Top Five AK Muzzle Devices

The iconic AK47 rifle has been around for more than 50 years and is still going strong as the choice of rifle for freedom fighters as well as terrorists all around the globe. In that time people have developed synthetic stocks, rail systems, and better triggers and muzzle devices for this old warhorse. The old style 45* slant brake that came attached to the end of many varieties of AK47 rifles was revolutionary and effective in 1947 but by the 21st century people wanted more options and better ways to control the recoil and muzzle rise from their AK47 pattern rifles.

The problem that now faces the millions of owners of AK47 rifles in 2021 is what muzzle device should they consider if they are wanting to upgrade from the stock muzzle device. It was this quandary that prompted us to attempt to answer that very question, in this latest article that we simply titled: Top 5 AK 47 Muzzle Devices.

Our Guide to the Best AK 47 Muzzle Brakes On the Market Today

We set no real parameters for our Top 5 list other than the brakes we listed must fit the standard 14-1 Left Hand thread that graces the end of so many AK47 pattern rifles. There is no limit to cost, size, shape, or manufacturer in our very unscientific list, our goal here is to provide you options.

The Best Muzzle Brakes we selected will cover a wide range of prices and manufacturers, and styles. Some of them might be a bit more unique or exotic looking than the hardcore AK 47 purists will like, and that’s fine. There is no one size fits all answer to anything in the firearms world so why would accessories be any different? So without any more delay, let’s get down to business and bring you our Top 5 list in no particular order.

What Makes A Good Muzzle Brake?

In this section, we will review what features to look for when buying a muzzle brake. You can expect to learn about thread pitch, suppressor mount, material and where it’s made. In the next section, I will tell you what is the MOST effective muzzle devices you can buy.

Thread Pitch

Thread pitch is arguably the most important thing to pay attention to when it comes to muzzle brakes. If your thread pitch is not the same one on a particular muzzle brake, you may be sending that device back to get a new one that fits.

Some thread pitches stand out as the more popular sizes, mostly for military-brand guns or common carry options. There are plenty of obscure ones out there though, and these can be difficult to find at times.

Thread Pitches and Acronyms

There are all kinds of acronyms that go along with thread pitches and, for beginners, this can look like a foreign language. So let’s look at a few of the common ones, particularly for AK thread pitches.

• M – Metric Let’s say a thread pitch is labeled M14 12×1 LH, the M in this tells you that its numbers use the metric system (millimeters, centimeters, etc.)
• LH – Left Hand For the same example as before (M14 12×1 LH) the LH tells you the threads are backwards from normal. In this case, you must think “lefty-tighty” rather than “righty-tighty” to screw it on.
• RH – Right Hand This is essentially the same thing as LH but the opposite. For thread pitches that have RH, the threads are on normally and you should stick to the usual “righty-tighty” for this one.For AKs specifically, a couple of thread pitches stand out as the most commonly used ones. These special thread pitches are used because AKs are threaded on the sight/gas block rather than the barrel. This threading is unique to AKs and is simply part of their design.One of these thread pitches is M24x1.5 RH, which is mostly found on AK-74s. The other commonly found AK thread pitch is M26x1.5 LH, which is a certainly strange thread pitch but usually seen on M85 Yugos or PAP92s.

Suppressor Mount

Suppressors are designed to reduce muzzle climb, recoil, and, for the most part, noise.

This component helps in all of the categories that muzzle devices look to improve on, so these are essential features to keep in mind when looking at muzzle brakes.

Suppressor mounts are how you put on these components and there are a few different varieties to look out for. Let’s list off a few and go through the benefits of using each kind.

• Direct Thread Suppressor MountsThese are the simplest forms of suppressor mounts and are typically pretty good for lessening weight, easy installation, and saving some money. These are pretty reliable and have been around for a while so they will work with older models.
• Interchangeable Mount SuppressorsInterchangeable mount suppressors are the jack of all trades in the suppressor mount world. Like the name suggests, these can work with just about any gun and, if you have a wide variety in your collection, this suppressor mount is perfect because it will be all you need.However, the drawback is its complexity and this is not the mount suppressor for inexperienced gun owners. It comes with many attachments and can be quite difficult to install if you don’t know what you’re doing.
• Quick Detach Suppressor MountsThese suppressor mounts can fall into three categories: locking active, locking passive, and non-locking. The main difference between these mounts is, of course, whether it locks or not. Both stay steady on your gun but it can matter which one you choose depending on your weapon of choice.

Material

The best material for a muzzle device is still a hotly debated topic but the most common materials are explained below. In the end, it will be up to you to weigh the benefits and choose the material you think will be the best for your gun.

