Muzzle shroud

MG-42

medium machinegun with a shrouded muzzle and barrel.

A muzzle shroud, linear compensator, blast shield, forward blast diverter or concussion reduction device (CRD) is a sleeve (either circular or otherwise) that attaches to and extends beyond the

muzzle of a firearm in order to redirect some of the noise and concussion, or shock wave, from the muzzle blast forward and away from the shooter, and other bystanders, behind and to the sides.^[1]^[2]^[3]

A muzzle shroud is similar to a

muzzle). It can be a muzzle extension or muzzle device, and can also be considered a flash suppressor

without circumferential openings.

A muzzle shroud differs from a silencer (sound suppressor) in that its primary function is not to suppress the sound, but merely redirect it so to increase the comfort of the shooter, reducing the concussion to a comfortable level.^[4]

Linear compensators are also a form of muzzle shrouds. While most muzzle brakes redirect the gases to the side and rearward, most linear compensators redirect the gases forward. Linear compensators and suppressors do not have the disadvantages of a redirected muzzle blast; they actually reduce the blast by venting high pressure gas forward at reduced velocity

A muzzle shroud can be used in conjunction with other muzzle devices (such as a muzzle brake, flash suppressor or a brake/suppressor hybrid device). This way the user can still benefit from some of the recoil reduction of a muzzle brake, but with less of the noise and concussion normally associated with such a device. However, depending on the design, the CRD will usually increase the recoil to some degree compared to using a muzzle brake only.^{[citation needed]}

Motivation

Even wearing double hearing protection (earplugs and muffs), some shooters have experienced hearing loss from high volume or long term shooting,^[5] probably due to the shockwaves from muzzle blasts propagating though the sinuses and facial bone structures.^{[citation needed]} The noise levels experienced are often increased when firing indoor^[6] or in other confined spaces. Sound suppressors are increasingly commonly used by shooters to reduce the concussion and thereby prevent hearing loss, but are not always suitable for either legal or technical reasons. Suppressors can either be difficult or illegal to obtain in some jurisdictions, while a concussion reduction device is normally not classified as such. Concussion reduction devices also typically don't have the problem of introducing the extra amount of mirage as a suppressor does, since suppressors work by absorbing heat from the burnt gunpowder. The extra mirage can make accurate aiming difficult, especially on precision targets at long range.

A muzzle shroud can also increase comfort compared to a muzzle brake while shooting prone by preventing dust to kick up from the ground.^[7]

Amount of noise reduction

hammer, sear, bolt, supersonic flight signature, etc.) The supersonic "ballistic crack" is typically 136-138 dB, whereas "muzzle blast" may reach 168 dB

. By encircling the muzzle, the shroud funnels and focuses the sound waves along the projectile flight axis, away from the shooter. This alone can partially protect the shooter from 12 to 18 dB of blast returning to the shooter's ears.

Legality

United States

In the United States, the

.408 CheyTac, .50 BMG) incorporate "blast shields" projecting laterally from the sides of the muzzle crown. These reflect sound waves traveling rearward via the muzzle brake blast chambers. These small leaves, however, do not fully enclose the muzzle diameter, and so block only the worst blast path, while allowing the majority of escaping gases to circumvent the shield by traveling around them, still reaching the shooter's ears, potentially causing hearing damage^{[citation needed}

].

Gallery

An MG 34 with a conical muzzle shroud.
The Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine (Rifle No. 5 Mk I) with a conical flash suppressor (muzzle shroud).
Front sight extensions on an ISSF air rifle are effectively muzzle shrouds used to increase the sight radius, aiding in precise aiming with iron sights.
A Lewis gun with a muzzle shroud.

References

[1] "LearnAboutGuns.com".

[2] Ferfrans CRD Shield and SI Muzzle Brake Combos - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog

[3] Kineti-Tech Zero Recoil Comp/Can Review | RHO - Red Hatchet Outdoors

[4] AR-15 FERFRANS CQB Muzzle Device System - Full Review - The Loadout Room

[5] Don’t Go Deaf — Understand Risks of Concussive Hearing Loss « AccurateShooter.com Daily Bulletin Report by Mark Kuczka, Accurate Ordnance

[6] Review: Gemtech Blast Jacket | RECOILWEB.COM

[7] 6 of the Best Muzzle Blast Control Devices Available - Ballistic Magazine

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