njc110381 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 (edited) Luckily for me I'm ok - can't say the same for some of my mod though! I've been using an A-Tec CMM4 on my .223 for a while now. I'd estimate it's had 200 rounds through it and it's been well looked after. As the new .243 is an M14x1 like the .223, and the mod is stamped 6.5mm, I shoved it on to see how far it pushed the gun away from zero before I went stalking. First shot went well with only minor adjustment needed so I did that. Second shot was considerably louder (more so than an unmoderated rifle) so I looked up to find the front end of the can missing! I went for a little walk to the target and the bullet had hit it's mark. Spot on the bull so it hadn't hit the baffles. On the way back I found most of the rest of the mod - 50 or more yards from the rifle and with one of the sections missing. On closer inspection the piece that screws to the gun is bulged and the threads are damaged, but on the thread of the second baffle section there is no damage at all? This in my mind can only suggest that the section it was screwed into has broken into several pieces, otherwise it would have stripped threads pulling off? I phoned Jacksons and have been told to return it. Worryingly the lady on the phone said that it usually only happens due to a user not assembling it correctly. I hope this isn't a tactic to get out of replacing it as I had checked it fully before installing it on the new rifle and there is no way that anything was loose. Luckily I have two witnesses to fall back on who watched me check it before it was installed, one of them a retired engineer and gun smith who can verify professionally that what I did leading up to the incident was all correct. I'm pretty miffed that it's happened and really hope that Jacksons will do the right thing and replace what must be a faulty item. Ammo was factory 90gr Prvi as I happened to stumble across a few that I had given to a mate when I sold the last rifle and he hadn't used it. There are no signs of pressure on the cases and they ejected fine. Has anyone else had one of these mods blow on them? Edit - I'm hoping I can pay the extra and get an Ase SL5. I'm kind of put off of these aluminium jobbies now! Edited September 10, 2013 by njc110381 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Pictures please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Yes, pics please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 No dis-respect....I hate the things! Someone I know stopped using them and say's he is now rekindling his love of shooting a rifle! Hope you get fixed up. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaun4860 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 ThisThreadIsWorthless.jpg Mods daytrip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Thanks Fister - that has made me feel a lot better about the situation. On the phone I got a gut feeling they were trying to wriggle out of it, but I guess that if they do see a lot come back due to poor assembly then they are going to give that initial opinion. I'm quite sure I didn't play a part in the failure. As I say I'd only put two rounds through it after stripping it and after the first shot I gave it a quick feel to make sure nothing had changed (due to it being a new gun I wanted the check the firing hadn't loosened it on the rifle) and it was fine. All the sections were nipped up nicely hand tight, so not over and not under. I've done it dozens of times after being out in the rain - the mod wasn't new to me and I'm very familiar with how it goes back together. I can take pictures if you want but there's nothing to see really. You can just about feel the bulge in the first section but it's not really visible, and the three remaining baffles are intact and perfectly ok to the naked eye. If only I could find the missing piece... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 if you want a hand looking then shout. I know what your like so i very much doubt there was an assembly error. also i doubt a bullet hit it and you miss everything anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy H Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Did it have a proof mark on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Actually it didn't. But it's not the first mod I've had that didn't. I'm pretty sure neither of my Ase mods did, or my Wildcat P8. An interesting point though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 I'm not having much luck with moderators either nick Hope you get it sorted ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 No dis-respect....I hate the things! Someone I know stopped using them and say's he is now rekindling his love of shooting a rifle! Hope you get fixed up. U. When I got my first centrefire moderator few had them, they were something of a novelty back then and I was well taken into them. After a while the novelty sort of wore off and I resigned them to locations I had to use them only (meaning very few). Over the last 3 yrs I have regained some of my regard for them when I might fire more than one or two shots, mainly as a few shots tend to draw onlookers (more than disturbance of quarry) still shooting a nice sporting rifle with a big lump of tin hanging off the end just ruins the feel of most finely balanced rifles and significantly alters the carry balance and overall weight. I did think rifles might change in their design and calibre to be more suited to the moderator and although things are changing in the biggest gun market as regards their permitted use (USA) I think we are still two decades away from were things will go. I have found Peter Jackson a total gent who will go out of his way to help out, though he must suffer much unfair blame and cost for shooter and gunsmith created faults (I know another large supplier of moderators who has some interesting stories to tell in this regards). I hope you get things sorted these things aint cheap but be fair about things, its likely to be a fault in other areas than moderator quality control IMO. Obviously difficult to say from simple description. