The 8 Best AR-15 Flash Hiders in 2023

If you do a lot of shooting in low light and don’t want to get blinded by the flash coming out of your AR-15 you will want to get a flash hider. That same applies when you use your AR-15 for home defense and don’t want to disclose your position to the intruder after firing your first round.

Our list of the 8 best AR-15 flash hiders on the market today

There are many different types and sizes of flash hiders available. To make it easier for you we reviewed the eight best so that you can choose the one which fits your bill the best.

What Is An AR-15 Flash Hider?

A Flash hider is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle. It reduces the visibility of the flash that is produced when firing the gun as red hot gases exit the muzzle.

Flash hiders are also known as:

• Flash guards,
• Flash eliminators,
• Flash suppressors, or
• Flash cones.
• Some people also call it a birdcage as it looks like one.

The main use is to reduce the chances that the shooter will be blinded in dark shooting conditions. The secondary benefit of the flash suppressor is the fact that it makes the shooter’s position less apparent to a perpetrator when used during home defense.

Historically, muzzle flash became a serious problem during night-time combat when barrel lengths were dramatically decreased as various shorter-barreled rifles and carbines were introduced.

How Do Flash Hiders Work?

When you fire your AR-15, the powder inside the cartridge is transformed into energy that propels a projectile. There is a flash of super-hot gasses and unburnt powder coming out of the end of the barrel as a secondary effect of the firing. Such a flash is especially evident in short-barreled rifles or AR-15 pistols. Less powder is burnt before the bullet leaves the end of the short barrel. All the unburnt powder leaves the barrel along with the round in the form of an expanding cloud.

This unburnt powder is visible as a bright flash of light that can blind the shooter and subsequently briefly limit his reaction time. If you’re using an AR-15 in the dark while hunting or in an enclosed space as when defending your home, you will have these problems if you don’t use a flash hider. Not only will you be blinded by the bright light of the flash, but you will also give your position away to your potential enemy more quickly than the sound of your shooting would. When firing your AR-15 in an enclosed room, the origin of the sound of the shooting is not as easy to recognize as a glowing fireball is. If you use your AR-15 for shooting sports where you go through an entire mag at a time, you won’t be able to aim properly after the first round blinding you.

Why Use A Flash Hider?

There are two main reasons why you should use a flash hider:

1. You will want to have a flash hider if you prefer to shoot accurately without being blinded by the bright light of the flash coming out of your AR-15 after each use, especially if the AR-15 has a short barrel. The light will be especially bright if you fire your AR-15 in low-light or dark conditions or hunt at dawn or dusk. The light will leave you blind and you won’t be able to react to your surroundings for a couple seconds. Those seconds might be crucial for your hunting trip or even your survival.
2. The second reason why you might want to use a flash hider is the case when you do not want to give away your position while shooting. The bright light caused by the flash makes your position visible. That is especially dangerous if you use your AR-15 for home defense. When protecting your property and the lives of your nearest and dearest, you do not want to be spotted by the intruder when you fire your AR-15.

What’s The Difference Between An AR-15 Flash Hider, Muzzle Brake, And Compensator?

There is quite a difference when it comes to these three muzzle devices so read up carefully.

AR-15 FLASH HIDER

A flash hider is a device designed to hide the flash coming out of your AR-15 when firing. Although modern-day firearms and ammunition are designed to burn as much of the gunpowder as possible, as quickly as possible, it doesn’t always happen. Especially with short-barreled rifles, the powder is still burning as the bullet leaves the barrel. That creates a ball of flame bursting from the muzzle that will blind you if you shoot in low-light conditions, and it will make everyone, including your enemy, see you.

MUZZLE BRAKE

A muzzle brake is designed to reduce the amount of recoil you feel when you fire your AR-15. It has slots or holes cut in a manner that forces the gases to move in such a way that reduces the recoil you will feel on your shoulder. Recoil is a matter of physics. When you fire your gun, a tremendous amount of gas is released that pressures the gun to move back into your shoulder.

If the best muzzle brakes are designed and attached properly to the barrel, it disperses the gasses in a way that pushes them in the opposite direction, minimizing the recoil. If you use 5.56mm or .223 in your AR-15 you don’t necessarily need a muzzle brake because there isn’t a lot of felt recoil. That changes when you move to a .308 rifle or larger. If you use .338 Lapua or .50 cal, it is a necessity to have a good muzzle brake to keep your shoulder healthy. Yes, the bigger the caliber the more recoil you will feel.

