What is the difference?
- Thread starter harley1973
- Start date
Generally speaking I would say a muzzle brake reduces reward recoil; a compensator reduces up/down/sideways movement, and a flash hider hides flash. Some muzzle widgets do all those things. Some do none but look really cool.
As for which one should go on an ar15 is mostly dependent on what type of shooting you will be doing with it. On the other hand you don't HAVE to have anything screwed to your barrel if you don't want to.
As for which one should go on an ar15 is mostly dependent on what type of shooting you will be doing with it. On the other hand you don't HAVE to have anything screwed to your barrel if you don't want to.
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Compensators also keep the muzzle down, which is why the A2 flashhider is also a comp.
Starscream
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Bit of a misnmer. Flash hiders were originally designed to protect the shooter's vision more by redirectnig the muzzle flash away from a shooter's line of sight when looking down the sights.
Some flash hiders do reduce muzzle flash signature but that usuallly ends up a secondary effect. Preventing the shooter from being blinded by his own muzzle flash was always the first and foremost design consideration of a good flash hider.
I don't think there is any device that can reduce rearward movement (recoil). A brake/compensator reduces muzzle rise by directing gas away from the natural movement of the muzzle as the gas expands outwards.
Hence it compensates (compensator) or stops movement (brake).
Harley1973 forgot to mention Neit Arm's Crusader brake for the ar15 has gotten good reviews. It's inexpensive. I have one on mine but haven't been to the range for a test yet.
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angryeyebrows
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Oscar Mike
If you ever shoot in low light, the flash hider is a must. As quoted above, this will save your vision at night. There are a few REALLY good hiders on the market and a ton of mediocre ones. SEI Vortex and AAC Blackout are two that I know first hand eliminate flash to the naked eye.
As far as comps go, if you desire very little muzzle movement for quick followup shots, and don't really care about flash at night time, then a comp or brake might be for you. The best on the market is the KAC Triple Tap...but it is ridiculously expensive.
Have a look at the muzzle brake on a Barrett M107 rifle, one of the most obvious devices for reducing rearward movement.
Awesome thanks guys... tell me tho How the heck does that thing on the end REDUCE rear movement I mean I just don't get how directing gas up and left and right results in less recoil on you? I can see how it stops the muzzel from moving.
I stand corrected. Some are designed to help reduce recoil. You will notice some brakes have vents on the side that are machined diagonally toward the back. This causes gas to be vented at an angle towards the shooter. This pushes the barrel forward to counteract the backward movement of recoil.
If the compensator directs gas mostly upwards it results in a "rocket effect" and the escaping gasses "push" the muzzle down, so less muzzle rise. If the vents direct gas to the sides and at an angle rearwards (look at the muzzle brake on a Barrett .50 rifle and you will see the shape and angle of the vents) then the gas jets push the muzzle forward so it reduces the rearward recoil of the rifle. Combinations of vents and angles can be used to reduce both muzzle rise and rearward motion.
CarbineOne
Regular
As previously stated:
Flash hiders - Hides flash
Compensators - Reduce muzzle rise
Muzzle brake - Reduce felt recoil
Flash hiders work by cooling the propelling gasses faster.
Compensators work by pushing some of the gas upwards (pushing your muzzle downwards, assuming it is timed).
Muzzle brakes redirect the gasses NOT downrange; Simply physics. In this sense, almost all compensators have a slight braking effect.
Flash hiders - Hides flash
Compensators - Reduce muzzle rise
Muzzle brake - Reduce felt recoil
Flash hiders work by cooling the propelling gasses faster.
Compensators work by pushing some of the gas upwards (pushing your muzzle downwards, assuming it is timed).
Muzzle brakes redirect the gasses NOT downrange; Simply physics. In this sense, almost all compensators have a slight braking effect.
When you fire a round the rifle wants to move backward into the shooter's shoulder, if the gasses leaving the barrel are being forced backward they naturally want to move the rifle forward a bit, thus reducing recoil.
Same goes for pistols with compensators that vent the gas upwards, forcing the pistol downwards helping defeat the natural rise of recoil.
Same goes for pistols with compensators that vent the gas upwards, forcing the pistol downwards helping defeat the natural rise of recoil.
CarbineOne
Regular
While the TT is not the best pure brake (compared to competition brakes), it is 90% as good as the best, with little increase in concussion (the best have ludicrous side concussion) while maintaining a small size envelope (look at the size of the Rolling Thunder. It's huge).
I have two. And I am comparing it to most muzzle brakes available on the market (and virtually everything available in Canada).
