Can “dirty” muzzle brake increase muzzle flash?
I have a SCAR with a MB556K and it has quite a fireball now. I have the same brake on my BCM 14.5 Midlength and the fireball is about 1/4 compared to the SCAR.
Can build up cause flash to increase? How do I clean it?
How long is the barrel length on the SCAR?
14.2 on the SCAR, 14.5 on the BCM.
That’s interesting. I’d think that there’d have to be quite a bit of build up to alter the flash signature.
I just scrap carbon off of parts like that with a dental tool and stainless steel wire brush.
I want to run one of those parts in my stainless steel media tumbler one of these days to see if it’ll take that hard carbon off.
No.
It would be the same thing for hydrocarbon in a tailpipe of a car, which would cause a fire.
Powder burns much slower, the only thing I experience, is the powder hitting my support hand when shooting.
There are a few videos in low light where you can see particles actually bouncing of the target.
I couldnt see it actually causing substantial flash though
The only thing that I can think of that might cause this is bore diameter variance between the two barrels… (assuming the same ammo)
If either of the barrels are button rifled, there can be variances, tight spots, wide spots, etc in the barrel’s bore.
I’ve seen this when guaging 30 bolt gun barrels. It can be quite significant.
Side question but related -
Regarding the thread about the negatives of perm’ing a FH due to internal buildup: Are their certain designs or characteristics to look for in a muzzle device that would lend itself to be easier to clean if perm’d? I like the BC 1.5 but I’m afraid it’s a steel trap for carbon…
Can you soak one long enough in a solution to loosen what’s cashed?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk; coherency may be in jeopardy.
Not in anything I’ve found. CLP soaking seems to soften the carbon up a little. But nothing I’ve tried has ever removed carbon without physically fighting with it.
I’ve seen the KAC brake cause larger muzzle flash when caked up due to the small slits being fouled. But I wouldn’t think that a brake with large ports could ever get enough carbon build up to make any difference.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Here is a vid with my BCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wFs22elr8c&list=UU-s6uZFBSXZK4K5cP_Yr7_Q&index=45&feature=plcp
SCAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbXDetv7bTI&list=UU-s6uZFBSXZK4K5cP_Yr7_Q&index=3&feature=plcp
What, no one posted Costa’s night shoot with the triple tap pic yet?! 
-Jax
ETA: Found it.
Some of you might remember my 11.5" FLAMETHROWER with the Troy Claymore. Muzzle flash is ridiculous.
Vid: http://youtu.be/SjYGHVuhWPU
Were the videos shot at the same time? Looks like lower light in the scar vid. Definitely seems like more flash, but it could be camera angle, ambient light or a difference in bore & port sizes. Either way, the SF brake is going to throw fireballs.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Powder residue build up should not cause any difference in muzzle flash, at least not enough to be noticeable. If the video’s were taken at the same time of day, altitude etc…probably what is happening is that the SCAR, due to a different gas system, is causing different shock structures to form after the gas exits the muzzle device.
Muzzle flash is caused largely due to the effluent gas interaction with these shock structures. The gas hits the shock structure(s) slows, compresses and heats, then ignites O2 in the air. If the shock structures are more pronounced for some reason with the SCAR, then this is probably the source of your added flash. The only way to tell for sure would be to use high speed shadograph photography and compare the muzzle blast of the two rifles.
Cool thread by the way…
Normally it would not bother me but with the scar during low light it does obscure the target. Not so with the BCM, all I see are sparks.
Try a different type of muzzle brake on the SCAR. It may make a difference. Unless you need it for a suppressor. In which case just shoot with the suppressor attached, muzzle flash problem solved!
I’m wondering if the DI system & port size of the BCM is bleeding off more gas from the system and therefore less is expelled from the muzzle. Maybe the piston system of the SCAR uses less gas to operate & the excess is seen in the muzzle flash. Just a swag, I have no idea how the fluid dynamics of muzzle devices actually work.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
That’s what my buddy said.
While on the subject “dirty flash hiders” is there any ‘rule of thumb’ as when to ever remove the FH to clean under it and the bbl crown and threads on the M4 carbine or not?(the reason I ask>) The YHM ‘Phantom’ 5c2 FH seems not to seat as well onto the bbl crown as the ‘bird cage’ type FH allowing carbon fouling and bbl cleaning solvents (clp)to ‘slip’ under it allowing some bbl thread decentagration.(<spllng?)Notice this on a friends 6920 with the YHM Phantom 5c2 FH which CLP was used for carbon cleaning.I was thinking of a YHM Phantom 5c2 pinned on a 14.5" Colt bbl… Also, should the FH be installed 'wet or ‘dry’?Thanks.