Patent Publication Number: US-9410761-B2

Title: Suppressor with configurable baffles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/025,778 filed on Jul. 17, 2014, entitled “TOTAL SUPPRESSOR BREAKDOWN TECHNOLOGY,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly to a suppressor with baffles that can be configured in a user-selectable orientation to maximize a desired performance characteristic. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A suppressor is a device attached to or incorporated into the barrel of a firearm that reduces the amount of noise and also usually the amount of muzzle flash generated by firing the weapon. A suppressor is usually a metal cylinder with internal mechanisms such as baffles to reduce the sound of firing by slowing the escaping propellant gas and sometimes by reducing the velocity of the bullet. The suppressor is typically a hollow cylindrical piece of machined metal (steel, aluminum, or titanium) containing expansion chambers that attaches to the muzzle of a pistol, submachine gun or rifle. These “can”-type suppressors may be attached to and detached from various firearms. 
     Suppressors reduce noise by allowing the rapidly expanding gases from the firing of the cartridge to be briefly diverted or trapped inside a series of hollow chambers. The trapped gas expands and cools, and its pressure and velocity decreases as it exits the suppressor. The chambers are typically divided by baffles. There are typically a number of chambers in a suppressor, depending on the intended use and design details. Baffles are usually circular metal dividers which separate the expansion chambers. Each baffle has a hole in its center to permit the passage of the bullet through the suppressor and towards the target. Baffles are typically made of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium or alloys such as Inconel, and are either machined out of solid metal, cast, molded, or stamped out of sheet metal. 
     Baffles may be separated by spacers, which keep them aligned at a specified distance apart inside the suppressor. Many baffles are manufactured as a single assembly with their spacers, and several suppressor designs have all the baffles attached together with spacers as a one-piece “monocore” baffle stack. Modern baffles are usually carefully shaped to divert the propellant gases effectively into the chambers. This shaping can be a slanted flat surface, canted at an angle to the bore, or a conical or otherwise curved surface. One popular technique is to have alternating angled surfaces through the stack of baffles. 
     Two significant disadvantages exist with existing prior art suppressors. First, current center fire handgun suppressor technology does not allow the user to completely disassemble all the components of the suppressor, including the piston housing and the piece parts down to the unobstructed smooth tube, for cleaning and maintenance without any special tools or manufacturing equipment. Existing technology allows only for partial disassembly, including piston and baffle removal, but excluding the piston housing which is retained/attached to the inside tube wall. As a result, the cleaning process is degraded because of the user&#39;s inability to completely clean the tube. The inability to clean the tube/piston housing interface area permits carbon buildup around the retained piston housing. This carbon buildup degrades the noise reduction performance of the suppressor. 
     Second, users have been required to use any given prior art suppressor in a fixed design configuration. Handguns and rifles have different muzzle gas pressures using the same ammunition. Because of the pressure differences, and because of the length of the barrel, the configuration of the baffle ports in relation to each other affects the silencer sound reduction performance. A specific example of the performance results achieved through different baffle port arrangements is a comparison of the .22 LR handgun with the .22 LR rifle. When the baffle ports are aligned in a straight orientation, the suppressor performs best on the handgun having a high muzzle gas pressure. When the baffle stack is oriented so each successive baffle port is turned 90° to create a spiral layout, the suppressor performs best on the rifle having a low muzzle gas pressure. As a result, a user seeking optimal performance for both firearm types is required to have two separate prior art suppressors that cannot be transferred without performance degradation between a handgun and a rifle using the same ammunition. Furthermore, it is possible that an individual firearm and ammunition load combination will be best served by an arrangement of baffle ports that is not commercially available in a prior art suppressor, resulting in the user having to settle for a sub-optimal suppressor. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved suppressor with configurable baffles that can be configured in a user-selectable orientation to maximize a desired performance characteristic, including sound suppression and/or bullet accuracy. In this regard, the various embodiments of the present invention substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this respect, the suppressor with configurable baffles according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a device suppressor with configurable baffles that can be configured in a user-selectable orientation to maximize a desired performance characteristic. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved suppressor with configurable baffles, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved suppressor with configurable baffles that has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above. 
