Quick Tip: Which Muzzle Device Is Right for You?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- There's a gazillion of them on the market, in all shapes and sizes. How do you decide which muzzle device is the best one to put on your rifle? Brownells Gun Techs™ Caleb and Steve are here to tell us what we need to know to choose the right muzzle device. The guys are using AR-15 type rifles as examples, but almost any rifle can be fitted with a muzzle device, even your bolt action hunting rifle.
FLASH HIDER: A flash hider reduces the size of the fireball coming from the muzzle, which is why it's also often called a "flash suppressor." In low-light conditions, the reduced flash will preserve your night vision. Think of what a camera flash does to your vision for a few seconds. You don't want that happening when you're varmint hunting at dusk or in a home-defense emergency at night. Some flash hiders are also quick-attach suppressor mounts. When you're shooting unsuppressed you get the flash reduction benefit, and it's easy to snap on the suppressor to quell both the flash and the "boom."
COMPENSATOR: A compensator usually has a solid bottom and ports on top. It directs the combustion gasses coming out of the muzzle upwards to counteract muzzle rise. This helps you keep the muzzle level and the sights on the target, so you can take multiple shots without having to realign the sights each time. Compensators all work pretty much the same, so if you choose one because it looks cool, we won't judge!
MUZZLE BRAKE: "Gimme a brake," is what you'll say if you want to reduce felt recoil because that's a muzzle brake's job. If your rifle kicks too hard for comfort, a brake may be what you need. It has ports that redirect the gases exiting the muzzle so all the force of the blast is not pushing straight back against your shoulder. The higher the velocity of the bullet, the more recoil reduction you get from a muzzle brake. You get more benefit from putting one on your .300 Win Mag or 7mm Rem Ultra Magnum rifle than you do on a gun shooting a low-velocity round. The drawback of muzzle brakes is they are a lot louder, for you the shooter and the folks on either side of you on the firing line. Everybody needs to wear good hearing protection.
BLAST DEFLECTOR: Also called a "blast can," this device have ports only out the front. All the gas is directed away from the shooter, which means all the concussion and noise are also sent forward. This makes life a lot more pleasant for the shooter AND the folks on either side of him/her on the firing line. A blast deflector doesn't actually reduce the noise. It just directs it away from the folks who will be bothered by it.
SOUND SUPPRESSOR: Also called a "silencer," this device's primary job is reducing the noise of the gunshot. It also reduces felt recoil and muzzle flash. "Once you try one," says Uncle Steve, "You won't want to go back." You must get an ATF tax stamp to own a suppressor, and they are not legal in all states and municipalities. Check your local laws and ordinances carefully before purchasing one. You can get a "direct thread" suppressor that screws right onto the muzzle threads. Or you can put compatible flash hider/suppressor mounts on multiple rifles and swap one suppressor between them. One suppressor = cost of only one tax stamp.
A suppressor adds some length and weight to your rifle, but the benefits usually outweigh that. As a bonus, it will do the job of a flash hider, muzzle brake, and blast deflector, along with its primary function of reducing the noise.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:58 Flash Hiders
2:26 Compensators
6:08 Muzzle Brakes
8:54 Blast Devices
11:08 Combined Devices
13:00 More on Comps
14:12 Suppressors/Silencers
17:25 Close - กีฬา
What's your favorite muzzle device and why!?
EFAB Hybrid is pretty amazing.
Firing 5.56 in prone has ZERO dust kick up, and zero flash as well.
Tacfire's tanker muzzle brake also pairs amazingly well with Franklin's binary trigger
X-Slick PAMAX Tactical out of Florida, sells a very awesome muzzle device that helps with stablizing and flash hiding.. I love it. i put them on my LaRue, I wish more people knew about them ! this video needs to be pinned, becuase this question come up a lot!! very helpful!
Beast 4 port muzzle brake, I like to have people on either side feel every grain of gunpowder igniting.
SilencerCo Saker (762 and 556). I typically use a flash hider QD.
Also, as a side note, the 3 prong flash hider from SilencerCo uses different length prongs to virtually eliminate the tuning fork “ring”. In my experience it works.
Steve was playing a coffee drinking game every time the word Muzzle was mentioned. 😂
I enjoy these father and son discussions 😂
It should be mentioned that muzzle brakes work best on rifles with higher amounts of recoil. A muzzle brake on a .223/5.56 as an example, there isn't much noticeable reduction in recoil since there is not a lot of recoil to start with. That is why most AR15s are sold with flash hiders instead of muzzle brakes. Another point, flash hiders/compensators with no openings in the bottom are helpful when shooting prone to avoid blowing dirt and dust up from the ground.
