Hi All,

I was wondering if it is really worh installing
a muzzle brake/compensator on a new AR?
I live in N.Y. which unfortunately still has the
AWB in place and can't have a flash hider on
a post ban gun. Other than some help in keeping
the muzzle from rising with repeated shots it
seems that a MB/COMP is really more for aesthetics
than any real usefullness.  As well, I know it can
cause additional noise problems for both the shooter
and bystanders at the range. I'm now in the final
stages of placing an order for my first AR and thinking
of just going with a crowned muzzle. Any thoughts on
this would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
 Sean  

Troy Industries makes a nice MB ( troyind.com/optical_mounting_platform.htm ) works well, cant tell the difference between it an a A2 on sound.

Really comes down to what you want but a crowned muzzle, i.e. plain is very clean looking and if you move outta state/they strike down the AWB here you can get it turned and threaded.

I live in NY also and have AR's with and without the brake. I have an HBAR and 16" M4 (11 degree crown) profile with no brake, an AK brake, a mini Y, and two Izzy Brakes. I notice a slight decrease in muzzle bounce with the brakes, but not that much. The Izzy seems smoother than the rest, but slight. The Mini Y is by far the loudest by a wide margin, no doubt.

That said I really prefer the look of the of some kind of brake on the front. I hate the thought of "fake things" on my rifles, but the mock suppressor on my M&A barrel with 11 degree crown has grown on me some. It is really up to what you like.

I wanted to mount a brake on a 16" post-ban AR.  I live in Connecticut where flash suppressors are still banned unless the rifle is pre-ban.

I was thinking of the Bushmaster Izzy brake, unless someone knows of another one that is much better.

Does anyone know the name of the brake on the Barrett M468?  I wonder why they mounted a brake rather than a modified Vortex on a rifle intended for the military....

I think a good muzzle brake is much better than a bare muzzle.

There are many good designs out there and many bad designs.

My current favorite is the MSTN QC Comp.  I'm not sure if it's "post ban" legal or not, you may want to check with Wes at www.mstn.biz

Here are a couple reviews I did of different muzzle brakes during the AWB:

www.coloradoshooting.org/muzzle.htm

EGW's AR15 A2 flash hider muzzle brake (it is post ban legal)

www.coloradoshooting.org/egw.htm




Good luck

Does anyone have experience with the Phantom brake?  I'm also in CT, so no flash hiders for me.  Here's a link for those who don't know what I'm asking about.

Phantom Muzzle Brake