Should I put a muzzle brake on my AR ?

mac67

mac67

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All I have left to get for my AR build is the upper. I was told a muzzle brake can make the gun louder. Is this all brakes ? (I was looking at the Miculek.) Do I want a brake ? Do I need a brake ?

I don't mind the plain look of say, an M&P Sport Upper. Generally speaking, is it better, worse or does it not matter to have "Something" at the end of an AR barrel ?

My build criteria is 1. Accuracy 2. To NOT IN-crease the decibels 3. Muzzle protection and 4. Looks
 
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mac67 said:
All I have left to get for my AR build is the upper. I'm most likely going to go with a 16" 5.56 Stag. Stag will Silver solder/pin the "Evil-Hider" and remove the lug to make it MA AWB compliant. I was told a muzzle brake can make the gun louder. Is this all brakes ? (I was looking at the Miculek.) Do I want a brake ? Do I need a brake ?

I don't mind the plain look of say, an M&P Sport Upper. Generally speaking is better, worse or does it not matter to have "Something" at the end of AR barrel ?

My build criteria is 1. Accuracy 2. To NOT IN-crease the decibels 3. Muzzle protection and 4. Looks
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A brake will make accurate follow up shots easier and faster. Take a look at the USPSA/3gun rifles, they all have large aggressive brakes for a reason. An effective brake will be loud, but you are shooting a gun, and guns are loud. Particularly rifles. The Miculek is a loud brake.
 
I've been running a PWS FSC on my 5.56 and .308. For the shooter it is not much louder, but anyone to your side is will be screaming expletives at you as their ears are ringing.
 
I've noticed that a lot of "Brakes" and "Flash-Hiders" look very similar (If not the same) PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong. As long as the Flash-Hider/muzzle is pinned and or Silver soldered onto the barrel it's MA AWB compliant right ? The reason I ask is because I'm looking at a 16" Stag which they will ship in that configuration. (sans the lug) For that matter, what is the actual definition between the two for legal purposes. ?

It seems like one company calls it a Hider and the other a brake. Is it cool to just go with what they are calling it ?
 
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a muzzle break and a flash hider are not the same thing. To be AWB compliant, you can have a muzzle break but it needs top be permanently attached. To have the flash hider, it has to be pre-ban or the rifle can only have one other evil feature. That's hard to do with an AR, unless you use one of the CA compliant non-pistol grip stocks.
 
List of 5 'EVIL FEATURES' that will make your AR on post-ban lower illegal if more than one of those is found on your rifle.

1. Folding or telescoping stock
2. Pistol grip
3. Bayonet mount
4. Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one
5. Grenade launcher (more precisely, a muzzle device which enables the launching or firing of rifle grenades

MA-legal AR is only allowed to have pistol grip.
if you get an upper that is post ban you need to:

1. obliterate bayonet lug

then

2. remove flash-hider AND obliterate threads on the end of your barrel
OR
put on muzzle brake AND permanently attach it by either welding with blind pin OR hi-temp soldering a.k.a. w/ 'silver solder'

also

3. if using collapsible/adjustable stock it must be blind pinned as well.
 
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In God We Trust said:
ARs don't have any recoil really. Can't see the point of a muzle break unless you are a competition shooter.
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all firearms have recoil. what OP meant to say recoil is relatively light comparing to a .30 rifle cartridge.

also muzzle break aside from reducing recoil prevents muzzle climb in full auto mode or in very fast semi-auto.
if you take time to aim for each subsequent shot and don't mind recoil then you don't need muzzle break.
 
mac67 said:
Thanks ranger. I just called Stag to confirm what they actually put on the barrel. It's this http://www.stagarms.com/product_info.php?cPath=15_37&products_id=334

When I spoke to them last week I was led me to believe it was the device pictured with the complete upper on their web site, just pinned/soldered to make it compliant.
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That will be a loud comp, probably fairly effective, it will also blow everything off the bench on either side of you. But don't let that stop you, or the folks that say AR's don't recoil. If you want a comp, get a comp, and be loud and obnoxious with it. I do.
 
