Flash Cans / Blast Shields

[Aragorn]

Putting together an 11.5” barreled 5.56 rig. I have cans but just want to run this unsuppressed as I don’t really let my suppressors migrate from their native hosts.

I’ve been debating getting something like a flash can or blast shield over a brake. Specifically looking at the Fortis. Question is do you still get good braking action? Are these things even decent at all or just BS?

It’ll be fired at indoor ranges, outside, and in small fairly enclosed shoot house style structures. Sending blast forward doesn’t seem like a bad idea, but I’ve never used one.

I’m thinking it’s going to be a flash hider if I don’t go this route. Probably a Forward Controls 6315.

[BoilerUp]

I have a Griffin Armament Taper Mount Blast Shield that I have for use when the can is not installed. It basically acts as a linear comp, so helps direct blast / noise downrange. Not much on the braking action but will be appreciated by the shooters in the lanes next to you. I like it because I can still have the weapon setup for a can, which is how I shoot it most of the time, but can leave the weapon in a usable configuration when I do move the can to another host. I primarily have it for one build where the barrel is a bit short of the handguard, so I need the extra length of the shield to get it to extend beyond the handguard. I got this before Griffin came out with a taper mount linear comp.

[Aragorn]

Yeah the braking action is part of what I’m wondering about. If I have the clearance to use any muzzle device, and the shield is mitigating the braking ability, is it even worth it?

What device do you have under that?

[BoilerUp]

It's the older (oop) 2-port paladin minimalist brake. Yeah, the shield negates that quite a bit of the braking effect, but recoil on linear comps for something like a 300 blk is pretty good. Haven't shot a 5.56 with linear comp or shield, but the general reputation is they minimize concussion and sideblast. Again, with my build, the ports on the MD are inside the handguard, which is a no-go, so I have to have either a can or the blast shield mounted up. This is actually one of my favorite carbines, so one of these days I might just pin and weld a direct thread GP can on it (8.5" barrel).

https://www.opticsplanet.com/griffin...ort-brake.html

[Aragorn]

Makes total sense for your application.

I may just give it a go. Doesn’t seem like there’s much reason not to.

[alamo5000]

I had a Griffin blast shield for a long time but I rarely used it for anything. I can't remember who I gave it to off the top of my head. About the only time I shoot without a suppressor these days is to compare the noise levels for people curious about how suppressors work.

My experience with the blast shield was outdoors. I never have ran through a shoot house or anything like that. It actually helped a whole lot, especially in dry conditions or in proximity to other things (or people). Sand and dust and leaves or whatever would get kicked up big time depending on what I was doing. At one point during some with/without testing that I was doing I got so much sand in my eyes (even with eye pro) that I had to stop shooting for a few minutes. With the blast shield though all of that was basically moot.

Yes, it does direct sound, but at least to me that was not the primary function that I actually found useful.