I contacted STD right after posting here.

I got a surprisingly very prompt response back from Jim @ STD & here is what he had to say:

"No, there's no impact on anything with respect to where the flutes are oriented.

The only reason to index the device is personal aesthetic taste, but they were designed to be used without shims or a crush washer so there's no down side to removing the STD and cleaning the crown from time to time".

Should be here early next week & looking forward to it.  Using it with a 5.45 7.5" adams arms upper that is just  crazy in an indoor stall.

Here is my 7.5" pistol build with a KX3 Noveske Pig and a 9" Seekings Precision BAR rail.  The Pig works well and is very tame in a short barrel.  I'm about to build a 10.5" build next and will probably use the same linear comp because it just works.

" />

Troy Claymore

Thanks for the info. I am building my first pistol and initially figured that I would need to go with the KX3/KX5, but it sounds like most of you think the linear comps work just as well at redirecting pressure at a much smaller size. Now you have me torn between the STD and Kaw Valley. Sounds like I can't really go wrong with either.

You can get a KAK flash can for about $30

KVP will throw flames, STD doesn't if that matters to you.

Thanks. That is the way that I am leaning.