Your opinion on best AR muzzle brakes

[civilsnake]

Alright team, it's time to go featureless.

I have my Hammerhead, I will pin my stock, and I will remove the A2 birdcage. What to replace it with, though?

Is there a muzzle brake out there that can help avoid the typical problem of increasing blast noise for the shooter WITHOUT living in the "might be a flash suppressor" zone? Everyone raves about the BattleComp, but there's concern that it may count as a flash suppressor.

If it were just for shooting at the range, I would go with a Miculek or JP and be happy. But this is also my go-to for bad situations, and I'm concerned about having to fire it without hearing protection.

The Firepig and Levang are kinda bulky, and the Troy Claymore doesn't look much smaller.

Input please?

[apbrian112]

If it were just for shooting at the range, I would go with a Miculek or JP and be happy. But this is also my go-to for bad situations, and I'm concerned about having to fire it without hearing protection.

if you're worried about noise when involved in "bad situations" believe me, the noise will be the last thing you'll notice. I've fired M2 HB's, M240B's, MK19's, m4 w/203, etc. all without hearing protection and the noise was the last thing i was worried about. i dunno, i guess YMMV.

In those situations i'd be more worried about shot placement and if a brake that works well helps in that (less recoil, faster follow up shots, etc.) i'm all for it.

like i said YMMV...

[Noobert]

Levang

[nrakid88]

If your going to go featureless, just get a thread cover. Think about it, any brake will move the flash of the gun compared to if it had a thread cover. This could be construed as being moved away from the sight of the firer, and would be defacto, a California flash suppressor. BOOM ASSAULT WEAPON CONVICTION. I wouldn't risk it, just takes having the wrong DA and the wrong Judge or Jury and say by by to freedom. And I know this post is going to get flamed, but this is my opinion, and I wouldn't lay my neck on the line just to mitigate the already small recoil signature of a ar-15.

[nrakid88]

Hell, plus a thread cover is cheap, more money for ammo.

[nimoZ]

I took of my Smith Vortex and installed a Surefire compensator on my 20" AR.
- it groups much better with the Surefire.
- a tiny bit louder - sounds like a 6.5

[civilsnake]

if you're worried about noise when involved in "bad situations" believe me, the noise will be the last thing you'll notice. I've fired M2 HB's, M240B's, MK19's, m4 w/203, etc. all without hearing protection and the noise was the last thing i was worried about. i dunno, i guess YMMV.

In those situations i'd be more worried about shot placement and if a brake that works well helps in that (less recoil, faster follow up shots, etc.) i'm all for it.

like i said YMMV...

I get that viewpoint and have considered it, but if there is a way to reduce the impact of a brake and mitigate some hearing damage if I have to fire indoors, I'd like to know about it. I definitely get your point, though, and may still go that way.

Hell, plus a thread cover is cheap, more money for ammo.

I've also considered that, but frankly I'm not worried about the brake issue. People have been running them on featureless ARs, Mini-14s, M1As, and everything else in this state for long enough that I'm not really concerned. Thanks for the input, though.

[RECCE556]

BattleComp has a closed front end/baffle (which INCREASES flash) so I don't see how they would be able to construe that as a Flash Suppressor. The PWS 556 has essentially a prong flash suppressor in FRONT of the brake but because it has a baffle, it's considered a brake.

Honestly, I think the BattleComp is the best choice because it's actually functional w/o increasing noise/blast/flash too much. Don't get me wrong, it's louder than any flash suppressor I've used but it's DEFINITELY quieter with less blast than any of the wide open brakes (Surefire, JP/MSTN QC/Miculek, etc.) I've experienced.



BattleComp FTW!

[lugee]

Surefire MB556K or the PWS FSC 556. If you are on a budget, and just need a running rifle, just get a YHM brake.

[civilsnake]

BattleComp has a closed front end/baffle (which INCREASES flash) so I don't see how they would be able to construe that as a Flash Suppressor. The PWS 556 has essentially a prong flash suppressor in FRONT of the brake but because it has a baffle, it's considered a brake.

While I do like the BC, they mention on the site that it reduces flash. Videos do show it as compared to a thread protector, and it appears to reduce flash there. It's in the zone where it could be problematic, and I don't want to be the test case. You're right that it certainly doesn't LOOK like a flash suppressor, but if it does it does.

[Lrchops]

BATTLECOMP,,,nothing compares!

[civilsnake]

Surefire MB556K or the PWS FSC 556. If you are on a budget, and just need a running rifle, just get a YHM brake.

You're recommending the PWS Flash Suppressing Compensator for my featureless build?

No thank you.

While I'm sure it works admirably, it's pretty much universally accepted that it is a flash suppressor.

[Fate]

I think, based on your requirements, the thread protector or Levang/Claymore are your best bets.

I also would say you could get a Kurt's Kustom Firearms "Fake Flash Suppressor", but Kurt died a few years ago in a motorcycle accident and his company died with him. Cosmetically, it looks like a birdcage, but has a narrower opening and the side slots are not fully milled thru. Essentially, it's just a barrel extension.

There's always a fake can, but that's form over function in my book.

Currently, I have a PRI/MSTN "Quiet Comp" on my featureless and while it does vent the blast/noise away from the shooter, there's no way I would want to shoot it indoors, especially without ear protection. For eliminating recoil and enabling ultra fast/accurate triple taps, it can't be beat.

Oh and the Firepig is a flash suppressor, so that's a no go either

[donking]

...
Honestly, I think the BattleComp is the best choice because it's actually functional w/o increasing noise/blast/flash too much. Don't get me wrong, it's louder than any flash suppressor I've used but it's DEFINITELY quieter with less blast than any of the wide open brakes (Surefire, JP/MSTN QC/Miculek, etc.) I've experienced.

BATTLECOMP,,,nothing compares!

Would the Battlecomp work for a 10" barrel?
.

[rareair]

If it were just for shooting at the range, I would go with a Miculek or JP and be happy. But this is also my go-to for bad situations, and I'm concerned about having to fire it without hearing protection.

I run both a DPMS Miculek & a JP Ent Bennie Cooley and both work excellent. No extra noise coming from either one. I'd even say the Miculek is slightly quieter than the A2 birdcage.
JP Enterprises Bennie Cooley-



DPMS Miculek-