Educate me on muzzle brakes/flash hiders

[Rugerman]

I see lots of threads about muzzle brakes and flash hiders. How do you choose an appropriate brake/flash hider and not one that just looks cool? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info on them and what to look for. I would like to hear from knowledgeable people who understand various designs and what they do. To make the job easier I have some examples:

Example A: 9mm AR with 10 inch barrel. Looking for minimal muzzle flash, reduced muzzle climb during rapid fire.


Example B: 10-14 inch barreled AR (5.56). Looking for reduced muzzle climb during sustained fire.

Example C: .30 calibre AR; 16-20 inch barrel. Looking for reduced dust signature when firing prone, less muzzle climb for accurate, mid to long range shooting.

Example D: .30 calibre or larger; bolt action; long range, deliberate fire. Looking for reduced muzzle shift to improve accuracy; low dust signature

I am sure there are other examples, these are just ones that I would like to know about for now. I hope my parameters are clear and appropriate. Feel free to change them.

 

[Clobbersauras]

See below in bold...

Blah, Blah, blah...

Example A: 9mm AR with 10 inch barrel. Looking for minimal muzzle flash, reduced muzzle climb during rapid fire.

10 inch barrels are tough to tame flash. You are moving a large volume of very hot gas producing strong shock structures to induce flash. There are only a few flash hiders that I have seen that are decent on a 10.5", some of the newer Dlask models and the new one from ATRS (Note that the ATRS unit is not easy to clean). But, if you want one that helps reduce muzzle climb you will probably just have to go with the old A2 flash hider. You will have to live with a little bit of flash but you will get some compensating effect. The A2 is a hard muzzle device to beat for the price. I'm gonna be working on a FH design in the new year that hopefully will meet your criteria of reduced muzzle flash and reduced muzzle flip. I have too much on the go at the moment, but it has the potential to be the cats ass on SBR's...but it's all theoretical.


Example B: 10-14 inch barreled AR (5.56). Looking for reduced muzzle climb during sustained fire. Dlask A6, Battlecomp, KAC Tripple Tap, PWS models, there are a lot to choose from. Do your research as some are a lot more blasty than others.

Example C: .30 calibre AR; 16-20 inch barrel. Looking for reduced dust signature when firing prone, less muzzle climb for accurate, mid to long range shooting. I'd go with the .30 Battlecomp version, reduces dust signature and reduces muzzle climb.

Example D: .30 calibre or larger; bolt action; long range, deliberate fire. Looking for reduced muzzle shift to improve accuracy; low dust signature

This is a tough one. In my opinion you'd want to stay away from designs like the battlecomp as it's an unbalanced design and gas flow out of your muzzle device is critical for pinpoint accuracy. I'd go with one of the many multi-baffle brakes on the market. You don't need to have a UFO hanging off your muzzle, two or three baffles are all you need (if properly constructed) before you start seeing diminishing returns on the device. I can't help you with the dust, it's gonna be there with a muti-baffle brake. Hope this helps.

Blah, Blah

 

[TV-PressPass]

What about an 18.5 inch barrel that was a flash hider first and a muzzle brake second? Say on a Tavor?

That was one of the best answers I've seen Clobb. Good guidance all round

 

[Satain]

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I believe S.E.I. is your answer.
Although here is a nice bridcage compared to a brake rifle test and as you can see there is a differance.
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[Rugerman]

See below in bold...

Thank you. Good start. BattleComp dealers in Canada?

 

[Clobbersauras]

^^One Shot Tactical.

 

[CarbineOne]

5.56mm - PWS FSC556, BCE BattleComp (no export license), Miculek-style brake.
7.62mm - PWS FSC30, BABattleComp, Smith Enterprises.

9mm - YHM Phantom? Not a lot of choices here.

 

[Jamie]

I will be running a battle comp for next years three gun shoot and Tac Carbine ,was running a Neit Arms brake but find it was worrking to well and driving my muzzle down on rapid shots

 

[Glenfilthie]

You are looking at that the wrong way Rugerman.

