AR-15 Flash Hiding Test #2

1. No AAC Blackout. Though based on previous testing it would probably be the same pack as all the other modern tined flashhiders.

   • It was in the first test. I didn’t repeat any from the first test with just a few exceptions.

     If anyone has specific muzzle device requests for a third test at some point in the future, please let me know here. But, please also look at the first test to make sure it wasn’t already tested 😉

     http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/06/jeremy-s/ar-15-flash-hider-shootout/

     • Hi Jeremy, excellent article! If you do a third flash suppressor test, could you please test Ruger’s “FLASH SUPPRESSOR 1/2″-28 SHORT”?
       At first glance, this Ruger flash suppressor looks similar to the A-1 birdcage, but it has 5 slots instead of 6, and the slots are shaped differently, so I’d like to know if it’s as effective or more effective than the A-1 birdcage.
       It’s priced right at $19.95 for the blued version, $29.95 for the stainless steel version.
       See http://shopruger.com/Flash-Suppressor-1_2-28-Short-Blued/productinfo/90522/
       and http://shopruger.com/Flash-Suppressor-1_2-28-Short-Stainless/productinfo/90523/
       Thanks!

       • I kind of doubt there will be a third one. Interest isn’t very high… no where even remotely close to the interest in the brake tests. I’d do it if somebody or some company wanted to see a specific comparison(s) and felt like making it worth my time haha. Otherwise collecting a bunch of them like this and doing the testing and compiling the results takes a lot of effort and when it’s all said and done people just aren’t that interested in it anyway (or at least not in how I’ve chosen to do it).

2. “Tactical Advantage Armory FH-23 Titanium Flash Hider” FLASH HIDER LOL

   • They told me they’re going to send a cerakoted one for the next test. That’s like 99.9% guaranteed to get rid of all of the sparks related to it being titanium. Just guessing from the photo, I think sans sparks it would come in right at A2 performance level. …which brings up a topic of slight debate, actually, as some people only consider a muzzle device to be a “flash hider” or “flash suppressor” if it performs better in this task than the A2 Birdcage, but some people would call anything that suppresses flash as compared to a bare muzzle to be a “flash hider / suppressor.” I’m mostly in the bare muzzle camp. IMHO if it has less flash than a bare muzzle then it’s suppressing flash. Even though the A2 is a standard of sorts, it’s still an add-on muzzle device.

3. …now, that was some nice and useful information.

   Thank you very much.

4. Wilson Combat Accutac… thumbs up.

5. Thank you Jeremy S. As always, you’re a gentleman and a scholar.

6. Great rundown. I’ll keep my A2 flash hider on there and spend the money saved on a few boxes of ammo.

7. I have the “birdcage” which comes on the Ruger 10/22 and/or MkIII on my Tavor because I like the way it looks. I’d be interested to know how it performs compared to these others… unless it is inherently unsafe using a .22LR hider on a 5.56/.223 rifle of course. I mean, I haven’t died yet from using it so I assume it is OK.

   Dyspeptic Gunsmith (or anyone else), am I in for an unhappy trip FROM the range some time?

   • The .22 LR ones are usually made of aluminum and won’t hold up to use on .223/5.56. Depending on design they could shatter during use or the good outcome would be that they just slowly erode away on the inside. If it’s actually steel then it’s probably fine.

     • My memory of it is saying “Not aluminum” but I will put an magnet to it forthwith. Thanks for the heads up.

8. Hey, fellow Spokanite and reviewer! Excellent article. The people at sharp shooting are awesome.

9. How does the troy claymore compare in these tests?

   • Please see Test #1 for the answer 🙂

10. Didn’t the last test have a Fh that actually INCREASED the lumens? It was lime 20,000 or some bs,how do you increase lumens compared to the bare muzzle

    • Yes, it was the DoubleStar Dragon. One hell of a fireball from that thing! I wasn’t expecting it, and it blinded me pretty good. With the bare muzzle and some of the others, I closed my eyes for the shots since I knew they’d be flashy and my vision was adjusted to the really dark room already. Since that thing said “flash hider” on the packaging I didn’t think much of it and it was quite the surprise haha

11. So you tested a discontinued AAC original Brakeout and not the currently available Brakeout 2.0 which is purported to have better flash hiding capabilities than the original? Reasoning behind that?