Do ample research before buying a muzzle brake. Not all of them are made the same. Also, if you shoot your AR-15 at the range and have a muzzle brake installed be mindful of the people shooting in the lane next to you as the muzzle brake forces the gasses and noise at them.

COMPENSATOR

Based on the physics of how firearms work, when you fire a shot from your AR-15, the shot causes the front of the gun to rise. There are special terms for that known as muzzle rise or muzzle flip.

The issue with muzzle rise/flip is that it causes your front sight to rise above the target you fired upon, forcing you to re-align before shooting a follow-up shot at the same target. Muzzle rise/flip is common to all firearms to some degree. AR-15 rifles with a moderately powered cartridge do not have a bad muzzle rise/flip.

A compensator is a device that helps to offset the muzzle rise/flip of your AR-15. It has holes or slots cut into the upper half of the device helping the escaping gases force the muzzle to stay down instead of moving upward. Thanks to that you can stay on or return to your target quicker.

Because an AR-15 has minimal muzzle rise/flip, the birdcage aka flash hider can be sufficient to help a shooter stay on target. That changes if we move to a .308 rifle or larger, or even some high-speed competition handguns. In that case, compensators start to become necessary.

How to choose an AR-15 flash hider

There are multiple aspects to consider when you are choosing your flash hider. We are mentioning the four most important ones so you can make an informed decision.

Design and effectiveness

You will want to buy a flash hider that performs well. Its design is the main determining factor in how well it serves its function. On the other hand, nobody wants to have an ugly AR-15, so the look of the flash hider is also somewhat important.

AR-15 flash hider size

‘Flash hider size’ can mean two things:

First, there are different threading sizes when it comes to flash hiders. The most common threading size is ½ – 28 and it is used for 9mm weapons as well as for AR-15s in 5.56mm/.223. If you use, for example, .338, then the typical threading is ⅝ – 24.

Flash hider size can also refer to the device’s length. That is important when you attach your flash hider permanently as different laws might apply when it comes to certain overall firearm lengths. If your AR-15’s overall length is under 26 inches it constitutes an SBR that is restricted by NFA.

AR-15 flash hider materials: carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium

Flash hiders are exposed to very hot, high-pressure gases. That is why they need to be made from high-quality, durable materials. However, no ultra-tough materials are needed in this case. Carbon and stainless steel are the most common and both work great. They withstand heat well and are corrosion resistant, especially when a quality finish coating is added. These materials are readily available and easy to work with which means a cheaper product for you.

The third option is titanium. It is becoming a popular material lately. It is lightweight and strong at the same time. That makes it work well for many firearms applications.

Here is the breakdown of the details of each material:

• Carbon steel is the most popular for making AR-15 flash hiders. It is durable, easy to machine, and cheap to get. So you get a high-quality device for a good price. This alloy needs a good finish, like phosphate or nitride, because it is sensitive to some chemicals and rusts easily.
• Stainless steel has similar benefits to carbon steel like durability and low price. However, it is harder to use. On the other hand, it shines when it comes to high corrosion resistance. Stainless steel does not rust or stain. So it does not require a finish coating.
• Titanium provides you with incredible strength and lightweight that is naturally corrosion and chemical resistant. Similar to stainless steel, a protective finish isn’t required. Its downsides include a higher price and harder installation.

AR-15 flash hider finishes: nitride vs phosphate

Finishes protect the flash hider against heat, corrosion, and abrasion. Carbon steel and aluminum need one otherwise they rust or erode easily. Stainless steel and titanium are robust so a coating isn’t necessary. However, a high-quality finish may still be beneficial.

The most common finishes for flash hiders are phosphate and nitride. They both offer excellent protection against heat with nitride being a better option. Here are some details of both:

• Phosphate is a popular coating for AR-15 flash hiders as well as gas blocks and bolt carrier groups. It provides great protection from corrosion and abrasions and adds lubricity reducing friction between moving parts. To apply this finish, the flash hider is submerged into a heated phosphoric acid solution containing dissolved manganese phosphate salts. A simple reaction takes place, causing the dissolved salt to fall out of solution and precipitate on the surface.
• Nitride is becoming a go-to coating for a lot of manufacturers. It has significantly better wear and corrosion protection than phosphate. It can also be used on bolt carrier groups and other parts. The nitriding process forms two layers on the metal substrate, a compound layer and a diffusion layer. The compound layer consists of iron, nitrogen, and oxygen, and is abrasion resistant and stable at high temperatures. The diffusion layer contains carbides and nitrides.

