The earliest design was a three-pronged device that was notoriously weak in its construction. AR-15 Flash Hider: Historyįlash hiders have been an integral part of the AR-15 rifle design since the rifle’s inception.

In a shorter barrel, not as much powder will burn and the unburned powder behind the projectile is displayed as flash. Flash from a rifle has much to do with ammunition design and barrel length. Some flash suppressors can hide the visible flash from an observer or redirect, distort or even amplify sound signature, but this was not the primary intent of the design. The purpose of a flash suppressor is to divert the flash signature of a high velocity rifle round so as not to disrupt the shooter’s night vision. Most flash hiders are threaded in place, but some may be attached via set screws if the barrel is not threaded. What is a Flash Hider?Ī flash hider or suppressor is a muzzle device which attaches to the end of a rifle barrel. The muzzle device has been maligned to the point of being outright banned in some jurisdictions, with some versions tightly restricted by the Federal Government. Muzzle brakes and compensators are superior if you’re trying to reduce recoil, thus building a “softer” shooting rifle.If there ever was a part of the AR-15 rifle that was grossly misunderstood, it has to be the muzzle device, be it a muzzle brake or a flash hider.

Flash hiders work well for signature reduction, but thinking about flash hiders vs muzzle brakes: the purposes are different. This has been remedied by most modern designs, which are engineered with improved architecture and closed-tine models. Older, symmetrical open-tine flash hiders can create a ringing sound, similar to a tuning fork. Flash hiders are available in many different thread pitches and bore sizes, so they’re easy to get for almost any of your firearms.įlash hiders have many benefits, but there are particularities to be mindful of. The installation of a flash hider is easy, as they do not require timing. Flash hiders have exceptional low-light performance, reduce muzzle blast blindness and flash signature, and serve as awesome suppressor mounts due to their concentric design. This effect is significant for short-barreled rifles (SBR), where muzzle blast is even more pronounced.įlash suppressors have many benefits you’ll experience with your host weapon. When you’re In darker scenarios such as hog hunting or nighttime drills, you’ll want to protect your vision and preserve natural “night vision.” A muzzle flash hider will disperse the unspent powder and gas exiting your barrel. You’ll also be less likely to disrupt animals or other people because your flash hider has the added benefit of reducing flash signature. In real-world settings, do flash hiders actually work? Flash hiders work very well to reduce the blinding effect of muzzle blasts you may experience in dim or low-light environments. If you hunt at night or participate in tactical drills after dark, minimizing flash can be instrumental to achieving your shooting goals.

By doing so, flash is vastly reduced because the prongs of the flash hider break up the muzzle blast. The mechanics of these flash hiders are identical: nearly all of them are engineered to disperse gas and unburnt propellant that is leaving the muzzle. The most common types of flash hiders are 3-prong, 4-prong, or closed-tine designs. Flash hiders work by redirecting the gases exiting the barrel of your firearm.

Ar muzzle brake vs flash hider