Are We Boycotting Wildcat Moderators?

Might be a silly question but here it goes - What could go wrong if an ultrasonic cleaner was to be used to clean those moderators that cannot be disassembled. Would it ruin it completely or is it worth a try in case of a mode which has only metal parts? Just cuirous and probably better to ask in here than ruining a good mod.
You might find that the anodising or external finish will be ruined
 
Interesting timing for me as I was looking at picking up a whisper or panther for the rimfire. I've never owned one (a wildcat)...(correction: my rifle came with a predator 8 which I sold immediately based upon sheer size) but I assumed the range of spares was so that users could change threads and calibres to suit different rifles (slot permitting), rather than to replace worn out parts. But if people are giving up on them (wrong imho) then I'll buy yours for a tenner if you pay the rfd fees! 😉

It's the law that is the issue to me, not the company. Their products appear very well made and fairly reasonably priced. A moderator is no more 'dangerous' than a brick, and the sooner they come off ticket the better. Do they pose a danger to life on their own? No. Do they make a rifle more dangerous? No. Are they essentially a length of round alu bar that could be worked on a lathe with relative ease (I reckon one could actually be made with hand tools if the ill-minded individual saw fit)? Yes. Do they tie up huge amounts of police time and cause unnecessary hassle for law abiding shooters? I'd guess yes also.

But it's an interesting thread (we'll thr bits without the pointless arguing) so thanks to the OP. Atb
 
Just to revisit this thread on whether or not Moderators or Barrel attachments should be proofed and indeed whether or not they become part of the barrel, you might want to read this statement by the proof houses dated March 2011.


View attachment 271270
So, according to that document:

A moderator only has to be proofed if it's being sold together with, and fitted to, a rifle.

A rifle barrel that was previously proofed in an unthreaded state, and subsequently screwcut, has to be re-proofed before it can be offered for sale or transferred in any way, even if it's being sold / transferred etc without a mod fitted.

That's reasonably clear.
 
I’ve got two stainless steel ASE SL5 mods, on my 243 and 270 rifles which seem little use in reality, as I am only an occasional stalker in comparison to some people.

Are the newer lighter SL5i moderators any less robust I wonder, also for a rifle that is to be used on a range, eg Tikka T3 Tac A1 in 6.5CM which model ASE mod what be advisable? An SL7i maybe?
 
I use the older SL5 mods on my stalking and target rifles. They'll out last me! My Tikka Tac A1 has an Aimsport Aimzonic mod fitted which has S/S internals warranted for the life of the barrel:

Available through Solware: AimSport Compact Silencer Moderator

Best of both worlds...robust internals and lightweight at 260g.
 
Just to revisit this thread on whether or not Moderators or Barrel attachments should be proofed and indeed whether or not they become part of the barrel, you might want to read this statement by the proof houses dated March 2011.


View attachment 271270
I am not certain, but I have an inkling in the back of my head that this was challenged was it not?

Seems awfully convenient that the people responsible for administering proof, and who benefit from it financially, are capable of making declarations about what legally does and does not require proofing....
 
So, according to that document:

A moderator only has to be proofed if it's being sold together with, and fitted to, a rifle.
That makes sense in a curious way, supporting what it says in the Firearms Act, that a moderator (or flash-hider) is only subject to S1 restrictions when it is an accessory to a S1 firearm i.e. actually attached to one.

I'd dispute that that actually makes it part of the barrel, as the barrel works fine without it: but the idea that while attached to the barrel of a S1 firearms (i.e. an accessory to it) a detachable mod/flash-hider is subject to proof regulations is gratifyingly coherent with my view of what the Firearms Act says about the status of those items in law.

Of course, as noted, the requirement for proof only applies for gear offered for sale - so mods other than those sold actually attached to S1 rifles would not appear to need proof.

The point about whether threading materially weakens a barrel to the extent that reproof is required has not, I think, been tested in court. Jackson Rifles' barrister's view was that it didn't - make of which what you will.

It's a tricky one, as I have factory-threaded rifles with no indication at the pointed end that the thread was there at proof - so the whole thing seems to be verging on unenforceable.
 
Seems awfully convenient that the people responsible for administering proof, and who benefit from it financially, are capable of making declarations about what legally does and does not require proofing....

Time the proof house was gotten rid IMO, seen some real shockers passing proof. Doubt they own a set of headspace gauges between them!
 
My Tikka Tac A1 has an Aimsport Aimzonic mod fitted which has S/S internals warranted for the life of the barrel:

Best of both worlds...robust internals and lightweight at 260g.
Sorry to have to inform you that the Aimzonics do not have SS internals. They are of all aluminium lightweight construction. Only the interchangeable barrel nuts are SS. It would probably be impossible to make a mod. with all-SS internals at this sort of weight.