How to install an AR-15 flash hider

Installing a flash hider is similar to instaling a muzzle brake. However, they use different devices to lock them in place. A flash hider uses:

• A pew washer
• A second nut that tightens against the back of the device.
• In any case, always read the manual to achieve proper and safe installation.

The tools you will need include:

• Upper receiver vise block insert
• Barrel wrench
• Breaker bar

To install your flash hider properly, follow these instructions:

• Place your vice block into your AR-15
• Tighten the block in the vise
• Put the washer on the end of the barrel with the cup facing the muzzle
• Thread the flash hider on until hand tight
• Look at how the flash hider lines up – you want the closed-off portion to face the ground
• Using your barrel wrench, tighten the flash hider at least 90 degrees and no more than 460 degrees as it would crush the washer
• Check that the flash hider is lined up properly

Are flash hiders legal?

For a long time, flash suppressors were seen as “military” features. For that reason, they were on the list of federally defined devices that could cause a rifle to be defined as illegal. That applied especially if the lower receiver was manufactured after the Federal Assault Weapons Ban went into effect in 1994 in the United States. This ban expired in 2004 in most states, although some states, such as California, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, still have similar bans in place restricting the use of flash suppressors.

Is barrel length important when choosing a flash hider?

Barrel length is important when choosing a flash hider because the overall length (OAL) of a firearm determines whether said firearm will be regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA).

A permanently attached muzzle device is considered an extension of the barrel: “The overall length of a firearm is the distance between the muzzle of the barrel and the rearmost portion of the weapon measured on a line parallel to the axis of the bore.” Although not mentioned exactly, permanently attached muzzle devices are included in the definition.

That means the length of the barrel is important when choosing a flash hider which will be permanently attached as it might change the category of the firearm under the NFA.

Will I have to tune my gas system and buffer tube with a new flash hider?

The truth is that every flash hider works at a different internal pressure. That means that you should have an appropriate gas system and buffer for such pressure. You can always go for a quality adjustable gas block and then adjust the pressure accordingly. That way you won’t end up with an over-gassed AR-15.

Are silencers legal and do they do the same thing as flash hiders?

In the United States, the manufacture and sale of silencers are regulated under the National Firearms Act. They are legal for individuals to possess and use for lawful purposes in 42 of the 50 states. However, a potential owner must apply for a revenue stamp administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Such a permit requires a federal tax payment of $200 and a thorough criminal background check. The revenue stamp is the legal document allowing possession of a suppressor/silencer.

The eight states that have explicitly banned any civilian from possessing a suppressor are California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia. The states of Connecticut and Vermont allow silencer ownership, but prohibit using silencers while hunting. Federal law has severe penalties for crimes of violence committed using firearms equipped with silencers. The minimum prison sentence is 30 years.

Flash hiders and silencers/sound suppressors are radically different devices doing different things. Flash hiders hide the visibility of the flash coming out of your AR-15 after you shoot it while silencers are meant primarily to muffle the noise coming out of the rifle. However, a silencer/sound suppressor can sometimes combine both functions due to the nature of how it operates.

Can I use the same flash hider on rifles chambered in different calibers?

Yes, you can use the same flash hider on rifles chambered in different calibers. The only two things you have to be concerned about is that the projectile is the same diameter. The second consideration is the concentric accuracy of the muzzle threading. Other than that, you are good to go!

What are the downsides to using an AR-15 flash hider?

There aren’t any serious downsides to using a flash hider, they are pretty standard on AR-15s. They will affect the overall length and therefore maneuverability of your rifle. In some states you will run into some legal issues over using them. Other than that, it’s all gravy.

Conclusion – What is the best AR-15 Flash hider?

When choosing a flash hider, you want to buy a high-quality one that eliminates the flash effectively for a reasonable price. To sum it up:

• If you would like a flash hider which can eliminate muzzle rise as well and you don’t mind spending a little bit more money, then choose the Surefire Warcomp.
• If you are planning a retro AR-15 build and want to save money choose either of Brownells’ flash hiders.
• One of Smith Enterprise’s flash hiders should be your choice if you are looking for a great flash hider with a simple design and outstanding performance in a medium price range.
• And if your goal is to have a small but effective flash hider, then pick Griffin Armament.

Have fun and safe shooting!