     To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention essentially comprises a tubular body defining a bore, a muzzle mount facility on the body, a stack of a plurality of baffles closely received in the bore, each of the baffles defining a primary aperture, each of the baffles having an asymmetric gas flow feature, the primary apertures being aligned on a common axis, each of the baffles having an alignment facility operable to mate with the alignment facility of an adjacent baffle such that a relative rotational position is established, and each alignment facility including a plurality of orientation features at selected rotational intervals about the common axis, such that each baffle is operable to engage an adjacent baffle in a plurality of different alternative orientations at which the respective asymmetric gas flow features are relatively oriented in a selectable position. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of the current embodiment of a suppressor with configurable baffles constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of the tubular piston housing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2A  is a front isometric enlarged exploded view of the current embodiment of a portion of the configurable baffles of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a front isometric enlarged view of the configurable baffles of  FIG. 2A  in an assembled arrangement. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear isometric view of a configurable baffle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of a configurable baffle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a configurable baffle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of a first alternative embodiment of a configurable baffle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a configurable baffle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side sectional view of a third alternative embodiment of a configurable baffle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10A  is a side view of the suppressor with configurable baffles of  FIG. 1  with the configurable baffles configured to align the baffle ports in registration. 
         FIG. 10B  is a side sectional view taken along line  10 B- 10 B of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11A  is a side view of the suppressor with configurable baffles of  FIG. 1  with the configurable baffles configured to index the baffle ports by 90° in a spiral orientation. 
         FIG. 11B  is a side sectional view taken along line  11 B- 11 B of  FIG. 11A . 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the suppressor with configurable baffles of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
       FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B  illustrate the improved suppressor with configurable baffles  10  of the present invention. More particularly, the suppressor has a tubular body  12  having a front  14 , a rear  16 , a central bore defining an interior  18 , an exterior  20 , a plurality of front flutes  22 , and a plurality of rear flutes  24 . The front and rear flutes provide an irregular surface to grab and hold the tubular body when components are being screwed or unscrewed, increases the tubular body&#39;s surface area to promote cooling when in use, and provide an attractive appearance. The front interior of the tubular body has female threads (not visible), and the rear interior of the tubular body has female threads  148 . A tubular end cap  26  is threadedly connected to the front of the tubular body. The tubular end cap has a front  28 , a rear  30 , and interior  138 , a front aperture  140 , a slot  32 , and male threads  142 . The slot  32  receives an O ring  34  to create a seal between the end cap and the front of the front of the tubular body. The female threads (not visible) in the front interior of the tubular body are located behind a 3/16 inch flat area (not visible) in the current embodiment to provide space for the tubular end cap and O-ring so the front of the tubular end cap is substantially flush with the front of the tubular body when the tubular end cap is installed. The female threads  148  in the rear interior of the tubular body are located in front of a 1/16 inch flat area  190  in the current embodiment. 
     A baffle stack  136  and a blast sleeve  90  are removably retained within the interior  18  of the tubular body  12  by the end cap  26 . The baffle stack includes a forwardmost end baffle  36  having a front  38  and a rear  40 , ten standard baffles  42  having a front  44  and a rear  46 , and a rearmost starter or blast baffle  84  having a front  86  and a rear  88  for a total of twelve baffles. The tubular blast sleeve  90  has a front  92 , rear  94 , and interior  96 . The front  92  interior  96  of the tubular blast sleeve receives the rear  88  of the starter baffle. The front of the blast sleeve directly contacts the middle shoulder  184  of the starter baffle without any intervening gaps or O-rings. The rear  94  interior  96  of the tubular blast sleeve  90  receives the front  102  of the piston housing  100 . The rear of the blast sleeve directly contacts a ridged surface  188  of the piston housing without any intervening gaps or O-rings, leaving the O-ring  98  in slot  154  uncovered by the blast sleeve. The contact between the rear of the blast sleeve and the ridged surface forces carbon resulting from the discharge of a firearm attached to the suppressor  10  into the baffle stack  136 . The cleaning procedure to clean accumulated carbon from the baffle stack is much easier than cleaning accumulated carbon from the interior  18  of the tubular body  12 . 
     A piston assembly  150  is threadedly connected to the rear  16  of the tubular body  12 . The piston assembly includes a piston nut  124 , two O-rings  120 ,  122 , a circular coil spring  118 , a piston  110 , O-rings  98 ,  108 , and a piston housing  100 . The piston assembly  150  is attached by male threads  146  on the piston housing to the female threads  148  inside the rear of the tubular body. The piston assembly is held together by male threads  132  on the piston nut that mate with female threads  106  on the rear  104  of the piston housing. 
