Mini-14 barrel thread shoulder can't mount a sound suppressor?

[SteyrAUG]

As best as I can figure, the “suppressor rating” is some secret formula math project. Thus nobody can replicate it, nor understand how the formula is weighted.

It appears to be some combination of time, frequency, and sound pressure level.

Something like this is used in industrial hearing safety for exposure limits that include duration. It is suitable for hearing protection concerns over a work shift, may be suitable for how much .22 or subsonic 9mm is actually hearing safe, but it is not an effective way to measure how loud something “sounds” to the human ear.

Years ago I talked to the guys at Gemtech at length about why they dropped their db ratings from their catalog for suppressors.

Basically they were doing it under controlled conditions, in a room with high quality sound meters that gave them the same results every single time. Then the guys at AAC would go shoot their suppressor outdoors on the same rifle and of course get a much lower db reading as a result and then they'd advertise that "real world" rating in their catalog.

Even inside, if you don't have the correct setup, I can get 12 different readings from the same rifle, with the same ammo and even the same shooter with a pretty serious spread. Outdoors I can make a suppressed .22 read like a .308 carbine and a .308 carbine read like a suppressed .22.

This of course makes all those YT videos, even from the good guys, pretty pointless when it comes to suppressor taste tests.

[Ron3]

I've checked fitment with the Huxwrx flash hider suppressor mount.

The factory Ruger flash suppressor has an internal, beveled shoulder. I can't tell it this flash suppressor presses against the muzzle or the end of the muzzle threads where the rest of the barrel starts. It's very close.

The Huxwrx flash suppressor does not have an internal, beveled shoulder. It only stops at the where the muzzle threads end.

What I think would work is a nut, with a shoulder ring, and tightening the flash hider / suppressor mount against that. I don't know if such a thing exists.

I will try to find a shoulder ring that will sit between the flash hider mount and end of the threads and see if that mounts concentrically. Anyone know of a source for that part?

I'm not willing to go through the effort, expense, and risk of having the barrel pulled and a thread shoulder machined. If I have to do that I won't be mounting a suppressor on this gun.

[SteyrAUG]

I've checked fitment with the Huxwrx flash hider suppressor mount.

The factory Ruger flash suppressor has an internal, beveled shoulder. I can't tell it this flash suppressor presses against the muzzle or the end of the muzzle threads where the rest of the barrel starts. It's very close.

The Huxwrx flash suppressor does not have an internal, beveled shoulder. It only stops at the where the muzzle threads end.

What I think would work is a nut, with a shoulder ring, and tightening the flash hider / suppressor mount against that. I don't know if such a thing exists.

I will try to find a shoulder ring that will sit between the flash hider mount and end of the threads and see if that mounts concentrically. Anyone know of a source for that part?

I'm not willing to go through the effort, expense, and risk of having the barrel pulled and a thread shoulder machined. If I have to do that I won't be mounting a suppressor on this gun.

If I did anything I would contact Huxworx and find out of their suppressor is compatible with the Ruger Mini 14 and if not, if they make a mounting device like you are looking for.

Only thing I've ever mounted on a Mini 14 is a Gemtech HALO.

[Ron3]

If I did anything I would contact Huxworx and find out of their suppressor is compatible with the Ruger Mini 14 and if not, if they make a mounting device like you are looking for.

Only thing I've ever mounted on a Mini 14 is a Gemtech HALO.

That's a good idea, thanks.

Interesting how I rarely call the company that makes a thing anymore. I guess I've just come to expect no help because the person who answers the phone or email doesn't know, doesn't care, and the person who might know is never available and too busy to call back.

But I'll give them a call / email tomorrow.

[SteyrAUG]

That's a good idea, thanks.

Interesting how I rarely call the company that makes a thing anymore. I guess I've just come to expect no help because the person who answers the phone or email doesn't know, doesn't care, and the person who might know is never available and too busy to call back.

But I'll give them a call / email tomorrow.

If it was Ruger, I probably wouldn't bother. But Huxworx is a smaller company trying to establish a reputation with a new and popular product. They'd likely be interesting in product support issues and even producing accessories to give them greater applications.

I ran into this with a Dead Air Wolverine suppressor that didn't want to perfectly mate with a Draco, I contacted them and they advised me of what amounted to a shim washer that they made exactly for that reason.

[georgeib]

FWIW, I've had good luck with OSS/HuxWrx customer service. They have been above and beyond level of responsive.

