Originally Posted by
An Undocumented Worker
Erosion in a blast baffle of a compesated rifle is no different than the erosion of an exhaust valve of an automobile with a leaking exhaust manifold. Typically the exhaust is mostly free of O2, yet still has some unburned fuel in it. If there is a crack in the exhaust manifold near the head, as the pressure wave reverses, oxygen is sucked into the manifold and impinges against the exhaust valve, this O2 superheats the exhaust locally (due to the unburnt fuel in it) where it starts cutting the valve like a plasma torch. That is essentially what is happening to the blast baffle of a compesator/suppressor. Not cavitation.