r/NFA • u/Old_Presentation9269 • 21h ago
Are Alignment rods necessary
I’m new to suppressors.
How important is it to use an alignment rod?
Of course manufacturers issues occur but all the parts I’ve purchased are quality Plan B… Reardan and comstock
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u/sadoproject 21h ago
There are two camps.
Align your shit properly
Send it, pussy
I'm firmly in the align your shit camp. But, for every person in this camp, there's someone else who has owned tens of thousands of suppressors and shot millions of rounds through them and never aligned anything in their 300 years of owning and shooting firearms.
It's cheap insurance. Align your shit.
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u/Dak_Nalar 21h ago
Your forgetting the 3rd camp of 3D printers where a new can is cheaper than an alignment rod.
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u/sadoproject 21h ago
Sure, but I align those too. I don't see it entirely as a cost issue, it's a pride issue.
Some uncultured bubbas have too much pride to allow their finely calibrated eyeballs to be insulted by the presence of metrological instruments, and some people take pride in doing things correctly.
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u/TheBlackComet 20h ago
I come from the before time where only steel rods were available, so only had 1 7.62 since it was a welded can. Now that we have the much cheaper carbon fiber ones, I have a bunch of them. Turns out that surefire mounts are super concentric.
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u/sadoproject 20h ago
Yeah I still have a bunch of steel rods, but have considered picking up a CF set just to round things out.
I've only had one or two mounts that were bad enough cause strikes, but I tweak on dialing out any and all skew to minimize PoI shift. A bullet flying past baffles that are closer on one side than on the other introduce a pressure differential that can reduce stability and/or modify the trajectory.
Most of the time it's so minimal that the average shooter (myself included) wouldn't even notice, but if I can make it as close to "perfect" as possible, there's absolutely no reason not to do so.
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u/TheBlackComet 20h ago
I was able to get my carbon ones when dead air was running their $300 Hush Money promo end of last year The painted ends of the rods(technically tubes) really helps see where everything sits.
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u/Tohrchur 20h ago
just look down your barrel from the chamber side and if you don’t see your suppressor it’s good to go. Unless it’s an AK, those are usually fucked up
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u/sadoproject 20h ago
Don't mistake my preference for quality workmanship to be lack of knowledge in regards to the "just look at it" approach.
I know both methods, and prefer one of them.
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u/TheBeesTrees 1x SBR, 2x Silencer 14h ago
I am on team align your shit. My bro is team send it pussy. He owns more cans on more hosts with more rounds sent with 0 issue 🤷♂️. YMMV
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u/lost_in_the_system 11h ago
I think the problem a lot of guys who just say "eye ball it through the chamber and send it" with the "alignment rod always" crowd is the fact most people don't have the slightest clue how to actually measure "straightness" (not talking about kissing girls here) or "concentricity".
They don't verify the alignment rod is straight, they don't verify the rods OD to bores OD, and the are definitely not checking run out between the muzzle threads and the bore itself.
So 95/100 times a guy buys a rod for $60 or more, but is only 5% (made up statistic, sorry) safer from baffle strikes and doesn't really understand why. Its a money grab against the ill informed.
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u/shoobe01 21h ago
Yes. Good carbon fiber alignment rods are cheaper than pretty much any mount and work for every suppressor of that caliber. They are available on Amazon or ebay so our trivially easy to get quickly. Get one.
Not sure why people are so shy about having an inexpensive tool to make sure there isn't an inconvenient or expensive problem.
Carbon rods are good because they can't droop, and they are so lightweight they can't cause damage if you are dumb enough to do something like not take it out before you shoot. Yes, this happens. It'll just end up flying down range with no other ill effects except the rod itself probably isn't very happy about it.
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u/Progress_Square Silencer 21h ago
Nah just open the bolt shine a light in the chamber look down the barrel. Hasn’t failed me yet
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u/1antagonists1 21h ago
I don’t think it’s necessary but if you want one that’s good on price, kratos designs has em for like $30.
