Here goes. I figured for my first form 1 I might as well go for the gusto, so I build a can for my 7mmRM precision rifle. I haven't got it completely done yet, but figured I'd get a thread going. I can't do any of the fancy CAD drawings, so pics will have to do. I kinda had a plan, but really just ordered material and started cutting. I bought my lathe back in January and have learned to use it over this year, so feel free to comment on whatever. You aren't going to hurt my feelings. I ordered 1.75 OD 316 tubing with a .120 wall. It's obviously plenty heavy, but the plan is to turn it down in steps. I'll leave it .100 thick over the blast chamber, .090 in the middle, and .080 toward the end. Any thoughts on how much lighter I could go? End caps are threaded 1 9/16-20. I wanted it to work on the biggest rifle I'll likely ever own, so I made it for up to a .338 Lapua. End caps and baffles are 303 stainless and it's a direct thread 5/8-24 mount. The bore for baffles and end cap is .400 and it sounds very good on both my 7mmRM and AR15. There are 5 stepped cone baffles with a 3.5" blast chamber. Spacers are .049 stainless tubing. I'll get some more pics of all the internals laid out and the baffles as they are finished. I actually added more steps to what you see here.

my parts as received


threading tubing


baffles



test fit

Looks great to me. How does she sound?

Test fired on both rifles pictured and it sounds very nice. Certainly no ear plugs required. I'll get it finished up and marked this week for a match this weekend and get some other opinions.

Alright, time for an update. We shot last weekend at a match and I was alongside a Sandstorm, Shark Jaws, and an AAC 762 SD. Mine sounded just as good as the rest of them. We put the Jaws on my rifle, fired a couple rounds, and then switched back to my can to fire a few. Nobody could say which one was any quieter than the other. I'm pretty happy with it. I ended up using BBQ grill paint for a coating. It will have a TAB gear cover shortly anyway.

here are the pieces 42.5 oz.


stacked up


end cap tool

very well done.

How did I missed this one ......? Very nice!

Thanks for the compliments. Couldn't have done it without the members on this forum sharing info. Here's a pic on my newly assembled .260. It sounds great.

Nice!

Nice work! You grabbed the tiger by the tail for your first form 1. Most folks start with a .22.

Since your first can was a .338, what will you do for an encore?

SilentMike wrote:Nice work! You grabbed the tiger by the tail for your first form 1. Most folks start with a .22.

Since your first can was a .338, what will you do for an encore?

Thanks. Next one will be something lighter

I submitted 2 form 1s at the same time, so the other one is laying here. It will be a 6" long, 1 5/8" dia can for my .40s&w carbine, .22 rifles and likely built stout enough for the AR15s.

You are very talented. I, among many here, are 'shiny' with envy
of your great result. Instructive photos.

Out of curiosity, what is your lathe, a South Bend?

If you ever meter we would like to hear.

Super!

It's an old South Bend Heavy 10 with a 1 3/8" spindle bore. I'm pretty happy with it. I'm hoping to make a video next weekend with mine, a Shark Jaws, and whatever else is there.

Looks like some great work, I'm hoping to start a build for a new .338 LM soon.

What tool are you using to create the steps on the cones? It looks like a parting tool?

johnnylawn wrote:What tool are you using to create the steps on the cones? It looks like a parting tool?

I'm using a bit with replaceable carbide inserts. That pic was taken just before I parted the baffle from the piece of stock material.

Here's a video of my can being fired alongside a Shark Jaws. Both rifles are .260s using the same ammo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtHUSuVn ... r_embedded


Hmmmm .... which one is homemade and which one retails for $2,000?

Excellent.