I've recently started shooting some local competitions, and I'd like to swap out my A2 birdcage for something that compensates a bit more, for faster followup shots. A friend recommended the Surefire SOCOM SFMB, but I'm wondering if anyone has experience with other products that are slightly less ridiculously expensive (Surefire makes nice stuff, but good Lord is it pricy). I'm willing to spend the money if it really makes a difference, but I don't want to throw it away unnecessarily.

The AAC Brakeout looks similar with flash hider prongs added to the tip, for $60 less than the Surefire. Has anyone tried that? Any other thoughts?

I don't need the ability to mount a suppressor (because I don't have one at the moment), but it's a nice feature in case I go that direction in the future.

Personal experiences only please - I've already heard about 3000 opinions from folks who want to tell me what to buy because they heard from a friend of a friend who read on some website that it's the best thing ever.

Thanks!

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Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

Have you checked Brownell's? Their customers rate individual products.

First post here; but been reading for a while.

I've been researching some of the latest brakes too, and decided earlier this week on the Lantac Dragon. Arrived on Friday; shot about 500 rounds this afternoon; loved every shot. The reduction in recoil was simply amazing, and target re-acquisition was great. If there is anything "bad" you can say - and this depends on personal taste - it's REALLY loud, and will definitely cause a few people to look over at you in the indoor range.

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I have Surefire MB556K on three carbines and have tried several in the past with other guys with various others, the Surefire kept the muzzle down the most.

I'm sure other company's out there have something similar, but for our group we all switched to SF.

There's a bunch to choose from, if you have the opportunity see if you can get a few guys at the range and compare, I can't remember the name of one but the brake cost over 400.00 and worked quite well but the SF was rite there with it.

Check out the Precision Armament AFAB Mini, very good reviews, and not as concussive as some of the others out on the market. I will post a review on mine very soon.

Do a search on YouTube.

This is what I am using. Rainer Arms Tactical Compensator XTC. Works great for me. It was around 56.00 bucks.

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NRA member since 1974

Most brakes/comps greatly increase flash and blast. Depending upon your usage, that may not be a good thing.

You note you've just started shooting competition. There's a learning curve in competition and a tendency to try to gadget your way to competance. Frankly, your best use of the money would be for practice ammo. Possibly, some instuctional videos by well known shooters and/or some one on one coaching by some folks that do well in that type of competition. (and who aren't going to screw possible competition.) BTW, Julie Goloski (or Goloski-Golan) had some videos on the internet where she walked you through a course explaining how she set up and shot and then you got to see it actually done with glasses cam.

You're going to have to be extremely talented and practiced for the brake to make any measurable difference to you-if it ever does. Many shooters waste far more time by poor movement and reloading than you're going to save with a brake. Good coreography will save you far more time.

It's your money and choice.

I understand that equipment is a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to being a successful competitive shooter. I've been working on the other elements for about 2 years now, and I consider myself competent (though far from expert).
I ended up going with the BattleComp because it's supposed to be a great brake without too much increased noise, which was the major knock on the SureFire. Range test should be Saturday (though I'll be coming off a night shift, so I might not make it out). I'll post a review when I can.

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Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

/thread

Battlecomp 1.5

Another Rainier Arms XTC user.

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I went cheap. Yankee Hill 5M1... 25 bucks. Primary Arms.
Midway has them in stock: Yankee Hill Machine Muzzle Brake Phantom 5M1 Aggressive 1/2-28 Thread

I guess they call it aggressive due to the mean looking spikes? Seems like they could do some serious damage to someone if it came down to it.

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NRA member since 1974

The spikes are not really spikes, look sharp but not really. I wouldn't want to get hit with it but they did not have the smooth brake in stock. Both were the same price.

One of the most effective, and reasonably priced is the Mikulec.

I'm used a PWS FSC and a Smith comp as my needs are different.

The brake will help keep the sights on target. Being competitive in shooting sports is another thing altogether.

I have a couple of the Ranier XTC and really like them.

You might find this article informative:

AR-15 Muzzle Device Comparison « Vuurwapen Blog

I installed a Shrewd Muzzle Brake on my Remington R-25 in .308 Win. I didn't feel I needed the recoil compensation, but just thought the barrel looked too short. After taking it to the range and shooting several hundred rounds with the Shrewd Muzzle Brake installed, I am a believer. It makes shooting my R-25 like shooting a .22 Mag. The recoil reduction is amazing. May not look as sexy as one of the "tactical" muzzle brakes/flash hiders, but it simply works. I have since installed Shrewd Muzzle Brakes on two other rifles, both Ruger No.1's, one in .30-06 and one in .338 Win Mag. Tames the .30-06 like it is a .223, and the .338 Win Mag like it is a .270 Win. My wife can now handle that Ruger No. 1 in .338 Win Mag. If you want a photo of what it looks like on my R-25, let me know and I will take a photo and post it. Here is the Brownell's page for the muzzle brake.

