Does bowers no longer make the cac series?

[Rag9]

Are those cans user serviceable?

 

[Garrett]

For what it's worth, here's an X-ray of a can full of K baffles (TAC-67)

Here is the Bowers CAC-45 with a modified M baffle:

And here is what traditional M baffles look like:

 

[yzfchet]

Do you have a tube clamp of some kind to hold the can while you unscrew the adapter? Just wondering how you secure the tube.

The CAC 9 definitely has had significant (?) upgrades since 2011, so I imagine your CAC 45 would as well.

 

[Garrett]

Are those cans user serviceable?

They are technically user serviceable. I think I last had mine apart in 2001-ish.

For the cost of return shipping ($20), you can send it to Tom and he will take care of it for you. I think he just chucks the baffles and puts new ones in it. Well worth it.

I need to check on the latest upgrade. For a fee (not sure how much, I haven't asked yet), he will now upgrade the cans to handle ammo up to 2200 FPS.

From the Uncataloged Products site:

For our existing clients, we've added more retrofit options for old CAC 45 and early Vers 45 and Vers 50 cans, namely the option to turn the .45 cans into Vers 458 equivalents with 2650 FPS ratings and the same with the .50 cans. Additionally, new Vers 50 silencers can be ordered with an optional all-stainless stack if the client needs more than 2200 FPS as the standard can provides, but still 2650 FPS or less.

Do you have a tube clamp of some kind to hold the can while you unscrew the adapter? Just wondering how you secure the tube.

Strap wrench works well.

 

[yzfchet]

<snip>

For the cost of return shipping ($20), you can send it to Tom and he will take care of it for you. I think he just chucks the baffles and puts new ones in it. Well worth it.

I need to check on the latest upgrade. For a fee (not sure how much, I haven't asked yet), he will now upgrade the cans to handle ammo up to 2200 FPS.

From the Uncataloged Products site:

For our existing clients, we've added more retrofit options for old CAC 45 and early Vers 45 and Vers 50 cans, namely the option to turn the .45 cans into Vers 458 equivalents with 2650 FPS ratings and the same with the .50 cans. Additionally, new Vers 50 silencers can be ordered with an optional all-stainless stack if the client needs more than 2200 FPS as the standard can provides, but still 2650 FPS or less.

Strap wrench works well.

Thanks. Tom said the baffle upgrade for the CAC 9 is $175, and an additional $100 for the higher velocity guts. Presumably it would be approx. the same for the CAC 45 high velocity upgrade.

I have no need of the rifle caliber boost (have another for that) but I'm wondering if the baffle upgrade makes enough of a difference to be cost effective. $175 buys a lot of earplugs.

 

[bigmacster]

Hmmm. Maybe it's time to send my CAC-45 I to be cleaned.

But this might give you an idea of what the baffle stack looks like. This was the latest & greatest 5 or 6 years ago. I'm not sure if it's been redesigned since then. This is the third style of baffles I've had since I bought this can (s/n under 15).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rjgc2HZdZE

eta: here's a shot of the less dirty CAC-45 next to an unfired VERS-9s.

My can would be that dirty after 3 range trips (the one in the video). Thanks for posting.

 

[strobro32]

Cool video Garrett! Thanks for doing it.

 

[mak91]

Do you have a tube clamp of some kind to hold the can while you unscrew the adapter? Just wondering how you secure the tube.

The CAC 9 definitely has had significant (?) upgrades since 2011, so I imagine your CAC 45 would as well.

I had my old cac 9 upgraded last year. The can was about 12 years old. The baffle stack was only slightly different and I really didn't notice a sound difference but I guess there could be a slight improvement.

To secure it to be opened I made a jig out of a 2x4. First I used a hole saw and cut a hole in the middle of the 2x4. I think it was 1 1/2 inch but I have to check. Then I cut the 2x4 down the middle through the center of the hole and coated it with tool dip. To open the can I put the 2 2x4 halves around the can and put it in a vice. The tool dip helps protect the finish of the can and also keep it from spinning. Don't over tighten the vice as you could still damage the can. For me the biggest benefit for the upgrade was to loose the 3/4x10 threads and the ability to use the different thread adapters.

 

[Garrett]

Thanks. Tom said the baffle upgrade for the CAC 9 is $175, and an additional $100 for the higher velocity guts.

I'm pretty sure the $175 upgrade is to take the original configuration cans and convert them to use the removable mount system, and includes one mount (current catalog shows $175 for this service). I would think just a baffle upgrade would be significantly less.

I like the idea of the rifle-grade update. I sometimes shoot full-powered .44 Mag through it on my Desert Eagle.

verkill

 

[yzfchet]

I'm pretty sure the $175 upgrade is to take the original configuration cans and convert them to use the removable mount system, and includes one mount (current catalog shows $175 for this service). I would think just a baffle upgrade would be significantly less.

After verifying my baffles as older models, Tom re-quoted "Baffle upgrade is a hundred bucks including shipping and insurance." So some baffle upgrades are more equal than others?

 

[Vegas SMG]

It's possible he's raised the price of the baffle upgrade and no one here is aware of this change.
Tom's the guy with the answers. Ask him why? A hundred bucks for this service seems like a heck of a deal for continued support of a can no longer in production.

 

[yzfchet]

I had my old cac 9 upgraded last year. The can was about 12 years old. The baffle stack was only slightly different and I really didn't notice a sound difference but I guess there could be a slight improvement.

To secure it to be opened I made a jig out of a 2x4. First I used a hole saw and cut a hole in the middle of the 2x4. I think it was 1 1/2 inch but I have to check. Then I cut the 2x4 down the middle through the center of the hole and coated it with tool dip. To open the can I put the 2 2x4 halves around the can and put it in a vice. The tool dip helps protect the finish of the can and also keep it from spinning. Don't over tighten the vice as you could still damage the can. For me the biggest benefit for the upgrade was to loose the 3/4x10 threads and the ability to use the different thread adapters.

That's a great way to do it, thanks.

 

[Marcus99]

Love my VERS 9S. Tom's service is second to none; absolutely great guy (and Dorothy is great too) to deal with.