     The tubular piston housing  100  has a front  102 , rear  104 , an interior  144 , a plurality of forward vents  156 , male threads  146 , female threads  106 , a front slot  154 , a rear slot  152 , and a graspable area  186 . O-ring  108  is received within rear slot  152  and creates a seal between the middle interior of the piston housing and the front  126  of the piston nut  124 . O-ring  108  prevents carbon from fouling the female threads of the piston housing and the male threads  132  of the piston nut. O-ring  98  is received within front slot  154  and creates a seal between the front of the piston housing and the interior  18  of tubular body  12  that prevents carbon from fouling the threads  148  of the tubular body. 
     Piston  110  is a tubular body having a front  112 , a rear  114 , and an interior  116 . The piston nut  124  is a tubular body having a front  126 , rear  128 , and interior  130 . The piston and spring  118  are received within the interior  144  of the piston housing  100 . The O-rings  120 ,  122  are received within slots on the interior  130  of the piston nut (not visible) and are retained by the pressure of the piston passing through the piston nut. 
     The piston assembly  150  of the current invention is a novel version of a Nielsen Device, or recoil booster, which allows an attached firearm to function in a semi-automatic fashion. Despite employing a piston assembly, the suppressor with configurable baffles  10  has the considerable advantage compared to the prior art of permitting removal of every suppressor component from the tubular body  12 , including the piston assembly, to permit cleaning and servicing of all suppressor components and the interior of the tubular body. In the current embodiment, the piston assembly is unscrewed from the tubular body by gripping and turning the graspable area  186  of the tubular piston housing  100 , the tubular end cap  26  is unscrewed from the tubular body  12  by turning the tubular end cap with a standard ½ inch drive inserted into the front aperture  140 , and the piston nut  124  is unscrewed from the tubular piston housing by turning the piston nut with a standard ⅞ inch socket. All of the suppressor components are axially registered along a common axis that matches a bullet path  134  that a bullet discharged from an attached firearm follows when passing through the suppressor with configurable baffles. In the current embodiment, the suppressor with configurable baffles  10  is sized for a 45 caliber firearm. 
       FIGS. 2A-6  illustrate the standard baffles  42  of the present invention. More particularly, each standard baffle is a tubular body having a front  44 , rear  46 , baffle port  48 , a plurality of male tabs  50 , a plurality of female notches  52 , an exterior  54 , an interior  56 , a middle shoulder  58 , a rear shoulder  60 , a front tier  62 , a middle tier  64 , a rear tier  66 , and a curved surface  68 . The rear of the rear tier and the front of the front tier are open to permit the passage of a bullet through the standard baffle. The baffle port is a notch defined in the rear tier to provide an asymmetric gas flow feature that is an eccentric portion of the primary aperture defined by the interior of the baffles. The tabs and notches are axially aligned with one another and are alignment facilities and orientation features operable such that the tabs on one surface of one baffle mate with the notches on an opposed second surface of an adjacent baffle such that relative rotational position of the baffles is established. The tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle and are arranged at selected rotational intervals about the common axis defined by the bullet path  134  such that each baffle is operable to engage in adjacent baffle in a plurality of different alternative orientations at which the respective baffle ports are relatively oriented in a selectable position. In the current embodiment, the tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle at equal rotation intervals. 
     Each tier  62 ,  64 ,  66  of the baffle  42  is a shape of differing diameter, with the front tier having a larger diameter than the middle tier, and the middle tier having a larger diameter than the rear tier. The middle tier is connected to the front tier by the curved surface  68  and middle shoulder  58 , and the rear tier is connected to the middle tier by the middle shoulder  60 . The size of the baffle port  48 , slope angle of each tier, and the width of each shoulder can vary based on the design caliber and load pressures of the suppressor  10 . In the current embodiment, the front tier is cylindrical in shape, and the middle and rear tiers are conical in shape. 
     The front tier  62  has a forward edge  158  and a rearward edge  160 , with the tabs  50  being defined by the forward edge, and the notches  52  defined by the rearward edge. The forward edge and rearward edge have matched profiles, such that there is no gap between the external surfaces of adjacent baffles  36 ,  42 ,  84  in the baffle stack  136 . The absence of a gap is most clearly shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     As is shown in  FIG. 6 , the interior  56  of the baffle  42  is divided into a first chamber  70 , a second chamber  72 , a third chamber  74 , and a fourth chamber  76 . Each chamber has a different diameter, with the first chamber being smaller than the second chamber, the second chamber being smaller than the third chamber, and the third chamber being smaller than the fourth chamber. Shoulder  78  divides the first chamber from the second chamber, shoulder  80  divides the second chamber from the third chamber, and shoulder  82  divides the third chamber from the fourth chamber. The interior of each baffle is sized to receive the exterior of an adjacent baffle. 
