From what I read on this forum and others, the Smith Vortex is the best flash suppressor, while the KAC Triple Tap is the best compensator. However, if you had to choose one, what’s the best all-around muzzle device for a patrol rifle, target shooting, carbine classes, home defense, etc (if you weren’t intending on mounting a sound suppressor)?
I know it’s apples and oranges, and that flash suppressors are primarily used on combat rifles, while compensators and and brakes and primarily used for competition; however I wanted to know what others are choosing for a muzzle device on their primary rifle in non-ban states (in a ban state, the Battle Comp or 3T would be the obvious choice).
Has anyone in a non-ban state gone with a Battle Comp over a flash suppressor on their primary rifle?
The FSC556 and BC do both of these jobs. In my personal experience I have to say that in the dark the FSC has better flash suppression than the BC.
Keep in mind that if you’re looking for the best flash suppression or the best compensator you won’t want one of these devices, as they’re good at each job, but not the best at either job.
I have been using a Battle Comp for a while now. I recently had the opportunity to use it in a shoot house for three days. My partner for those three days said he did not notice any more blast from it than an A2 flash hider. It is without a doubt the best comp I have ever used.
If I could put one on my patrol rifle I would but policy doesn’t allow it.
Capt. Nick and I are both cops, and our agencies allow BattleComp use. We use them. Many members of our local LEO agencies are already running BattleComps as approved on personal rifles.
Washoe County (NV) SWAT just purchased BattleComp 1.0s for their teams.
There are several government agencies already evaluating our device, although I suspect replacing the A2, especially for the Big Green Machine, is never going to happen. The Pentagon isn’t about getting good equipment for all of the troops – it’s really about keeping Defense Contractors in business. Using the model of the least common denominator; IMHO, I don’t see it.
That said, there are several members of SpecOps units already using the BattleComp 1.0; and we expect the BattleComp 2.0 to suit that mission more appropriately.
I’ve got BattleComps on all 5 of my carbines. SBR, 14.5, 14.7, and 2 16’s. Since I started using them probably close to 4000 rounds and 2 full classes. I don’t have suppressors so see no need for anything else.
When the A2 first came out, we were told about the compensator…only issue was that we weren’t told ‘enough.’ With the A1’s we would unscrew the birdcage and put a cut in half blank case and replaced the birdcage. No need for a BFA and we all looked like Rambo…
New rifle in September 84, deployment to Oki in Jan 85…old technique still applied. The important piece of info that we didn’t have was that the ‘washer’ that was on the A2 was really a ‘shim’ that could be heated up and then layers could be peeled off so that the compensator could 'compensate for individual shooters. The reason that we weren’t told about this was because there was no way in hell the Corps was going to expend that amount of funds (schuttlebutt had it that the shim costs $95.00) for each Marine because rifles were rotated way too often. Remember, this was the time of the $600.00 toilet seat…so $95.00 seemed reasonable to us numbnutts.
About 4 months into the deployment it was noticed that there was a large amount of rifles that had the center slot of the compensator not at 12 o’clock but multiple variations…8, 9, 1, and 6 o’clock. What was happening is that after so many blanks, the barrel would get hot enough that the shim would separate layers when you took the field expedient BFA off. Once the layer had been separated there was no way to get it back on evenly with the rest of the shim…so it was tossed out.
We escaped without NJP because they blamed it on the last unit that had the rifles…after all, we only had the rifles for a few short months.
Interesting…living in a ban state, it seems like there is no need for a pre-ban rifle; as I like the A2 stock, I don’t need a bayonet lug, and the Battle Comp appears to be a better all-around muzzle device than a flash suppressor.
I wish they made a Battlecomp that could mount an AAC M4-2000…
I have to say that on my two ARs that have Phantoms, they stay on target very well, even though they are extremely effective (and cheap) flash hiders and not comps/brakes.
This thread shows how quickly the FSC556 variants were overtaken by the Battlecomp.
Tried the FSC556 and the Battlecomp. Personnaly, I find that FSC556 more effective in muzzle control but generate more concussion than the Battlecomp. The BC is a great compromise.