• Aluminum will work just fine but is well known to have some issues. The first issue is that it will erode quicker than steel or copper alloys and so it is not very durable at all.The other issue is that aluminum will crack under a lot of stress. Some designs keep this in mind and make it less likely the aluminum will crack, however, the general consensus is that aluminum is the worst material to use for muzzle brakes.
• Steel is certainly the most common type of material used in muzzle brakes but there are a few different types that are used. Stainless steel, heat-treated steel, and hardened steel are also possible options along with many others.For the most part, the effectiveness of these steels varies from gun to gun, but stainless steel is generally looked at as the best material for the steel-made muzzle brakes.
• Copper Alloys is a fairly rare material you see muzzle brakes made of and most people shy away from them because of the price. However, copper is the best material to use to make a muzzle brake because it will never erode. Copper is just as hard and durable as steel and has the incredible property of never eroding. Plus, the color of copper muzzle brakes are usually pretty stylish as an added bonus.

Where It’s Made

There are a pretty fair amount of different brands that sell muzzle brakes and finding the right one is always a struggle. To put it simply, you don’t really know which brand has a better quality until you buy one and even then, it could have just been one faulty product.

The brands in this list (Strike Industries, Precision Armament, Ultradyne) are all fairly well-respected and have made a name for themselves in the market. Of course, the customer reviews are where you will find the best research material to see where your best bet is.

Also, if your muzzle brake is made somewhere other than America you should exercise a bit of caution. America has no question the best options available in terms of gun parts and will almost certainly have a better product than most other countries.

Not to mention, if you order a muzzle brake from a foreign distributor it may be sized differently and incompatible with your gun. Sending it back to get a new one will take a lot longer if you are buying from an international distributor.

What Is The Most Effective Muzzle Brake?

Now, let’s take a look into what makes the design of a muzzle brake effective. There is a wide variety on the market and, if you are looking for the one with the best results, you have to sift through a lot of different kinds.

For this section we’ll be going through four muzzle brake designs and see exactly how they stack up to one another.

• Radial StyleOne of the oldest styles, this one has been used for many years and is still around to this day. Its design features many tiny gas holes all over its body which act as a method for releasing the gas coming from firing.It is tried and true but it is probably the least effective out of all the designs listed. The radial style’s design is simply outdated and has been made better by pretty much every design after it.
• Flat Baffle StyleAlso known as the “straight port style”, this muzzle brake style makes the old radial design look completely obsolete. The design for the flat baffle style features ports cut perfectly perpendicular to its bore.This design makes a wall that gas slams into that goes against the muzzle blast which generates rear propulsion.The flat baffle style is the most common one you will see on the market today and is plenty enough for most people to give it a passing grade. However, another style has done it better and reduced recoil and muzzle rise even further.
• Rear Angled Port StyleThis style’s defining feature is that its brake body is fitted at an angle (usually between 15-40 degree angles) when its ports are cut. Rear angled port style redirects the gas backward and uses some of that energy from the gas against the gas going forward.You would think this is a direct improvement over the flat baffle style but the drawback is that the higher the back angle, the steeper the forward gasses. In the end, this style needs a little extra maintenance to really be an improvement over the flat baffle.Most people will say that the extra work is simply not worth it and you may as well just go with the easier styles to maintain of the two. However, this style certainly works well and certainly stands out as a unique design.
• Bastard Port StyleThe bastard port style is a muzzle brake style similar to the rear angled port but has one distinguishing feature. This is some extra geometry added close to the brake bore, which optimizes pathing.Some call this feature a “tooth” because of its shape. It works by directing gas away from the firing gas and stops the backward moving gas from slipping back into that other gas. This design takes it to a whole different level and basically removes that backwards gas from the equation.This style actually gets better the more you fire and keeps your recoil and muzzle height steady and perfect to work with. Most would claim this style is absolutely the best kind you can get for your muzzle brake.Needless to say, these style muzzle brakes tend to run on the expensive side and are difficult to repair. However, they will last you a while and will heighten your shooting accuracy tremendously.

Looking for the perfect Trigger Upgrade for your AK-47? You can our review here!

The Best AK Muzzle Brake

Now that we’ve wrapped up everything, it is time to make the decision on what the best AK muzzle brake on this list is. Any muzzle device should be effective and do what is advertised but not at a cost of being too large, heavy, or awkward. Only through range time, trials and error can a shooter begin to get a feel for what sort of muzzle device suits their needs.  I’m not too proud to admit that I have made terrible choices on muzzle devices and ended up trying a few different approaches before I settled on the Precision Armament M4-72 Severe-Duty Compensator.

This muzzle brake stands out as the best at reducing recoil and maintaining muzzle height, while still maintaining a sleek look and compact design. Its specs are top-notch and it is made of great material which will make it last a long while so it is well worth the price. The others on the list are, of course, also great choices and keep all of them in mind when choosing your newest AK muzzle brake.