AR flash suppressor/compensator?

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2low

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I'm in the market for a flash hider or compensator formy new Stag model 3. I've got her all dressed up with the other goodies (stock, EOTech, BUIS, and a bigger grip) but i'm wanting something for the muzzle. I'm not sure which route i should take be it a flash hider or a compensator. I'm leaning towards a compensator but if anyone knows of a happy medium between the two then i'm all ears. Any and all info regarding this subject will be heeded. I'm still somewhat new to the AR world and i like soaking up all the info i can about them.

My budget is somewhat flexible around $60 to $110 max (shipping excluded) so i figure someone whom has experience with any muzzle devices within that range could fill me in.
I'm looking for something that is functional towards recoil reduction and/or flash suppression. I could give a damn if it looks cool or not.

Any recommendations from those with firsthand experience will be appreciated. There are just so many companies and so many models/options to sift through so i'd just like some help from you all.

I have looked at the claymore model from troy. It seems decent but somewhat pricey. Another interesting model that caught my eye is the phase 5 tactical model, but i haven't been able to find any reliable firsthand accounts of it so far.

Thanks in advance to all of you that respond. The members of THR have never steered me wrong in the past. : ) one last thing to mention, please don't try to persuade me to quadruple my budget to buy a comp from knights armament. Although they do seem to be primo quality, i'm standing firm to not spend more than $110 max. Thanks again everyone.
 
Battlecomp sounds like what you are looking for to a T. Sadly they are about 125. However you can find them used for less. I just sold one lightly used for $100. I loved it but I run suppressors and need QDs.

http://battlecomp.com/
 
briansmithwins said:
Brakes and compensators are blasty. The more effective they are, the worse the blast is.

With .223 I think most people AR much better served with a decent flash hider. It protects the crown and directs some muzzle blast forward and up, if you use a model with a closed bottom.

I've had good luck with these: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Yankee-Hill-Machine-flash-hider-phantom-5c2-yhm-p/yhm-28-5c2.htm

BSW
Click to expand...

Brian is right- get cheap flash suppressor and spend the rest of your budget on ammo. I'd suggest getting an A2 birdcage for $8. If you don't know what to get, you haven't shot your rifle enough
 
+1 to the stick with the A2 and buy ammo response. There not enough recoil to need a brake + they are loud. If you want something better at hiding muzzle flash a YHM Phatom is better than a A2 and runs about $25, that's the best bang for buck flash hider.

ETA: if not going to buy ammo with difference in money, buy mags. $100 buys 10 USGI D&H 30 rounders.
 
Check out Spike's dyna comp. Although I don't have one yet, I will be ordering one pinned on a 14.5 upper as soon as Aims is back in stock. I've read nothing but good things about them and they are available within your budget constrains.
 
I have a Smith Vortex G6A2 on one of my ARs. I've never shot it after dark, so I don't know how effective it is at flash suppression.

I have a BlackHole Weaponry Dragon Head Brake on my other AR, and again, I haven't shot it after dark, so I have no idea of its suppressive capabilities.
 
The Smith Vortex are very good. I'd rate them as better than the YHM units.

OTOH, the cost is higher too and the YHMs already hide practically all the flash from normal sized barrels firing ammo with halfway decent flash suppressant.

BSW
 
i agree with getting a cheap A2 flash hider, shooting the gun and figuring out what you want later. However the Battlecomp and spikes comp are great small combos. The bigger ones like the Titan, Miculek and the JP are very loud.

I use A2 on my non competitive guns. I use the Titan on my 3 gun set up.
 
The Smith Vortex are very good. I'd rate them as better than the YHM units.
Click to expand...

The night shoots I have done here confirm that, Vortex has the best flame reduction of any we tested.



The Vortex FH works very well but it's not suitable for a combat gun. The open prongs well snag at the worst possible moment. The Vortex is a variation of the original AR prong FH.

