Buying Guide: Airsoft Muzzle devices, Flash Hiders and Sound Amplifiers
Threading - How to Remove your Airsoft Flash hider
The first step to jazzing up your Airsoft gun is to find out what thread it has on the outer barrel if any. Most modern Airsoft guns have standardized on 14mm Counter-Clockwise (CCW) as have the muzzle devices, though some stubborn old names still use 14mm Clockwise (CW) on their outer barrels.
You can find out as the CCW/CW naming relates to the direction the flash hider threads when tightening it down, so if you turn your flash hider clockwise and it comes off it is a CCW thread. The usual "righty tighty" system applies to clockwise threaded muzzle devices, and the reverse for CCW threads. If you discover your replica has CW threads fear not, adaptors are available if you need to mount a CCW threaded accessory.
To avoid damage to your Airsoft gun's outer barrel, we always advise that you check for a grub screw before trying to unthread your muzzle device. It is also common practice for some manufacturers to apply a small amount of thread lock to the muzzle device, so if you are having trouble removing yours and you are sure there is no grub screw holding it it, we suggest soaking the flash hider in hot water to help dissolve the adhesive.
Flash hiders
In the real world, a flash hider is a muzzle device primarily designed to minimize the muzzle flash from the weapon as it is fired. Flash hiders are predominantly found on Military rifles as they are much more well suited to a military weapon, where you may be firing in close proximity to squadmates, operating at night, or in low light, and need to avoid giving away your firing position to the enemy. A flash hider is what a military-style rifle needs, but they come in many forms. Some accept a quick detach suppressor, some have prongs instead of closed "birdcage" style ports, some feature cuts which in the real world would aid shooting through barbed wire. For Airsoft purposes these different styles of flash hider only really offer an aesthetic advantage but they are a nice way to customize your rifle and make it truly yours.
Muzzle brakes/Compensators
A muzzle brake or Compensator is primarily designed to reduce recoil, often by directing the excess gasses to the sides of the shooter. This is a double-edged sword. In the real world, by using a muzzle brake you are winning with reduced recoil but if anyone is standing nearby they will not enjoy having your muzzle blast in their face! As a result, this type of muzzle device is rarely found on serving military rifles (other than some sniper rifles) but are considered a must-have for any competition or civilian target rifle.
Some muzzle brakes can also create a larger muzzle report which is not conducive to squad combat but is balanced by the considerable recoil reduction larger muzzle brakes provide. I'm sure you've all heard of the Barrett M82/M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle, the giant thing on the end of the barrel is one of the larger and more aggressive muzzle brakes but essential to keeping this rifle's recoil manageable. A Muzzle brake or compensator is essential to complete the look of an Airsoft Designated Marksman's rifle or a fancy competition rifle. They are also very popular with speed-softers as they offer a unique look and sometimes they are shiny!
Sound Hogs/Amplifiers
In the real world, the Sound hog/sound amplifier doesn't really exist under that name, for obvious reasons. The real linear compensators and flash suppressors are often used to increase gas backpressure for very short rifle setups which would otherwise struggle to harness enough excess gas to cycle the rifle. One of the earliest examples of this is found on the XM177E1 and E2, used by US Special Forces during the Vietnam war, which was declared to be a suppressor and restricted on the US civilian market due to its effectiveness in reducing flash and changing the muzzle report of the XM177. Most Airsoft Sound amplifiers are based on the real-world Noveske KX3 Flash suppressor. The "Sound hog" of the Airsoft world was named as such due to the "fire pig" logo of Noveske and the sound-enhancing nature of the muzzle device when used on an Airsoft replica. As this type of device grew in popularity due to its coincidental sound amplification feature, companies such as NUPROL and G&G began designing Sound Amplifiers that were made from the ground up to give your Airsoft rifle an intimidating muzzle report, meaning when on the receiving end, if your enemy isn't heading to respawn he is heading to the on-site facilities! Particularly valuable on a CQB rifle, the Sound Hog is rapidly becoming the go-to accessory for indoor skirmishes. These devices have been seen on both Military rifles and civilian set-ups, with their numerous advantages applying to both specializations.