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bewsher500 Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 too many parts IMO mods are simple tools keep them simple single outer piece and several drop ins is the tried and tested design Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bicykillgaz Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 (edited) Is it possible that the first round got stuck and second hit it? Just re-read it and see first shot hit the target so can't be that. Edited September 11, 2013 by bicykillgaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 I'm completely out of ideas. Having done this so many times before and knowing it was all checked before hand I really can't see as I have done anything to cause the problem? The only real explanation I can come up with is that although it was fine with the .223, the extra pressure of the .243 would have sent it over the edge? A bigger bullet retains more pressure in the mod because there is less room between it and the baffles for the gas to vent. Add to that the extra powder in the .243 and there's quite a jump in pressure from one round to the other I should think? I've asked that if a warranty replacement is deemed suitable I would like to upgrade to an SL5 and pay the difference. I've got a feeling I may get a bit of a flinch if I stick another A-Tec on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Just do like in the films and put a pop bottle on the end. Throw on a fresh pair of pantys and your away. ha ha It will be so quiet.... Honest ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Some years back I had a S5, it was actually quite good at moderation and solidly built, but hanging off the end of my T3 Lite it was a great lump that threw the balance out terribly. It quickly went. Don't know the SL5, but understand it is a bit lighter than the S5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 I too had an S5 and agree with that. A lovely mod but it weighs a ton! The SL is supposed to be quite a bit lighter, but it's still double the weight of the A-Tec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Bet it won't blow to bits though What about the Northstar do they still do that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 You can be pretty certain of that I'd say! They're solid - or at least that was the case with my old S5. It was built like a tank! Ase still make the Northstar. I've got one on my 7-08 with the same thread so it's always an option if they won't replace the A-Tec. But again it's heavy. I would like something a little bit lighter if possible. The SL5 is about 400g, the Northstar close to 700g. Either are going to be a compromise on the 220g of the A-Tec, but as you say at least it will stay in one piece. My ears have only just stopped ringing. I thought shooting a centrefire without a mod was loud until now. Having a mod explode is a real shock to the system. I nearly **** myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted September 11, 2013 Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Ear plugs are real light :-). Glad your not hurt matey. U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 Please do get some pictures, I would be really really interested to see what has happened here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 The mod is packed and away for inspection. All that is visible is that the female thread part of the first section has flared out very slightly (making it about 2mm larger than the section that screws into it), and there is about 1/4 of the first turn of the thread stripped. Everything else looks as it should. The baffle that the missing piece was screwed to is fine, I think the missing baffle holds the key - although I suspect it is in several pieces because that is the only way it could have come off of the thread of the next baffle without damaging it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 An update. Just spoken to Peter Jackson and they have offered to replace the faulty parts for the retail price. So pretty much sell me the bits I need to fix it. He was quite friendly on the phone and I didn't really take it all in, but now I've sat and thought about it I'm not at all happy. The moderator is supposed to have a two year warranty... So much for that little gem as it's pretty well worthless! Having given the details of what happened and the one section having come away from the rest without marking the threads it must have broken up. There is no other explanation unless he is suggesting I'm lying about the whereabouts of the missing baffle? Now I'm not sure what to do? I wanted an SL5 but as it's imported by the same company who (to me anyway) offer a warranty that is as good as useless, I'm not sure I want to make another purchase from them. I feel really let down - if it's within warranty and broken I can't see why I should pay for repair? It's clearly broken apart. The reason is unclear but I'm bloody certain it's not anything I've done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted September 19, 2013 Report Share Posted September 19, 2013 Welcome to the real world my friend. The world built on a series of lies and deciet, false security and treachery. Forget it n' spend yer money on ear protection and teach the world guns go BANG! U Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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