Muzzle Devices

[earlthegoat2]

Mainly referring to muzzle brakes and flash hiders and their use on AR rifles.

Are they necessary in most cases?

Are their technical advantages to them like improved accuracy?

I am aware that muzzle brakes can reduce felt recoil but do you need recoil reduction on a 6.5 Grendel?

Do they just complete the look?

Since AR rifles usually have a threaded barrel you might as well use it?

I find myself wanting to take the muzzle devices off of my rifles more and more lately. I’m looking into a 45 Raptor build and as I research the topic of which muzzle device to use comes up. It seems 45 Raptor barrels are on 3/4” threads which is somewhat obscure so there are not a ton of options. Dialog about the 45 Raptor will say something like “This is a potent round so a good brake will be necessary”...

I’ve shot a .460 S&W Encore and it was stout but did not need a brake. 45 Raptor is in a gas operated semi auto so it should be even milder whether there is a brake involved or not. Either way I find myself going with no brake and just a thread protector mainly for noise reasons

 

[bearcreek]

Are they necessary in most cases?

Necessary? Depends what you mean by that. Flash hiders reduce muzzle flash, some better than others. Comps reduce recoil but increase noise, some more than others. If you don't care about any of those things then a muzzle device isn't necessary.

 

[bassjam]

They aren't necessary if you're asking if they'll function fine without them.

But there are reasons for them. In some competitions like 3-gun a compensator helps keep the muzzle on target for faster follow-up shots, even with a .223 loads. Or maybe a brake reduce recoil enough to help you watch the bullet hit the target through a scope.

If you plan on using your AR for self defense, a flash hider can help prevent temporarily blinding you if you fire in a low light environment. Or even help hide your location in daylight by reducing the fireball that will come out without a flash hider. And it only gets worse the shorter your barrel is as more unburnt powder is released out the muzzle.

So you don't really need any of them, but there are reasons to have each.

 

[Jessesky]

I use a linear comp to direct the noise forward a bit. It also hides the flash. And recoil reduction may not be necessary, but even in an AR there is recoil. So that muzzle brake may make seeing the impact that much easier

 

[Varminterror]

Dialog about the 45 Raptor will say something like “This is a potent round so a good brake will be necessary”...

It is a potent round. A brake is not necessary. Nice. But not necessary.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I’m liking the idea of a linear compensator. At least I’ll be able to utilize the threads for something. I do t want added noise for sure. An 18” barrel should provide adequate length for powder burn with the 45 Raptor.

 

[Varminterror]

I’m a big fan of linear compensators, especially the Kaw Valley Precision Linear Compensator. Not sure if they make one in your caliber and thread pitch, but they’re my first thought when I look for a linear Compensator.

 

[doubleh]

In my case, no. The 223 doesn't have enough recoil to be bothersome and I could care less about flash. I cut the vents off a 5" flash hider to make a bloop tube to direct the noise forward before the linear compensators became a thing. It might not be as sexy but it works.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Necessary? No.

Nice for certain applications? Yes.


Of course a 223 doesn't really recoil the way that something like a 300 RUM recoils. But if you are trying to shoot a lot of targets fast, with minimal sight disruption, a good muzzle brake can help.

 

[greyling22]

I have a thread protector on my grendel. It is a soft shooting round so I don't feel like I need a break (I was shooting offhand at a running antelope at 200yds with scope on 6x and the rifle stayed on target. got it on the 3rd shot). I shoot during daylight hours, so I don't need a flash hider. I've tried the linear compensators on 16" 223 and found them useless. I actually had an informal panel of 5 listen to 2 identical AR's (but 1 had a levang linear comp and the other an A2 flash hider) and the group unanimously thought the A2 was quieter. It doesn't make sense, but that was the result. [different shooters, under a metal awning, observers about 8 feet behind the shooter]

I have a mixture of flash hiders and thread protectors on my guns. Mostly based on what was cheap and available, some on looks.

 

[bearcreek]

I actually had an informal panel of 5 listen to 2 identical AR's (but 1 had a levang linear comp and the other an A2 flash hider) and the group unanimously thought the A2 was quieter. It doesn't make sense, but that was the result. [different shooters, under a metal awning, observers about 8 feet behind the shooter]

Makes perfect sense. Never heard or heard of any comp that was quieter than an A2 flash hider on the same rifle.

 

[FL-NC]

It depends on the application. Most of MY AR rifles are fitted with a muzzle device required for mounting a suppressor. These things are generally proprietary, and there is generally little if any choice in the design or appearance of the FH/MB. The 2 AR's I have used for 3 gun each have different- yet effective- brakes attached. One rifle used the bushmaster compo patterned after the AK74 brake (about $30) - very effective in terms of dampening recoil effects, but very loud (the range officials hate this thing when they are standing next to me with the pro timer). The other is a Miculek comp- probably not as effective as the AK74 type, but not as loud either.