Manticore Arms has just unveiled their NightShroud flash hider for the AK74, and I was lucky enough to be in the first batch of guys to receive one....
http://www.theakforum.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=137&t=142785
http://www.manticorearms.com/NightShroud-Flash-Hider-for-AK-74-24mm-thread-MA-600.htm
The premise is a lighter, shorter, and more effective flash hider for your AK74 and I think Manticore Arms has succeeded.
Right out of the box, it's a thing of beauty. Made of heat treated 8620 steel, it has a nice even black oxide finish....
The machining is clean and crisp.... (Yup - Made in the USA - 922r Suck It!)
And it looks totally tits.....
The NightShroud is 2.2” long, making it an inch shorter than it's competitors. Considering the 74 already has a 16” barrel, putting a 3 and half inch muzzle device on front of that has always seemed sub-optimal to me....
The difference in length and bulk between the NightShroud and other AK74 muzzle devices are obvious in the below picture... (NightShroud, American made Bulgi M-1 Style, Conventional 74 Muzzle Device, Bulgi Krink “Trash Can.”)
If you've worked with 16” vs 14.5” AR's in CQB, you know it makes a difference.....
Measure on my decidedly unscientific neurotic sister-in-law food weighing scale, the Manticore NightShroud weighs in at svelte 2.8 ounces.
A conventional 74 muzzle device weighs in at 3.7 ounces.
Bulgi M-1 Style Flash Suppressor.... 4.7 ounces.
Bulgi Trash Can weighs in at a hefty 7.3 ounces....
The NightShroud mounted easily on my Bulgarian AK74.
It looks great and reduces the overall length....
</a>Ran into trouble mounting the NightShroud on my Bulgarian 7.62x39 Krink.... (Yup, you can use the NightShroud with 5.45 and 7.62 weapons.) The “collar” does not come back far enough to engage the front site base muzzle device detent.....
[url="http://img600.imageshack.us/i/nightshroudmanticore15.jpg/"]
</a>This is a shame, because it looks damn good. And makes a handy weapon handier....
[url="http://img714.imageshack.us/i/nightshroudmanticore14.jpg/"]
</a>My understanding is that the NightShroud will work just fine with a Russian Krink and I will try that out as soon as I get back to the House...
I will post an update to this thread as soon as I get to live fire with the NightShroud. I'm pretty excited to try it out.
Right now I can say for sure it's a well made, great looking product, that's made in the USA.
