What is flash suppress or muzzle break?

Answer 1

Answermuzzle brakes are additions to a firearms normal barrel that are intended to reduce the recoil felt by the shooter by redirecting the expanding gases as they exit the barrel. Muzzle brakes have many different designs with varying effectiveness (some up to 60% reduction in felt recoil). The draw backs of muzzle brakes are: one in redirecting the gases they also redirect the shockwave which can then be felt by the shooter, The flash from the muzzle is also spread out possibly causing some loss of vision (mostly in low light, like someone shining a powerful flashlight in you face), the brake can redirect sound towards the shooter as well, also the redirected gases can stir up dirt and debris (especially in prone positions).

flash suppressors do just what their name implies supress the flash created by the gasses exiting the barrel. The idea is to capture and diffuse or redirect the gases and thus redirect the light created by the ignited propellant. The goal is to make it hard for people down range of the shooter to locate his or her position by seeing the flash from the barrel. This is most commonly used on tactical or law enforcement rifles, but many civillians use them for various reasons, including aesthetics.

neither of these reduces sound but some can redirect sound, again trying to make it hard to locate the shooter. Muzzle brakes and flash suppressors are not cheap, and many require attachment by a professional gunsmith. There are also integrated muzzle brakes and flash suppressors, the best example that i have seen is made by nor cal precision.