I have a stag upper with the "old" muzzle brake. Loud as hell, to the point of being obnoxious. If the upper is .223, the recoil is negligible, and a brake is not needed. You can have a muzzle "cap" installed instead, which will protect the crown, but direct the sound down range instead of sideways.

*
 
Coyote33 said:
I was thinking I'd just go with nothing, you know, a straight muzzle.
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What brand ? I'd rather go that rte as well (complete upper) but can't seem to find a MA AWB for sub $450.00. Ar15 sales can do a Stag 3H for $445.00 but it's got the comp. tip. I guess I'm sorta settling for the Comp or brake to keep the price down in a 16" class upper
 
Coyote33 said:
Brand? I was just going to NOT get a brake. Don't they just come straight and plain as stock?



There you go. Just don't cut it too short, or you run afoul of the law again.
Click to expand...

This is my first AR build and I'm learning as I go. I've not been able to find a 16" "Plain" barrel. Some may disagree, but what I'd like is an M&P AR Sport upper. I called S&W to discover they don't' offer it.
 
I recently put a SJC Titan muzzle break on my Ar10. Like others have said, people next to you will hate you but the recoil reduction is sweet. I can usually avoid other people so it's no big deal.
 
If you have a muzzle break, please get it to a gunsmith for the obvious repair needed. A muzzle brake is a very different device. If you belly up to the firing line next to me with a Miculek brake, I'm putting one in your leg before you can pull the trigger. Those things are obnoxious for everyone, including the shooter.
 
Jamie said:
If you have a muzzle break, please get it to a gunsmith for the obvious repair needed. A muzzle brake is a very different device. If you belly up to the firing line next to me with a Miculek brake, I'm putting one in your leg before you can pull the trigger. Those things are obnoxious for everyone, including the shooter.
Click to expand...

I bet the blast from the brake blows your skirt up
 
There are brakes that offer a good compromise...Battlecomp comes to mind. FSC556 is another. The Miculek brake is obnoxious - as is whatever they put on a Bushmaster...One of my friends shoots an M&P 15 that is super accurate, but that naked barrel puts out a flameball like a trash can. If that's your gig - go for it..To concur with Supermoto - avoid the Stag. You can get a nice LMT that will be plenty accurate for your budget, or spend a little more on a WOA. You're in the zone to put together a really nice AR, just be patient and look into LMT or BCM. If you must buy off the shelf, get a S&W. For a few dollars more, you can have a gun that is not a crapshoot...
 
MassMark said:
avoid the Stag
Click to expand...

Well...I normally run Battle Comps, I've built 3 rifles with them. When Stag put out the 3G comp to put on their 3G guns, I bought one to see what it's about. Cost was reasonable, under 60 bucks delivered but you got to get it on, so to ADCO in Ohio, another $35.

Long story short, I really like this thing. It takes a little getting use to cause the muzzle is actually recoiling down. You never loose sight of the target so follow ups are much quicker. The muzzle movement downward is subtle, it has to be experienced to fully understand and if anyone has tried to transition to a release trigger, the learning curve is sort of like that.

I was doing the initial test fire of the thing at my club when I got it on and let another AR shooter who was at the range try it. He had some positive things to say that day. And neither of us thought is was any louder than my 2" Battle Comp. I should mention barrel length was 18" and all shooting was done standing, no prone or bench.

I like the agressive looks of the 3G Stag and I'm going to try one on a 14" barrel, it's long enough to bring it to legal length.

Just saying is all, didn't read all the posts so I don't know if the 3G was mentioned. You can tell I was happy with it.
 
Jamie said:
If you have a muzzle break, please get it to a gunsmith for the obvious repair needed. A muzzle brake is a very different device. If you belly up to the firing line next to me with a Miculek brake, I'm putting one in your leg before you can pull the trigger. Those things are obnoxious for everyone, including the shooter.
Click to expand...

you coming to the july shoot? my carbine has a miculek brake and it likes to snuggle up next to people on the line. [wink]
 

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