I queried this many years ago, 2013, and Alan Rhone clarified it. You should expect one to wear much the same as any other lightweight all aluminium mod. without any e.g. SS or Ti blast baffle. In other words, a disposable item.

Aimzonic Moderator - any views?

Just thought I would clarify some of the points mentioned in this thread. The warranty aimSport, Sweden give with all aimZonic moderators, Compact, Plus and Cyclone models, is five years, no questions asked. By that they mean what they say and the number of rounds fired or how the moderator is used does not affect the warranty. The internal regulator assembly is aluminium and is not protected by a "Blast plate". If there is an issue with the aluminium regulator, and we expect that there will be in some instances, the regulator will be replaced free of charge. This repair will be done here, in the UK, and turn around will be 24 hours. The manufacturer is providing us with replacement regulator assemblies and we have the necessary tooling to remove and replace the regulator. As anyone who knows me will already realise, the ability to do this work here, in house, was a very important point and happily aimSport Sweden agree that this gives better customer service.

Alan Rhone is no longer a distributor, that is, or was, now Highland Outdoors. Though they don't list them anymore. Quite where Solware got theirs from, or whether they can support them, would be a question to ask them.

We only Stock the Plus Camo and the Compact Camo - Limited Stock Available
Unfortunately we do not have the Cyclone, Triton Models or any recently released available.
We are NO LONGER AIMSPORT DISTRIBUTOR. Please Contact Highland Outdoors in the UK.


The difference being that as and when they did wear out, the baffle part could be replaced for free, during the first five years of ownership. That's if you purchased it from Alan Rhone, who was set up to do this. Of course there would have be the hassle of having to have it transferred via RFD each way.

I do not think these can compare in any way to the durability of say an Ase Utra SL. Nor to be suitable for e.g. range use, gong bashing etc.

I would put them in the same category as say a Hausken MD45. Which are being distributed by Ruag.

AimZonic internals concept:

1662029642872.png
Hausken cutaway:

1662029700060.png
 
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Wrong.

The new patented stainless steel internal gas regulation system that has no baffles, making these moderators suitable for Magnum calibres and intensive shooting. This from Alan's own website.

Mine is a later model Aimsonic Triton Predator (my bad, not the Aimsport) and DOES have the S/S regulator in place of baffles.

Couldn't be any more specific. That

Details here from Solware confirm as much: AimSport Triton Predator 11 Silencer Moderator
 
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I am not certain, but I have an inkling in the back of my head that this was challenged was it not?

Seems awfully convenient that the people responsible for administering proof, and who benefit from it financially, are capable of making declarations about what legally does and does not require proofing....
The challenge was in the early part of the century. The regulations have subsequently been changed.
 
With a view to demonstrating I still rate the Evolution and would be happy to purchase one I popped along to my not so local RFD and asked for one in 6mm as per the authority to acquire on my FAC.

“We’ve only got one in 243 so what calibre rifle is it for?”

It’s for a 6mm PPC but 243 will be fine as same diameter hole.

“Sorry Sir but we can only selll you one that has has been stamped and proofed for a 6mm PPC.”

I left the shop with 600 Federal primers.

K
 
With a view to demonstrating I still rate the Evolution and would be happy to purchase one I popped along to my not so local RFD and asked for one in 6mm as per the authority to acquire on my FAC.

“We’ve only got one in 243 so what calibre rifle is it for?”

It’s for a 6mm PPC but 243 will be fine as same diameter hole.

“Sorry Sir but we can only selll you one that has has been stamped and proofed for a 6mm PPC.”

I left the shop with 600 Federal primers.

K
Does that mean that Wildcat are now stamping them cartridge specific ?
 
With a view to demonstrating I still rate the Evolution and would be happy to purchase one I popped along to my not so local RFD and asked for one in 6mm as per the authority to acquire on my FAC.

“We’ve only got one in 243 so what calibre rifle is it for?”

It’s for a 6mm PPC but 243 will be fine as same diameter hole.

“Sorry Sir but we can only selll you one that has has been stamped and proofed for a 6mm PPC.”

I left the shop with 600 Federal primers.

K
I had similar when purchasing one for my rifle.
 
Does that mean that Wildcat are now stamping them cartridge specific ?
The end cap on mine states the calibre.

The problem I had in store was the owner said he had a suitable mod in stock, as he as just about to swap some baffles/bridge etc his wife stops him and said that the .270 (I think) mod from Wildcat was entered as such on their system and they couldnt/wouldnt swap parts and sell it to me for a 6.5mm
 
The end cap on mine states the calibre.

The problem I had in store was the owner said he had a suitable mod in stock, as he as just about to swap some baffles/bridge etc his wife stops him and said that the .270 (I think) mod from Wildcat was entered as such on their system and they couldnt/wouldnt swap parts and sell it to me for a 6.5mm
That must be new then cos none of the diffusers on mine are stamped.
 
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