The manly shooter LIKES flame and noise and thunder! The bigger the blast the better!!! My beloved Bushmeister has no flash suppressor at all - I want those zombies, talibangers and turdies to know when their hives are being shot up, and who is doing it!

I would like a bayonet though...or a piped chainsaw...

 

[Farmboy]

You are looking at that the wrong way Rugerman.

The manly shooter LIKES flame and noise and thunder! The bigger the blast the better!!! My beloved Bushmeister has no flash suppressor at all - I want those zombies, talibangers and turdies to know when their hives are being shot up, and who is doing it!

I would like a bayonet though...or a piped chainsaw...

LMAO You just need one of these then!

BattleComp dealers in Canada?

As Clobb said

 

[Sinasta]

Darren, thats awesome you're carrying the Battlecomp. It's too bad I already have a PWS FSC556. I'll be sure to get a battlecomp off you for my next build!

 

[rivetc78]

YHM Phantom 5C2 is all you need. Forget these dumb $150 Muzzle devices.
Dealers say they are the greatest because they have the biggest profit margin.

 

[Farmboy]

Dealers say they are the greatest because they have the biggest profit margin.

Actually the more expensive something is, the lower the profit margin and the harder to sell.

Surplus rifles bought at $100 can easily be sold for $200.

New rifles purchased at $1000 can not be sold for $2000.

 

[rivetc78]

Actually the more expensive something is, the lower the profit margin and the harder to sell.

word games. cool.

No money to be made on a $30 Comp.
A lot more to be made on a $150 Comp.

 

[Farmboy]

No money to be made on a $30 Comp.
A lot more to be made on a $150 Comp.

I can sell you a YHM comp if you want. We can get those in as well now to.

I could make about a %60 margin on those.

On the Battlecomp, I make about %25.

I can sell tons of the YHM ones, not so many BC ones, and even fewer KAC Triple Taps (which even have less margin)



What is the ratio of Norc AR's to LMT, DD or KAC AR's in Canada?

How about the ratio of SKS's to SL8's?

 

[badboybeeson]

Actually the more expensive something is, the lower the profit margin and the harder to sell.

Surplus rifles bought at $100 can easily be sold for $200.

New rifles purchased at $1000 can not be sold for $2000.

what he said!!!

 

[mardig88]

for shooting range usage, i would consider the looks as well

 

[CarbineOne]

YHM Phantom 5C2 is all you need. Forget these dumb $150 Muzzle devices.
Dealers say they are the greatest because they have the biggest profit margin.

You haven't even used any (or 90%) of the devices you bash.

 

[na1lb0hm]

word games. cool.

No money to be made on a $30 Comp.
A lot more to be made on a $150 Comp.

now rivetc, I don't want to bash you or start a war or anything like that, but have you actually SEEN, with your own eyes, the dealer/distributor price for the $30 comps vs the $150 ?

I see where you are coming from in saying this, that with the 30 dollars, there is not as much wiggle room from price to manufacture vs price to sell.

 

[Glenfilthie]

Well he's right - on alot of things they run on a profit margin so technically there is more money to be made on a more expensive item. When last I looked - 10% of 150 bucks was more money than 10% of thirty bucks.

But what of it? These guys have to make a buck or they go out of business, you lose a supplier and nobody wins.

This is something ya learn when ya post on the EE. The morons that PM you with low ball offers aren't worth the time of day. If those idiots see an item 5 cents cheaper somewhere else, that is where they buy...and then they wonder why they get crappy service and lousy follow up. Most companies operate on a profit margin of around 25% depending on the market. From what I have heard the purveyors of death and mayhem on this fine firearm forum operate at around 10~15%. They make money on sales as they should - but not as much as you would think. From what I have heard, if you want to make money, the firearms industry is not for you - most of them are in it for the love of the game.

If they do a good job we should help them out.