Benjamin Fortitude Gen2 .22

[Rick67]

In my expierence with venting the shroud, (Prod and Liberty), it changed the tone but the db level stayed about the same.  Adding length and baffles in front of the muzzle was more effective.  On the Fortitude, the least bang for the buck, would be just moving the shroud forward a few inches and adding 4 baffles to make it equal to the Mrod, total of 7.  You will even notice a difference with just an additional 2.  It does make a long gun longer, though.  Alternatly, you could switch to a Mrod barrel, and keep the same length.  But don't let this keep you from doing your own experiements. 

Yes, Bear Air did something like this to his Forti with a 20" MROD LW barrel.

[billygee]

Hey Guys
Here's another option that you might consider

https://buck-rail.com/product/marauder-fortitude-armada-suppressor/

just adding this to the end, really quiets the db down

What's also nice about this buckrail product,
I just unscrew the end cap and install, or reverse to uninstall
Only downfall is the extra length

Pretty well pleased with their products and support

Bill

[avator]

Thanks Bill..
Guys.. like I said, I really don't have any need to silence any gun. This is purely for the tinker experience and to share the outcome with others. One of the things we are doing here is incorporating a stripper into the baffle system as Hajimoto has done with other guns such as the Gauntlet. We are adapting that same system to the Fortitude and will be reporting the results.

[bear air]

Exactly how mine ended up. Mine is super quiet.

[stroo]

Well, I did it, I ordered another Fortitude.  I haven't had time to shoot my other PCP's and just put together a bottle fed 2400 and have most of the parts to put together a 2300 with a drop block but I ordered one anyway.  Yup, I have a problem!  But it's okay because I admit I have a problem, besides, it's Bill's fault.   

[avator]

LOL Rick... It's a phase that will pass but I think you have to hit that 100 gun mark first. That don't include the ones you sell or trade away.
Enjoy the new Fortee.

[FuzzyGrub]

FWIW: The tests I did included much improved air strippers.  While I live rural, maybe not as "deep" as you, and still prefer quiet, even though there are plenty of powder burners around.  Have fun with your expierments.  Having fun is what matters.   

[avator]

Thanks John..
Just for further tinkering while waiting for Hajimoto's stripper/baffle test pack, I decided to have a look inside Betty Lou's modified Maximus.
I say modified because this gun has the following upgrades...
Boyd's green laminate thumbhole stock
Baker's trigger
GMAC repeater breech
Fortitude shroud tube and associated parts.. minus the spring and baffles.
The reason no spring and baffles is due to the 3" longer barrel in the Maximus.
So I was really getting no benefits from adding the shroud other that it looks much better. The shroud fill alot of that gaping space between the tube and barrel after adding the much higher sitting GMAC breech.
Well, let's just say, not anymore....
I spent yesterday evening doing some research and deciding on one of 3 options..
1. I could order a Fortitude barrel.
2. I could used a new 362 take off barrel I have on hand and order a couple more baffles to add to the 3 that the Fortitude uses and I also have on hand.
3. I could cut and crown the stock Maximus barrel.
I chose door number 3....

[avator]

So simple a caveman could do it.... and that's a good thing because basically, a caveman would be doing it..
So the stock Maximus barrel is 26". Don't believe anyone that tells you it measures 26.25".. My tape said 26". The Fortitude barrel is 23.3x".
Enter the caveman...
Being that this is Betty Lou's gun and I didn't want her to see it go under the hacksaw.. I slipped out to the Red Shed while she was still cleaning the cobwebs out... 6:00am. And I went to work.
I stripped her gun down to the barrel then measured and marked it at 23 3/8". I dug out my plumber's pipe cutter and was surprised how well it began cutting the barrel... A nice true, square score all the way around. I cut it about 1/16" deep. I broke out the hacksaw and started slowly cutting. The blade followed the 1/16 groove perfectly.
Once cut I took it to my fine wheel on the bench grinder and took off the burrs and made a nice bevel on the OD. Then to the wire wheel to polish things up real good.
Next I took out the Dremel and 3 grains of cone bits and worked the ID of the crown until it also had a nice polished bevel.
I checked it with a qtip and it didn't grab any fibers.  Good enough for a caveman.   
I drilled the vent hole in the back end of the tube and put things back together along with the scratch pad defuser, the spring and 3 baffles.
So now it's just as quiet as the Fortitude. They both still have a little pop but nothing like and unsilenced gun. As quiet as most other factory shrouded guns before some of us take measures to quiet them further.

