Barrel length and noise / blast factor

BRIZ

BRIZ

New member


I was wondering what the difference is between a 16 inch, 18 inch and 20 inch barrel in the muzzle blast.

Note: I DO use hearing protection while on the range, not hunting…I know, I know I should but I don’t.
Also I live in Iowa, so a silencer gets a no-go on that station.
Also, I know that muzzle blast and noise are subjective from person to person.

I had, and had is the key word here, a bushmaster with an IZZY compensator on it. Man it darn near blew my ear drums out when I went to touch a round off that thing. So that one went down the road
I have had other AR units that have had the old bird cage type flash hider on them an M4 and a full size service rifle while in the Army also a couple others on the civy side that seemed not to bother me. However they were all (except for the M4) all 16 inch plus flash hider deals.

With that being said, I’m talking to Scott at SD, wanting him to build me one of his tack driving, critter getter units.

I am really wanting a 16 inch barrel but would change my mind if I thought the muzzle blast was going to be reduced a lot by an 18 or 20 inch barrel. I know that a 20 incher would produce less but is it enough to warrant a change of mind?
Is there a flash hider on the market that would make a difference?

any help on this?
thanks, BRIZ
 
Linear comps like this work well for noise. Pair it with the 18" or 20" and you'll get better results. To call them measurable results would be subjective unless you got actual sound numbers from the shooters location, but that's the nature of comparisons.

Quiet_Linear_Compensator.jpg
 
2 20 inch bull barrels here i would list them as nearly quiet,,Also have a 20 inch hbar style armalite,,with a pinned, slotted brake...loud as the dickens,,it is as equally loud as the 16 inch,light contour w/o brake.....why is the heavier barrels quieter? sound absorbed in the thicker barrel?i dunno,,but they are,bull 10/22s seem quieter to me also so there must be something to it.....X
 
I have a 16 and it doesn't bother me at all in the slightest while hunting. I doesn't seem any louder to me than any other 223 I've had and they had up to 24 inch tubes.
 
I have a 16 in carbin and i bought a 5 1/2 in muzzle brake and cut it down and did away with the slots made it about 2 1/2 in long and put it on it only cost me about $20.00 and its a lot quieter.
 
Recently I compared my friends Bushmaster 16" M4 style upper
in 223 vs my target/varmint style 24" bbl. 223(outdoors/woods)and WOW what a difference is blast/sound level !

With the 16" bbl. you will go deaf in short order w/ no hearing protection, vs. the relativly quiet 24" bbl. varminter .223,the sound barrier crack was probably
louder than the muzzle blast.

Again, this totaly subjective...
 
Originally Posted By: Doc69erRecently I compared my friends Bushmaster 16" M4 style upper
in 223 vs my target/varmint style 24" bbl. 223(outdoors/woods)and WOW what a difference is blast/sound level !

With the 16" bbl. you will go deaf in short order w/ no hearing protection, vs. the relativly quiet 24" bbl. varminter .223,the sound barrier crack was probably
louder than the muzzle blast.

Again, this totaly subjective...

I must be deaf already from hunting with magnums for so many years and guiding quail hunts, I just can't tell the difference. I always shoot targets with hearing protection on especially since I shoot out of my metal shop and it is very loud in there but I hunt without. I don't think I do enough shooting in hunting situations to effect my hearing any more than it already has been. My suggestions are if you want a 16 I wouldn't let the so called huge difference in the two deter you.
Of course my opinion is purely subjective as well.
 
I had a SureFire brake on my 20" for about five rounds. It was LOUD! My buddy purchased the Comp and its considerably quieter. Linear comp is definitely the way to go. I didn't notice a huge difference in recoil reduction with the brake unless I was shooting offhand.
 
I switch back and forth between a 16" and 24" quite a bit. Both have standard A2 flash suppresors and the difference in noise level is like night and day.
 


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