Is muzzle flash a good or bad thing in home defense situations?

T

Theophilus

New member
Too be more specific - would muzzle flash be a pro or a con in protecting the family during a nightime (dark) home invasion? I've heard conflicting things - one person tells me that the flash will only blind the target, not the shooter, and may serve in your favor. Is there consensus on this?
 
A tremendous muzzle flash will act something like a flash bang grenade. It will affect you both, perhaps the perpetrator more so, but it will likely blind you both. It's possible that such a report and flash would end the threat, but if it didn't you might be in trouble. There have been instances of the perp being set on fire by a large muzzle flash, though it's rare and ranges would have to be point blank.
 
I don't think it would be possbile for the muzzle flash to blind the target and not the shooter. If you are defending yourself with a firearm you want to hit the target, not blind it. That's what a can of mase is for.
 
Bad definitely bad. Good defensive loads like (like corbon for example) use flash supressed powder for that exact reason. You don't want to temporarily blind yourself with the flash.
 
I don't think it would be possbile for the muzzle flash to blind the target and not the shooter.
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Apparently, you haven't seen people close their eyes when they shoot.

If you are defending yourself with a firearm you want to hit the target, not blind it. That's what a can of mase is for.
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Yes, you want to hit the target, but that is not in conflict with blinding it. We know from bazillions of examples that folks don't always hit their targets, so if the target is seeing spots and can't respond as effectively, it is a bonus.

With that said, I would not want to count on blinding the target. Flash bangs don't work very well when people expect them and take appropriate measures. The work best as a suprise that is not expected and not understood until after it goes off.

Blinding the target is way over-billed. Surefire has made lots of money selling flashlights as weapons. The effectiveness of "blinding" the opposition cannot be counted on to work.
 
Excessive muzzle flash is of no good use for any purpose in a self defense situation. LIGHT and even blinding light is for sure a good thing. The thing is, you want to be able to selectively apply light, in conjunction or not, with force. I keep a Surefire light (or it's equal) in my Jeep, in my gunbag, on my dresser, and in my CCW vest at all times. Definetly use low flash ammo whenever you can, and definetly have a good light on hand. Best wishes, and good shooting.
 
IMO....It can be good or bad.

Good in that in total, or near darkness muzzle flash may allow you to re-aquire the target, or confirm it's position.

Bad in that it will give away your position.

Terrible with a short bbl pistol or revolver, or with magna-porting as it could cause you temporary blindness.

Glenn D.
 
I think you would be very hard-pressed to find a benefit to muzzle flash in any defense situation. That doesn't mean it is a significant detriment, however. I don't know of a realistic scenario that would make it a factor to consider, if one chooses to identify their target before shooting it. Having experience shooting in low light/no light, I have never experienced a problem, even with high-flash bulk FMJ ammo.

I'd like to see a case where muzzle flash set someone on fire.
 
I have to agree with Glenn it can be good or bad try some loads at night and it will give you a better idea of what to expect.
 
Muzzle flash is a very bad thing in PD ammo.

I'm going to post a note from another one of the forums I haunt every now & then.
This person is a personal friend of mine, and a Doctor by profession.
His senses are critical to him doing what he does so well.
Here is his post about muzzle flash.

.380 +p+ yikes!

I was out after dark tending to the horses tonight. one has a couple gashes from a run in with the fence. i don't close the wounds, just keep 'em clean and apply a poultice kind of dressing that heals 'em real well.
anyway, the open wounds attract wolves and cyotes to the area.
my dogs usually fend 'em off but sometimes i need to shoot a couple to keep 'em at bay.
i usually have my winchester with me in the pasture, but today i went out with my little sig 238 pocket gun only.
long story short, i took a shot at a group of eyes glowing in the dark and blinded myself!
buffalo bore +p+ gave a muzzle flash of about 6". couldn't see a damn thing.
the yokes left, but all i could see was a white light for about 10 seconds.
i think i need to rethinking my SD ammo.......
tom
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Muzzle flash did you say ? See if you can find a nightime photo of a 12 Ga 'dragon's breath' round being fired !!! :eek:
 
The potential benefit of muzzle flash would certainly not be on my priority list when choosing ammo. The potential downside WOULD most certainly be on my list of concerns. Therefore, I would only be looking to MINIMIZE said flash.

Anyone who considers muzzle flash to be an offensive part of their defensive strategy is someone who you should not be listening to for defensive advice. I would suspect their screen name to be Gecko45.
 
I raised this question b/c of an article I read, which surprised me by a bit by casting muzzle flash as a positive. I'm not sure about the motives of the author - it seems to be part of a larger "sales pitch" for Charter Arms revolvers - but its well written and sorta persuasive for a newbie like me. Thanks to those who have argued the opposite position - I'm not planning on LOOKING for muzzle flash in ammo choice, I just wondered if I should be avoiding it in a SD round. The consensus seems to be that I should (avoid it). If interested, here is the relevant part from the article:

"Handgun muzzle flash (regardless of type of handgun) can actually work to your advantage. If you are under assault it is pretty obvious the attacker knows where you are; well no duh! If you must fire to protect your life, muzzle flash giving away your position is hardly a concern.

When a handgun is fired at an attacker close in (especially at night or in reduced light conditions) the attacker facing the muzzle gets all of the flash, every glorious bright bit of it. This can cause some temporary blinding (flash-bulb effect) as well as a tremendous psychological effect even if not struck by the bullet. In addition, if the attacker is very close and if the defender misses (it happens much more than you might think at ranges under 10 feet with any gun—just watch the cop shows where both cops and bad guys spray bullets all over) the attacker gets massive noise, flash, heat, and certainly some hot powder particles all of which may diminish the attack somewhat and that may be all the time you need for follow up shots.

However, the defending shooter will only see some flash over the top of the revolver, not the whole ball of bright light the attacker gets. Another advantage in dark or low light conditions is the flash silhouettes the defender’s sights. This can help the defender adjust quickly for a second shot (experienced and practiced shooters can routinely take advantage of this, even in total darkness). This brief instant of flash can be even be utilized by less-experienced shooters also; they just need to be made aware of it and how it can help them.

We feel (regardless of firearm) that a bright muzzle flash is an advantage in nearly all self-defense situations that goes to the defender and is a distinct disadvantage to the attacker—and for what it is worth, shorter barrels deliver more flash."

http://www.ammoland.com/2010/02/03/revolvers-the-advantages-as-a-self-defense-gun/
 
Wow. Charter Arms just went down a few notches in the respect department for putting out that kind of propaganda crap as if it's actual defensive instruction.:barf:


(Not that they were high on the ladder anyway)
 
IDK I'd certainly think twice after seeing this coming my way...

41bszH9CTPL._SS500_.jpg


...if my head was still attached to my body. ;)

Seriously though, NO muzzle flash is not good. Why do you think they put flash hiders on battle rifles?
 
Muzzle flash is great because it lets me see who I'm shooting. ;)

Kidding aside, anything that I subject the bad guy (positively identified before shooting!) to will be experienced in equal or nearly equal measure by me, and I wouldn't want any distractions if I could help it. Flash suppressants in the powder help, as do heavy-for-caliber bullets, which also reduce the blast.
 
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