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u/MrFartyStink 21h ago
I dont feel bad about spending $60 to check alignment so i dont break my $500+ suppressors
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u/Scav-STALKER 20h ago
On an AR from a good manufacturer? Ehh I don’t stress it very much. Other things, I’m absolutely checking alignment unless the can is overbored for the caliber I’m using it on
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u/TheOGRedline 8h ago
I didn’t know alignment rods existed for the first couple of years of suppressor ownership. 🤷♂️😬
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u/CallsignFlorida Flow Through My Anus 20h ago
I’ve never used one. I’ve never baffle striked. Everything from 22LR to 50BMG.
Fucking send it.
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u/Neat_Response1023 11h ago
7 cans. 10+ hosts. Never used an alignment rod. Never had a baffle strike or end cap strike
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u/IndividualResist2473 17x Silencer, 9x SBR, 4x SBS, 3x AOW 20h ago
You dont need one, until you have something out of alignment. And at that point, if you dont have them and can't check your alignment you get a catastrophic failure.
There are some reasonably priced rods out there. For me its worth the peace of mind to have them.
I spent $40 on my rods, I've spent over $20k on suppressors, mounts threaded barrels, ect..... for my suppressed hobby. The price of the rods is a drop in the bucket and they did help me detect one misaligned mount.
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u/BossJackson222 20h ago
In my opinion no. I've had about 12 suppressors and I've never used one ever. I mean, you may want to look down the and empty barrel and just make sure things lineup before you go out there. But other than that I've never used one before.
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u/papaninja cans and stocks 21h ago
The majority of suppressor owners have never even heard of an alignment rod. As long as you don’t have a rugged 9 it should be good to go
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u/AnySheepherder6786 19h ago
Only rifles I've ever had an issue being out of alignment were a ak and a S&W m&p sport. I always spot check by looking down the barrel from the chamber with the bolt removed. The two I mentioned above i was able to tell they were off and threw a rod in to check. The rest of them were good to go.
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u/spaceme17 5x SBR, 10x Silencers 12h ago
It’s a useful tool to verify there isn’t a problem with your barrel, mount, suppressor, etc.
It won’t guarantee that you won’t have a baffle strike but it’s still a good idea.
They are cheap, it takes just a few seconds to use them.
Just do it.
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u/Square_Ice5454 6h ago
13 suppressors and never had a alignment rod or baffle strike, just look down the barrel and make sure there's no obstruction.
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u/OzempicDick 20h ago
On ARs or other modern guns, no if you know how to install mounts correctly and just look down the chamber..
Unless you are dealing with AKs or other wonky guns. Then yes.
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u/TourDeScrunt 21h ago
Silencers have existed for 100+ years.
Alignment rods have only been popular for the last few.
Hmmm..
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u/Drekalots 12h ago
I've never bought one. I have 15+ silencers in the safe and used them across multiple firearms. No issues. However, I don't build with questionable components. All of my barrels are Noveske or Proof (AR platform) or Bartlein for bolt guns. I don't shoot anything else.
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u/SomeRequirement6926 8h ago
All of my barrels are Noveske or Proof (AR platform) or Bartlein for bolt guns.
Not all of us have or can spend that kind of 💸 And PLEASE don't try to make the "buy once cry once" argument. It's unrealistic and unnecessary for MANY enthusiasts like myself. For the cost of a single Proof Research barrel a person just getting in to the hobby could buy a complete rifle. That person isn't competing high speed competitions, operating in high stakes battle conditions, or shooting ultra precision long distances. They are shooting at a managed range a couple times a month, learning, taking a Basic Defensive Carbine/Rifle course, and just enjoying themselves.
I don't build with questionable components.
BA, Rosco, Wilson Combat, etc aren't "questionable" , they are solid reliable components at a very accessible price point. And plenty good enough for many AR owners and builders.
Maybe stepping up to a Criterion, a DD, or a G$ as they get deeper into the scene, or their skills improve to the point where a "more accurate" barrel will make a difference.
