Sandman S just died

Harpua

Harpua

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Was just out shooting the Scar 15P and killed my can. Any free staters have any experiences with Dead Air customer service? Already received the return label within minutes. Hoping they’ll replace the keymo brake as well since it got damaged in the process. No issues first time out and today was going fine until it wasn’t. Looks like turnaround time is 50-60 days 🙁
 
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New(er) can?
It took several heat cycles before mine (sierra 5 keymo) didn't loosen up over an extended range session.
No experience with customer service, good luck.
 
Masswhole said:
New(er) can?
It took several heat cycles before mine (sierra 5 keymo) didn't loosen up over an extended range session.
No experience with customer service, good luck.
Click to expand...
Very new. Had it on a 308 for a couple mags and then picked the Scar up a couple of weeks ago and this was the second time out. Thankfully the gun seems fine and I put a mag through it after I got the can off.
 
Harpua said:
Was just out shooting the Scar 15P and killed my can. Any free staters have any experiences with Dead Air customer service? Already received the return label within minutes. Hoping they’ll replace the keymo brake as well since it got damaged in the process. No issues first time out and today was going fine until it wasn’t. Looks like turnaround time is 50-60 days 🙁
Click to expand...

That sucks! :(

What caliber Scar-P? Same ammo both outings? What kind of ammo? Did you install the brake yourself? Torqued to spec with torque wrench? What kind of washer or shim kit did you use, was that fat shiny ring it? Did you check the alignment with the rod before shooting for the first time?
 
GlockBy said:
That sucks! :(

What caliber Scar-P? Same ammo both outings? What kind of ammo? Did you install the brake yourself? Torqued to spec with torque wrench? What kind of washer or shim kit did you use, was that fat shiny ring it? Did you check the alignment with the rod before shooting for the first time?
Click to expand...
300 blackout with Palmetto subsonics that are actually manufactured by Hornady. Gunsmith installed brake with dead air shims and jam nut. Alignment was checked as well.
 
My Sandman-S had a defective first baffle that broke piece off but wasn’t a baffle strike.

Quickly got a return label and sent it off. They had the can for about 4 1/2 months. Got it back completely rebuilt but they never said what they found or said what could have caused it.

This was during the Sierra 5 fiasco so they were flooded with warranty claims.

Only info I was able to find and was confirmed online with dead air staff was that there was a short period where the stellite baffles had defective material and my serial number and date of purchase was in that timeframe.

Good luck, it’s a very easy process but be prepared to be without the suppressor for a little bit.
 
Did you check alignment?

Make sure you crank the can tight. Some people go a couple ratchet clicks and think it’s snug, crank that bitch.
 
Harpua said:
300 blackout with Palmetto subsonics that are actually manufactured by Hornady. Gunsmith installed brake with dead air shims and jam nut. Alignment was checked as well.
Click to expand...
Did you see the alignment check yourself or just know it was part of the install? I would probably get the alignment rod or carbon arrow of proper size to verify outsourced jobs on my own.

Were the rounds grouping normally, no keyholes, after the baffle strike? Any signs of strike on the brake? Jam nut and brake tight? Why would they use shims AND jam nut? Seems like jam nut makes it easier to time, but ads another point of failure vs just using shims. Maybe this had nothing to do with it though.

Hope they fix it fast and for you! Good luck!
 
I’ve never seen a jam nut used before. Is it similar to a crush washer? Why is it needed? If so it remove it since most manufacturers say not to use crush washers with suppressors.
 
steve8140 said:
I’ve never seen a jam nut used before. Is it similar to a crush washer? Why is it needed? If so it remove it since most manufacturers say not to use crush washers with suppressors
Click to expand...

I have not seen one used with suppressors either, that is why I called it "fat shiny ring". 🫣

I guess it makes it easier to time the brake (position the ports properly) vs using multiple shims. You just use 2 wrenches and tighten the brake and jam nut against each once it is in proper spot. That adds another potential failure point for locking and concetricity, and you are using less of the the threads, so concentricity can be affected even more. I guess it still can work - if torqued properly, threads are long enough AND alignment is verified.

If your barrel has a proper shoulder, I would avoid using jam nuts.
 
GlockBy said:
I have not seen one used with suppressors either, that is why I called it "fat shiny ring". 🫣

I guess it makes it easier to time the brake (position the ports properly) vs using multiple shims. You just use 2 wrenches and tighten the brake and jam nut against each once it is in proper spot. That adds another potential failure point for locking and concetricity, and you are using less of the the threads, so concentricity can be affected even more. I guess it still can work - if torqued properly, threads are long enough AND alignment is verified.