MUZZLE BRAKE | Brownells

I love the PWS stuff. I run them on my ARs. The one with 4 prongs and lots of directional cuts is awesome. On my AR pistol I run a Viltor "Flaming Pig". Works great but a little heavy for competition.

Effin-A Compensator from Ares Armor tames my 7.62X54 nicely.

Range report with Battlecomp (1.0): I like it. I can't compare it to any other compensator (because I haven't used any others), but compared to the A2 birdcage, muzzle rise and left-to-right movement (which was the biggest problem I had) are significantly reduced without any noticeable change in noise. That being said, I always plug-and-muff at the range, so there may have been increased noise that I just didn't notice. Point of impact on aimed 50 yard shots didn't change at all, and I can now shoot close-range (10 yards) reaction drill rapid double-taps with about 1" between the holes, which is much better than before.

All told, I'm quite happy with it. Could a cheaper comp have done the same thing? Maybe, but I can't speak about those. All I can say is I like this one.

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Slow is smooth, smooth is fast

I put a BattleComp on every new AR that comes here to live. I even put one on my Ruger Gunsite .308 bolt gun. Yes, I like them!

Gregg

A fellow I work with has a Battlecomp 1.0, and loves it. He let me shoot it, and I was impressed by the increase in controllability without the hideous apparent noise increase so often found on other brakes. He's now added them to 3 rifles -- at their significant cost, I think that says a lot. Like others here, I don't have a lot of experience with different brakes, but did like the feel of the AR carbine with Battlecomp vs. one without. Hope this helps!
John

I use a Mikulek comp on my AR. It is extremely effective and is in the $50 range at most online suppliers. I am a right handed shooter so I have mine clocked at about 1 o'clock and have very little muzzle rise, more like a 22 than a 223.
The only draw back to it is that it is loud out to the sides but is hardly noticeable to the shooter. I am an Action shooting Range Officer and stay well behind comped guns due to the excessive noise. Installation is easy and gives you a gun that is much faster handling. Why spend hundreds when you can have an extremely effective comp at a reasonable price.

Love my Rainier Arms XTC

I ordered a Effin-A from Aries Armor. Can't wait to try it out.

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Agree, seems like the Mikulec gets good reviews across the board for a lower cost brake, albeit with a substantial increase in noise and sideways blast.

The BattleComp is probably the Cadillac of brakes, at roughly 3-4x the cost.

Then you need to try an AFAB mini, or a Lantac Dragon. Both are great breaks for the money, and worth every bit of it.
A battle comp is not bad, but my opinion is it has been outdone with the aforementioned. The Battle comp will blast you and your neighbors away with percussion. It does the job well in controlling muzzle rise to a degree, almost to good to the point on some rifles it will fall out lower from the sight picture. But damn that sucker is loud.

I was going to post this link, glad somebody else has seen it. The results are pretty surprising.


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-Dik

LANTAC Dragon ?!

Matte stainless. Couldnt find any1 that had black. Can always paint it later

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Muzzle brakes can do different things. Most people think they are used to eliminate muzzle rise. Yes they do that but others are designed to reduce recoil, or a combination of controlling rise and recoil. Those that help reduce recoil, direct muzzle blast a little rearward. This offsets recoil, especially on higher powered rifles. However the old saying, "with every action, there is a reaction". So with recoil reduction, there is a considerable increase to sound levels and percussion. Since the muzzle blast is directed a little rearward, so is the sound. The shooter gets some of the extra sound, but anyone standing close to the side of the shooter, gets the majority of the sound and blast percussion.

I use a LaRue Tactical SJC Titan Compensator on my AR10 rifle, and the sound and percussion is bad, for anyone close to me. However the brake works great by reducing felt recoil and muzzle rise. I can fire it "full auto" with my SlideFire stock, and the muzzle is rock solid, and the recoil is reduced substantially, to about the same as a normal .223 rifle.


Bob

AAC has the 51T series Flash-hider and brakes for both 5.56 and 7.62...iv used the 7.62 brake on my 300 Blackout and love it...also like the Lantac...both perform great

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part-time ninja...

I have the Troy Industries Medieval muzzle brake on my duty rifle. It is an excellent piece and runs about $45. Here's the link,

https://troyind.com/products/medieval-muzzle-brake-556