Hello. Brand new to this forum... Brand new to AR's (so please be gentle). I am seeking to add a Muzzle Brake to my S&W AR-15 Sport II (5.56 NATO- 1/2x28). I've read several reviews that rate the effectiveness of recoil reduction, muzzle climb as well as concussion noise to the shooter. I'm leaning towards the Dead Air Armament Key Mount (based on the reviews). Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations? Would appreciate your feedback. Thanks!

I have a few Dead Air Keymo mounts on my AR’s to attach my son’s Sandman S suppressor. These can be had from $80.00 and up, depending on the manufacturer and any sales you might catch. I don’t find $80.00 worth of improvement when firing these guns without the suppressor. The 5.56 guns actually sound louder to me. You might want to investigate a muzzle brake/heavier buffer/custom buffer spring combinations to accomplish your goals. A mid length gas system helps, but your M&P is carbine length.

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What are the goals you are trying to achieve by adding a muzzle brake?

Generally speaking, I prefer flash hiders to brakes, because most brakes increase the noise and flash of a shot vs just a standard A2 flash hider. That being said, my competition AR has a brake on it (Midwest Industries 2 Chamber brake), because it does slightly reduce muzzle climb in rapid fire.

If you are planning to mount a suppressor, then you will want a muzzle device that acts as a mount for the suppressor. If you aren't going to be adding a suppressor, muzzle devices that don't double as a suppressor mount tend to be less expensive, since they require less machining.

Aside from the use as a suppressor mount (and there are other options), the use of muzzle brakes on ARs-in 5.56 x 45 mm- is generally done by those playing various gun games where they're worried about hundredths and thousandths of a second per target/stage. Those add up over multiple stages and can make the difference between trophy and no trophy.

As noted above they generally increase muzzle blast & flash with little practical benefit for the vast majority of folks. At one "duty gun" match a guy showed up with one and had to get the Match Directors permission to use it. He looked, giggled, and gave the OK. I happened to be passing by when he fired a stage where the firing point had a roof. The muzzle blast was enormous even at a distance and the flash lit up the firing point. In short, there are better ways to spend your money at this point in your experience with ARs. Practice ammo/training being just two.

OBTW, dunno where the guy finished but all he got was a door prize.

Added: there is one muzzle attachment that sees some use on entry teams. It kinda looks like a soda can and directs the flash/blast forward. Dunno if it has any other benefits. Troy makes it and calls it the Claymore.

I like and my go too are VG6 Precision and Dead Air. As to some if the points others have made, while breaks aren't specifically designed to reduce muzzle blast, they often do redirect the blast out of the shooter's view while helping keep the rifle flat while rapid firing.

I can't tell any noticeable difference between my ARs with the standard and traditional A2 flash hiders and my VG6 Precision or Dead Air muzzle breaks with regards to sound.

For most shooters, IMHO, money spent on muzzle brakes for 5.56 ARs would be much better spent on other accessories - or more ammo!

Here, read these informative articles. Educate yourself then decide what (if any) muzzle device you want (not need). All muzzle devices are mission specific, and all have their Pros and Cons. Other than something like an A2 MD, a comp or brake isn't really needed on a 5.56/.223 AR platform.

Top 5 Best AR15 Compensators for Reduced Muzzle Climb - Tested!

Top 5 Best AR Muzzle Brakes for Maximum Recoil Reduction - Tested

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You want a flash hider, not brake on 223/556, and the A2 does the job.