    • I tested the 2.0. I see now that in the charts it just says “brakeout,” but in the listing in the write-up here where the photos and description are, it clearly says 2.0. And you can tell by the photos. The original version has massive ports, whereas the 2.0 has tiny ones. Internet pic I found of the original one: https://www.saintstactical.net/sites/www.saintstactical.net/files/AACO100186_1.jpg

12. Excellent report – thank you very much!

13. So… Tell us more about where to find sausage stuffed, bacon encrusted maple bars. (Please)

    • ^ This!

      • That would be Donut Parade in Spokane, WA. A staple since 1968, with great donuts, great biscuits & gravy (cheese & bacon on top optional), actual coffee plus those milkshakes people get at starbucks, and the Flatliner, which is your maple bar stuffed with sausage links and topped with bacon. http://donutparade.com/

14. Thanks again for all this data. Someday I hope to need one of these. 🙂 For a build I mean. Not for a fight.

15. Update: B.E. Meyers determined that JP Rifles had infringed upon aspects of B.E. Meyers’ patent(s) in JP’s design of the JP Flash Hider. JP, in keeping with its good reputation, considered B.E. Meyers’ claims and conceded potential or likely infringement. The JP Flash Hider is no longer available for purchase.

16. I’m a bit disappointed you didn’t screw in your sausage and bacon stuffed and wrapped maple bar onto the end of your barrel.

    In the Army when outside of the FOB, if we found ourselves surrounded by extremist terrorists and we have no air support due to weather, and no armor for backup, we would often put our sausage and bacon filled Maple bars on the end of our barrels.

    Almost always, the enemy would retreat and run away, often dropping their weapons if they knew we were using pork projectiles.

    On a more serious note, I did enjoy this review. It’s no easy task to capture muzzle blasts on film using non high speed camera’s. Kudos on doing so.

17. @ Jeremy S. In regard to ,”In the first shootout, the ambient brightness reading was 0.25 Lux. This time around, it was higher at 0.95 Lux. I believe this is because I chose to aim the light meter more towards the business end of the rifle and less at the side of it, in order to get closer to a straight-on reading and allow the light meter to “see” down into the muzzle device. After all, those who are worried about flash signature are worried about enemies downrange seeing it from a basically head-on perspective.”

    If your above statement is correct, then the first shootout is now useless and we are unable to accurately compare flash hiders from both reviews.

    Are you going to do another review all of the flash hiders from the old review with the new method?

18. @ Jeremy S. In regard to, “^^^ note that bare muzzle and AAC Brakeout are missing from the graph above. As you’ll see in the chart below, they were so bright that including them would have destroyed the scale of the graph.”

    The AAC Blackout was ranked SECOND PLACE in your “AR-15 Flash Hiding Test #1” test. You, having noticed this, should have realized that your testing methods were faulty.

    http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/06/jeremy-s/ar-15-flash-hider-shootout/

    Again, the first test needs to repeated with the same light meter angles as the second.

    • AAC’s Blackout and AAC’s Brakeout are different muzzle devices.

      We’re interested in how much brightness is added above ambient. It would be nice if ambient had stayed the same so the results from the first test could be compared more directly to those of the second test, but the results of both tests are absolutely valid regardless. Comparing the performance of a muzzle device in this test against a muzzle device in the first test isn’t clean because of that change in ambient, but it’s still possible by looking at it in terms of lux above ambient or by using devices that appeared in both tests as “controls” against which to measure. Plus I’m pretty sure plenty of people don’t care about the data anyway and go with the photos instead, which is a big reason why they’re there.

19. Jeremy S,
    First and foremost, I have really enjoyed your very thorough and concise reviews, I have learned quite a lot from them so thank you. Second; if you will…..can you give me your take on if you had to chose one muzzle device that best combined all three aspects….Flash hiding, Recoil, and Jump control for a 16″ 1 in 7 twist barrel what would chose?

