SureFire SOCOM Closed Tine Flash Hider Bayonet Compatibility
Please ignore my mowing shoes and pasty legs. 😅 I just wanted to throw this up here as an “FYI” to anyone looking to do the following:
#1. Have a muzzle device compatible with SureFire’s SOCOM suppressors
#2. Do a pin and weld on a 14.5” barrel
#3. Mount a bayonet using the lug on a front sight block (carbine length gas system)
I’m slapping together a Block “1.5” M4 SOPMOD-inspired build at the moment. My starting point for this phase was a 14.5” SOCOM profile barrel with a 1:7 twist and fixed FSB to accommodate M855 green tip, a carbine length gas system, and a bayonet (I know, I know… extra). Because I’m looking at getting either the RC2 or the RC4 eventually, I obviously started looking over SureFire’s muzzle devices. I needed one that could bring my barrel length past 16” after a P&W. Beyond that, I didn’t really wanna open myself up to the possibility of a snag annoyance commonly associated with open tines. Finally, I was hoping to find one with an outer diameter that wasn’t too wide for the mounting rings on NATO bayonets.
After a mountain of research, I arrived here. Pictured is the SureFire Closed Tine Flash Hider, the Waffentechnik B2K bayonet (identical lock-up to a standard M9 bayonet), and the “business end” of the aforementioned 14.5” SOCOM profile barrel. Straight out of the box, these parts will not fully cooperate. Due to the raised collar (just above the wrench flats) on the flash hider, the bayonet mounting ring physically cannot clear the ports, causing the bayonet to be right at about one inch from locking up on the lug. I’m gonna bust out the calipers to see if I can figure out exactly what the inner diameter of the bayonet’s mounting ring SHOULD be in order to provide the necessary clearance for lock-up. If I can remove enough material with my Dremel without compromising the mounting ring, I’ll be able to achieve all three goals listed above! If not, I’ll just do without the stabby stick.
Just for clarification, this is a build that I’ll be shooting 50/50 suppressed/unsuppressed. I’m fully aware that there’s no way to mount a bayonet AND use the suppressor at the same time (without using the Geissele mount). I’m not a COMPLETE idiot. 😉 I’ll keep you all posted!