Review - Surefire Warcomp vs Surefire SF3P (pictures/video)

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
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I recently purchased a Surefire Warcomp 556-1/2-28 to replace the Surefire SF3P I currently have on my rifle. Seeing as how this is a new item, with little to no reviews, I figured some might find a review and comparison helpful.

Host gun: Factory Daniel Defense MK18 upper receiver group with a registered Colt M16 lower, H3 buffer.

The Warcomp was packaged identically to the SF3P i have, with the addition of a tool to remove and install the Warcomp. As you’ll notice, the Warcomp does not have wrench flats like the SF3P, so it must be installed and removed with the use of this wrench shown later. Also I should note, as some have asked, the Warcomp does not have a “blast chamber” anymore than a SF3P does to act as a sacrificial baffle.

Anxious to try this new tool Surefire provided, I decided to remove the SF3P with it. Note, I had soaked the rockset secured SF3P in water for 48 hours prior to removal. This did not go so well, as I began to bend and deform the tool and the 3 lugs. I ended up removing my SF3P with a standard armorers wrench. I should note, however, torquing these muzzle devices to 25 ft lbs, even with a slightly deformed tool, was no problem.

I initially was slightly annoyed, because Surefire included 4 “red” shims, several no color shims, and a green shim (there is supposed to be more). Probably a mistake, but fortunately my gun took the 1 green shim and timed perfectly. At first I was confused, as I noted there are ports on the top and the right side of the comp, but none on the left. I find out why later.

I headed out to the range to test these 2 muzzle devices side by side. As luck would have it (after a 30 minute drive) I discovered I had forgotten my ammunition at home and only had 20 rounds of American Eagle 223 55g FMJ in a mag. It would have to do, as I was not about to drive back home without shooting the dang thing. Equipped with only a cell phone and my range bag, I set out to record the best I could trying to document any flash at dusk and muzzle rise.

I started with the SF3P. I placed a b25 target at 15 yards, kneeled about 12 inches away from the camera, shot 2 rounds on semi, then 8 rounds on FA while trying my best to use no support and just allow the gun to recoil. I found the muzzle flip was more than I expected while not trying to control the gun, and the rounds began to creep up and right.

If there is a way to embed videos, I dont know how to do it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTd6wzIebXY

I headed back to the vehicle to swap out the SF3P for the Warcomp. Again, my b25 target was at 15 yards, though I by accident was about an extra foot away from the camera compared to the last test, so take note of that. I shot 2 rounds on semi auto and noted it there seemed to be less recoil. When I switched the gun to FA is when I noticed a drastic difference. This time the gun did not recoil up and right as before, but the Warcomp pushed the gun straight down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joAB8CVA2F8

I apologize, the video’s did not turn out as I expected as I was standing different distances away. However, take it from me that the flash on an SBR seems to be about the same as a SF3P. Also, i’m sure if I was trying to control the gun there would be less muzzle rise/dip than shown on the targets. This is obviously not a scientific or accurate comparison, but its the best I could do with the tools at hand.

Conclusion, when compared to a SF3P:
Similar amount of flash
Significantly reduced muzzle rise, especially to the right
Slightly more concussion outdoors
If using rockset, good luck taking it off with the supplied wrench

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Here is another Warcomp review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rJbQ3nV5eA

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Can this device be pinned ? Not a lot of thin material around the collar area that goes over the threads.

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Given the right hand hand bias of the muzzle device, did you notice lateral movement pushing against your support hand? I’ve got curiosity as a left hander.

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Yes, mine has a place for it to be drilled.

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I mainly notice less “torque” from the gun. It feels smoother.

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I did not. And if you did, i suppose you could always time it differently to achieve the effect you’re looking for.

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Here are some close up Pics of it.


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The ported section does have a smallish aperture at the front of an enlarged chamber where the holes are drilled. It won’t do as much as a two-baffle brake, but I believe it will mitigate some wear to a suppressor’s blast baffle.

Also, I find the concussion at the shooter’s ears less on my 10.5" w/warcomp than my 14.5" with a BCM comp or a Battlecomp.

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Not to necro this thread, but I just got one of these today and installed it on my Colt M4A1 SOCOM II 16" bbl.