I'd like to see an actual test done to show you get the benefits of a muzzle break with a deflector mounted over it.
Brake adapter that accepts a can is the way to go IMO. You get either great recoil reduction or great signature suppression whenever you want/need it. If you shoot a lot your brake is a good blast baffle to prevent wear on the can too, especially if you're using a titanium unit for weight reasons.
Steve if no one has ever told you, thank you for putting up with Caleb and the rest of the internet, in a way I guess your still teaching Caleb and letting him take over the show.
Steve using the Pitch Meeting mug is the crossover I never knew I needed.
Can’t go wrong with a suppressor on a rifle as long as you can deal with the wait and paperwork bs. In my opinion the Vortex four prong flash hider by Smith Enterprises is the best flash hider out there.
For most people, silencers would be the easy choice. Leave it to the NFA making some comfy shooting incredibly difficult
Linear comps are my favorite for directing muzzle noise away from the shooter.
EXCELLENT and highly informative video; thank you gentlemen and Brownells.
I just ran the Precision Armament EFAB 5.56 on my 16" KAC SR15 under nods (PVS14) in a 3 hour indoor class. Not only was there no visible flash, but the IR flash was no different from a Surefire RC2 and Sandman L. I.e. a very small blip under nods. The only better FH was a SF 4-prong on a 14.5" that only threw a few sparks out front. This was actually better than the cans.
The EFAB is basically a KAC MAMS that has zero flash, less blast, but can't mount a can. Hard to beat.
How would you compare the EFAB to a birdcage or SF 4-prong in terms of concussion indoors? I'm considering one, but am concerned about increased blast over a traditional flash hider
@@shootinbruin3614 On a 16", I couldn't tell the difference in blast.... indoors, between the KAC QDC 3-prong and EFAB. I imagine that you would notice some difference on 14.5", and a lot on a 12.5" or shorter. Just my guess.
@@DBravo29er Appreciate the response. In your experience, does the EFAB make an appreciable difference in controllability?
@@shootinbruin3614 Happy to help. Yeah, muzzle stability goes way up. It's actually slightly better than the KAC MAMS QDC that I tested, but the QDC MAMS reduces reward recoil slightly more.
Noticeable improvement over a flash hider. I always use the PA AccuWasher to mount. The EFAB is really tight to the bore, like a can, so you should not use a crush washer with it.
@@DBravo29er Thanks man!
Good video guys, thank you for posting this !!
Great video. I learned alot.
I think y'all make a really great team. I enjoy learning from your videos.
Griffin armament three prong flash hider. Pinned/welded on 14.5. The length and style of it not only appealed aesthetically but also functionally got my barrel to legal none NFA length.
Naturally I’ll be getting the
M4sd- k suppressor one day. Possibly the m4sd-L can.
So. That’s my favorite flash hider and reasons to back it.
Thanks! Good update for me as it's been over a year since I looked at muzzle devices.
I know it's a brake, but the Area419 device allows for easy and precise timing and there are some like it which allow tuning for harmonics (works crazy good once you find the sweet-spot and using with the same ammo consistantly).
Put a strike industries j comp on my ar15 awhile back, its a compensator but also mitigates flash.
Best upgrade I ever put on a rifle!
This is like watching SNL’s “The Delicious Dish”! Lol
Thanks for helping me choose my next suppressor mount
I love you guys, you're the best!
More people need to make supressors at home and I'm tired of pretending we shouldn't.
The XM177e2 moderator Device was badass. The A2 bird cage works really well and they are cheap.
OSS Huxwerks QD device would probably be a good one.
I like using my compensator that's got the screw on blast shield from guntech. Best of both worlds. It helps reduce recoil, it helps keep the gun flat and when I'm in an indoor gun range I can screw on the blast deflector so the people next to me don't get a face full of gas
For flash hiders I like VSeven Titanium, and for comps I'll take anything by 2A Armament. They not only do a great job but they also hide the flash well, and are very light.
Great video 😊.
Over here across the pond we call them moderators, and it is do very true that moderators tame not only sound but recoil and muzzle climb.
I shoot my AR .223 and the difference between moderated and un-moderated is night and day.
Always a great idea to stick with Flash hiders, ones for suppressor mounts if you go that rout.
If you are running a dedicated suppressor then some folks argue a brake is best because it acts as a sacrificial baffle, and the suppressor is already reducing flash. Again, playing the devils advocate.
@@jimyeats I agree if dedicated 🍻
I just swapped from a KAC 3-Prong to a Cobalt Kinetics RCB-KM. Pretty much CK’s version of KAC’s MAMS muzzle device. Essentially a flash hider/comp hybrid muzzle device with a KeyMo QD mount for my Sandman K.
