Brass Fetcher Ballistic Testing

Muzzle Flash

When a firearm discharges a bullet, the chemical energy of the propellant is expressed in four ways: light, noise, heat and kinetic energy of the projectile. 

For a given projectile/propellant charge, we are faced with a choice of three target indicators that are produced: flash, noise and smoke.  If you reduce one, you increase the other two.  It’s an unfortunate situation of ‘pick your poison’, but various new chemistries of propellant and muzzle devices allow us to prepare ahead of time for a perceived tactical requirement regarding muzzle signature reduction.

If you have the opportunity to speak with a combat veteran or are one yourself, ask them about combat at night.  They will probably describe it as “shooting at muzzle flashes.”  Reduce your muzzle flash and you become less obvious of a target.

Know before you go...

Don’t let this happen to you