Flash Hider or Target Crown?

[carnaby]

I'm looking at AR's in 6.8spc at Model 1 Sales, and they list the rifle with a 20" barrel with either a flash hider or target crown. I guess the target crown is essentially to comply with foolish AW bans, but does it have any target shooting advantages over the flash hider? Is there any practical reason to go with one or the other?

 

[rbernie]

I normally use a post-ban style (target crown) barrel on my hunting ARs, since I don't want the extra weight and length of the flashhider on the end of the barrel. My fightin' carbines, on the other hand, get a pre-ban flashhider.

The flashhider makes a noticable difference in terms of flash signature from an observer position and flash visible to the shooter. It's a good thing to have if you can spare the length/weight.

 

[SnakeEater]

I have heard that a good target crown will give better accuracy over a flashhider. Could be urban legend though.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

A target crown does give marginally better accuracy though I couldn't say why. I suspect it is because the A2 flashider allows carbon to buildup between the crown and the flashhider. You'd have to be a pretty good shooter to notice the difference though.

 

[ocabj]

The recent White Oak Armament upper I bought I opted for no threaded muzzle for a flash supressor. As Mr. Roberts stated, a plain muzzle with no flash supressor will be marginally accurate, so it's not much of an issue. But understand that an improperly installed flash supressor will cause degradation in accuracy. For a regular rifle, go for the flash supressor. If you are shooting matches, I think you are better off without the flash supressor. The only real benefit in a target shooting application is that the flash supressor serves as a great muzzle/crown protector.

After the Clinton Assault Weapon Ban forced high power shooters to go with plain muzzles, that's when they noticed that accuracy actually improved overall. That's why you'll see rifles even now, without flash supressors.

 

[carnaby]

How about muzzle blast, does the flash hider make it worse?

 

[Zak Smith]

Get the threaded muzzle 5/8-24 and then use a MSTN QC comp or Vortex flash hider. Both work very well for their respective purposes in 6.8.

 

[Bottom Gun]

Carnaby,

A FH will not increase muzzle blast.
A muzzle brake or recoil check, as some call it, will definitely increase muzzle blast.

 

[kentucky_smith]

So I bought a used OlyArms upper off the ee at arfcom. It did not come with a flash suppressor, it is not threaded but there's what looks like a place for a roll pin or something in a groove at the end of the barrel and it is not crowned, per se. It's just a flat cut.

What should I do?