[avator]

To the bench... let's see if I have a complete failure on that shade tree cut and crown job...
Let's just say Bob the builder would be proud... after a few tweeks on the scope turrets, we're right back to 1/2 groups at 35yds... just alot quieter.
And Betty Lou ain't gonna beat me with a rolling pin.   

[avator]

In my expierence with venting the shroud, (Prod and Liberty), it changed the tone but the db level stayed about the same.  Adding length and baffles in front of the muzzle was more effective.  On the Fortitude, the least bang for the buck, would be just moving the shroud forward a few inches and adding 4 baffles to make it equal to the Mrod, total of 7.  You will even notice a difference with just an additional 2.  It does make a long gun longer, though.  Alternatly, you could switch to a Mrod barrel, and keep the same length.  But don't let this keep you from doing your own experiements. 

Yes, Bear Air did something like this to his Forti with a 20" MROD LW barrel.

Yep, I could have done that... even cut a section of tubing to fill the gap it left in the rear of the shroud.

[FuzzyGrub]

And Betty Lou ain't gonna beat me with a rolling pin.   

Just wondering how that went,  "Honey, something is wrong with my gun.  Its allot quieter, must be shooting slow."      

Yea, the shroud wasn't on right and I fixed it.      

[avator]

Oh, my bad... kinda left it hangin'
Nope, no failure. It's now as quite as the Fortitude...
And it's as accurate as it was before the chop.
It really likes the Crosman Heavy Domed 19gr at 35 yds.
It gets 3 10 round mags per 2k fill and it's easy enough for Betty Lou to cock.

[avator]

I shot Betty Lou's WSMRS over the chrono this morning with the Crosman Heavy Domes 19gr.
I topped it off to 2k and loaded 3 10 round mags. The chrono must need batteries because it didn't read 5 or 6 shots throughout the string.
But the basic results were..
First shot was 636 @ 16.x FPE
The bell peaked at 687 @ 19.x FPE
Then back down to 630.
From 2k to 1k.
 I know I can flatten that curve with some hammer spring adjustment but I don't want to change the cocking effort. I want Betty Lou to enjoy this and she don't if the cocking effort makes her hand/wrist sore. I could also install a regulator if I wanted to invest in one.
This gun shoots very accurate with the 19gr. pellets at our 35yd. range and that too will keep Betty Lou happy.

[avator]

Betty Lou made her way out to the Red Shed and ran a 10 round mag through her gun.
I got the little giggle of approval. 

[avator]

So now the wait is on for the stuff from Haji for the Fortitude.
Meantime I'll just move on to something else.

[stroo]

The second Fortitude arrived last week in somewhat rough shape.  It looks to have traveled a lot!  The cardboard box supports wore thru the finish in a couple spots and even caused some worn spots on the plastic stock.  But that's not a big deal since this will be a woods gun to take when I don't want to scratch up my favorites.  After cleaning the barrel I charged to 3000PSI and let it set over night without any air loss, verified operation with a magazine of Crosman HP then went after the trigger.  The sear was heavily rusted so I'm assuming this rifle wasn't stored in a good environment, at least for some of it's travels, but the rest of the internals looked good.  Put a spare 4-12x Simmons adjustable paralax scope on it so now I need some spare time and decent weather.
Like my sons' Fortitude, it's extremely quiet already so I'm interested how this new stuff works out.

[avator]

Sorry to hear Rick.. that would just wet me off.

[stroo]

I was a little disappointed Bill but like I mentioned, the plans for it will be in the woods and it's a Crosman so I already had another sear and toggle already polished up to go in the trigger group anyways.