As to your particular conundrum, I would experiment a little, if I were in your shoes, Ron. One of the first things I would try is a standard crush washer backwards (with the wide end against the shoulder), and see how things line up with an alignment rod. I used a $6 one from McMaster-Carr that I beveled the edges on with a Dremel. I bought the 0.212" one based on a recommendation I read somewhere (don't recall exactly where), giving a 0.006" clearance based on a nominal bore diameter of 0.218" in standard 5.56mm barrels.
Available here: https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/129/4218/8893K191

If that doesn't work, I would then try the thick shim which came with my OSS muzzle device, (the shim I warned about, not sure if it was in this thread). The shim isn't perfectly flat and can cause a misalignment on a square shoulder, but may be just the ticket if used with the slightly concave side against the Mini-14's shoulder.

Last, I would trim off a section off the bottom of the Mini-14's muzzle device, and either have it milled flat on the cut end, or work it on sandpaper over a flat surface in figure 8s until flat. I would then use that as my locknut.

One of these methods will work, if you're willing to put in the time and focus. Alignment must be verified with the alignment rod without fail though.

[Ron3]

FWIW, I've had good luck with OSS/HuxWrx customer service. They have been above and beyond level of responsive.

As to your particular conundrum, I would experiment a little, if I were in your shoes, Ron. One of the first things I would try is a standard crush washer backwards (with the wide end against the shoulder), and see how things line up with an alignment rod. I used a $6 one from McMaster-Carr that I beveled the edges on with a Dremel. I bought the 0.212" one based on a recommendation I read somewhere (don't recall exactly where), giving a 0.006" clearance based on a nominal bore diameter of 0.218" in standard 5.56mm barrels.
Available here: https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/129/4218/8893K191

If that doesn't work, I would then try the thick shim which came with my OSS muzzle device, (the shim I warned about, not sure if it was in this thread). The shim isn't perfectly flat and can cause a misalignment on a square shoulder, but may be just the ticket if used with the slightly concave side against the Mini-14's shoulder.

Last, I would trim off a section off the bottom of the Mini-14's muzzle device, and either have it milled flat on the cut end, or work it on sandpaper over a flat surface in figure 8s until flat. I would then use that as my locknut.

One of these methods will work, if you're willing to put in the time and focus. Alignment must be verified with the alignment rod without fail though.

Those are some great ideas!

I will order an alignment rod.

I heard back from Huxworx! They suggest a jam nut. So, I need to find one of those.

[Ron3]

I mounted my flash hider / mount to the rifle with Rocksette and a jamb nut per Huxworx.

I got a Huxworx alignment guide rod and the mount is centered.

My can will be in jail a long time still but I plan a conjugal visit soon.

[Ron3]

The can mounted straight.

And the rifle worked perfectly for about 60 rds of .223 and 40 rds of 5.56. No malfunctions and no gas face. I mean I didn't feel any. The extra weight dampened the already mild recoil. The extra length does make the gun feel like a "rifle" instead of a "carbine". But it's not overly muzzle-heavy at all. I liked it and consider the endeavor a success.

Then I noticed my witness marks had moved and i stopped shooting. The mount with lots of Rockset in it's threads was loosed up by the angled front ports of the can doing their thing.

And it took lots of force on the wrench to remove the mount from the can.

Now I have to remove the failed Rockset residue.

What now? How can I get this this mount to stay put on the barrel?

A large amount of loc-tite Red?

And to keep the can from getting stuck on the mount? Small amount of anti-sieze?

[SteyrAUG]

The can mounted straight.

And the rifle worked perfectly for about 60 rds of .223 and 40 rds of 5.56. No malfunctions and no gas face. I mean I didn't feel any. The extra weight dampened the already mild recoil. The extra length does make the gun feel like a "rifle" instead of a "carbine". But it's not overly muzzle-heavy at all. I liked it and consider the endeavor a success.

Then I noticed my witness marks had moved and i stopped shooting. The mount with lots of Rockset in it's threads was loosed up by the angled front ports of the can doing their thing.

And it took lots of force on the wrench to remove the mount from the can.

Now I have to remove the failed Rockset residue.

What now? How can I get this this mount to stay put on the barrel?

A large amount of loc-tite Red?

And to keep the can from getting stuck on the mount? Small amount of anti-sieze?

It just might not be a good candidate for a suppressor. I remember having similar issues trying to get cans to play well on a Beretta 92FS, finally just moved on. There was only one suppressor that worked well, an old AAC design with a push button mount, but it's long out of production.

The only suppressor I've had good luck with in a Mini 14 is the Gemtech Halo which mounts over the factory flash hider.