Hopefully get out to test it later this week. I will try to post some observations of how it does versus the A2 birdcage that came off the rifle.

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Can’t remember where I read it, but if you installed it the way it’s depicted, it’s biased towards right-handed shooters…for lefty’s, you just have to rotate it to the opposite, right?

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Thanks for the review. I may snag one of these and then just throw a Warden on when I’m indoors.

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Waiting 24 hours for Rockset to set up is frustrating. May not get to test today, since I work on call, and it looks like this afternoon the RR will be requiring my services to operate a train.

For anyone who cares, Warcomp went on my Colt requiring .028" worth of washers and some tuning with the torque wrench. If tightened to 25 ft-lbs it over clocked the comp, and adding a non colored .001" washer to bring it to .029" had it under clocked by the same amount and increasing torque to the maximum of 30 ft-lbs made no difference. I then took it back down to .028" and turned the torque wrench down to the minimum 20 ft-lbs and tried that, and it got it very very close, added 1 ft-lbs to the wrench and it came out perfect. Took it all back down, cleaned all the threads, added Rockset (included with the comp), and reinstalled everything. I will also note that the included washers do not match up to the instructions sent by Surefire, the no color washers are listed as .003" but they are not, my calipers read them as .001". The kit included 1 washer that was .050" with an orange-ish dye marking, 1 washer that was .020" with green marking (correct in the instructions), 3 washers that were .005" with red marking, and 4 non colored washers at .001".

The degree/clock wheel included in the instructions did indicate pretty close to the correct washer thickness needed, albeit with combinations of washers that didn’t match up with what was supplied, good thing I have calipers! Speaking of calipers, if you have a set, it is easier, and faster to simply screw the device on and use your calipers to measure the gap in three places once the device is clocked properly. I use three points of measurement to roughly ensure that the shoulder of the barrel is square, and mine is, incidentally the gap I measured was .027" so it seems that with specified torque the washers may compress ever so slightly since the combination of .027" worth of washers had the device over clocked a bit at even the minimum torque. Also for anyone who is going to buy one of these and install it yourself, be very careful with the non colored .001" washers, I ripped one of mine torquing it down as I had the the stack with the thicker washers towards the chamber and the thinner washers towards the muzzle. This proved to be a mistake since the muzzle device is bearing on the washer as you turn it and tighten it down (I’m a moron and didn’t consider this…), and the .001" stainless steel washer won’t hold up to that more than about 1-2 times. After this I sandwiched the .001" washers between the more robust washers and it worked like a champ since they don’t have to take both pressure and rotational force that way.

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Also appreciate you posting this! Been trying to get some solid feedback on the Warcomp prior to opening the wallet.

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Got a chance to shoot this combo today. I have mixed feelings about it, but overall not a bad device. Not as flat shooting or as soft as a big three chamber comp like a Dreadnaught F2, but it also doesn’t make as much noise or as much blast.

I notice a lot of movement out of this carbine, and I can’t pin down why it is so jumpy. I think it is over gassed, and the H2 buffer is probably not helping with more forward movement as the bolt carrier group goes back into battery. I like mid length and rifle length gas systems a lot more.

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Other helpful tricks are to hand-tighten the muzzle device onto your spacer stack with the muzzle vertical while using fingers/thumbs to keep the stack flush. This helps prevent misalignment in your spacer stack. Further, I have shot Rocksett uncured, and nothing bad happened. However, to cure it completely, you can use heat and this cuts cure time DRASTICALLY. The instructions come with the full-size bottle of Rocksett. I recall it being relatively low heat (120-220*F) for 15-60 minutes or something.

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Are you noticing muzzle-dip on return to battery? The Vltor A5 system uses heavier buffers, and yet, I have NOT noted the muzzle-dip that the carbine system can induce. I would heavily consider the Vltor A5 if your combo is “punchy” and to eliminate that, you have to put up with muzzle-dip. A5 should really smooth it out.

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Here is some more review footage of the Warcomp that I filmed back mid July.

//youtu.be/_3y0g0vHGYM

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//youtu.be/4JvAlzr1leM

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//youtu.be/fgiZaecMo3A