SBR and muzzle devices

General Firearms NFA
1

Can someone tell me if I am understanding the theory properly, and provide feedback on best options…

SBR with no suppressor/silencer.

Muzzle brake is a no go due to increased concussion/blast/etc.

So, it becomes flash hider (Blackout, Vortex, etc) vs linear comp (KX3, Levang, etc).

With a flash hider, obviously little/no flash in low light, but SBR will still be loud as hell. With a linear comp, presumably significant amount of flash, but concussion directed forward - better for team situation/indoors/cars? (Some say it helps SBR cycle but let’s assume it cycles fine without.)

Any good argument for picking one over the other (flash hider vs linear comp)? I’m imagining two scenarios - HD and SHTF, with the linear comp more suited for the former, and flash hider for the latter. Am I wrong?

2

Unless I’m running a mount for a can, Which is just one of my short barrels… I’m all A2 flash hider on everything short or long.

If you shoot a really crappy load like XM193, you’re going to get bright flash out of any short set up.

Good ammo is really manageable in my 10.5" with and A2 flash hider. There’s some flash, but not bad for such a shorty.

3

I’ve gone all Battlecomps on my SBRs (11.5). I don’t find concussion or blast to be any big deal.

4

I agree, a Battlecomp on a 10.3" is perfect if you don’t plan on suppressing it. If you plan on suppressing it, you then become limited to whatever is compatible with said suppressor.

FWIW, the Battlecomp 1.0 on a DD MK18 feels perfect to me and the concussion/blast isn’t that bad at all.

5

I don’t like the BC on the 11.5s or shorter. It’s not REALLY bad, but there’s a difference compared to an A2.

6

I can deal with the concussion/flash from the BC, the flattening of the muzzle is just too much of a bonus IMO.

If my primary objective was to tame the flash and concussion, then, yeah I think you’re spot on.

7

Yep… the BC isn’t terrible… and it seems to work best on shorter guns where it can use the muzzle gas more effectively.

8

There is one application where a brake makes sense - but it’s to function as a dedicated suppressor mount (basically a removable sacrificial baffle), but otherwise yeah.

9

What about the noveske pig? Any thoughts on it?

10

I would also like to hear others opinions in the kx3. As I’m looking into putting one on a 8.5" 300blk barrel. Some say its too heavy. Does it add any more rearward recoil?

11

Length and weight have ruled it out for me. No sense adding 3" to an SBR unless there is no other way to get it to cycle properly, IMO.

I shot a full auto Colt SBR last week with an A2 on it and it was perfectly manageable. So I think I’m just going to go with that for starters.

12

Tried one on an 11.5" and the weight totally threw off the convenience of the short barrel as well as making it nearly as long as a no stamp gun. I ran a Levang for a few thousand rounds on the same upper and was favorably impressed with it.

That said, I presently run a Rainier XTC(IIRC) on my 10.5" upper. Loud as hell but the gun stays absolutely flat and has nonexistent recoil.

13

If I couldn’t have a suppressor, I’d run pigs. I run a few 3t and QD mounts for the NT4, no real preference between the two since I rarely shoot unsuppressed.

14

A2, it just works.

15

I stuck with surefire’s brake since I was going to suppress it later

16

I have an 11.5" Colt with a Surefire suppressor on order.
I went with a flashider for it. There might be some times where I want to keep the OAL down on my rifle so I may not shoot suppressed. Also for SHTF incase something happens to my can and it gets lost, damaged etc. a flashider leaves my rifle a little more versatile.
The guy at the shop shoots SBR’s suppressed a lot and he said he removed his can from one of his rifles with a muzzle brake installed for a rifle course with barricades. Said when he was shooting on the ground, on his side and behind the barricades the brake was pretty bad, blasting dust everywhere.

17

I prefer a flash hider over a compensator on shorter than 14" barrels.
Mostly because I prefer to suppress them, and the comp doesn’t do much with the can on (well, some do protect the blast baffle, which is good if Uncle Sugar isn’t giving you replacements).

18

I have a 7" AR pistol that was having issues no matter what spring/buffer/BCG combo I used - I was considering widening the gas port but got a Hera Arms linear comp and it fixed all of my problems. I just wish it didn’t weight like 9oz. Similarly, I have a 7.5" that wasn’t as reliable as I would have liked it and used a KVP linear comp on it and it seems to run just fine now. I refuse to use the KX3 on principle - it’s a $140 piece of steel pipe with a threaded connecter on one end.

19

The kx3 is more like a single baffle suppressor than a threaded pipe.

But it’s not a suppressor.

20

Glad you added that last part in. :slight_smile: I don’t know… it just seems clandestine and simplistic for what it costs. It should be made from titanium for the price.