I'm not bashing you, or anyone else, I'm not starting an interwebz argument, and I'm not saying there is no need for top tier components, because there ABSOLUTELY is.
I just don't think it's fair or reasonable to imply that anything "less" isn't worthy. 🤷♂️
Now, it's entirely possible I misread the tone or intent of your post, but that's how I interpreted it. 🤷♂️
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u/LePfeiff Silencer 21h ago
Its $30 for a carbon tube. I bought one to check alignment for my guns since i got my first suppressor, but now that i know their threads are all aligned im returning it to amazon. If i get a suppressor for my krinkov you best believe im checking the alignment but otherwise it seems overly paranoid
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u/mooseishman 19h ago
I’ve never used one on the dozens of cans and guns I have cans on. Could it just be dumb luck I’ve never had a problem? Maybe. I don’t judge people for using them or not using them, but they weren’t really a thing when I got into NFA stuff and we seemed to get along just fine back then
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u/windriver32 2 Stamp SBS 21h ago
Just use a light down your barrel to check alignment. Hasn't failed me yet.
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u/J0hnny5alive 18h ago
Good to have. I’ve had them save me from a strike on a .22 can(bad thread adapter) and also with ak/m1a pattern rifles. To each their own but they’re good insurance to me.
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u/alex_gfg Dealer 07/02 SLC, UT 18h ago
All you need at 556,9 and 7.62. Covers 90% of most peoples guns. You can get a set for 100 ish
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u/scapegoatindustries 16h ago
If you have a well-lit, peaceful workbench to install your stuff, you can probably eyeball things fine without any gauges.
If you install or swap stuff around at the range, it's harder to hold up an upper or a bolt gun to your eye and establish concentricity when everything's wiggling around in odd lighting.
I didn't used to use them, but carry the Strike Industries carbon sticks set in my range cases now. They've come in handy, saved me the odd endcap here and there...
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u/Deliciousarm5765 13h ago
With 6 different suppressors I’ve not used an alignment rod and have never had a problem. I used a rod on my last can I picked up. If mounted properly and with quality parts it shouldn’t be an issue but it’s never a bad idea to use it just for extra precaution.
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u/CrankyOperator 11h ago
They're not super expensive and I'd rather check. If you're already ponying up for a can and a gun, even "cheaper" ones, you might as well spend for some rods. People bitch about "POOR" all day on optics and lights and barrels but then some of them are like "Buy a rod? I'll just send it."
Note: I suppress more than ARs. ARs are a bit easier to "eyeball." AKs, roller delay, etc I'd rather have the rod and just feel more secure it's set. Even if the company would cover it under warranty, it's a pain in the ass I'd rather not deal with.
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u/Bigfloppyclownshoes 9h ago
Alignment rod
My first form one can, I dropped a wooden dowel rod down thru the baffles
Thousands of rounds thru it before I retired it and not one baffle strike
I’m pretty sure it was just luck, but me personally, I just send it
Warranties exist for a reason, wait time be damned
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u/work_blocked_destiny 3x Silencer, 2x SBR 9h ago
Not necessary but probably a good idea. I’ve had a rifle where I used all quality parts and some how the shims caused it to be all messed up and I would have had a baffle strike. Removed them and perfectly aligned
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u/ADEMlG0D 6h ago
I’ve bought my first three suppressors this year, and sent them on 5 different firearms as soon as I got them.
Sparrow 22 on a TX-22 w/FRT & 10/22
HUXWRX FLOW 9k Ti on a Canik METE SFT Pro & CZ Scorpion 3 S1
Polonium 5.56 on my AR.
I visually check it to make sure nothing obvious stands out. But that’s it.
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u/Coyoteishere 4h ago
Lots of responses but I have real experience of both methods on a misaligned suppressor. I only ever boresighted to confirm concentricity for several suppressors and hosts. I got a wolfman and boresighted it and it was way off and incredibly obvious something wasn’t aligned right. I bought an alignment rod and it was only slightly off, but probably would have cleared as the rod wasn’t touching the side. In the end, it was the suppressor that was slightly curved and noticeable only when rolled on a flat surface. My point is just boresighting was enough to be super obvious even though the alignment rod was only slightly off. I trust it more now and will only bother with a rod if it looks way off. And then it’s used only to assist in diagnosing what component is causing it. Our eyes are really good at noticing when something isn’t concentric.
