I agree with the many others who don't really like the AR15's muzzle blast due to the muzzle brake that comes standard on it. When I shoot, I feel a blast hit me in the face. It feels like a concussive force. A shotgun has more power, and yet I don't feel that with a shotgun. The difference is because of the muzzle brake. I have what I believe is a standard A2 muzzle brake and looks just like this: http://www.fishpond.com/Sports_Outd..._campaign=US&gclid=CMv0z8q8qswCFYM2aQodLvwCtA
The problem comes from the muzzle blast being directed upward and apparently backwards. I'm aware that muzzle brakes can be changed, but I think the cost is ridiculous. I looked at a youtube video about it and it looks like you have to remove the barrel and place it in a vice, and then use a special tool that I don't have to remove the brake. Also, if the brake is on too tight and requires too much force to remove, there's a danger of damaging the barrel. Finally, a new brake would need to be put on that's supposedly quieter, and they aren't exactly cheap either: http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLo...&Ns=p_metric_sales_velocity%7C1&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1
So, what I was thinking about was simply getting a 2 or 3 inch pipe that's the same inner diameter as the diameter of my existing muzzle brake (and cost maybe 50 cents from a hardware store), and slipping it over the brake. That would cover the vent holes completely and cause the muzzle blast to be directed forward. It would sort of act like a 3" barrel extension. I know some may say the BATF could see it as an illegal suppressor, but it wouldn't be. It would be completely open-ended, so it wouldn't look or function any more like a suppressor than any muzzle brake. But my question is whether it would be safe. Would keeping the muzzle blast gasses confined within an extra few inches of pipe be harmful to the rifle's mechanics? I know semi-autos are engineered to work in a rather precise way. This is especially true of AR rifles, where a particular type of gas system is needed with different barrel lengths. Mine is 16". Would my idea keep the pressures up for too long a period of time to be safe?
The problem comes from the muzzle blast being directed upward and apparently backwards. I'm aware that muzzle brakes can be changed, but I think the cost is ridiculous. I looked at a youtube video about it and it looks like you have to remove the barrel and place it in a vice, and then use a special tool that I don't have to remove the brake. Also, if the brake is on too tight and requires too much force to remove, there's a danger of damaging the barrel. Finally, a new brake would need to be put on that's supposedly quieter, and they aren't exactly cheap either: http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLo...&Ns=p_metric_sales_velocity%7C1&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1
So, what I was thinking about was simply getting a 2 or 3 inch pipe that's the same inner diameter as the diameter of my existing muzzle brake (and cost maybe 50 cents from a hardware store), and slipping it over the brake. That would cover the vent holes completely and cause the muzzle blast to be directed forward. It would sort of act like a 3" barrel extension. I know some may say the BATF could see it as an illegal suppressor, but it wouldn't be. It would be completely open-ended, so it wouldn't look or function any more like a suppressor than any muzzle brake. But my question is whether it would be safe. Would keeping the muzzle blast gasses confined within an extra few inches of pipe be harmful to the rifle's mechanics? I know semi-autos are engineered to work in a rather precise way. This is especially true of AR rifles, where a particular type of gas system is needed with different barrel lengths. Mine is 16". Would my idea keep the pressures up for too long a period of time to be safe?
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