Does the military use a suppressor cover on the mk18?

I am waiting on my 1st suppressor, a SF rc2 going on a MK18. I am not sure if I need a supressor cover. I have read the why’s of having one, but never saw a pic of one in combat other than a long range sniper. Where covers used in the military or is this just a civilian use thing? If they were used, what was the brand?

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Good question. I’ve never seen one, but I’m in no position to have seen this type of thing.

I have a cloner freak buddy I could ask. I’m finto text him now.

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@1168 would probably know.

Centerfire rifle cans get extremely hot quickly on the practical side things if you aren’t aware.

Thanks, I know it gets pretty hot after a few mags without a suppressor. I would think the rifle would be even hotter with suppressor and more so with a cover. I could see the safety side if carrying and transitioning to a pistol for the use of a cover, but can’t find a photos of one being used in combat by the military.

Half a mag of 5.56 will probably get one hot enough to burn you. It gets hotter to the touch faster than the barrel(i assume) due to the much thinner wall. A .22lr can on a 10rds mag pistol will get hot enough to make snugging it back on uncomfortably hot within a couple mags(slow, aimed shots) to give you an idea.

My opinion, it’s not a bad idea to get one of the heat proof can bags(or some sort of functional equivalent) in case you need/want to get in the vehicle and leave without having to wait for the can to cool down.

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I always shoot with my cans first, pistol or rifle and let them sit while I shoot something else san’s can. For example HK45 on plate racks for a couple mags, then onto 1911 45 without a threaded barrel. Same thing for 9mm, threaded barrel pistols/sbr’s first then onto Tanfoglio Stock Master to finish up. Cans are all cooled down by that and ready to pack away to the next range (my outdoor range has over 25 ranges).

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We’re getting away from the original question of actual combat Mk18 suppressor covers, but I quit shooting suppressors almost completely. We still run whatever is on Pappabear’s bolt guns, but my AR cans have been cold and dusty for years.

Huffing vaporized heavy metals is no longer my thing.

Finally got a reply from my mil guru. Liberty Straightjacket is the best one. He couldn’t confirm that any mil teams were using them, but he says he’d be surprised if they weren’t.

There you have it. Good luck.

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I have zero desire to shoot anything but a flow through type suppressor on a gas gun.

At least 3D printing makes this possible for reasonable money. My C.A.T. JL isn’t terrible at all but it is pretty damn big to hang off of an M4.

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Thanks, the Liberty was one I was looking at, but they are pricey and limited availability. The Cole tac corset was another I was considering. I think I will wait and shoot it some to see what I actually need. Something to just slip over the hot can for transport like an Armageddon gear hot pocket may be all I need.

Merry Christmas.

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From what I understand their use is somewhat common now. I hear Armageddon and Cole-tac are the most prevalent.

What are you looking for? “GWOT period correct”? Or just for your personal use?

I don’t bump and grind in a group setting with my SBR/cans so a hot pocket works just fine for me. I’ve thought about buying a few covers but have not had an issue to really drive it home to make the purchase.

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Thanks for the input, it is more personal use.

Same here. Pappabear has a KAC flow can, and although I thought the idea was a snake oil deal in the beginning, it does seem to reduce the nasty gas during moderate firing rates.

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After melting a sling on a hot suppressor I needed to do something simple so after a little research I made a homemade cover from a silicone heat resistant mat. It looks a little ghetto but works great- I have had it hot enough that the medical tape on the outside melted but the silicone mat was just fine. I just resecured it with more tape and continued on.

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Very uncommon, in my experience. I wouldn’t be too surprised if that is changing, though. Also keep in mind that there is less individual uniformity in organizations that issue such weapons, and the organizations vary in culture collectively.

I don’t use one.

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Yeah, I keep a heat resistant pouch in my rifle case for when I get impatient. I’m not throwing it in the box while it’s hot enough to light things on fire, but when it’s still too hot to hold, some nomex gives me peace of mind with the case’s foam.

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Just drive home from the shoot with the can hanging out the driver’s window to air cool it. Sheesh.

:zany_face:

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FWIW, cheap ($30) no name hot pockets and some grill gloves for handling hot cans works.

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I bought a Cole-Tac corset for my CAT JL.

Does a great job on that at keeping mirage manageable.

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