Thread adapters: Why the hate?

[Antares]

There seem to be a lot of post where guys are looking for suggestions on rifles or barrels that are threaded 5/8-24 and then they follow up with something along the lines of "not interested in using adapters." Why is this?

It always seems to be followed with "blah, blah, blah, tolerance stacking, blah, blah, blah, baffle strikes..." but there seems to be very little actual evidence of negative outcomes from adapter use. To be clear, I'm talking about high quality adapters intended for use with muzzle devices, not Chinese plumbing parts off eBay. It almost feels like a different version of the "ELDMs grenading with no penetration" hysteria; lots of people say it happens, but very few seem to have any evidence to support it.

My sense is that a lot of the aversion to adapters is from guys who don't like the aesthetics of them but are unwilling to admit that they want their rifle to be "pretty" so they try to make a technical argument instead (i.e., tolerance stacking, etc.). I don't care what the rifle looks like, I care what the groups look like.

There, I said it.

And before you even start, it's called Roksett. Use it.

 

[Formidilosus]

It almost feels like a different version of the "ELDMs grenading with no penetration" hysteria; lots of people say it happens, but very few seem to have any evidence to support

Because it is.

 

[jaredg]

I use several adapters. I have had several baffle strikes. Not one of those strikes had an adapter. 7RM, 270WSM, etc. Not a single issue. Custom made and amazon specials. Never an issue.

But I'm also the guy the shoots .243 cal bullets through .22 end caps. I guess I just like to live dangerously.

 

[PathFinder]

My experience is only with a couple cheap ones (factory Silencer Central and cheapo Amazon, they're essentially identical) but neither had any issues when checked with a clearance rod or while shooting. Just check with a clearance rod and go, it's a cheap and easy way to get cans on thin barrels.
If they're manufacturing them in a single setup on a CNC, which is the only thing that makes any sense, that's going to be as precise as most any thread on the end of a rifle barrel. Referencing "tolerance stacking" without having measured it is not so different from referencing wallop in relation to lethality.

 

[mtnbound]

There seem to be a lot of post where guys are looking for suggestions on rifles or barrels that are threaded 5/8-24 and then they follow up with something along the lines of "not interested in using adapters." Why is this?

It always seems to be followed with "blah, blah, blah, tolerance stacking, blah, blah, blah, baffle strikes..." but there seems to be very little actual evidence of negative outcomes from adapter use. To be clear, I'm talking about high quality adapters intended for use with muzzle devices, not Chinese plumbing parts off eBay. It almost feels like a different version of the "ELDMs grenading with no penetration" hysteria; lots of people say it happens, but very few seem to have any evidence to support it.

My sense is that a lot of the aversion to adapters is from guys who don't like the aesthetics of them but are unwilling to admit that they want their rifle to be "pretty" so they try to make a technical argument instead (i.e., tolerance stacking, etc.). I don't care what the rifle looks like, I care what the groups look like.

There, I said it.

And before you even start, it's called Roksett. Use it.

I have one adapter stuck in a can, installed by UM. It's not a big deal, it doesn't affect the can or shooting other than being dedicated to that rifle becasue its the only one I have with 1/2" threads, but if I were to do it again, I would use the other style of UM's adapter that uses their special tool so I could remove it.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’m opposed to it because I have had it cause issues with adapters purchased from the suppressor retailers. Fortunately, the worst issues were with a rimfire can and it wasn’t visibly damaged by the mild baffle strikes. I have had issues with every adapter I have purchased except for the ones from Unknown Suppressors.

Putting that into the “mythical concerns” category without citing any data doesn’t seem very much in line with what RokSlide is all about. That seems to me to be akin to saying, “I’ve never had any problems with [insert brand name scope here], they are fine.”

Being forced to use an adapter is adding another thing that can go wrong to the system. If I can avoid doing that, I am going to try.

It’s also $50 for a decent one. If I had to spend $50 more on the rifle barrel to get 5/8x24, I would do it in a heartbeat rather than buy an adapter.

Additionally, there is almost no way for the consumer to know what differentiates a “good adapter” from a “bad adapter.” If I order the cheapest one from Amazon, I understand that I am rolling the dice. What I didn’t know is that I am not necessarily getting anything better ordering from Silencer Central or Silencer Shop.

As I said, it hasn’t happened with any of the adapters from Unknown. I’ve got those roksetted onto several rifles and haven’t had the slightest hint of any problem. But UM doesn’t make or sell 1/2x20 to 1/2x28 or 9/16x24 to 5/8x24 thread adapters.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I have a couple and they work fine. My thing is why screw with it when you can just get something threaded in 5/8?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Heaven forbid you order an adapter without certified material test reports, hardness certification, and 3rd party tolerance measurements, you’ll be told you’re a fool! (Exaggerating)

 

[journeyman713]

Heaven forbid you order an adapter without certified material test reports, hardness certification, and 3rd party tolerance measurements, you’ll be told you’re a fool! (Exaggerating)

You might be called a fool either way, but why buy the cheap Chinese knockoff and take the chance?

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

You might be called a fool either way, but why buy the cheap Chinese knockoff and take the chance?

Wasn’t talking about a Chinese adapter.

