Re: Another Surefire question
Not much to it actually.
In reality the break value of the Surefire unit pales in comparison to a purpose built break. The reason is that a real break will throw the concussion back at approximately 20 degrees +/- to bore axis. Enough to blow past your shoulders. Think of it this way. To counter-force recoil, one has focus the gas energies in the opposite direction, that being backwards. There are important issues at work here. Whereas one wants to "lift" the rifle slightly (forward in line with axis), one does not want to make things worse for the operator to return to target. Its a balance, maximum recoil reduction vs. barrel lift, sound pressure to operator, potentially blow off a poorly designed comp, sound pressure those around operator (if at all important) and in the case of the QD units, ability to successfully engage and retain a suppressor.
As any good suppressor designer will tell you, unless your still stuck in the world of reflective suppressors, that is exactly the wrong way for a suppressor's gas to go. As a result, the vast majority of QD units do not have what is called "reflective cuts". but rather they are simple port outs..
Reflective, angled, machined precision ports...
Cut outs...
Now that may please the heck out of the QD manufacturers as their units can now be cast to avoid the expense of machining the reflective cuts. Does a great break need to be machined? Nope, but it wont fit in a suppressor!
Low impulse, cast (some are even assemble and welded.
Once in the can, all this gets shut out, shut off if you will and the gases go forward. Ah...nope. In reality QD has a issues with gas blow-back and particulate ejection. A good suppressor design wants none of this. No disruptive port patterns at all, even if they are closed off. It increases gas disruption, can create an increase in dwell time at exactly the point where proper, efficient separation must occur to dissipate heat and gas pathing begins.
Can it be done properly? Of course but its expensive.
IMO....If one was to light the fuse and throw it in a window...it would read like this...
1. Threading on a suppressor remains less than 20 seconds, is the strongest, most precise and cleanest way to mount.
2. QD is the number one problem concerning alignment and potential baffle strike.
3. QD provides the poorest of gas seals under extreme conditions, degrading suppressor performance generating particulate throw back on optics and operator.
4. QD is not as accurate on precision rifles as direct threaded assembly.
5. QD units quickly “carbon up” creating considerable assembly/disassembly issues that threading does not.
6. QD is actually QA (Quick Attach) as a suppressor may go on faster, but when that suppressor gets hot, it gets red hot, and is hardly QD.
7. QD, with its requirement for the flash/compensator is heavier on the barrel.
8. QD can use more than 2” of wasted internal suppressor space, causing additional weight.
9. QD requires the operator to buy more proprietary gadgets for the end of every weapon that will have a suppressor mounted.
10. QD are generally not the best configuration for recoil reduction, whereas they do work, they are not optimal.
11. The most effective and efficient gas pathing wants nothing to do with QD in its current design.
Operationally, few Military and Police Clients have found a reason to need QD, referring to the whole process as being driven by the civilian market seeking to multi mount one can on mismatched threads.
In the end, keep it simple as less to go wrong is always the best way forward. That should just thrill a whole bunch of folks....
In coming!
