MUZZLE DEVICES - WHY FEW OPEN CROWN DESIGNS?

[Edsel]

Be it a flash hider or a brake (added for the really obtuse) - most designs have this "dirt trap" that causes molten lead and hard carbon to permanently affix themselves to the crown.

This is by far the most common design.

Only a very few examples have an "open crown" approach, such as these.

While the crown does get dirty, it's relatively easy to clean with a cotton swab before anything significant accumulates.

Anybody know the rationale for the former?

 

[Markbsae]

A muzzle break has to have several flat surfaces to apply the pressure to in order to counteract the recoil. An "open crown' as you say is just a muzzle device but not really a muzzle break.

 

[Edsel]

A muzzle break has to have several flat surfaces to apply the pressure to in order to counteract the recoil.

An "open crown' as you say is just a muzzle device but not really a muzzle break.

What on earth are you talking about?

Your second statement makes absolutely no sense.

I do know how a brake works, and the two "open crown" examples I posted up there are fairly effective muzzle brakes.

 

[John?]

@Edsel

You raise a very interesting point. I hadn’t previously considered it.

 

[Broncovan]

View attachment 8739223
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Most designs have this "dirt trap" that causes molten lead and hard carbon to permanently affix themselves to the crown.

By far the most common design.

View attachment 8739221
View attachment 8739222

Only a very few examples have an "open crown" approach, such as these.

While the crown does get dirty, it's relatively easy to clean with a cotton swab.

Anybody know the rationale for the former?

The first picture is a flash hider, not a brake. Nobody really cares about reducing their flash signature as mush as recoil reduction anymore. I've had brakes that gunk up badly, and flash hiders that didn't, and Vice versa. I don't know why, but my only guess is in the design and the manufacturers don't really care about the effects on the crown, just how effective it is depending on the design goal.

 

[rydah]

You have more control over the gasses without an open crown design. Flash hider or brake, performance is higher the more control over the gasses you have.

Carbon building up between the muzzle device and the crown doesn’t affect anything.

 

[flogxal]

The first picture is a flash hider, not a brake. Nobody really cares about reducing their flash signature as mush as recoil reduction anymore. I've had brakes that gunk up badly, and flash hiders that didn't, and Vice versa. I don't know why, but my only guess is in the design and the manufacturers don't really care about the effects on the crown, just how effective it is depending on the design goal.

I'd bet that recoil reduction is the focus for any brake design, and asking the engineer / designer / machinist to consider buildup at barrel crown, it would require a lot more design, engineer, test cycles to see what really works for crown buildup.

 

[dgheriani]

I've run Insite Heathens forever and they have a relatively open crown, pretty easy to wipe carbon buildup off with a q-tip.