Are you having difficulty keeping your gun under control when you fire it? You may be able to benefit from one of the many muzzle devices that are available to you. From muzzle brakes to compensators to flash suppressors, there are lots of different muzzle devices that’ll enable you to customize your firearm to suit your needs better.
Before you buy any of them, though, it’ll be important to know the differences between a muzzle brake vs. a compensator and a muzzle brake vs. a flash suppressor. It’ll put you in a much better position to pick out the muzzle devices that work best for you.
Discover more about muzzle devices and get a better overview of their differences below.
What Is a Muzzle Brake?
Muzzle brakes have become some of the most popular muzzle devices for gun owners interested in dampening the recoil they feel. They’re designed to reduce recoil by taking the gasses created when you fire a gun and venting them to the sides.
Muzzle brakes and compensators are similar in that they both come with openings that are about the same size as each of the bullets you’ll be using. This makes them different from flash suppressors, which tend to have openings slightly larger than the bullets that pass through them.
There is, however, at least one big difference between muzzle brakes and compensators. While a muzzle brake will work wonders for those interested in dealing with recoil, a compensator is going to be more effective for those looking to dampen muzzle flip, which is what occurs when a gun’s barrel moves vertically after it’s fired.
It’s also worth noting that a muzzle brake will make a gun sound a lot louder than it would otherwise when you fire it. It’s another thing that creates some distance in a muzzle brake vs. a compensator. It’s also what differentiates a muzzle brake vs. a flash suppressor.
What Is a Compensator?
Just like a muzzle brake, a compensator will allow you to manage the amount of recoil you’ll have to deal with when you fire a gun. But it’ll also make it possible for you to get a better grip on the vertical movement of your gun’s barrel, which is what separates a muzzle brake vs. a compensator further.
When you have one of these muzzle devices on your gun, it will vent any hot gasses that form in its barrel when you fire it through the top. This will create a downward force that will stop your firearm’s barrel from moving up so much.
You can tell the difference when you fire a gun with a muzzle brake vs. a compensator on it. The muzzle brake will limit recoil more effectively while producing a louder sound, while a compensator will minimize muzzle lift and enable you to enjoy flatter shooting.
What Is a Flash Suppressor?
The differences between a muzzle brake vs. a compensator will be subtle in many instances. The differences between a muzzle brake vs. a flash suppressor, on the other hand, will be more obvious overall.
A flash suppressor, or a flash hider as it’s sometimes called, is a muzzle device that can be used to eliminate the visible flash that comes with firing many guns, especially those like AR-15 pistols with shorter barrels. It will vent the superheated gasses that can form in a gun’s muzzle when it’s fired and cause a flash.
Flash suppressors are often used by the military when they take part in nighttime shooting, particularly when they know they’ll be utilizing night vision. A gun's flash can temporarily stop night vision from working, and flash suppressors can prevent this from happening.
Flash suppressors are also valuable for military and law enforcement when they need to be able to fire in darkness without being detected. They can use their firearms without being concerned about giving up their locations in the process.
Muzzle Brakes, Compensators, and Flash Suppressors: Which Ones Should You Buy?
As you’ve seen here, many differences exist between a muzzle brake vs. a compensator as well as a muzzle brake vs. a flash suppressor. For this reason, there is a case to be made for owning at least one of each of these muzzle devices. Wing Tactical can supply you with a variety of muzzle devices that’ll help you manage everything from recoil to muzzle flip to visible flashes.
The Precision Armament Hypertap Muzzle Brake is an excellent option for those searching for a muzzle brake for a 9mm or .350 Legend gun. It can reduce recoil by up to 84% and has an integrated timing nut that makes it extremely easy to install as needed.
The Ultradyne X1 Tunable Compensator is a fantastic fit for those in the market for a compensator for a 5.56 NATO or .223 Remington firearm. It comes with a pair of adjustable ports that will allow you to personalize it to meet your needs. It also offers remarkable muzzle control and recoil reduction while delivering a simple installation.
The Griffin Armament Taper Mount 5.56 Minimalist Stealth Flash Suppressor is an ideal choice for those who would like to put a flash suppressor to the test. It has a special three-prong design that helps disperse gasses evenly to prevent a visible flash. It can also be paired with the Griffin Armament Taper Mount Blast Shield for improved performance and protection.
Invest in the Right Muzzle Devices Today
Now that you know about the differences between a muzzle brake vs. a compensator, as well as the differences between a muzzle brake vs. a flash suppressor, you should start shopping for the right muzzle devices for your firearms. They’ll help you gain more control of your firearms and make them even safer to use.
Wing Tactical is a veteran-founded company that can provide you with the muzzle devices you need. If you have additional questions, we can explain the differences between muzzle brakes, compensators, and flash suppressors. Just contact us today!