11.0" with the spikes tapered gas block on a Carbine gas barrel.

Here is clearance on an 11.5 with M4 collar.

Roger that...wasnt sure. Anyone making a 12 or 12.5 with the collar and brake then?

Spikes hsv collar on a ba .7x.7 12.5 barrel should do nicley. I made my own collar but i bet the spikes would work. Might try it for $18.

My can got praise today from an older guy. Couldnt believe how quiet it was! :)

With A2 front sight you need 12.5" With low profile gas block, an 11.5 will work. You need 2.7" from bare muzzle to gas block.

I've got a 10.3" 300BLK with an OPS 12 set up.  ADCO ended up milling the gas block to match the angle of the collar.  Works like a champ.

I really like this can.

Post pics!

I'm sure lengths and measurements have been beaten to death, but for some reason I can't wrap my brain around this one. I'm thinking of removing the G gas block and replacing with a Spikes tapered on my SOLGW barrel. What would it need to be cut down to? Or is this a fool's errand that's going to be more of a headache with dwell time and gas port size?

G block and VG6 Epsilon for the time being while I decide what to do. And glass that's older than I am but has more than a few elk under it's belt.

Send it to d. wilson.  He just put this Grendel upper together for me with the Spikes taper block.

Attached File

Is anybody making barrels with either of these set ups ready to go?

Just buy any standard Government profile 11.5 or 12.5 barrel and get an m4 collar.

@k31user

Do you still (or can you) offer this M24 suppressor by special request?

The reason I ask is because I have an M24R from Remington Defense that I'd like to pair with this suppressor (and of course, have the barrel contoured to accept said suppressor as well).

Are there any M4 AEM5 collars in stock anywhere? I got one off of the EE almost 2 years ago but I need a couple more.

So this would work?

11.5 colt barrel

There's no step for the M4 collar

Dropped a ruger american ranch off today to be cut to 14.5, perm attach a muzzle brake and make a custom collar for my aem5. Cant wait to get It back and see how it sounds.

But don't you just slide that on the barrel?

Something like this?

collar

It does slide on, but it needs a step or shoulder to grab onto/seat against.

..... And don't ever order from Charlie's. Some serious fuckery going on over there. Check the Colt SOCOM 2018 thread for details.

Sorry, what with all the CoraniAIDs I forgot to post pics.

You need a government profile barrel. That is a lightweight barrel. Use google to check out what an M4 collar does.

I was beginning to think that's my only option.

Any who has a 12.5 bcm upper have any trouble with getting a collar/fitting a collar and brake for a aem5 on it? Looking at getting the complete upper if it works with that setup. Thanks

I found it better to buy a longer upper and send it to ADCO to be cut down, crowned, and similar.

Couple of things real quick.  I don't make an off the shelf M4 collar any more. If they held the diameter tolerances better, I would. For any  custom collar I need  to know the distance from the bare muzzle to the step, and the diameter before and after the step. 12.5 barrel works with AEM5, but if you have an A2 front sight, the bayo lug needs to be trimmed off.  The 12.5 barrel pictured above would need the bayo lug trimmed, a measurement for the distance from bare muzzle to step, and the diameter just forward of the step.

@k31user is that something I can just email you about? I need two.

Yes.

Can a socom profile barrel be cut to 12.5 effectively and the have the collar and brake mounted? I'd like a heavier barrel if possible. Sorry if this has already been answered. Thanks for everyone's help.

What is recommended to be used when mounting the aem5 Mount? Crush ring or shims? Rocksett?

Does anybody have an AE Collar Adapter Extender or know where to get some? If you have one you'd like to get rid off let me know. I've desperately been looking for one during the last 2 years or so with no luck.

AE Collar Adapter Extender

Really wish these were AEM5 compatible.

Shoutout to D. Wilson for the barrel cut and profile.  12” 300BLK with AEM5 bored to .30 cal.  Inspiration below.

Attached File


Attached File

I no longer make them. They can and almost always are used improperly.

One of my aem30s on a custom .260Ackley I built.

Most excellent.

Do you mean the "AEM5 M4 Collar" or the "M4 Collar" that is meant for the AEM2,3, & 4 suppressors?

http://aesuppressors.com/mounts/

Do you mean the "AEM5 M4 Collar" or the "M4 Collar" that is meant for the AEM2,3, & 4 suppressors?

http://aesuppressors.com/mounts/

Not sure what you are asking.

I have a OPS Inc Collar Adaptor Extender for a 15th model in my parts bin that I bought from ADCO back in 06 I think. It looks horrible because I used a pipe wrench to remove it when I swapped barrels but it is still serviceable. The first person to email me through the forum can have it for free. CONUS only.

ETA: It found a new home.

Attached File

Beautiful build! Screen name checks out.

Can I buy it back to get it out of circulation? Saves me from having to repair a suppressor.

Wow