Why replace the M&P10 flash hider?

[webfarmer]

OK, I've been here awhile and see a fair percentage of M&P 10 owners swap out the flash hider. Beauty aside, has anyone tested the effectiveness of S&W's OEM flash hider versus anything else? Are you guys installing muzzle brakes after determining recoil is an issue?

Bought mine in dead of winter and haven't been able to get much round count through it because freaking winter won't end

So, is it more for eye appeal or a real need? Thanks in advance.

 

[Gun pup]

The factory flash hider is very effective for what it is, and especially from prone does not kick up debris. It does nothing to reduce recoil, but that is not its objective. It is large, but with a .308 it has to be to handle the expelled gas as effectively. To change it out with another flash hider would be for aesthetics and possibly weight reduction. A muzzle brake is a different goal all together, and focuses on directing gasses to reduce recoil and/or increase muzzle stability. Being a gas gun, the recoil is tame already with the amount of energy the BCG and buffer system take up- compared to a bolt action .308.

I have seen some beautiful brakes and flash hiders on here, but like the factory one just fine and put that money towards other things.

 

[Drag]

Gun Pup nicely sums up my thoughts as well.

Also the flash hider on the M&P10 mimics or pays homage to the similarly designed (read: large and heavily tested) component on the respectable M14.

I have no immediate plans on swapping mine either.

 

[MistWolf]

It's a matter of personal preference. I didn't like the crazy length of the factory flash suppressor and if I hadn't pulled the BABC off my FAL for the Big Smith, I would have gotten an A2 style as an economical replacement

 

[Drag]

It's a matter of personal preference.

At the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Unless you're using a brake while shooting with someone next to you, but that's another matter.

 

[webfarmer]

Makes sense and pretty much what I assumed. I don't know why the length would make a difference to a rifleman but I do understand to each their own. Thanks for the replies guys

 

[sgtsandman]

It all comes down to what you want. The factory flash hider basically does just that, minimizes the flash so the enemy can't use it as a point of aim in a night fight. Too a point.

A muzzle brake's main function is to reduce recoil and get back on target faster. Many also redirect the firearm's report so your target either doesn't hear it as well or at all. The shooter or the person next to them might get their ears blown out.

There are variances between the two from one range of the spectrum to the other depending on what you get.

In the end, it all depends on what you want to do with your rifle. For me, since a lot of muzzle brakes are pretty large, I would opt to stay with what the rifle came with. If I was a sniper or a completion, long range shooter, I might think differently. But I'm looking more for a general purpose combat type arm, so portability and accuracy will be a compromise.

 

[obgjedi]

As I am using my M&P 10 for a deer hunting carbine , I need it to
be as short as possible for quick access in getting out of a truck or jeep upon sighting a nice buck , or for quick handling in thick brush. The Troy brake I installed shortened the rifle 1" , lightened it by 8oz. and fits the barrel profile better ( IMHO)

 

[MistWolf]

...The Troy brake I installed shortened the rifle 1" , lightened it by 8oz...

That's a good trick considering the S&W flash suppressor only weighs 4 oz to begin with

 

[obgjedi]

Oops I sure hope I don't use the same scale for weighing out powder charges during reloading!!!!!


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[MistWolf]

Oops I sure hope I don't use the same scale for weighing out powder charges during reloading!!!!!


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ROFL! After I removed mine, I weighed it on a digital scale and it came out to 3.9 oz- say .25 lbs. If you multiply that by 18 (the length of the barrel) that gives the flash suppressor 4.5 in/lbs of moment. If we reduce the weight to 3 oz, the moment is 3.4 in/lbs. If we reduce it to 2 oz, moment is 2.25 in/lbs.

I know the BABC I installed is lighter than the flash suppressor it replaced, but I didn't think to weigh it first. With some more calculations, I could tell you how much the change shifted the CG of the Big Smith but I'm gonna leave that for another day

 

[obgjedi]

Looked around on the net and weight for the Troy medieval brake is 3.1 oz so saved weight is about .8 oz ! I still like it very much.


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