.065" wall safe for 316L 308 can?

[yondering]

About to buy some materials for my next form 1 build, using 17-4 PH bar and 316 seamless tubing from Online Metals. Wanting it to be as light as possible, I was thinking of using .065" wall. Thick enough, or not?

This won't be any full auto fire, mostly for bolt guns but some use on an AR10.

[Wicked]

Welded construction or threading the tube/endcaps?

Brake inside can?

Type of baffles or core?

[yondering]

Cone baffles, 1.5" OD, ~2" blast chamber.

Brake and flash hider attachments

Might weld the entry, but will probably thread the exit cap.

[McLarenross]

I built my 30 cal can pretty much exactly how your talking. 1.5" OD, 0.065" wall 316 stainless tube with TOMB attachment and nine 60* stainless cone baffles welded at both ends. Its held up great to 308s, 223s, 6mms, and once I finish the rifle it will be run on my new 6.5 SAUM.

For a centerfire can there is no need to take it apart so Id suggest welding both ends.

Yes 0.065" stainless with welded endcaps should be no problem.

Disclaimer; Im not an engineer and I didnt stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[T-Rex]

I agree with McLarenross.
Also, loose the spacers or cone skirts and plug weld the baffles in place.
This will help attain the lightest final product.

[Bendersquint]

About to buy some materials for my next form 1 build, using 17-4 PH bar and 316 seamless tubing from Online Metals. Wanting it to be as light as possible, I was thinking of using .065" wall. Thick enough, or not?

This won't be any full auto fire, mostly for bolt guns but some use on an AR10.

Yes, .065 is thick enough for a 308 can.

[yondering]

Thanks guys, that's what I needed.

Thought about plug welding all the baffles, but I'm only set up for MIG, no TIG, and figured all the MIG plug welds on the outer tube would weaken it too much. I'm planning to use thin (.049" wall) aluminum tube for baffle spacers with no skirts on the cones; that will be pretty light and I already know it works. Threading at least one end cap will let me play with baffle spacing by re-arranging the spacers. I'll either cut the spacers to different lengths, or all 0.25" long so I can try .25, .5, and .75" spacing in different combinations.

[Scared_of_zombies]

Thanks guys, that's what I needed.

Thought about plug welding all the baffles, but I'm only set up for MIG, no TIG, and figured all the MIG plug welds on the outer tube would weaken it too much. I'm planning to use thin (.049" wall) aluminum tube for baffle spacers with no skirts on the cones; that will be pretty light and I already know it works. Threading at least one end cap will let me play with baffle spacing by re-arranging the spacers. I'll either cut the spacers to different lengths, or all 0.25" long so I can try .25, .5, and .75" spacing in different combinations.

I wouldn't use aluminum.

[yondering]

Care to expound on why? Corrosion issues?

[fastfire]

[quote="yondering"]About to buy some materials for my next form 1 build, using 17-4 PH bar and 316 seamless tubing from Online Metals. Wanting it to be as light as possible, I was thinking of using .065" wall. Thick enough, or not?

This won't be any full auto fire, mostly for bolt guns but some use on an AR10.[/quote


This 316/L tubing you are talking about from online metals is,............well not to the dimensions specified.
2 weeks ago I received a 24" piece,1 5/8" O.D. (1.625") .065 wall, 1.495 id .
Had a groove the full length from the extrusion process about .010 deep.
Called to get a replacement piece one was sent from another warehouse, I sending this one back also.
The outside has a difference of .0045 in the od, there is a spiral ridge that makes 5 1/2 revs in 24".
I'm now currently looking for a different supplier.

[yondering]

Thanks for the info, but the 1.5" OD tubing I ordered is fine. No visible defects, and it appears to be actual seamless tubing, not welded and ground like some. I'm not concerned with a few thousandths deviation in size or concentricity, that's what the lathe is for. I won't hesitate to order this same tubing again.