     The end baffle  36  omits tabs  50  present on the standard baffles  42  and starter baffle  84 , but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. The rear  88  of the starter baffle omits the notches  52  present on the standard baffles, which enables the middle shoulder  184  to form a seal with the front  92  of the blast sleeve  90 , but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. In the current embodiment, width  162  is 0.5050 inch, width  164  is 0.25 inch, angle  166  is 13°, angle  168  is 13°, height  170  is 0.236 inch, height  172  is 0.476 inch, height  174  is 0.240 inch, height  176  is 0.485 inch, width  178  is 1.200 inch, width  180  is 1.250 inch, and height  182  is 0.094 inch. The radius of the baffle port  48  is 0.125. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a first alternative embodiment of the standard baffles  242  of the present invention. More particularly, the first alternative embodiment of the standard baffles  242  reduces the total number of baffles required by the suppressor of the current invention to ten, which makes the invention easier and less costly to produce. Each standard baffle is a tubular body having a front  244 , rear  246 , baffle port  248 , a plurality of male tabs  250 , a plurality of female notches  252 , an exterior  254 , an interior  256 , a middle shoulder  258 , rear bend points  260 ,  278 , a front tier  262 , a front segment  272 , a middle segment  264 , a rear segment  266 , and a curved surface  268 . The rear of the rear segment and the front of the front tier are open to permit the passage of a bullet through the standard baffle. The baffle port is a notch defined in the rear tier to provide an asymmetric gas flow feature that is an eccentric portion of the primary aperture defined by the interior of the baffles. The tabs and notches are axially aligned with one another and are alignment facilities and orientation features operable such that the tabs on one surface of one baffle mate with the notches on an opposed second surface of an adjacent baffle such that relative rotational position of the baffles is established. The tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle and are arranged at selected rotational intervals about the common axis defined by the bullet path  134  such that each baffle is operable to engage in adjacent baffle in a plurality of different alternative orientations at which the respective baffle ports are relatively oriented in a selectable position. In the current embodiment, the tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle at equal rotation intervals. 
     The baffle  242  possesses differing diameters from front to rear, with the front tier having the largest diameter, and the segments  272 ,  264 ,  266  progressively narrowing. The front segment is connected to the front tier by the curved surface  268  and middle shoulder  258 , the middle segment is connected to the front segment by bend point  278 , and the rear segment is connected to the middle segment by the bend point  260 . The term “bend point” is used because the segments appear as a series of line segments joined at these locations when viewed in cross-section. The size of the baffle port  248 , slope angle of each segment, and the width of the shoulder can vary based on the design caliber and load pressures of the suppressor  10 . In the current embodiment, the front tier is cylindrical in shape, and the segments are generally conical in shape. 
     The front tier  262  has a forward edge  258  and a rearward edge  360 , with the tabs  250  being defined by the forward edge, and the notches  252  defined by the rearward edge. The forward edge and rearward edge have matched profiles, such that there is no gap between the external surfaces of adjacent baffles in the baffle stack. 
     The interior  256  of the baffle  242  is divided into a first chamber  270 , a second chamber  274 , and a third chamber  276 . Each chamber has a different diameter, with the first chamber being smaller than the second chamber, the second chamber being smaller than the third chamber, and the third chamber being smaller than the fourth chamber. The diameter of the first chamber progressively narrows from front to rear. Shoulder  280  divides the first chamber from the second chamber, and shoulder  282  divides the third chamber from the second chamber. The interior of each baffle is sized to receive the exterior of an adjacent baffle. 
