The AK is one of the weapons that’s notorious for many things, one of them being its bright flash at night. A lot of that has to do with the powder com-bloc ammo uses, but the fact remains that the AKM puts out a huge fireball in low light conditions. For patrolling purposes, especially at night, anything we can do to mitigate that blast is an improvement. Most AKs come with 14×1 left hand threads on the muzzle along with a (nearly) useless slant break- I advocate tossing that thing as soon as you get it and replace with with something better. The Strela AK Flash suppressor is one device that makes a gigantic difference. Currently popular with both sides of the Ukrainian conflict, the muzzle device offers many benefits of a suppressor without the sound reduction (and need for NFA paperwork).
I’ve been using it for a few months now and I’m impressed with its performance. There’s less muzzle blast even in the daytime and unlike running a can on other platforms, there’s no gas in the face. We took some night video of it down at the UW Gear annual gathering. Take a look for yourself:
As I noted in the commentary, it has a single baffle to mitigate the muzzle blast. It doesn’t offer much in the way of sound reduction, but as anyone who’s fought at night can tell you, the muzzle blast will give your position away long before the sound will. Although it’s a bit heavy on the end it does cut down felt recoil, and that extra weight also eliminates muzzle rise.
They’re not cheap but I think they’re worth it. If you’re considering the AK as a go-to weapon or want to outfit one just in case, I’d pick up one. And while you’re at it, pick up some good magazines. The Russians are building 50,000 AK-103s per year just down in Venezuela…so training with an AK might not be a bad idea.
Great review as always Scout.
I have run a number of flash hiders from Manticore Arms in the past including the Eclipse and Nightshroud with favorable results as well as the PWS FSC-47 (Primarily designed as a Brake but also offers good hide).
Look like a Strela is next.
Cheers.
Many thanks Brother. Manticore makes great stuff- I had a Nightshroud that was sold to a buddy.
What a massive difference in light signature!
And that is the difference between taking immediate effective return fire, and your adversary having no idea where the shots are coming from while you keep hammering them.
Of course, the AK will need some kind of sight that can be used in low/no light, or it’s just guys firing blind in the woods in general directions.
I’ve got a post inbound on the various options for mounting optics- which would also enable NODs. Cutting down the muzzle blast is another asset to the Strela brake; the flash won’t disturb NODs or the operator’s natural night vision.
Timely info on this flash hider, I needed one for an older AK. And speaking of older, both the AK and me, looking forward to the optics mounting post. I can’t see my rear sight too well anymore. The same AK is a 90’s Maadi, so no way to naturally mount an optic. I’ve been thinking of trying to replace the rear sight with a short rail piece like Strike has or similar or get a railed dust cover.
Anecdotal RE unmitigated flash (particularly AK). I’d done some testing earlier in the day on POI changes of the standard slant brake vs. the A2 flash-hider. Yes, they make a left-hand threaded version for the AK & have been around a long time; it’s quite good actually.
Later in the day I was meandering through a valley (think deciduous triple-canopy) on some hunting property and, as my eyes had opened wide up, I hadn’t realized how close to full-dark it was when I hiked back up to the field. Spying a coyote out about 80m away I decided to take a pot-shot, not realizing that I’d left the issued slant-brake on. All NV and visual purple departed immediately for the next county and I couldn’t see shit for about a minute.
Moral: It ain’t always about being seen by the enemy; it can also be about you or your buddies seeing at all. If you haven’t got a decently-performing FH on your battle-rifle, then you have something on the list that needs checking off.
:)
Couldn’t agree more. Thanks man.
Well thanks,that article just cost me a 150 bucks!
I know,you say James,tis only about 75,not 150,but,really can’t get one and have me buddy I work with skill wise a lot not having one,now can I?
I will give a personal review as we have a safe environment to test at night in comments in future for folks still on the fence.I am lucky am working a great paying gig at moment and thus can afford to to buy good stuff and help out a bud who is on a tight budget due to kids and all.
Did get some of those mags reviewed here,seem good so far and with steel lips hope they stay good a long time,will say didn’t do drop tests like article but am sure will have one in future perhaps though unplanned.
The AK is really a fun rifle to shoot and ammo at moment shipped while not as cheap as the old days(what is?)still a good bang for the buck.
One is none and two is one ;)
The AKM is if not the best carbine ever made, it is very close to being the best. I have gotten almost the same effect using the old school WW2 “cut off length of pipe and a fitting” Much like that used on the M1918 BAR or the “Beer can” flash suppressor used on the M-1917 heavy MG. Cheap easy to make and legal. With TRITIUM night sights it makes your AKM MUCH more effective at night and in foul weather. A Tip from someone who has been training with soviet block arms for more than 40 years. The vertical gas block on the AK74 and any version of the export AKM such as the Saiga. Improves the weapons accuracy to an amazing degree.
[…] There’s a few mods I suggest for running the AK. The biggest and easiest one is changing out the muzzle device. Most AKs out there come with a slant brake out of the box, and I consider it not much more than a thread protector. There’s a bunch of good options on the market depending on what you want to do, ranging from actual muzzle brakes to reduce recoil to flash hiders which tame the Kalashnikov’s huge fireball at night. Threads on AKs are either 14×1 Left Hand for most rifles or 24mm Right Hand on Arsenal models. As a matter of preference I normally run a Type 84 birdcage or a Smith Vortex flash hider, which are both effective at night. The best of the bunch, although heavy, is a single baffle design made by Strela that I reviewed a while back. […]
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