Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

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Zero99z
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Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

I'm just gonna make this short and sweet. I'm looking to use a 2" od stainless tube with an aluminum jacket. Is it worth the time and paperwork or should I try something else?
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Capt. Link.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Capt. Link. »

If the aluminum "jacket" will be exposed to the pressure a 50bmg will generate then the classification changes from suppressor to fragmentation bomb on a stick with a fool holding it.

Just yanking your chain but aluminum used in centerfire rifle calibers is just not worth the danger.All aluminum 50bmg cans have been fielded by US forces as acceptable risk but not recommended for the sportsmen.

Please elaborate on what you propose.
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Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

Haha I'd like to avoid detonation. I'll be using two Napa 4003 tubes coupled together from gunthreadadapters.com and just use the Al jacket as added strength and to aid in heat dissipation. I'm not sure I'll even need to added strength yet. It'll be an over the barrel type can. I'm thinking of using stainless coned freeze plugs for the baffles, but idk how well they'll hold up.
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mr fixit
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by mr fixit »

I'm gonna answer short and sweet as well;
what you propose is not worth the time, effort,expense, and paperwork.

To elaborate, aluminum in centerfire is a bad idea. Freeze plugs are very much less than ideal as baffles (and I say this as the proud maker of a freeze plug can). Assuming you have a 50BMG rifle, you have well into 4 digits invested in the rifle. To add a $200 stamp to anything you build, it seems to me questionable why you would consider such a plan as you have laid out.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by T-Rex »

If you really want a 50BMG can, slow down and rethink.
2" will not be enough. I wouldn't go smaller than 2.5", unless you've made a couple and have experimented with designs.

A 50bmg having a chamber pressure equal to 55kpsi and a barrel length of 26"
Your muzzle pressure will be ~11kpsi or roughly equal to an 11" AR15
Add a 5" blast chamber (in a 2"ID tube) and you're blast chamber pressure drops to ~3kpsi

I wouldn't use any tubes coupled-together. Stacking tolerances, especially on long cylinders which need to be held concentric, should be respected.
Freeze plugs have been known to yield decent results, but that's when used in large numbers. 50BMG design rarely have more than 5 or 6 baffles. I don't see them being your answer, here.

What are your machining capabilities? Do you have access to machine tools or are you stuck using retail parts?
To you have friends that work at a machine shop or have one local to you?
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Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

mr fixit wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 2:29 pm I'm gonna answer short and sweet as well;
what you propose is not worth the time, effort,expense, and paperwork.

To elaborate, aluminum in centerfire is a bad idea. Freeze plugs are very much less than ideal as baffles (and I say this as the proud maker of a freeze plug can). Assuming you have a 50BMG rifle, you have well into 4 digits invested in the rifle. To add a $200 stamp to anything you build, it seems to me questionable why you would consider such a plan as you have laid out.
I do in fact have a 50bmg bolt gun. I have no knowledge on how to suppress a 50, and I assumed it would be like anything else, just bigger and made of steel. The Napa 4003 stainless tubes coupled together and freeze plugs seemed easier and cheaper. Keep in mind the Al would just be going over a functional can, mostly for heat dissipation.
Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

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T-Rex wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 3:10 pm If you really want a 50BMG can, slow down and rethink.
2" will not be enough. I wouldn't go smaller than 2.5", unless you've made a couple and have experimented with designs.

A 50bmg having a chamber pressure equal to 55kpsi and a barrel length of 26"
Your muzzle pressure will be ~11kpsi or roughly equal to an 11" AR15
Add a 5" blast chamber (in a 2"ID tube) and you're blast chamber pressure drops to ~3kpsi

I wouldn't use any tubes coupled-together. Stacking tolerances, especially on long cylinders which need to be held concentric, should be respected.
Freeze plugs have been known to yield decent results, but that's when used in large numbers. 50BMG design rarely have more than 5 or 6 baffles. I don't see them being your answer, here.

What are your machining capabilities? Do you have access to machine tools or are you stuck using retail parts?
To you have friends that work at a machine shop or have one local to you?
I want to do an over the barrel reflex type can, so a 12" tube would be the blast chamber over the barrel, and then I'd couple a 8"-12" tube on it for the baffles stack. I suspected this idea wouldn't be good, but I had my hopes.

I don't have much for machining tools, which is why I was looking at a design that would need minimal machine. My original plan was welding together 4130 chromoly and machining a monocore, but I don't have a lathe.
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Capt. Link.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

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To succeed in your quest you will need to hire some machine time and a welder. I would suggest a 3x20" carbon tube and baffles.A 5.00 reflex using a two point mount will support it.Five to seven thick flat baffles plug welded into the tube will work well in this minimalist suppressor.These baffles should use a slanted sidewall plus a "special" aimed slot to enhance the performance without the extensive machining other baffles require.

I'm now retired from Pro work but suppressors for supersonic rounds was my niche, so I'm confident in what I suggest.

Best CL
The only reason after 243 years the government now wants to disarm you is they intend to do something you would shoot them for!
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Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

Capt. Link. wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 8:51 pm To succeed in your quest you will need to hire some machine time and a welder. I would suggest a 3x20" carbon tube and baffles.A 5.00 reflex using a two point mount will support it.Five to seven thick flat baffles plug welded into the tube will work well in this minimalist suppressor.These baffles should use a slanted sidewall plus a "special" aimed slot to enhance the performance without the extensive machining other baffles require.

I'm now retired from Pro work but suppressors for supersonic rounds was my niche, so I'm confident in what I suggest.

