Building Compensators

[a2x4bbl]

When building Compensators there seems to be several schools of thought. One is to treat it like a gas and the venting of gas pushes in the opposite direction. Probably to keep the muzzle flat and help get back on target faster . Another is to make a wall for the gas to hit which would help more with recoil. I guess all would have a wall . I'm just hoping to get feedback on this subject. I know the different comps depend on what your trying to achieve. I don't like aluminum because it deteriorates and erodes from the flame . Stainless is harder to machine but the flame doesn't bother it. I also prefer the wieght at the muzzle, but thats just me . This one works great for keeping the muzzle flat but I think I made the ports to big for 9mm and had to go to a hot load . Load shoots good .
Any comments or theory would be greatly appreciated.

 

[a2x4bbl]

Starting point

 

[LoneGoose]

Nice looking work. Yes, those holes do look a little big, but then I'm not a gunsmith......

 

[fxvr5]

View attachment 785124 When building Compensators there seems to be several schools of thought. One is to treat it like a gas and the venting of gas pushes in the opposite direction. Probably to keep the muzzle flat and help get back on target faster . Another is to make a wall for the gas to hit which would help more with recoil. I guess all would have a wall . I'm just hoping to get feedback on this subject. I know the different comps depend on what your trying to achieve.

A compensator with an expansion chamber has walls for the gas to hit and slow down the slide, and ports to vent the gas upward to counteract muzzle rise. Your comp has walls, though they get smaller with the narrower expansion chambers of the forward ports.

If your compensator works well, as you discovered, you have to use powerful ammo for a strong recoil impulse to help it cycle.

 

[a2x4bbl]

I stepped down the port size thinking there would be less gas available to vent . That was my theory anyway . But some comps step down ports in size some don't. They all seem to work . What I was mainly trying to do in the ports was to have the gas hit a radius on the 3 sides (ball end mill ) to direct the gas more instead of a 90 degree cut on the bottom . What your saying about the wall and the slide slowing down makes a lot of sense. A lot of rifle comps have no chambers just holes of varying numbers and sizes but doesn't affect function at all . Thanks for the information and the post . Interesting stuff.

 

[a2x4bbl]

Nice looking work. Yes, those holes do look a little big, but then I'm not a gunsmith......

I'm not a gunsmith either , just a average guy that likes to make stuff. Thank you.

 

[fxvr5]

I stepped down the port size thinking there would be less gas available to vent . That was my theory anyway . But some comps step down ports in size some don't. They all seem to work . What I was mainly trying to do in the ports was to have the gas hit a radius on the 3 sides (ball end mill ) to direct the gas more instead of a 90 degree cut on the bottom . What your saying about the wall and the slide slowing down makes a lot of sense. A lot of rifle comps have no chambers just holes of varying numbers and sizes but doesn't affect function at all . Thanks for the information and the post . Interesting stuff.

You'll probably find the articles below of interest. The author has written several articles on compensator function, and you might find some of the information useful. (You might be sorry you started this thread!)

https://americanhandgunner.com/compensators-do-they-really-work/
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ballistics/compensators-pressure-gas/
http://www.shootingtimes.com/gunsmithing/reducing-recoil-traditional-vs-bushing-compensators/
http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/power-factor-recoil-bullet-weight-compensators/
http://www.shootingtimes.com/gunsmithing/recoil-reduction-ports-vs-compensator/
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ballistics/compensated-45-vs-compensated-38/
https://gundigest.com/article/ported-barrel-reduce-recoil
https://books.google.com/books?id=Y...ge&q=gunpowder and recoil brad miller&f=false

 

[a2x4bbl]

Lots of good information . Thanks for links. No regrets on starting this thread.

 

[doubleh]

I built one out of aluminum for my MK III 22/45 lite last year to try to tame it's muzzle flip a little. It didn't seem to do much so I built another with a different hole size and arrangment and it was a little more effective than the first. I switched to steel and it worked even better but none of the three were what I wanted. I would credit the improved performance of the last one to the added weight of the material. I finally bought one from TandemKross and it does a much better job than any of my three. I could have kept experimenting and maybe have hit on something I suppose but I was more interested in shooting than playing around at the lathe and drill press.