Suppressor causing chamber condensation

[il_cop]

Here's what I'm seeing on paper

This is the best, most patient group with the 6.5.

Took me about an hour to shoot these 10

The others is what I see when with the heat and smoke:

 

[Foster_65]

Reviving to see if what I'm experiencing is the same...

This is my first suppressor, frankly, I'm mixed on whether I'm going to keep using it, but keep thinking I'm doing something wrong or missing something, given the amount of people who swear by them.

OG 6.5
Tikka 6.5cm & 243
Was getting random pressure on a very middle of the road load after 3+ shot strings in different wind directions, not just 12, and I'm in Colorado humidity (<25%)

Noticed there was always smoke coming out of the chamber and gas port

After two shots, pulled the bolt and looked down the bore....completely blocked by smoke, it didn't clear for over a minute. I repeated this over several shots... Shot only after I could see through the bore, no pressure, shot when the bore was blocked by smoke, pressure (obviously).

Needless to say waiting that long between shots to avoid random pressure is a pretty time consuming way to load develop or spend a long range session.

When I couple this with:
horizontal stringing (can heat I assume?), always having to check and tighten the can so it doesn't walk, I'm generally unimpressed with the groups in comparison to before the suppressor, and the muzzle jump/sight picture loss with the suppresor on the 6.5 in comparison to the brake I ran, it has me thinking a/this suppressor may not be for me.

But again, I feel like I must be doing something wrong... I cant believe all these people on rokslide or at the shoot2hunt school shooting suppressed are having 2 hour range sessions just to shoot 20-30 rounds because the have to wait for smoke and heat to avoid pressure and stringing (?)

What am I missing?

I know that if I have the smoke coming back out the chamber, that’s when I see the pressure issues. I see it on any can. I will say I’m usually running pretty close to pressure and that any moisture might show pressure. I think alot of folks, especially prs guys or guys hunting in wet conditions, Tayler there load to accommodate in climate weather and conditions maybe hey just arnt seeing it. But it def happens to me with any can and any caliber. Chamber fan helps dramatically with range sessions.

 

[mtnbound]

Here's what I'm seeing on paper

This is the best, most patient group with the 6.5.

Took me about an hour to shoot these 10

The others is what I see when with the heat and smoke:

What do your groups look like shooting without the can?
Taking an hour to shoot 10 rounds is odd. I have 2 of the same cans and I frequently shoot 10rds in rapid succession and yes mirage does become an issue but it only takes seconds for it to start to dissipate.

 

[il_cop]

@mtnbound
Need to clarify, took me an hour because I was waiting for the chamber to clear between shots and swapping the can with the 243 every 3 rnds. So cumulatively between the 2 rifles, it was 20 rounds.

Both loads/brass are new, haven't shot them without the cans, will do asap. The previous load (rl16) on the 6.5 with the brake shot a normal cone pattern, no horizontal stringing, and of course no back pressure, smoke in chamber, etc. I switched to 4350 and new brass when I got the can in March, because I can't consistently find rl16 and my brass needed replacement

That said if I shot 10 rounds in rapid succession with either of these rifles with the can on, I'd have a seriously sticky bolt by the 4th round (been there, that's what started this) and may not make it to 10.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Get the suppressor on good and tight, then check that it is still tight every few rounds. I don’t think the smoke in the bore is causing a problem. I do think you not having the suppressor tight is causing a problem. I tend to shoot five, check the suppressor, check the target, then shoot the next five.

 

[mtnbound]

@mtnbound
Need to clarify, took me an hour because I was waiting for the chamber to clear between shots and swapping the can with the 243 every 3 rnds. So cumulatively between the 2 rifles, it was 20 rounds.

Both loads/brass are new, haven't shot them without the cans, will do asap. The previous load (rl16) on the 6.5 with the brake shot a normal cone pattern, no horizontal stringing, and of course no back pressure, smoke in chamber, etc. I switched to 4350 and new brass when I got the can in March, because I can't consistently find rl16 and my brass needed replacement

That said if I shot 10 rounds in rapid succession with either of these rifles with the can on, I'd have a seriously sticky bolt by the 4th round (been there, that's what started this) and may not make it to 10.

What's your load with 4350?
Are you seeing E marks and primer cratering?

 

[il_cop]

What's your load with 4350?
Are you seeing E marks and primer cratering?

Both lapua brass
Both 40.6 h4350
143 ELDX at 2630 20"
108 eldm at 2755 17"

If I fire a a rapid string of > 2, I get heavy bolt lift (nearly stuck once) and ejector marks.

If I let the smoke clear the chamber/bore before every shot I get no pressure.

 

[il_cop]

Quick update

Shot this morning

6.5 - really cranked on the can as suggested and cranked again after 4 shots. Was calm and dry today. The rifle hammered, didn't experience any of the gas pressure or horizontal stringing I was experiencing friday, I think I wasnt screwing it on and 'indexing' it enough, especially swapping it on and off every 3 shots. I'm going to call that rifle/load good to go.

243- shot without the can, 5 inch horizontal string, vertical dispersion was excellent. Stringing issue was definitely NOT the can or pressure or anything else of the sort. It was actually worse without the can.

I'm going to break the rifle down and check for mechanical interference in the lug/action/stock interface.

Also, threw my apa mini bastard on the 243, first time shooting a brake in 4 months... Never realized how unpleasant it is compared to the can.

I'll get the 243 solved, thanks for everones help thus far.