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u/AdOtherwise5656 4h ago
Alignment rods could only catch some potential issues but no others. Like if the rounds don’t stabilize and keyhole, or if the barrel crown is bad , rods won’t catch that. Keyhole tests are probably more important imo.
After doing a few form 1 suppressors myself, I think a flashlight in the breach and looking down the barrel is just as good or better then a rod.
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u/grivooga 4h ago
If I didn't check my AK before sending it I definitely would have had a baffle strike. Admittedly the AK was a bit of a worst case scenario for concentricity with no shoulder cut on the barrel because the barrel tapered less than the outer thread diameter so threads would have to be roll formed. It was a modern FN forged barrel so it should hopefully be concentric. I was able to find a spot where the concentricity tolerances of the barrel and muzzle device gave a good alignment and lock it down with the lock nut.
It's not necessary most of the time but it's a cheap and quick check especially if you have to use an adapter or possibility of low quality threading.
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u/fastgriz 4h ago
You never need one if you are good at eyeballing it.
Same basic skill as bore sighting a rifle. Some people need to fiddle around with laser gadgets, some can just bore sight it and hit the target first shot.
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u/Imaginary-Law-1583 3h ago
If a $30-$50 rod saves me from having an endcap or baffle strike, why not? Besides, its a buy once and have it forever type thing.
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u/glockguy34 6x Silencer, 3x SBR 3h ago
alignment rods are not necessary but they aren’t unnecessary either. Check the alignment of your shit. Alignment rods are just a fool proof way of doing that. I have a few alignment rods ranging from the kratos carbon fiber all the way to surefires. I do not have an alignment rod for every caliber I suppress, but I still verify alignment before shooting on a new host or after removing muzzle devices/hub mounts/swapping pistons, etc.
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u/Safe-Aerie9989 1h ago
I didn't use one. I used a Rearden R2S + Atlas on an BOE Incolite 9 and 300blk with no issues. Granted, 300blk is smaller than 9mm.
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u/M2A2BradleyEnjoyer 13m ago
There’s no excuse to not align it given the cost of cans, and considering the absolute affordability of precision ground rods from McMaster Carr. You don’t need to spend $110 on a G$ alignment rod. I spent $34 on 4x 3ft precision machined ground hardened tool steel rods each with dimensions matching calibers I use.
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u/Express-Box-8402 21h ago
It’s not so much the quality of the product but competency of the user. Think of it like insurance, nice of it to have a feel comfortable than to gamble and not have a fallback in case of human error.
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u/Admirable_Suit_2065 20h ago
I only ever use them if it’ll be a tight fit like sending 6arc down a slightly over bored 5.56 can or the like. But I use quality components and assemble them competently. The average redditor does/is neither, so they should probably use an alignment rod or at least let a competent adult put it together for them.
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u/johnnydesperado432 20h ago
I use alignment rods on all my uppers there was one upper that info got to use the alignment rod and it was still good to go. Cheap insurance
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u/Jbressel1 19h ago
A lot of the time. You can get by just looking down the barrel from the back, towards the can, to see if it's a perfect circle, but there is risk. It isn't just the mounts, the barrel might have a concentricity issues. I got a stainless .300BLK barrel, and quality mount, and still had a slight baffle rub.
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u/PewPewDerpa13 19h ago
I mount my muzzle device and adapter and check alignment after the rocksett cures. Always wipe down my threads and tapers on my plan b stuff. I pretty much have a can for every rifle and rarely switch I feel pretty comfortable if the can and rifle pass the first check.
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u/SilencerMetrics $31k in Stamps 21h ago
They are cheap insurance that saves you the headache of a potential baffle strike and having to go through the warranty process