I am re-evaluating my build materials based on availability to me. I have found some 422 Stainless bar, but can't find anything really about it here for baffles. how would this do? My choices are down to 316, 416, or 422 stainless. Any real difference in using these for baffles?

Of those not the 316 its by far the softest and I have no experience with the other two but the data sheet on 422 looks promising
Any reason you are ruling out 17-4PH ?

partsguy22 wrote:Of those not the 316 its by far the softest and I have no experience with the other two but the data sheet on 422 looks promising
Any reason you are ruling out 17-4PH ?

Just availability of the size I need, along with total cost including shipping.

I used to make turbine bolts for power plants out of 422. I would use 316 out of what you mentioned because or corrosion resistance. If strength is more important then use 422. My go to is 17-4 because I can heat treat into the 40's Rc and make it thinner.

jnjproto wrote:I used to make turbine bolts for power plants out of 422. I would use 316 out of what you mentioned because or corrosion resistance. If strength is more important then use 422. My go to is 17-4 because I can heat treat into the 40's Rc and make it thinner.

Thanks for the information. What is 422 like to machine?

I'm not terribly worried about corrosion on the baffles, in fact my original plan was to use 4140 for baffles but availability and cost have caused me to look further.

For what caliber?

fishman wrote:For what caliber?

5.56 and .308

422 is nice to machine. Hit your speeds and feeds and go to town.

416 and 422 are both good options. 422 especially has some pretty good properties at high temperatures. Neither has quite the strength of heat treated 4140 or 17-4, but they're stronger than anything else that's commonly used for suppressors.

Are you saying 416 and 422 are easier to get and/or cheaper for you than 4140? That's... unusual. 4140 is cheap and plentiful.

BinaryAndy wrote:416 and 422 are both good options. 422 especially has some pretty good properties at high temperatures. Neither has quite the strength of heat treated 4140 or 17-4, but they're stronger than anything else that's commonly used for suppressors.

Are you saying 416 and 422 are easier to get and/or cheaper for you than 4140? That's... unusual. 4140 is cheap and plentiful.

Drops for sale.

I keep going back and forth and forth and back on materials. I think it is easy to overthink things. Been doing quite a bit of research and reading here, as well as some posts on other sites by Dr. Dater. My plan is now to just use 4130 tube and 4140 for baffles. I'll parkerize them. The 4140 is annealed, so I may try to heat treat them after making the cones. I think I can do that with a torch heating it to the point it looses is magnetic draw and quickly dunk in oil. My muzzle brake will be 17-4 mainly cause I already have some 17-4 rod to play with.

4140 Silencer parts are usually thin enough that you can air quench them. No need for oil, just put them in front of a fan or blow compressed air at them. You'll get less movement that way.

You'll want to temper everything afterwards. You can get a decent temper on 4140 by cranking up the oven in your kitchen as hot as it goes (500-550 degrees F) and baking the parts for an hour or so.

BinaryAndy wrote:4140 Silencer parts are usually thin enough that you can air quench them. No need for oil, just put them in front of a fan or blow compressed air at them. You'll get less movement that way.

You'll want to temper everything afterwards. You can get a decent temper on 4140 by cranking up the oven in your kitchen as hot as it goes (500-550 degrees F) and baking the parts for an hour or so.

Thanks for that info. I had heard of putting them in the oven on the cleaning cycle.

How much will this help? is it even needed?

Annealed 4140 has a yield strength of 60-70 ksi. Quenched and tempered 4140 has a yield strength of 150-250 ksi depending on the temper, and it will be harder and more wear resistant. Quenched but not tempered, it will be more brittle than you want. It makes a big difference. The same goes for 416 and 422, but the numbers are different.