Moderator fouling

tikka25

Hi all,

Just wondering is anyone using the Aimsport mods. I have one which performs well but I find it’s holding dirt and not easily cleanable. When I put it on the rifle and go out I find that the barrel has fouled with crud falling down into it even if I haven’t fired a shot. I’m happy to hunt on a fouled barrel caused from firing but this seems to be a bad design letting excess dirt down onto the barrel and chamber.

thanks in advance

Feisar

I just put an A-Tec Wave on it's end and tapped it and some crude came out. My Wildcat Whisper would be the same I'd say except I strip and clean it after most uses. I used to have a SAK and I think it was the same on a HMR. IMHO it's just the nature of the combination, a 22LR is a dirty bugger and we are attaching a baffle system to it that's going to catch the crud. As a solution it's strip and clean or a few taps should get 90% of it out. On my centerfire mods I strip, scrub down and put them in an ultrasonic cleaner.

@Grizzly 45 advised me on another thread when I mentioned a wet corrosive substance on the threads that that can go down the barrel as well so very important to get the mod off after use and give the barrel a mop out.

tikka25

Thanks for that comprehensive answer. Sorry I should have mentioned that this is a centrefire. My Rimfire mods are strippable and get good TLC.

The Aimsport isn’t all that strippable so the answer may be a different mod. It just seems a very basic flaw for a high end product

Feisar

Funny enough I don't have that issue with a 223 or 308. I get a black carbon soot which adheres to the inside of the mod and the dampness, no crud per se.

tikka25

Im getting it on a creedmoor which I’d consider a clean burner usually. What mod are you running on your centrefires?

Feisar

ATecs on both, the 308 has an extra baffle.

tikka25

Interesting thanks. I might change over the summer will definitely consider the Atec

Cass

I have the same problem with my T8 suppressor. Its old but good so I keep it but its the only suppressor I have that won't break down for easy cleaning.

I've tried many methods from air line to soaking and there is nothing I can give as a "Eureka" moment in terms of cleaning. Its a case of soaking, shaking, rinsing, air line out the crud, then perhaps start again. I've tried using brake cleaner with a long nozzle to get as far into the suppressor as possible but you are still limited by which areas the stream makes contact with.

I don't usually worry too much about the dirt and clean perhaps only a couple of times a year. I never store the rifles with suppressors on for the reason outlined above, plus also to avoid corrosion of the rifle crown/muzzle.

It was suggested to me to try an ultrasonic cleaner. Smaller ones are affordable, but for one the size of the suppressor you could be looking at the price of the suppressor. In such a case I'd sooner sell and buy a modular suppressor, however it is an option.

tikka25

Thanks for sharing that Cass. I’m the same I take the Mod off for storage and look after it quite well. I wouldn’t be too fussy with cleaning, in fact would always hunt with a fouled barrel after a cleaning and zeroing. I don’t like the moderator fouling though as it is inconsistent and hasn’t lined the bore rifling as per a few shots.

Im leaning toward a modular mod for my next treat.

thanks again

hiddenmongoose

Just take the mod off and give it a shake after hunting and before you put it back on.I haven't ever cleaned a mod and dont see the point if there is no negative effect on accuracy. I also own mods you cannot strip and have never cleaned nor had an issue with them

tikka25

Thanks. I might try an air hose to blow it out see does that do anything it just seems hard to get the last of it out for some reason and it doesn’t get much rounds through it

JP22

As mentioned it appears to be a common enough problem (and a basic flaw) with all in one suppressor’s.

Google will suggest soaking overnight in everything from petrol, diesel, kerosene, etc, and finishing with an air line.

I have an excellent doc on all things RF cleaning.

Any member here can access it on my G drive.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-7_Dft2kfh96H84_lXLn9jfuwcce-KTj/view?usp=sharing

In days of old we cleaned old pennys/coins with a common cola beverage, madness I know but would it work. I don't have a suppressor so I'll let others experiement. 😁😂