Muzzle That Weapon
I absolutely love reader suggestions. This one actually came in from Jason of Concealment Solutions. More from him to come but for now, let’s talk AR15 muzzle devices and MANY thanks to Jason. Muzzle devices can be broken into three categories. Bolt action (yes, even though they may do the same thing I’m giving it it’s own category)
Flash hider
Muzzle brake
As far as bolt actions go I’m satisfied in saying that they’re all muzzle brakes but if you happen to have the correct threading then AR style flash hiders will also work. But that’s not what I really want to center on in this article. Just remember that if you have the same thread pitch as the equivalent caliber AR then anything for the AR will work for you but let’s talk AR pattern muzzle devices. Flash Hiders Flash hiders are pretty self-explanatory. They are designed to direct the hot gases of the muzzle flash in more than one all-encompassing direction and thereby diffusing it. At Least, that’s the plan. What I mean by that is not all flash hiders do an equal job. Muzzle Brakes Muzzle brakes are used to direct the muzzle flash in two directions. Back toward the shooter to give some forward force to help counteract part of the recoil. And upward to help keep the muzzle flip to a minimum. All this is meant to give you a more comfortable shooting experience. As an afterthought, a couple has tried to include some flash hiding capability of the end. The one that comes to mind, PWS, the flash defusing segment is a half inch long at most...and that’s being generous. It isn’t extremely effective, in my opinion. Others do their intended job so well that the flash is already minimal. Those are the ones to pay attention to and one’s I will link to later. Now that we have a brief explanation of their jobs let’s get down to showing you some. As I said, not all flash hiders are alike. Let’s start at the beginning. There really hasn’t
been any change to the Vietnam era flash hider and it works about as well. The upside to them is that they’re cheap. You can pick up one of these guys for around ten bucks. Now..this piece of equipment works it's ten dollars worth but that's not saying much. It actually does an okay job so on a budget build I would still go with this one.
There are two distinct types to discuss here. The A2 style, closed steel with long serrations to defuse blast, can only improve it's effectiveness by lengthening the device and therefore the serrations. There are plenty out there for a fairly decent price. Here is a couple:
The Yankee Hill Phantom is a good example of lengthening the device and serrations to make it more effective. It will work a little better than the A2 but it's still limited by its design. That being said it is still an improvement on the A2. Price on this guy. $28.50
The Vltor flash hider is definitely a step up. You can see from the picture that they are using more than just long cuts to direct the muzzle flash. There's actually internal fluting to further disrupt the natural flow of the blast. The price on this one is bumped up to $59.95
The second style employs much more thought. They end of the muzzles aren't closed off like the A2 and they do a much better job. There's one in particular that I will link to that I have seen under night vision. Where normally you would have a large blast...let's just say that a Bic lighter is brighter than the muzzle blast. During that night training, they actually heated up the barrels enough that you could see them glow with the naked eye. Under night vision, you could see the barrels brighter than the muzzle blast.
The Wilson Combat variation is a good example of this new type of flash hider. Instead of a cylindrical interior, the prongs are triangle shaped. The points of which are pointed inward. This directs the blast toward the slots. Instead of allowing the blast to go where it wants we have created some order to what is happening. This flash hider will set you back $49.99
This is that amazing flash hider I spoke of that keeps the flash below that of a that of a Bic lighter under night vision. The Smith Enterprises Vortex is the absolute best of it's kind. In addition to the features mentioned on the Wilson device the Smith also gives their prongs a twist, similar to rifling, that further effects the muzzle blast. This one is offered in 5.56 and 7.62 for $59.99
Muzzle brakes, as mentioned before, are designed to reduce recoil and are very effective at it. They're great at taming heavy recoil but why do we need them on something with as little recoil as an AR-15? Well, because the muzzle flip is reduced to nothing so you stay on target. You have a big tactical advantage if you can put more rounds on target without waiting for the muzzle to drop back down. For hunting AR's we still aren't talking about a ton of recoil. Even in a 7.62 there isn't much. However, being able to see the effects immediately after you take the shot is a great benefit.
Another great offering from Smith Enterprises represents a segment of the brakes that are essentially the same as those for bolt actions. It only reduces recoil. It's effective and will work well for hunters wanting a little more advantage. This one is priced at $89.99
This is my favorite segment for AR use. These, because of their unique design, reduce recoil very well. A 5.56 feels more like a 22lr. A 7.62 feels like a 5.56 and both with no noticeable muzzle rise. The reason I put them separate from other brakes is because they also do a decent job of hiding the muzzle flash.
The BattleComp was envisioned by a SWAT officer that saw the need for a more hybrid
muzzle device. Such officers are constantly going into dangerous situations in low light areas. Something is needed to mitigate the flash as well as keep you on target. I have put Battlecomps on rifles for several years and they have been loved by every customer I've worked with. This comp, availible in 5.56 and 7.62 is $139.99 and worth it.
This will give you a good start. There's a lot to take into account when dealing with muzzle devices. Most depends on the purpose of the rifle. This will get you on the road to a good decision. If you would like a specific recommendation for your rifle send me a message. Until then please comment and share.