VG6 Epsilon muzzle brake FTW.
PWS FSC compensators both for my .308 and 5.56. Recoil reduction as a primary function, and flash suppression as a secondary function. Port designs of both keep flash out of optics and line of sight.
I thought Caleb was going to say "muzzle breaks have one purpose, to annoy the other shooters on the line!"
Rearden muzzle devices when I want to attach a direct thread suppressor on my ar (Rearden does veteran discount and are pretty affordable even without the discount). Strike Industries Cloak is a cool looking prong flash hider on another upper in my collection
Can we get rid of the Tax stamp bs on Cans and just agree it’s best for everyone,there first off a safety device like ear pro,they make the range much quieter and they replace every device on the table! Safety safety safety is the way to sell the idea to the non gun community I think.
Used to love brakes on ar-15s. They are stupid loud. Switched to flash hiders add silencers.
It's great to see how firearms culture is shifting.
While Brownell's has always been great, they put off more of a boomer vibe.
Now seeing majority videos focused on AR pattern rifles, NFA items like SBRs and suppresses is dope.
BIG DICKENS ENERGY .
If u are getting a 14.5" pin and weld barrel you can get a low profile muzzle device like the one yankee hill machine sells the gas block fits over the muzzle device so you can change it if u want
I’m rocking griffin armament three prongs with the dual lock system with CGS suppressor
I like the Witt SME and the sharps bros Badlands.they both help my ears without paying the government!(I haven’t tried the Hux version yet but want to)
I use a close tined 3 prong for flash, no ringing and also can add a bladt shield or suppressor
The precision armament EFAB measures .57 lumens in a dark room. In comparison to a Birdcage which measures .46 lumens. Works well on .308
The thing about flash hiders, comps and muzzle brakes especially is that they are LOUD. I use blast devices on my rifles because they aren't nearly as noisy, even the report from my 6.5 Grendel SBR is manageable with a blast can. This also eliminates having to carry hearing protection when I hunt. Recoil with an AR 15 is negligible so a brake isn't really practical and I really don't care if the deer or varmints can see my muzzle flash. Suppressors aren't legal here (CA) and a blast can just helps reduce the sound to the shooter behind the gun. I'm a fan of the Noveske and similar crink-type devices that have an expansion chamber. Just one guy's opinion, YMMV.
Steve and Caleb thus us the best instructional video I ever watched on muzzle decides. As a volunteer RSO at a County range, I really appreciate and pistol shooters who have suppressors on their guns.
It's all about the " drip " 😂
Caleb: "hey steve, its all about the drip!"
Steve: "thats right, thats right"
😂🤣😭
hilarious!
I have the flaming pig from Noveske and also have m4-72 from precision armament in 308 and 556 but would love a suppressor. Can you do a video just on suppressors and general rules like can i use 1 can(1 stamp) and use it for multiple guns?
Look into the Kaw Valley Precision Mach 3 linear compensator. It's modular so you can add length inch by inch. Its like a KAK one but it has a removable compensator cap. Its pretty sweet.
I was just looking at that! I would've gotten that but I'mma go with the Universal Oppressor from STRIKE INDUSTRIES
@@nomad155 well just know if you use that one, i am pretty sure you need something to mount it to. Its not direct thread if I remember right
@@themightycrixus1131 noted! I'll look at applying a mount
@@nomad155 let me know how you like it. Both muzzles do different things. I mainly got the mach 3 to keep the muzzle blast away from myself and others at the range
I love a comp when I’m just shooting but I put the flash hider on if I go to a public range. I keep trying to find comp/brake and blast shield combos but they’re all like 200 bucks+ 😭
3-prong suppressor mounts, with a can.
Sooo, when will a 3rd generation join you two in these videos?? You can have gramps sippin' coffee and the youngin sippin chocolate milk. 👍
I’ve never understood why suppressors are tax stamped. What are the valid concerns they are trying to mitigate?
When idiots who watch too much tv make laws.
Direct thread suppressors = the entire length of the suppressor is dedicated to suppressing, not part of it merely housing the muzzle device it mounts to.
PWS CQB muzzle device and an elongated A2 flash hider(forgot brand)
The amount of ear in this video is impressive.
9:31 The moment that the state will play over and over in court. Thanks Caleb 🤦♂️
FYI, my experience has been a flash increase, not decrease.
How many cups of coffee does steve drink durning filming a video?
They aren’t really “Silencers” but certainly helps suppress the sound.
I have a Rugged suppressor and their Rx blast diverter.
Rugged has a no fault lifetime Warranty. Baffle strike? No problem, fixed.