     An end baffle suitable for use with the standard baffle  242  omits tabs  250  present on the standard baffle  242 , but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. The rear of a starter baffle suitable for use with the standard baffle  242  omits the notches  252  present on the standard baffle, which enables the middle shoulder to form a seal with the front of the blast sleeve, but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. In the current embodiment, width  362  is 0.5050 inch, width  364  is 0.25 inch, angle  366  is 11.17°, angle  368  is 31.65°, angle  370  is 40.44°, height  372  is 0.476 inch, height  374  is 0.618 inch, width  378  is 1.200 inch, width  380  is 1.250 inch, and height  382  is 0.094 inch. The radius of the baffle port  248  is 0.125. The bend points  260 ,  278  each have a radius of 0.05. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a second alternative embodiment of the standard baffles  442  of the present invention. More particularly, the second alternative embodiment of the standard baffles  442  is sized for a 22 caliber firearm. Each standard baffle is a tubular body having a front  444 , rear  446 , baffle port  448 , a plurality of male tabs  450 , a plurality of female notches  452 , an exterior  454 , an interior  456 , a middle shoulder  458 , a rear shoulder  460 , a front tier  462 , a middle tier  464 , a rear tier  466 , and a curved surface  468 . The rear of the rear tier and the front of the front tier are open to permit the passage of a bullet through the standard baffle. The baffle port is a notch defined in the rear tier to provide an asymmetric gas flow feature that is an eccentric portion of the primary aperture defined by the interior of the baffles. The tabs and notches are axially aligned with one another and are alignment facilities and orientation features operable such that the tabs on one surface of one baffle mate with the notches on an opposed second surface of an adjacent baffle such that relative rotational position of the baffles is established. The tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle and are arranged at selected rotational intervals about the common axis defined by the bullet path  134  such that each baffle is operable to engage in adjacent baffle in a plurality of different alternative orientations at which the respective baffle ports are relatively oriented in a selectable position. In the current embodiment, the tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle at equal rotation intervals. 
     Each tier  462 ,  464 ,  466  of the baffle  442  is a shape of differing diameter, with the front tier having a larger diameter than the middle tier, and the middle tier having a larger diameter than the rear tier. The middle tier is connected to the front tier by the curved surface  468  and middle shoulder  458 , and the rear tier is connected to the middle tier by the middle shoulder  460 . The size of the baffle port  448 , slope angle of each tier, and the width of each shoulder can vary based on the design caliber and load pressures of the suppressor  10 . In the current embodiment, the front tier is cylindrical in shape, and the middle and rear tiers are conical in shape. 
     The front tier  462  has a forward edge  558  and a rearward edge  560 , with the tabs  450  being defined by the forward edge, and the notches  452  defined by the rearward edge. The forward edge and rearward edge have matched profiles, such that there is no gap between the external surfaces of adjacent baffles in the baffle stack. 
     The interior  456  of the baffle  442  is divided into a first chamber  470 , a second chamber  472 , a third chamber  474 , and a fourth chamber  476 . Each chamber has a different diameter, with the first chamber being smaller than the second chamber, the second chamber being smaller than the third chamber, and the third chamber being smaller than the fourth chamber. Shoulder  478  divides the first chamber from the second chamber, shoulder  480  divides the second chamber from the third chamber, and shoulder  482  divides the third chamber from the fourth chamber. The interior of each baffle is sized to receive the exterior of an adjacent baffle. 
     An end baffle suitable for use with the standard baffle  442  omits tabs  450  present on the standard baffle  442 , but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. The rear of a starter baffle suitable for use with the standard baffle  242  omits the notches  452  present on the standard baffle, which enables the middle shoulder to form a seal with the front of the blast sleeve, but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. In the current embodiment, width  562  is 0.265 inch, width  564  is 0.188 inch, angle  566  is 22°, angle  568  is 22°, height  570  is 0.136 inch, height  572  is 0.276 inch, height  574  is 0.140 inch, height  576  is 0.732 inch, width  578  is 0.845 inch, width  580  is 0.895 inch, and height  582  is 0.049 inch. The radius of the baffle port  448  is 0.094. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a third alternative embodiment of the standard baffles  642  of the present invention. More particularly, the third alternative embodiment of the standard baffles  642  is sized for a 9 mm firearm. Each standard baffle is a tubular body having a front  644 , rear  646 , baffle port  648 , a plurality of male tabs  650 , a plurality of female notches  652 , an exterior  654 , an interior  656 , a middle shoulder  658 , rear bend points  660 ,  678 , a front tier  662 , a front segment  672 , a middle segment  664 , a rear segment  666 , and a curved surface  668 . The rear of the rear segment and the front of the front tier are open to permit the passage of a bullet through the standard baffle. The baffle port is a notch defined in the rear tier to provide an asymmetric gas flow feature that is an eccentric portion of the primary aperture defined by the interior of the baffles. The tabs and notches are axially aligned with one another and are alignment facilities and orientation features operable such that the tabs on one surface of one baffle mate with the notches on an opposed second surface of an adjacent baffle such that relative rotational position of the baffles is established. The tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle and are arranged at selected rotational intervals about the common axis defined by the bullet path  134  such that each baffle is operable to engage in adjacent baffle in a plurality of different alternative orientations at which the respective baffle ports are relatively oriented in a selectable position. In the current embodiment, the tabs and notches are positioned at the periphery of each baffle at equal rotation intervals. 