    • Well it’s a very personal decision as everybody will weigh all of the things you mentioned differently… plus aesthetics and price and maybe size, weight, quality, etc. All of the muzzle devices balance these things differently. I have some reservations about voicing my choice here because it’s pretty subjective. But…

      I typically run the Precision Armament AFAB. I think it’s the best balance of everything. I fully admit that even though the EFAB apparently slightly edges it out in both recoil and flash reduction, I continue to go with the AFAB because I like its looks more. On a precision rifle that I’m shooting pretty much exclusively off a bipod, I’ll go with a dedicated brake instead. I’ve run the Precision Armament M4-72 quite a bit for this use (and general use, sure) since it won both 5.56 recoil reduction tests (and the .308 recoil reduction test) but I’ve also run some others when I wanted a more traditional, more subdued brake look, including the Precision Firearms LMD. Really, the only one I’ve stuck with long-term and go to first for an all-around rifle is the AFAB.

      …unless a suppressor is on the table. I’d take that over anything.

20. How does the VG6 Epsilon 556 compare to the AFAB as per lux and recoil in inches? Looking for the lowest lux with best break feature.

    • Epsilon has quite a bit more flash, fire, and brightness but reduces recoil more than the AFAB does. The Epsilon also has more blast/concussion since it has two open ports with blast baffles while the AFAB is more of a compensator with a bunch of small vents.

21. Sorry, Bad link.
    This one’s it:

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XSZ6xmzu-kBa-lN3e0VKl3EJn3yA2Cc-Bf3g8NqgijA/edit?usp=sharing

    • Nice!

22. Your test shows jp enterprises flash hider as the best, so I went to their website and it is available, diffrent than the one tested?

    • They had to change it. The following text is up in the article in a few places to explain why:

      Update: B.E. Meyers determined that JP Rifles had infringed upon aspects of B.E. Meyers’ patent(s) in JP’s design of the JP Flash Hider. JP, in keeping with its good reputation, considered B.E. Meyers’ claims and conceded potential or likely infringement. The JP Flash Hider is no longer available for purchase.

      • Are you familiar with the changes or how they affect performance? If it’s still a good product the price point is great.

23. Have you had the chance to test the White Sound Defense FOSSA-556 for recoil yet; and if not an official sled test, just by feel how did it feel? I’m shopping right now to finish out a build and I’m torn between the punisher and the whitesound for a multi-purpose comp/brake/flash suppressor

    • No, I really haven’t yet. That’s top of the to-do list for May though.

24. Any chance on getting both of SilencerCo Specwar Trifecta Flash hider and muzzle brake tested?

25. I just wanted to thank you for conducting these flash hider and muzzle brake tests. I was really on the fence on what muzzle device to put on my X95, and was having a tough time deciding between flash suppression and recoil mitigation. I ended up going with the Precision Armament AFAB-556 because your tests have shown that it really has no down sides. Sure there are better dedicated flash hiders, as well as better dedicated muzzle brakes, but it doesn’t seem like anything else on the market comes close to being as good at both as the AFAB (aside from the EFAB, which PA says is best on barrels shorter than 16″).

26. Thanks for all your hard work. Great creativity in figuring out how to measure these things.

    Cheers.

27. I would love to see how the best flash hiders compare to the comps for recoil reduction. Also, would there be a way to test the concussion/noise? I think it would be awesome to have all the muzzle devises in a table that you could compare, flash, recoil, and concussion.

    • Basically all of the flash hiders do zero for reducing recoil and perform within a few percent of a bare muzzle. I’ve left them out of the recoil tests at this point for that reason, unless there’s something in the design specifically for reducing recoil. However, there’s definitely a lot of interest in how much flash the brakes and comps have, so that’s why they’re in the FH test.

      I don’t have a way to test volume or concussion. I think concussion would be more interesting, as all muzzle devices other than suppressors are way above the hearing safe threshold anyway so you’re going to be wearing ear pro regardless. I’d like to find something like an overpressure sensor that can measure the concussion’s pressure spike, but I’ve yet to see anything like that on the commercial market.