I can definitively tell you which company has the worst Muzzle Device. That would be the Spikes Tactical D2 BRAKE. It works well but has a fatal flaw since it is mounted on some of their Pin & Welded barrels. The D2 Muzzle brake is the type that you can't mount a suppressor to the end point. If they had used an A2 flash hider perhaps you could mount a suppressor to it.
I called their customer service team to explain the need for them to change the type of Muzzle Device they should use. They paid no heed; I guess they think they know better than the rest of the industry. If you don't change, you need not worry. Your competitors will do it instead and take better care of your customers than you have.
Brownells on the other hand is always innovating and brining newer products to market.
Save your money and stay away from the BCM Comp Mod 1, it was definitely a flash enhancer with my 16" ar. Good thing about BCM is they have Mod 0 and 1 Comp blems available for $50-55 on their site (regular is closer to $100)
I want a flash hider that is threaded on the end for a brake. Why not both?
This is great and all, but... How about that step-by-step video using Alumahyde II to paint your rifle?
Do some compensators(muzzle device) reduce recoil better that others?
For 5.56/.223 a flash hider
Bye The Way. I know The Brownells company, and family history, and changing of property in Montezuma IA since wayyyyy back.
Doesn’t a blast forward deverter nullifies the muzzle break recoil mitigation? Pretty sure I saw a video of two gunsmiths discussing this recently
What would you recommend for the best all around arrester for a farm guy? Tks for sharing.
Does a blast deflector work better than just having a longer barrel?
That’s his Dad or Uncle. They have the same ears…
Caleb, which fold-down irons are on your grey gun wearing the Surefire Game Warden?
Do flash suppressors/ muzzle break effect accuracy?
@Brownells I don’t understand the physics of flash/gasses, but why can’t we have a flash hider, then a brake at the end? Would it be bad at both things? Why is a flash hider going horizontal, instead of maybe a vertical lines circling around?
Do suppressors work like sbrs and you have to let the atf know if you leave state lines?
A suppressor, isn't really a silencer, it's really a barrel/gun muffler! They are still loud, but it help get the blast below 90db!
Is a 9mm flash hider OK on a 5.56 rifle? Or, should I stick with a 5.56 flash hider? Deciding on what I need for a 7.5” AR-15 5.56 pistol. Thanks!
Are there any blast cans for m1a
🔥🔥🔥
See Crow Shooting, Montezuma Iowa. While old steve sips his hot coffee in the summer. In 100 degree heat.
Do titanium flash hiders -really- throw sparks from the Ti igniting? I heard that and wondered if it's a myth.
What’s the 2nd one from the one furthers to the right?
As a fellow Iowan, and customer, well done, again, guys and good info! Personally, I don't get the need for a silencer, but am also a tad miffed about ALL AR pistol "laws". Any way ya slice it, BY DEFINITION, criminals don't obey laws and a $200 "stamp" and registration for a silencer or sbr is ridiculous for a LEGAL firearm owner. If a model 12 that I got from my Dad is illegal, that's a stomp on the Constitution.
My state you're not allowed to have a muzzle device on a semi-auto
Almost like we need to form a new country somewhere where we are free to own guns.
Why don’t they make any 5”+ blast can outside of a surefire faux
Is Steve ill? Missed him in recent videos
Iowa Guy here. I still have no idea what this Steve guy brings to the table. Is he part of the Brownell family?? He looks lost. We can all see on youtube who is the brains.
I prefer the gag ball myself.
Silencer or suppressor? If never seen a gun silenced by any means. I’ve seen a few noise suppressed though. Food for thought; the NFA spells out “silencers”, to my knowledge anyway, but since they don’t really exist, why does a suppressor, which does exist, need a tax stamp?🤔
Well. I'm good; see no need for any kind of muzzle device.
These newer videos are informative, but don't give a lot of material to make fun of Caleb. Let's get back to the basics !
Ultradyne Apollo Max. Nothing else comes close
The Precision Armament Hypertap and SJC Titan Extreme are basically indistinguishable from the Ultradyne. The Unrivaled Technologies brake is also very popular with those who compete in matches where brakes matter
You can't mount a bayonet with suppressors.
I must be a simpleton as i just use A2 birdcage on everything i build
Yes, it’s cost effective.
I have heard all the gung ho, manly men, say "What you use, depends on your mission!"
My mission is to put the bullet on the target, as accuratly, safely and as fast as possible...
why should have to worry about this?
RAD
JJ Reddick??
where smyth busters?
Combing back soon!
I've already got 4 NFA items, went through the whole process over and over. Yet still waiting 15 months for my Form 4 on a 9mm can. #repealthenfa