If your barrel has a proper shoulder, I would avoid using jam nuts.
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The smith was saying that it’s something they’ve been having to do on the Scars. It was news to me but I was trusting his expertise. Needless to say I’m pretty f’n annoyed by the whole thing.
 
Harpua said:
Was just out shooting the Scar 15P and killed my can. Any free staters have any experiences with Dead Air customer service? Already received the return label within minutes. Hoping they’ll replace the keymo brake as well since it got damaged in the process. No issues first time out and today was going fine until it wasn’t. Looks like turnaround time is 50-60 days 🙁


View attachment 936497View attachment 936498
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Dead Air customer service is just the best. Just google Dead Air Sierra 5 service. I’m kidding by the way (about the first part). Seriously, f*** that company.
 
Harpua said:
The smith was saying that it’s something they’ve been having to do on the Scars. It was news to me but I was trusting his expertise. Needless to say I’m pretty f’n annoyed by the whole thing.
Click to expand...

If the barrels shoulders are too thin or small on 15P as well, it totally makes sense.

How did the ammo shoot after you took off the can, did you shoot at paper? Ok groups, no keyholes? Maybe twist rate was not playing nice with heavy bullets.
 
Deadair has been having a bit of a moment for durability and QC at the moment. They will probably take care of you with repairs. I would stay away from anything other than shims mounting next time, although its unclear whether that was the issue
 
E.Stoner said:
Deadair has been having a bit of a moment for durability and QC at the moment. They will probably take care of you with repairs. I would stay away from anything other than shims mounting next time, although its unclear whether that was the issue
Click to expand...

Looks like the SCARs don’t have a wide enough shoulder behind the threads to use normal timing shims by themselves.
 
I would’ve gone with the flash hider that indexes off the face since you’re using Dead Air anyway. Regular scars use a jam nut or spacer for a wider shoulder. The 15p is special and also has a relief cut at the base of the threads that might mess with spacers.
 
Dead Air got hammered with the Sierra 5 disaster and if my memory is correct, also switch manufacturers for a lot of their components all while they also relocated their factory.
Basically a trifecta of a shit storm.

Some of their stuff says “KG Made” and others have different names.
 
Just got back from my normal LGS that usually handles mounting for me so they could remove the brake. He said the place I went to for the muzzle install used Loctite instead of Rockset. I’ve been under the impression that Rockset is pretty much industry standard (even Sig uses it for the Rattler and Spear). Not sure if that could have caused an issue or not.
 
Harpua said:
Just got back from my normal LGS that usually handles mounting for me so they could remove the brake. He said the place I went to for the muzzle install used Loctite instead of Rockset. I’ve been under the impression that Rockset is pretty much industry standard (even Sig uses it for the Rattler and Spear). Not sure if that could have caused an issue or not.
Click to expand...
Did it come loose? Or did the gunsmith just discover that? If it came loose to the point where the can was canted, then ya. But if it didn’t come loose, then no it wouldn’t be caused by loc tight. Personally I would use rockset for that application over loctite though
 
Harpua said:
Just got back from my normal LGS that usually handles mounting for me so they could remove the brake. He said the place I went to for the muzzle install used Loctite instead of Rockset. I’ve been under the impression that Rockset is pretty much industry standard (even Sig uses it for the Rattler and Spear). Not sure if that could have caused an issue or not.
Click to expand...

Was "loctite instead of rocksett" his only observation?

Did he check or mentioned if the brake was on tight? Did he check the alignment of just the brake with the rod? Did he find any keymo .30 suppressors in the shop to throw on, before taking the brake off, to see how the alignment looks with the rod? Did he check the same with the damaged one? Did he check if QD part of the damaged suppressor was in properly and tight (forgot to ask you that before)?
 
I was talking to Dead Air today, they are adamant that no jam but should be used, ever. They said their Scar 17 keymo FH was designed to index with the Scars. I’m awaiting their response if this is true for the 15p. If that’s the case, then I won’t be using the regular Keymo brake going forward and I’ll switch to that one.
 
I launched my Saker 7.62 with their overly complex MAAD mount downrange on its first trip to the range years back. I still remember the horror of watching my $1K suppressor I’d waited many months for bouncing off the dirt and hitting the steel target I was shooting at. In my case the mount on the suppressor side was the issue, not a strike. I was at the Jim Jones range in Payson, AZ.


I’m sure customer service will get you fixed up. I have the Geissele alignment rods in 5.56 and 7.62 and check all new installs myself.
 

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