      • I feel the opposite. A sound test would be enormously helpful for those of us using an AR-15 for home defense. Given that:

        1) A “bad shoot” with a can attached means huge federal mandatory sentences attached for the use of an NFA device in a crime of violence (unless the Hearing Protection Act passes and removes silencers from being considered NFA items), meaning that having a silencer on a home defense weapon is a huge risk if the prosecutor decides to press charges; even a state crime pinned on the homeowner could tie in federal prison with it–and we have seen how even in relatively gun/defense-friendly states a high-profile case can find a prosecution searching for anything they can possibly use to imprison the person who defended themselves.
        2) There may be no time for hearing protection to be donned in a home defense situation. Nor might other family members living in the residence have the opportunity to don any.
        3) Decibel ratings are logarithmic, meaning that small increases in the decibel rating actually reflect large increases in the total sound (for example: an increase of a mere 3 decibels DOUBLES the level of sound; an increase of 10 decibels multiplies the sound level by 10 times).
        4) Shotguns and pistols are also extremely loud. (Just to burst the bubble of anyone ready to chime in with “don’t use an AR!”) Using them isn’t necessarily any better, and any improvement will depend on specific models.

        Finding which muzzle devices are even slightly quieter than others, particularly in an indoor environment, would be of ENORMOUS help in protecting the hearing of firearms owners. While there is an obvious correlation seen from Vuurwapen’s tests between flash hiding ability and sound levels, a more thorough test with an eye toward sound levels specifically would be a real boon.

        • The “don’t use an AR” crowd has a good point. In fact, it’s your point #3. If you’re so concerned about “which muzzle devices are even slightly quieter than others” than why reject looking to a firearm that may be significantly quieter than an AR?

          Anyway, the answer is a linear compensator. Those beat out any FH or brake or comp on the market by a wide margin when it comes to dB to the side of the muzzle (mil-spec test) or at the shooter’s ear. By a lot.

          And don’t get me wrong, I’d definitely throw in dB measurement — why not? — but to do it properly you’re looking at like $3,000 in equipment and that ain’t in the budget.

          18 U.S.C. § 924(c) says committing a violent crime with a semi-auto ‘assault weapon’ nets you a mandatory 10 spot, btw. You don’t have to delve into the NFA in order to find yourself in the realm of extended, federal, mandatory minimum sentences. Maybe you should reconsider that shotgun instead of an AR? The longer the barrel, the quieter they are, too. But if somebody has forcibly broken into my home and is posing a physical threat, I’m not worried about being prosecuted or even charged. Even if I use my suppressed SBR. Which I almost certainly would.

          …btw shoot subsonic .300 BLK or 9mm (or .45), especially through a linear comp, and you can end up well under 150 dB at the ear and maybe even tickling up on 140 dB “hearing safe” threshold if the barrel is somewhat long. I’d be willing to bet a dollar that 147 grain 9mm Federal HST going through a 20″ barrel, ideally with a linear comp or similar device, would mil-spec meter as confidently hearing safe.

        • As far as shotguns and pistols are concerned, the data I was able to find on them suggests they often reach up to at least A2 birdcage levels of sound. Not enough volume of data nor precise enough data in my hands though to really stake down how they compare. Not to argue against your core point, because yes, if they are a bit quieter that is a strong point in their favor.

          I’d considered linear compensators in the past, just never found any data on their effectiveness nor have had a chance to test one firsthand. I’ll take your word on it and see about getting my hands on one–namely because I would really like to see how they and flash hiders stack up when shot indoors with that sound reflecting off the walls. But for now my budget also does not include being able to drop $3k on audio testing equipment.

          Thanks for pointing out 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Definitely food for thought. Shotguns have a lot of limitations that I don’t like and I feel a sporter rifle outclasses them in nearly every way that counts, but they’re by no means a terrible option. For what it’s worth I do agree with you as far as immediate survival necessarily being far and away the higher priority over legal concerns–but most of us don’t keep and carry guns because of what will most commonly happen, we worry about the edge cases.

          One more thing: I haven’t yet mentioned my appreciation for the test data. Let me rectify that: sound or no sound, the data you compiled in your series of tests is exceedingly helpful and much appreciated. Thank you for running the tests and preparing the results for public consumption, I and others I know have used it already in purchase decisions.

28. With all four tests done, could you narrow down a few of your “do all” devices? Obviously they won’t be the best at flash reduction or recoil management, but out of everything tested, which would you think does both decently? From what I read, I’m thinking it’s between the J comp and the SF war comp. Accurate?

    • I would like to hear your opinion on this as well, Jeremy.

