2 of my 3 Ars are set up very similar to each other as a 2 is 1 theme. They both have Surefire brakes perm attached (14.5" bbls and I live in NY). Is it worth it or a waste of money to send them off to attach a Battle Comp on each of them? Battle Comp 1.5 is $155 each and cutting, rethreading and perm installing will cost me $70, totalling $225 each rifle.
The Battle Comp is a fantastic piece of kit, no doubt. I’ve never used a SureFire muzzle brake so I can’t provide a comparison. The Battle Comp nearly eliminates muzzle rise and recoil is perceived as a soft push straight back. Noise and flash signature are not much different than an A2 flash hider. If the SureFire brake you’re currently using provides similar performance to this description then you would not likely benefit much, if at all, from switching to the BC. If it differs in performance from this description then you’d have to weigh the potential gains against the cost to decide for yourself if it’s worth $225 per rifle. If you can find someone close with a Battle Comp installed I would suggest arranging a demo before spending the money. Most folks seem to really like how the BC performs but, as with most things, it won’t be for everyone.
What do you want to do with your rifles?
Do you compete with these things? (can you even do that in NY?)
Are they home defense rifles? Do you think you need slightly better flash suppression at night for home defense purposes?
If you care about a minimal decrease in flash signature than spending 225 dollars for a marginal increase in performance in that area might be worth it to you. Seems like alot of dosh to spend on so little gain. Then again, you cannot put a price on your own peace of mind.
Also, firing ANY compensator indoors with no hearing protection blows…hard so you’re not going to gain anything in that arena since you’re limited to comps.
If all you care about is straight up recoil and muzzle rise characteristics then you’re not going to gain anything from switching to a battlecomp. In fact, you’re going be going to an inferior muzzle device.
I have both. The surefire was great in terms as what it was suppose to do but it was loud and ALOT of concussion from it, especially indoors.
For me it was worth it. I was able to resale my SF but I see yours is pinned so I doubt you will be able to. I think you would be pleased with the swap.
I swapped a pinned SF 556BK for a BC 1.5, and am indescribably happy I did, but I also don’t own any cans. The SF was rendered unusable in the removal, but I expected that and didn’t care as long as the barrel wasn’t ruined.
Keep an eye out for BC devices that accept cans. 2.0 will take the Gentech HALO. Other BC devices for other cans are ahem highly likely to follow, so if you can wait…
Since you can’t have a can in NY, there’s no need to wait for a BC that accepts one.
If you aren’t using your rifle for carbine classes were the side blast of the SF would be bothersome to other shooters, the stick with the SF. It is a better comp then the BC for all out recoil reduction and rise, but is loud. The BC is quieter but not as effective. You can’t have both. Figured out what is more important to you.
I have swapped out a good amount of pinned brakes. Drilled out the weld and blind pin. Heated the brake to kill the loctite and it screwed right off. No damage and was able to screw it back on later to re pin
Don’t forget the cost of the SF brakes as part of the equation. Even if they aren’t destroyed when removed, I would imagine it would be very difficult to sell them for any significant amount of money. I certainly would never buy a used, suppressor mount brake that was pinned.
If I might suggest, why not get another upper with the battlecomp?
You could do a 16" barrel with a 1", or go with a different 14.5" with the 1.5"
Myself, I went with a new BCM upper (16") with a 1.0 Battlecomp (which grew into another AR). Anyway, I shoot in a high power rifle comp. at my range & it was brutal on my competitors. I am very happy with the new brake. It shoots well, and the concussion next to it is a lot better than my other brake.
I also feel that the Surefire is a better pure compensator as far as reducing recoil. However the Surefire is indeed louder, more side concussion, more blast disturbance around the muzzle / comp, more disturbance to the shooter and by FAR more of a fireworks show at night. Totally unacceptable at night IMO. If your only concerned about compensation then I would say stick with the SF. If you want to tame everything else down, go with the BC.
I do plan on multiple classes in the future (when my wedding happens and its ok to spend money on going away to classes). Noise and flash are big concerns. Noise is a concern even for the range as the SF is concussive as hell and for that rare possibility of shooting at night, I don’t want to be blinded.