Moderator damage - is this normal?

[Woodsy]

I’ve had a Shultz and Larsen superdome moderator on my 7mm08 for about two years. I only shoot PPU 140 grain ammo.I don’t do any target shooting, only deer stalking and occasional practice/checking zero during which I fire maybe ten or fifteen rounds, (maybe one session like this every couple of months).

Every time I shoot the rifle, even if just one shot while stalking, I take the mod apart and clean it well with wd40 and kitchen towel until there’s no trace of any muck on the kitchen towel.

The end section of the moderator has started to erode - see pics. Is this normal/expected for such light use over two years? Anyone else with one of these mods notice the same?

Will this affect accuracy?

 

[Miki]

I does look as if it is being burnt ... what do the other baffles look like ?
The first one for example ?

Have you contacted Alan Rhone (Telephone: 01978 66 00 01 - Email: sales@alanrhone.com), they will be able to advise...

 

[Rusty Gate]

Looks like gas cutting/erosion, got that light tan peppered look like when you compare spark plugs for efficient burn. Pitty you can't shoot it with mod off in lower light to see if you have excessive flash, powder not all burnt before exiting barrel & doing so through the mod.
Another two years & it'll look like a stone through a window.

 

[topscots1]

Don't use WD40 it is water based, it a
Should never be used on fire arms

 

[Miki]

Don't use WD40 it is water based, it a
Should never be used on fire arms

No, its petroluem based, and I wouldn't use WD40 'solely'either. It is (as a solvent) good for removing grime and residues but after use i'd spray my gun with a light oil or wipe over with an oil soaked cloth. Legia or Garland Gun Oil or any other spray oil (that has "Gun" in it's name) will be fine. Good for cleaning a moderator but you should lubricate the threads with a white grease (or similar) prior to reassembly.

 

[8x57]

From the photographs there appears to be some wear but it doesn't look excessively eroded to me, presumably this is an alloy baffle and not a stainless steel one.
I think that most of us tend to forget that moderators should be regarded as an expendable item that have a limited life span. Some moderators due to their construction and the materials used are obviously far more durable than others. The more long lasting moderators are usually of heavier construction and employ steels rather than light weight alloys.

Have you tried using a de-coking carbon remover on the baffle rather than just WD40 which is water dispersant?

 

[old keeper]

From my past dealings with Alan Rhone, I'm sure you will find him most helpful, certainly worth getting in touch with him.

 

[levigsp]

Don't use WD40 it is water based, it a
Should never be used on fire arms

Where the hell did you get that wisdom from? its wrong. WD 40 is light oil and rust eating chemical in a universal degreasing base. It evaporates leaving little to no protection and eats traditional bluing in the process .
I agree it should not be used on firearms, but its the best I've found for aluminium Moderators, simply spray and leave to dry. The worst thing you can do with them is clean them.

 

[ejg]

The only thing I do after shooting with mod is to take it of the rifle and run an oil brush (test tube brush) through the baffle's. Never take apart if there is no reason. Mods wear and might get slightly louder over time which is totally normal. I have seen an alu mod on a 223 that was badly shot out after around 1000 rounds.
edi

 

[topscots1]

Where the hell did you get that wisdom from? its wrong. WD 40 is light oil and rust eating chemical in a universal degreasing base. It evaporates leaving little to no protection and eats traditional bluing in the process .
I agree it should not be used on firearms, but its the best I've found for aluminium Moderators, simply spray and leave to dry. The worst thing you can do with them is clean them.

From twenty odd years of using firearms the world over, watching those gunked up with WD40 fail. A few trial and industry days with manufacturers. All reccomending using non water based oils for lubrication and non water based penetrating oils for cleaning. Will it make things look clean yes. Will it leave a residue yes.

Feel free to use what you want, no skin of my nose it's not my money.

 

[Miki]

From twenty odd years of using firearms the world over, watching those gunked up with WD40 fail. A few trial and industry days with manufacturers. All reccomending using non water based oils for lubrication and non water based penetrating oils for cleaning. Will it make things look clean yes. Will it leave a residue yes.

@topscots1 WD40 is NOT water based ....... read what @levigsp and I have said .... we too are not recommending the use of WD40 on firearms.

 

[8x57]

The only thing I do after shooting with mod is to take it of the rifle and run an oil brush (test tube brush) through the baffle's. Never take apart if there is no reason. Mods wear and might get slightly louder over time which is totally normal. I have seen an alu mod on a 223 that was badly shot out after around 1000 rounds.
edi

Edi I was told by a professional who uses and services moderators extensively that moderators can actually become more effective as they "gum up". They used to strip their moderators regularly to clean but now instead just use them for a set period and replace them with new on an exchange basis with the manufacturer. Personally I can't help myself and strip mine down and clean it after use. Mine is one of the heavier older types with a stainless steel first baffle that takes the initial blast of hot gasses.

 

[topscots1]

@topscots1 WD40 is NOT water based ....... read what @levigsp and I have said .... we too are not recommending the use of WD40 on firearms.

I stand corrected on the water based. However I would not be using it on a moderator, clean of the gunk run through with firearms oil, wipe all parts out and leave to dry off on a radiator.

 

[levigsp]

I stand corrected on the water based. However I would not be using it on a moderator, clean of the gunk run through with firearms oil, wipe all parts out and leave to dry off on a radiator.

You do as you wish, I will do as the manufacturer say and it serves me well. My DPT aluminium moderators have now fired many more round than people said they would, way more than my originals that weighed a lot more and they still work perfect.

 

[griff]

Why not just buy a non aluminium mod, my Jetz and T8 have had thousands of rounds through them with no gas cutting evident. Never touched the Jetz with any oil but the T8 gets GT85.

 

[NoIDeer]

Don't clean it the "muck" is protective. I was advised not to take apart my atec alu alloy mod, so I don't. It's around 7 years old and has had upwards of 600 rounds through it.

 

[Jelen]

Don't use WD40 it is water based, it a
Should never be used on fire arms

I have read this on a previous thread here. However my AES Utra instructions for maintenace clearly state that WD40 should be used to spray through the sound moderator.

 

[75]

Why not just buy a non aluminium mod, my Jetz and T8 have had thousands of rounds through them with no gas cutting evident. Never touched the Jetz with any oil but the T8 gets GT85.

Because they weigh a ton?? I used to have jet-z and it was very efficient and robust but was a right old lump hanging off the front off the rifle!

 

[Woodsy]

Any thoughts on whether this will begin to affect accuracy? It seems fine just now but what’s likely to happen as it gets worse?

 

[Woodsy]

what do the other baffles look like ?
The first one for example ?

All other baffles look fine. No damage.

From the photographs there appears to be some wear but it doesn't look excessively eroded to me, presumably this is an alloy baffle and not a stainless steel one.
I think that most of us tend to forget that moderators should be regarded as an expendable item that have a limited life span. Some moderators due to their construction and the materials used are obviously far more durable than others. The more long lasting moderators are usually of heavier construction and employ steels rather than light weight alloys.

Have you tried using a de-coking carbon remover on the baffle rather than just WD40 which is water dispersant?

I only use WD40 as that was what Steve Beatty at Ivythorne advised me to use to clean the moderator when I bought it.
For the record the mod is great; good noise reduction, reduces recoil nicely and feels good on the rifle balance wise etc. And I trust Steve’s opinion on what best to clean moderators with.

I’ll get in touch with Alan Rhone and see what his thoughts are. Cheers.