     The baffle  642  possesses differing diameters from front to rear, with the front tier having the largest diameter, and the segments  672 ,  664 ,  666  progressively narrowing. The front segment is connected to the front tier by the curved surface  668  and middle shoulder  658 , the middle segment is connected to the front segment by bend point  678 , and the rear segment is connected to the middle segment by the bend point  660 . The term “bend point” is used because the segments appear as a series of line segments joined at these locations when viewed in cross-section. The size of the baffle port  648 , slope angle of each segment, and the width of the shoulder can vary based on the design caliber and load pressures of the suppressor  10 . In the current embodiment, the front tier is cylindrical in shape, and the segments are generally conical in shape. 
     The front tier  662  has a forward edge  658  and a rearward edge  760 , with the tabs  650  being defined by the forward edge, and the notches  652  defined by the rearward edge. The forward edge and rearward edge have matched profiles, such that there is no gap between the external surfaces of adjacent baffles in the baffle stack. 
     The interior  656  of the baffle  642  is divided into a first chamber  670 , a second chamber  674 , and a third chamber  676 . Each chamber has a different diameter, with the first chamber being smaller than the second chamber, the second chamber being smaller than the third chamber, and the third chamber being smaller than the fourth chamber. The diameter of the first chamber progressively narrows from front to rear. Shoulder  680  divides the first chamber from the second chamber, and shoulder  682  divides the third chamber from the second chamber. The interior of each baffle is sized to receive the exterior of an adjacent baffle. 
     An end baffle suitable for use with the standard baffle  642  omits tabs  650  present on the standard baffle  642 , but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. The rear of a starter baffle suitable for use with the standard baffle  642  omits the notches  652  present on the standard baffle, which enables the middle shoulder to form a seal with the front of the blast sleeve, but is otherwise identical to a standard baffle. In the current embodiment, width  762  is 0.4050 inch, width  764  is 0.25 inch, angle  766  is 14.73°, angle  768  is 35.48°, angle  770  is 46.70°, height  772  is 0.476 inch, height  774  is 0.618 inch, width  778  is 1.200 inch, width  780  is 1.250 inch, and height  782  is 0.094 inch. The radius of the baffle port  248  is 0.125. The bend points  660 ,  678  each have a radius of 0.05. 
       FIGS. 10A-11B  illustrate improved suppressor with configurable baffles  10  of the present invention. More particularly, the suppressor is shown with the baffle stack  136  configured to align the baffle ports  48  in registration in  FIGS. 10A-B  and with the baffle stack configured to index the baffle ports by 90° in a spiral or helical orientation in  FIGS. 11A-B . Unlike prior art suppressors that have baffle stacks arranged in a fixed configuration that is unalterable by the user, the current invention permits the user to disassemble and reassemble the baffle stack with the baffle ports arranged in any of the orientations achieved by aligning the tabs  50  with the notches  52  of adjacent baffles  84 ,  42 ,  36 . This feature enables the user to arrange the baffle ports to optimize desired performance characteristics, such as sound suppression and bullet accuracy, to an individual firearm, ammunition load, and/or mission. The tabs and notches enable the baffles to be arranged in a controlled, repeatable orientation to facilitate reassembly of the suppressor after cleaning and maintenance that is also modifiable and selectable. 
     One example of the utility of the ability to configure the baffle stack  136  to an individual firearm is the ability to transfer the suppressor with configurable baffles  10  from a high muzzle pressure to a low muzzle pressure or low muzzle pressure to high muzzle pressure host firearm while maintaining sound reduction performance. When the baffle ports  48  are aligned in a straight orientation, the suppressor  10  performs best on a high muzzle pressure handgun; and when the baffle stack orients each successive baffle port 90° to create a spiral layout, the suppressor  10  performs best on a low muzzle pressure rifle. Thus, the user can reconfigure the baffle ports any number of times to transfer the suppressor back and forth between a handgun and a rifle. 
     While current embodiments of a suppressor with configurable baffles have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although a four tabs and notches embodiment per baffle is disclosed with the tabs and notches rotationally offset by 90°, as few as one tab and notch per baffle, or a plurality of serrations of any pitch engaged by at least one tab, could be used depending on the intended host firearm(s). Furthermore, the tabs and notches can be arranged so that the baffle ports of adjacent baffles are offset by as little as 0° and as much as 180° from one another in the four tabs and notches embodiment. In addition to the 10 and 12 total baffle embodiments disclosed, the invention is suitable for use with any total number of baffles. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.