Okay guys, I have put together a KISS carbine with a superlight Colt barrel. While I do often stalk the night and ward off evil doers I feel like I do not need a flash hider on this one. I already have Ar's with Vortex's  and Phantoms. I do not want to spend over $40 on a muzzle device. This thing is super light and I think a effective brake would be nice. What do I want? I have considered the YHM brake that looks like a Phantom, sort of.

Quoted: Okay guys, I have put together a KISS carbine with a superlight Colt barrel. While I do often stalk the night and ward off evil doers I feel like I do not need a flash hider on this one. I already have Ar's with Vortex's  and Phantoms. I do not want to spend over $40 on a muzzle device. This thing is super light and I think a effective brake would be nice. What do I want? I have considered the YHM brake that looks like a Phantom, sort of.

For a KISS carbine, you can't beat the A1 birdcage flash suppressor. It's light, short, and should do a decent job on a 16" barrel. The Vortex and Phantom do a much better job at flash suppression. If you do not want to spend $40 on a Vortex, the Phantom 5C1/5C2 is only about $22-$25 shipped. If you stalk the night, get a flash suppressor, not a muzzle brake. The brake will not suppress flash and will usually increase report causing zombies to pinpoint your location. A night stalker rifle *needs* a flash or sound suppressor.

BTW from your username, I take it you hate MTVs ? LOL. What's so bad about them? I think the interiors are fairly refined compared to a HMMWV.

+1 for a plain a1 flashhider and if its gonna be a brake it would have to be the mstn qc

With a $40 budget, I'd go with a standard A2 compensator or one a Troy Ind Medieval Brake.  I suppose you could do an AK74 brake or a Y-Comp.

Quoted: With a $40 budget, I'd go with a standard A2 compensator or one a Troy Ind Medieval Brake.  I suppose you could do an AK74 brake or a Y-Comp.

The Y-Comp is a loud mofo, and the AK-74 brake will make enemies at the range (the people directly next to you). I had a kid with a POS SKS that had a AK-74 brake. Every shot sent powder/gas in my face. Worst part was that I was RH and he was LH, so we had to shoot very close together. Needless to say, I had to stop shooting and get out of the firing area when he was shooting that SKS.

Again, if it is night stalker, zombie patrol, anti-evil doer KISS carbine, you really want flash suppression and not a muzzle brake.

Cheapest and fairly effective for 16" barrels: A1 birdcage or A2 birdcage (I do not like the A2 because of the timing requirement, and it isn't really a compensator at all).

Second up: $22-$25 Phantom 5C1 / 5C2. About 5% less effective at flash suppression compared to the Vortex. Must be timed as well.

Vortex: $40, should be called a flash hider instead. Might snag on something but that is for another debate altogether. Installs w/o any washers and tightens by itself. No timing required.

I've yet to hear a brake that wasn't loud.  If a brake is what you're after, your choices shouldn't be limited to decibels absorbed nor should it be based on the shooter next to you at the range.  

Brakes are designed to reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip.  If I had a brake on an AR and someone at the range got pissed at me...I'd tell him to move down a few stations and leave me alone.

Your parameters are, according to you:

1) Cost

2) Effectiveness

That'll put you into a y-comp, AK74, A2, Troy, YHM, and a few others.  It'll boil down to a preference thing.

If your third parameter is "looks" then that might help narrow it down to a winner.  In any case good luck.

Quoted: I've yet to hear a brake that wasn't loud.  If a brake is what you're after, your choices shouldn't be limited to decibels absorbed nor should it be based on the shooter next to you at the range.   Brakes are designed to reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip.  If I had a brake on an AR and someone at the range got pissed at me...I'd tell him to move down a few stations and leave me alone.

You don't want to escalate the situation. I just sat down and waited for him to finish because the other stalls were all full. Muzzle brakes are really a nuisance unless you absolutely need to reduce recoil / muzzle flip like in a competition.

Quoted: Quoted: I've yet to hear a brake that wasn't loud.  If a brake is what you're after, your choices shouldn't be limited to decibels absorbed nor should it be based on the shooter next to you at the range.   Brakes are designed to reduce felt recoil and muzzle flip.  If I had a brake on an AR and someone at the range got pissed at me...I'd tell him to move down a few stations and leave me alone. You don't want to escalate the situation. I just sat down and waited for him to finish because the other stalls were all full. Muzzle brakes are really a nuisance unless you absolutely need to reduce recoil / muzzle flip like in a competition.

I agree

I vote the OLD 3 prong type  Flash hider


A good Brake I would asy MICULEK one of the best types or similar

The Jerry Miculek brake is great too.  It is similar to the MSTN QC unit, except it doesn't have the 3 small ports on top, its a little louder and Jerry's costs about $25.  If I really wanted a brake it would be the MSTN or Jerry's.

Quoted: I vote the OLD 3 prong type  Flash hider A good Brake I would asy MICULEK one of the best types or similar

After trying on several fh's and brakes I had on hand I am using an old 3 prong. Looks kinda different on a Ar with M4 handguards and coyote furniture but I like it.

The old 3 prong muzzle device is about as effective as the A1 or A2.

OMFG Look at the Fireball HERE

I am pretty much just using it for a thread protector anyways. It just looks best/is most compact on the pencil barrel.

Quoted: The old 3 prong muzzle device is about as effective as the A1 or A2. OMFG Look at the Fireball HERE

Man I want to know where this test was done at.. looks like the inside of someones office lol.

Quoted: I am pretty much just using it for a thread protector anyways. It just looks best/is most compact on the pencil barrel.

 I thought you wanted a brake. Thread protector, just cut them off.

 Inexpensive brake, Armalite makes a very good one. J.M. also as advised.

Quoted:  I thought you wanted a brake. Thread protector, just cut them off.  Inexpensive brake, Armalite makes a very good one. J.M. also as advised.

Yeah, but heck, the 3 prong was on hand and free. As far as cutting the threads off, no way. That would bring the barrel to under 16" and also just be dumb of me.

Quoted: MSTN has a good break.  its over $40 bucks though.   Wes, would def. hook you up

+1