Gunsmithing How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

[Keith Johns]

How does a 3" long vortex flash hider conceal muzzle blast from a high powered rifle?
I cant figure it out.

I've never seen the difference at night or in low light. Hell actually I've never seen a rifle fire with aq flash hider. Do they work very well?

Could you say a rough percentage of muzzle flash it hides?

Thanks for helping me understand

 

[JJones75]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

I'm not exactly sure my self but from what I understand (and that aint much) it allows the powder to burn off in a semi captive area rather that be blown out into open air. This is why a suppressor works so well as most will contain all the unburned powder

I do know that they work , some better than others , the Vortex flash hiders work very well and I've seen some actualy make the flash worse.

You can't realy apperciat how will they work till you shoot a 10.5" AR without one at night in the pitch dark , looks kinda like a small flash ban going off but the vortex will greatly reduce that.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

I figured it traps the unburnt powder for an extra milisecond helping it burn more.

Hard to imagen it makes much of a difference though.

I believe it does or people wouldnt use them. But I want to know some of the more detailed physics behind it.

 

[USMCj]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AZPrecision</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I figured it traps the unburnt powder for an extra milisecond helping it burn more.

Hard to imagen it makes much of a difference though.

I believe it does or people wouldnt use them. But I want to know some of the more detailed physics behind it. </div></div>

here you go, this should answer your question

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0TPpsIw7IwE"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0TPpsIw7IwE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

It was kool that their shop is in Tempe, AZ. And the soldier mentioned is named Keith

But it pretty much said what I already knew.

I understand for the most part how it works. That part is obvious.

I just find it amazing that the perfect angle will hide the flash completely.

The lady in the video said they just played with different angles till they got it right. I thought there'd be some math/science behind it and not just trial and error.

Damn impressive product. And in my home town too(Two hours south of me right now)

 

[shadow2]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

Smith gets my money

 

[Top Cat]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

The key to gathering information within a scientific perspective is by asking the right questions...

Anything that you stick on the end of a barrel will have some effect on muzzle flash, but unlike the traditional M-14 F/H that creates a sort of expansion chamber at the end of the barrel that reduces the amount of gas that burns, I am not sure that the vortex design actually hides muzzle flash so much if you actually measure the luminosity output...nor does the M-16 f/h for that matter.

What it does, and what they both do, is to disrupt the tendency of hot powder gas to freely bloom at the end of the muzzle into a big ass ball of flame. They do this by redirecting the escaping gas away from the shooters line of sight so that the dude pulling the trigger is not temporarily blinded by the light.

Redirecting and suppression are two different questions, and the vortex is the best choice for that dude pulling the trigger, especially when using night vision, because it produces a focused output...sort of a longer and much thinner flame....it makes a big difference as to what the shooter is still able to see after firing a few rounds.

What works is what matters most...I'd say it might reduce visible light to the shooter's eye by 95% or more...the dude getting shot at maybe not so much...but a little night time trigger pulling will tell the tale.

TC

 

[Travis S]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

Barbie invented it? Damn good FH for sure. The Black out and phantom(YHM) work Darn good too. Pretty sure they bust up the gasses so they can't ignite. Sound logical?

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

See now that makes sense! Keeping the remaining powder in a short barreled rifle from igniting after the muzzle. I dont completely understand how it would do that, but that does make sense.

 

[Outsydlooknin75]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

I love my AAC Blackout flash eliminator/can mount. Shooting at night without the can ........ you cant see shit but a few sparks.

 

[Perryguy]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

I like flash!

 

[AK10mm]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

I use the Vortex on All of my AR builds,wish I could get them for $31,seems like MAP pricing has them at $51 everywhere I've looked.Anybody find them for less?

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

So can anyone explain with 100% certainty what reduces the flash?
Is it that it stops the burning of the unburnt powder? That made the most sense.

In that smith enterprises video there was no explaination of the science behind it. The woman in the video just said they tried different angles and shapes until it worked... not very scientific

 

[300sniper]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: joe dirt's dad</div><div class="ubbcode-body">how exactly does a posi-trac rear end on a plymouth work? it just does!</div></div>

 

[McCrazy]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

I'm no scientist so take it for what it is worth but it was explained to me a while back that flash hiders basically swirl and disburse the exhaust gases in a way so that combustion and therefor flash is reduced.

Always seemed to me that the design of the M-16 birdcage was more appropriate for a compensator that reduces muzzle rise than it was for hiding muzzle flash. Although you can see in that video that it does a pretty good job with muzzle flash as well.

What I can tell you with certainty is that the Smith Enterprises Vortex flash suppresor works great. We experimented with them on our M-14s and even using night vision goggles looking back towards the muzzle during firing at night the most we ever saw was a spark of light.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: How does a flash hider hide muzzle flash?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: McCrazy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
We experimented with them on our M-14s and even using night vision goggles looking back towards the muzzle during firing at night the most we ever saw was a spark of light. </div></div>

See, thats amazing to me. All from a 3" long piece of correctly shaped steel!

A suppressor... obvious how it hides flash. But a tiny flash hider... truely amazing to me.