How Good Are "Post Ban" AR Flash Hiders?

[esq_stu]

My first AR was a Frankengun parts gun. The barrel was purchased during the AWB and has a groove at the end but is not threaded. I have seen "birdcage" type flash hiders that go over the barrel and are secured by set screws screwed into the groove near the end of the barrel.

My question is, what is the experience with these flash hiders? Do they work? Are they just for show? Is there a particular kind that is recommended? Should I forget it and just use the barrel as is? I am not going to spend significant $ to thread the barrel (anyway, I have another AR with factory flash hider on threaded muzzle). I just want to know whether these post-ban attachments are any good.

 

[JWarren]

I have seen "birdcage" type flash hiders that go over the barrel and are secured by set screws screwed into the groove near the end of the barrel.

Don't trust set screws. I've seen a number of them flying downrange over the years.

I think they'd work as long as they remain attached to the firearm.


I will say this though... I had one on a SAR-1 a while back. When I removed it to have the barrel properly threaded, I had to put heat on it to get it off, and I completely destroyed the adapter getting it lose.

So I have seen one that stayed on.


-- John