![]() ![]() Now, imagine thousands of rounds fired all around you in combat even with hearing protection and the effects this would have on a brain. Now we know that you can suffer damage without having fired a shot. Indeed, one of the things currently being studied is “second-hand blast”. If you can feel the blast of the shot damage is occurring whether you are behind the rifle, next to it, or in the same room or vehicle as the shooter. ![]() Short term damage like this almost always heals perfectly, long term on the other hand can be devastating. Picture a “punch drunk” sparring partner after getting beaten about the face and head all day the padding keeps you alive but the damage is still there. However, I was nauseated and light-headed by the end of the day. Shooting nearly 1,000 rounds of 5.56mm per day for a week using an M4 in a primarily CQB environment my hearing was fine. Critically, it seems hearing protection is not much help with this as it may only protect your hearing but not your brain from the concussive blasts hitting it with every trigger pull. They are currently looking specifically at the damage caused by the equivalent of a pressure wave generated by a standard M4 with an A2 flash hider, and it’s not good. The military began looking into this with the 50 BMG rifle however they’ve shifted their focus to the smaller calibers. Muzzle blast, more than a distraction.Ī recent article at SHWAT™, Can Shooting Cause Brain Damage? points out the effects of repeated attacks on your brain from the pressure wave generated by a typical centerfire rifle. But if you are using it in the real world these differences can make all the difference. If your rifle is mostly a social media photo prop it may not matter. Which of these altered characteristics is most critical is up to you, your rifle, and what you do with it. How they accomplish each task and to what extent may differ, but the end result is the same one or more of those characteristics becomes altered. They each modify flash, blast, recoil, and in the suppressor’s unique case, sound. Truth is, whether it’s a brake, flash hider, or suppressor they all do the same thing. Mired in pseudo-science, hyperbole, and masterful marketing, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. ![]() Choosing which muzzle device to attach to your centerfire rifle is one of the most critical yet least understood aspects of a rifle build. ![]()
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