Pistoler0 said:
In your experience,
do linear comps help in reducing perceived muzzle blast and noise to the shooter? How about bystanders at the range?
Compared to what?
I tried a number of devices with a bullpup 5.56 rifle with an almost 18 inch barrel.
The single chamber side discharge brake made it seem almost recoil-less, but the blast was punishing, noticeably more so than on an AR carbine.
The bare muzzle reduced blast, but also featured a long gentle recoil push.
A krinkov device is four inches long and pretty heavy. It produced no felt blast, but the push seemed a bit stronger.
An A2 flash hider seemed to be the sweet spot -- light, not much felt blast or muzzle rise, but the impression of recoil was still present.
I do have experience with a Lavang Linear on a different rifle. I like it, but that's a 20 inch barrelled AR with a heavy buffer, so the comparison isn't direct.
The lesson I drew from my tinkering was that there is no free lunch, and that should guide one's expectations. All of the blast that isn't direct to the sides to annoy neighbors is turned into a recoil impulse. I like the Kaw Valley line, and I've considered one on a shorter barrel, but the size weight and price didn't make sense for me.