 

[KyleR1985]

Anyone have the thread adapters that caused them issues lying around?

I’ll pay shipping costs if you want to send them my way.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Anyone have the thread adapters that caused them issues lying around?

I’ll pay shipping costs if you want to send them my way.

I had to send one back to the supplier, but I might have the defective 1/2x20 to 1/2x28 sitting in a box somewhere. It’s hard for me to throw metal things away, even when they are junk.

 

[Sponge]

Ill give my perspective from someone getting into suppressors and wrangling with the same thing. Call it a case study in overthinking, and recovery to a rational perspective.

1. alignment concerns. discussed above, may be overblown may be a thing. Get off the dime and buy a good adapter. Get barrels threaded by someone who know what's what.
2. appearance. I've gotten over this. If my intention is to shoot it suppressed, why do i care what it looks like with the suppressor off?
3. adaptor getting stuck on/in a can. rockset it and forget it. additionally see 1 & 2 above.

Agreed with spending a bit more, where possible, to get the wanted threading -where I'm currently stuck, but have one foot free from the quagmire, is cutting/threading a Sauer 100. It seems that with a false shoulder 5/8-24 is doable. @Q_Sertorius didn't you get one of these done recently? If so where did you send it?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Ill give my perspective from someone getting into suppressors and wrangling with the same thing. Call it a case study in overthinking, and recovery to a rational perspective.

1. alignment concerns. discussed above, may be overblown may be a thing. Get off the dime and buy a good adapter. Get barrels threaded by someone who know what's what.
2. appearance. I've gotten over this. If my intention is to shoot it suppressed, why do i care what it looks like with the suppressor off?
3. adaptor getting stuck on/in a can. rockset it and forget it. additionally see 1 & 2 above.

Agreed with spending a bit more, where possible, to get the wanted threading -where I'm currently stuck, but have one foot free from the quagmire, is cutting/threading a Sauer 100. It seems that with a false shoulder 5/8-24 is doable. @Q_Sertorius didn't you get one of these done recently? If so where did you send it?

I sent my 6.5 CM Sauer 100 to Silencer Central. They did a good job and got it back to me in under a month. It costs a bit more, but door to door service is really convenient when I am busy at work.

I wasn’t thrilled about the 9/16x24 job they did on my Tikka M695 in 9.3x62. When I measured the barrel it seemed plenty fat to do 5/8x24, but they insisted it wasn’t. I probably should have just told them to cut it to 18” instead of 20”, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to risk losing too much velocity. I had trouble with the first adapter they sent me (it would not thread onto my barrel), but the replacement one was super tight, but works just fine (and won’t ever come off).

I am probably sending my next rifle (a Sauer 100 in 9.3x62) to someone who can do the false shoulder. That dude out in Oregon, I guess… name escapes me right now.

 

[Sponge]

I sent my 6.5 CM Sauer 100 to Silencer Central. They did a good job and got it back to me in under a month. It costs a bit more, but door to door service is really convenient when I am busy at work.

did they do 9/16-24?

I am probably sending my next rifle (a Sauer 100 in 9.3x62) to someone who can do the false shoulder. That dude out in Oregon, I guess… name escapes me right now.

Kampfeld? whoever you pick, let me know how it goes. I have one in 308 and would like to have it threaded 5/8-24 @ 18" or 20", I need to put calipers on it tonight to see if there is enough meat for the OD at 20". Otherwise im in adapter would.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

did they do 9/16-24?

Kampfeld? whoever you pick, let me know how it goes. I have one in 308 and would like to have it threaded 5/8-24 @ 18" or 20", I need to put calipers on it tonight to see if there is enough meat for the OD at 20". Otherwise im in adapter would.

I left the 6.5 CM at 22” long because I have the ZG 6.5 and OG 6.5 I can use with it. I knew from using my little gauge, that it would be 1/2x28 and I was okay with that. I also had already ordered a good (UM) 1/2x28 to 5/8x24 adapter for it.

As far as I know, Kampfeld (that’s the name I couldn’t remember) is the only trustworthy smith who does them collared like that.

 

[Formidilosus]

As far as I know, Kampfeld (that’s the name I couldn’t remember) is the only trustworthy smith who does them collared like that.

You do realize that it’s exactly the same functional thing as any other adapter, correct?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

You do realize that it’s exactly the same functional thing as any other adapter, correct?

Yes… I know that it is functionally the same… except that it’s not, because it’s done by a reputable person.

As I said above, I am okay with using adapters where it is necessary, but if it can be avoided, I believe in doing that. And I believe that my experience to date bears that out.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

You do realize that it’s exactly the same functional thing as any other adapter, correct?

The specific thing I believe they are referring to isn't an adapter (on barrels that are at least .63" dia), not that I have an issue with adapters. The threads are cut on the barrel itself, material is added to provide the shoulder which the barrel diameter isn't larger enough for. Maybe semantics but the threads are cut in the barrel concentric to the barrel bore and the shoulder adapter that is added on is square to the bore after its threaded on and locked in place. Again functionally it doesn't matter and perhaps that was your point, just wanted to clarify there isn't an adapter threaded on that is then threaded also.

 

[nm.otter]

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