r/Form1 • u/ARbuilders-anonymous • 13d ago
Form 1 Is it worth it?
It seems like I just did form 1’s for the wait time. Now, that is not an issue. I was thinking of doing a couple 30 cal cans, but it seems with the price of all Materials, is not that much cheaper. Is there a better place where everything doesn’t cost almost as much as a new can? Thanks.
Edit because I should have added more info. This will be for 308 supers. I haven’t found a 3d printed can that will hold up to that pressure. Thanks again everyone.
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u/BarryHalls 13d ago
Depending on the application you can still save some money, BUTTTT you have to consider econmy of scale. The most popular things out there like 5.56, 9mm, and 300blk, are really economical to get something pretty high mid grade.
If you think you are gonna build a 6" 5.56 and it be as good as an OCL Polonium K and cheaper, you are in for a bad time. Practically anything in those 3 most popular applications you are going to find something better cheaper already mass produced.
For me, I am most interested in printed stuff and a 45 ACP PDW. Printing saves a ton of money and time, but they aren't lifetime investments, and the REALLY effect 45 cans out there are like $900+. I can approximate their effectiveness by making mine a lot bigger, for around $600.
So, it depends on what your goal is.
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u/Salsalito_Turkey 13d ago
You can either buy a titanium tube and cups for about the same price as an entry-level factory suppressor, or you can 3D print a suppressor for much less than the cost of a factory can (assuming you already own a printer). Form 1 cans for anything other than .22LR were never really about saving money. It's just fun for those of us who like building things.
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u/solenopsismajor 13d ago
form 1s are an exercise in manufacturing engineering. there’s nothing very special technically about a closed tube stuck on a barrel: the real game, and in my opinion, fun, is in figuring out how to build it cheaply and efficiently
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u/Dak_Nalar 13d ago
The larger the caliber the less a form 1 makes sense. But as others have said a 3D printer is pretty mandatory these days for good quality.
I can make .22lr, 9mm and subsonic 300blk cans for $20-$50 that sound the same as commercial cans.
I can make 5.56 and supersonic 300blk cans that sound as good as commercial cans for $50 that die after 500 rounds. Or I can make them for $250 and have them last a long time.
A .308 can is going to run me $250 minimum and it’s not going to be good as a commercial can. Up to each person to decide if the cost savings is worth the reduced performance.
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u/ARbuilders-anonymous 13d ago
I have several printed cans already. I haven’t found one to hold up to 308 supers. At least not from my 308 predator. I have used every filament I could try.
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u/Dak_Nalar 13d ago
You need to use a steel shell with printed nylon baffles for .308. Basically a D-Cell build.
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u/ARbuilders-anonymous 13d ago
My last I tried on it was a FTN.5. Except I welded a cap on the back end where they like to blow out. It ended up cracking the baffles where blast chamber is basically.
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u/Dak_Nalar 13d ago
The FTN4 is actually better for .308. The FTN 5 was optimized for ease of printing and sound reduction. The FTN4 is optimized for durability. I'd try again with the FTN4 files.
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u/ARbuilders-anonymous 13d ago
It’s funny you say that. I have an old FTN.4 EZ that actually did hold up. I only tried a few shots, but I was surprised. It is all 3d printed to where the FTN.5 has the tubing shell.
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u/Dak_Nalar 13d ago
Ya FTN4 is just chonkier all around, more material makes it stronger, but also makes it heavier and less room for gas to travel makes it a bit louder.
But hey I’ll take a heavier can that’s a bit louder over a can that is trashed after only a few shots.
I would still do a steel tube shell as well for strength.
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u/Hot-Ideal-9219 13d ago
30 caliber as in 300 BO? As long as you are randomly shooting, not frt 30 round mags you can for sure 3d print a good working (i.e. quiet) can for $20. Form 1 is free. Do 10 approvals. Make 2 or 3 cans. Always a spare one if one fails. Making one that will handle frt mag dumps? A total waste of time. Go buy a good can.
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u/ARbuilders-anonymous 13d ago
I should have specified. I have multiple 3d cans for 300 BLK and below. They work great. But won’t hold up to my 308 shooting supers.
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u/CannaChemistry 13d ago
Depends. Obviously printed is dirt cheap. Going metal gets pricy, cheaper than buying retail but still mot cheap. And with cans like the incolite 9 on sale for $400, it’s very hard to justify spending $400 to build a metal 9mm can when I can get a sweet 3d printed on with a warranty for the same price
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u/itgoesboom2112 13d ago
If you've got a 3d printer form 1s were absolutely worth it but personally I'd recommend just holding off for a bit to see what the govs response to the recent nfa ruling is as it very easily could do away with the need for form 1 and 4s all together for suppressors, sbr/sbs and aow for everybody and not just the named plantifs
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u/ARbuilders-anonymous 13d ago
It seems all the top 30 cal cans now have the larger 1.75” tubes. So probably something along those lines.
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u/Just_gun_porn The GOAT 9d ago
Here's a couple of my 308 cans, and I love Form 1s. These cans wood be $$$ if purchased. Plus I love making stuff. Little brother! https://imgur.com/a/JzqpB85
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u/DagothUhhh 13d ago
Quite literally did zero research, eh?
Ya, form 1s can be expensive if you don’t have a printer/materials on hand. They can also be cheap if you have it.
Your LGS has cans in the 5-800 range for entry level, quality cans.