I have always wondered just how do flash suppressor work.  Why do flash suppressors suppress the flash, but muzzle brakes don't?


 Vulcan94

I was gonna ask this, I look forward to the awnser

HMMMMM, let me see.......nope, I don't know either.

I have only read about the Vortex flash suppressor for the M-16, which has off axis slits that set up pressure zones (like the pressure wave around a car going down the highway) when the prongs vibrate, shaping the flash into a thinner, less voluminous ball of flame.   The same article claimed that putting a brush gaurd on the end of the open prongs diminished the vibration and the effect. That's all I know...

I found this. Basically what Ed said.

  the Vortex's prongs resonate sort of like a tuning fork and create turbulence, disrupting the gases that cause flash signature. The Vortex is manufactured by Smith

Seems to me, this is the same reason why the original 3 prong M16 flashhider worked better than the current A2 birdcage, which is designed to be both a compensator and flashhider.

From my understanding, a muzzle brake/compensator only redirects the gas to decrease muzzle jump and lessen felt recoil. A flashider either disrupts the gas flow, (as in the above example) or allows it to expand (hence, lowering the pressure) before being allowed to exit fully. Its all in the design.

Thats my best guess.

the flash hider increases the oxygen level at the muzzle,  
home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Flashsuppressor.html

check out these pix:
home.snafu.de/l.moeller/Bremse/Muendungswolke/Muendungswolke.html