The birdcage is the standard I would use to measure other FH'ers. YHM makes a few nice ones that are variations on the birdcage. We did a night shoot last summer with the intentions of testing different FH'ers. The winners were Vortex, Phantom 5C1 and 28. Shot several suppressors and they had more flame than anyone thought they would.

I like the Levang Linear brake, it directs noise away from the shooter and down range, not to the sides like many brakes do. It does a very good job of reducing muzzle climb, the recoil impulse is straight back with no climb. I haven't shot it at night, can't comment on the flash reduction.

The pepper pot style brakes work well but are load and have considerable flash.
 
you're looking for the FSC556 "flash suppressing compensator"

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSj7_M4O-1gFYLJfhn5iU2fCnPr89KdSoaXwPfTIZCBvoMzxXd2.jpg


The Vortex FH works very well but it's not suitable for a combat gun. The open prongs well snag at the worst possible moment. The Vortex is a variation of the original AR prong FH.
Click to expand...

Do you have some support for that statement? It seems extraordinarily unlikely given the other prong flash hiders that were issued on the M16 and other weapons.

I've used the vortex FH for years and it does an excellent job of flash suppression. I'm not in the military, but I never snagged it on anything.
 
That FSC556 PWS brake sucks for blast. Every time I'm around one the nerves in my teeth get twitchy.

They are a good brake but not worth the blast effects, IMO.

BSW
 
the blast from the FSC556 isn't nearly as bad as most brakes like the surefire, cooley, etc. but yeah, i find them a little irritating too, which is why i'm moving once again to using silencers as they offer recoil reduction as good as brakes and dramatically reduced blast
 
Recently studied the difference between the A2 birdcage, Battlecomp and bare muzzle. For muzzle blast and flash suppression, the A2 birdcage is the clear winner. The Battlecomp has a little bit more sideblast than the A2 and has good but inconsistent flash suppression. I get the occasional larger than average fireball. The bare muzzle was the worst. Big fireball and lots of concussion in all directions even directly behind the weapon. I was amazed at the difference once an A2 birdcage was installed.

I don't mind so much being next to someone shooting a BC. But I absolutely hate being next to other brakes!
 
Do you have some support for that statement? It seems extraordinarily unlikely given the other prong flash hiders that were issued on the M16 and other weapons.
Click to expand...

The original Vietnam era M16 flash suppressor had three open tines that snagged grass stalks, twigs and branches, hence the birdcage flash suppressor on the M16A1.
 
The original Vietnam era M16 flash suppressor had three open tines that snagged grass stalks, twigs and branches, hence the birdcage flash suppressor on the M16A1
Click to expand...

They also bent barrels and were damaged by troops using the flash hider to cut the metal packing bands on crates.

Never underestimate the ability and willingness of soldiers to destroy issue equipment. There is a reason* the Galil has a bottle opener built into the bipod/wire cutter mechanism.

BSW

*The troops were opening beer bottles with the feed lips of the magazines, causing failures.
 
just seems like an awful lot of our guys were using them for it to be "unsuitable". they were pretty popular
 
From the pics I've seen of night comparisons the original 3 prong FH pretty much sucked.

The others would be ranked A1 birdcage>YHM Phantom>Smith Vortex.

Please note: the above rankings apply to both price and effectiveness as a FH.

BSW
 
I like the Vortex, and while I've never low-crawled through thick woods with it, it seems like it'd be much less likely to snag on things than the old USGI 3-prong. The open ended design also gives very good flash suppression, and (at least subjectively) it also helps with lateral blast.

The tines on the Vortex are also THICK steel. I don't think you'd easily bend one.
 
the vortex (and the AAC copy) are consistently rated best for flash suppression. the YHM doesn't even come close in flash suppression. i can't speak to price as it has been years since i bought either one.

there are tons of pics and videos comparing them. here's an example but they are all pretty similar

FH_Testsized.gif
 
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