      • I’m a little hesitant to do that because other than obviously weighing in with my impressions of machining and finish quality I’d like to stay objective and let the data speak for itself. Plus aesthetics is so important to people when it comes to muzzle devices and that’s completely subjective. And I may weigh the importance of recoil reduction or flash hiding or low concussion or looks or price or size or downwards force on the muzzle differently from both of you so my “best all-around” might favor flash hiding while yours should be favoring recoil reduction or whatever else instead.

        I certainly think the J-Comp is up way high on the awesome all-around device list, though, especially considering the super low price point. There’s a J-Comp 2.0 out now as well (http://www.strikeindustries.com/shop/index.php/strike-industries-jcomp-2-0.html), which I haven’t gotten my hands on but has more modern/aggressive looks (while I believe, functionally, the only change is more gas venting out the top to push the muzzle down a bit). I’ve been personally running the Precision Armament AFAB as my choice of all-around muzzle device as I like its balance of performance aspects with pretty low concussion/blast plus I like its looks a lot.

        There’s no right or wrong choice, though, as it’s very personal or subjective, really.

29. Hi. I’m really glad to see someone doing scientific testing of muzzle devices and I want to thank you for all your hard work.

    There are three devices I haven’t seen anyone test, and am curious about them, in terms of both flash suppression and recoil reduction.

    The ultra-short, ultra-light DoubleStar Carlson Mini Brake, which claims flash reduction “comparable to” that given by an A2, which would be extremely impressive given the unit’s tiny size, as well as muzzle rise reduction comparable to that given by an AK slant brake, which is not such a high bar to pass (I’ve never been able to feel a bit of difference in recoil or muzzle rise between rifles with a slant brake and rifles with a bare muzzle).

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/419930/doublestar-carlson-mini-muzzle-brake-1-2-28-thread-ar-15-steel-matte

    I’d also like to see someone test a couple of older muzzle devices made by Bushmaster, prior to the Freedom Group buyout.

    Supposedly they were designed by a Bushmaster employee named Izzy. Both were created at least partially for the purpose of permanent attachment to a 14.5″ M4 barrel to bring it up to the 16″ legal limit. Both are rather long devices with three long slots and a closed bottom. There’s a flash suppressor with an open end and a closed-end “brake” version. I’ve seen old complaints on the Internets that they don’t suppress flash very well, but given that they look almost identical and especially during the “assault weapons ban” of 1994-2004 we saw them both sold as “brakes,” it isn’t clear which version the bad reviews are talking about, since they usually posted no images.

    http://gettactical.net/firefighting/phase-5-bushmaster-izzy-flash-suppressorcompensator-5-56mm-223/ is the actual flash suppressor version

    http://www.climags.com/ar-15-223-izzy-muzzle-brake-1-2-28-thread-bushmaster/ is the closed end “muzzle brake” version, with one single largish baffle at the very front

    I would also note that there seem to have been at least two versions of the flash suppressor sold by Bushmaster, with different internal geometry. See the pictures above, now look here:

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-90iPzQJJhX8/UuBIvhg8lCI/AAAAAAAAABE/oMUzo2NbYSA/s720/SANY0193.JPG

    Though I suppose it’s also possible someone had the brake version and decided to mill out the end baffle to get better flash reduction.

30. B.E. Meyers’ 249F is almost impossible to acquire. They utilize only one consumer distributor, Weapon Outfitters, which is usually out of stock. B.E. Meyers’ current CEO, Matt Meyers, and I exchanged emails regarding the availability of the 249F and he clearly did not care whether or not the 249F is available for consumer purchase. I will now avoid B.E. Meyers’ products if at all possible.

    I then searched the Internet and also discovered that JP Enterprises does still sell their “FH” flash hider, as noted by another commenter above. I reached out the JP to see if it is the same flash hider described in this article. Their response: “The current flash hider will get the same performance as the one in that test.” Go with the JP Enterprises FH.

31. Thank you Jeremy S. for such a great investigation. It shocks me that first they made compensators for a cartridge that does not need them, and now they’re inventing linear comps and “flash cans” to mitigate the problems made by the compensators. It seems to me that they invent a problem in order that we buy their expensive solutions for it. I’ll stay with my inexpensive A2 FHs in all my AR15s.

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