Best CL
I am a welder and I've done some machining, I just lack the equipment. Though, it probably would be a good idea to have someone else do the machining. I'm not sure what you mean by aimed slot.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by 3strucking »

Link is like EF Hutton, when he talks you should listen.
Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

3strucking wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2019 5:27 am Link is like EF Hutton, when he talks you should listen.
Oh, I'm listening. I'll modify what he told me to better suit my needs, like using chromoly (unless there's a reason I shouldn't) and I'll probably use inconel or 17-4 ss for the first baffle. I like his idea better than mine, and he seems to know what he's talking about. I'm here to learn!
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Capt. Link.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Capt. Link. »

The slot is a gas port used to increase turbulence between each baffle.Lot of good materials to choose from but the more exotic they are the more time and talent must be applied.Carbon steel is old school inexpensive and can be worked with basic tools plus can be caustic blued in a amateurs shop.
You must weigh the expense and time of building your own vs having it custom made by a experienced hand.I would suggest you consult with ECCO as he has the proper equipment and talent to do this job with ease using the latest technology in baffle design.A better baffle will also shrink the size and weight of this project.Just something to think about!
-CL
The only reason after 243 years the government now wants to disarm you is they intend to do something you would shoot them for!
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Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

Capt. Link. wrote: Thu Nov 14, 2019 12:27 pm The slot is a gas port used to increase turbulence between each baffle.Lot of good materials to choose from but the more exotic they are the more time and talent must be applied.Carbon steel is old school inexpensive and can be worked with basic tools plus can be caustic blued in a amateurs shop.
You must weigh the expense and time of building your own vs having it custom made by a experienced hand.I would suggest you consult with ECCO as he has the proper equipment and talent to do this job with ease using the latest technology in baffle design.A better baffle will also shrink the size and weight of this project.Just something to think about!
-CL
Oh, like a keyhole. I have experience welding chromoly, so that's nothing new. But yeah, the baffle material will most likely depend on what time and willingness to learn a new material I have. What thickness would you recommend for the baffles? And how many spot welds would you recommend? I think I saw another thread on here where a guy used flat baffles and aluminum spacers
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

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Capt. Link.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Capt. Link. »

Zero99z "Oh, like a keyhole. I have experience welding chromoly, so that's nothing new. But yeah, the baffle material will most likely depend on what time and willingness to learn a new material I have. What thickness would you recommend for the baffles? And how many spot welds would you recommend? I think I saw another thread on here where a guy used flat baffles and aluminum spacers"

I would choose a blast baffle material that can be hardened as the 50 will push the limits of any material.I'm not a welder but would think 6 or 8 plug welds per baffle would work.The thickness of the baffles root edge and the size of each plug weld must be large enough to support the pressures involved.Spacers are not needed in a welded design.

These baffles are not true flat baffles but are known as Thick Film Asymmetric type.Thickness of each baffle depends upon design and caliber.I normally used .250-.500" thickness for .308-.22LR depending on design.You will still need a lathe and milling machine to make even the most basic of these baffles plus the assembly and threading of the suppressor and modification of the barrel for a two point mount. I just wish you to be aware of the precision work required to build even a basic design.
-CL
The only reason after 243 years the government now wants to disarm you is they intend to do something you would shoot them for!
http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=79895
Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

Capt. Link. wrote: Fri Nov 15, 2019 9:22 pm Zero99z "Oh, like a keyhole. I have experience welding chromoly, so that's nothing new. But yeah, the baffle material will most likely depend on what time and willingness to learn a new material I have. What thickness would you recommend for the baffles? And how many spot welds would you recommend? I think I saw another thread on here where a guy used flat baffles and aluminum spacers"

I would choose a blast baffle material that can be hardened as the 50 will push the limits of any material.I'm not a welder but would think 6 or 8 plug welds per baffle would work.The thickness of the baffles root edge and the size of each plug weld must be large enough to support the pressures involved.Spacers are not needed in a welded design.

These baffles are not true flat baffles but are known as Thick Film Asymmetric type.Thickness of each baffle depends upon design and caliber.I normally used .250-.500" thickness for .308-.22LR depending on design.You will still need a lathe and milling machine to make even the most basic of these baffles plus the assembly and threading of the suppressor and modification of the barrel for a two point mount. I just wish you to be aware of the precision work required to build even a basic design.
-CL
I don't plan on using aluminum internals, that's silly. I'm not welding together anything until I'm confident it won't blow up. I'll need practice machining, or just pay a guy to do the baffles for me. My plan for mounting is either a QD sleeve mount that goes over the barrel, or an internal tube welded at the rear of the can and welded in supports where it's threaded. My barrel is the same diameter for 12 on the end. I'm not sure which, if either, is a good idea, so I appreciate the feedback.
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by fishman »

Keep in mind the Al would just be going over a functional can, mostly for heat dissipation
that's not how heat dissipation works.

Unless this sleeve has very high surface area, like a heat sink, then it will make heat dissipation worse.
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Zero99z
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Re: Jacketed tube for 50 BMG?

Post by Zero99z »

fishman wrote: Sat Nov 23, 2019 9:04 am
Keep in mind the Al would just be going over a functional can, mostly for heat dissipation
that's not how heat dissipation works.

Unless this sleeve has very high surface area, like a heat sink, then it will make heat dissipation worse.
Since aluminum sheds heat faster than steel I thought it might aid in heat dissipation. I've moved on from that idea and I'll just use chromoly for the tube.
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