![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57qzh5ce9quQVOKs8A0fXosAlmgTnODO9tLzTBlniA2oUdxjWFSe6qO2ZFy44I3bf-dnikpyEFYebJfJHce3uZTkCxyZVrflkHd6msVmYzDsGVtEHIY600meTGimdnQvIUNzyjtNFiZ6P/s640/Compensator+Test.jpg)
This is an experiment I've been wanting to do for a long time. So having a Monday off for MLK Day, I headed to the ranch with no kids to distract me.
I was curious about the effects of a compensator or muzzle brake if you could eliminate the human factor. So I strapped my rifle to a work bench stand and used the Hands Off Trigger Release to actuate the trigger. Capturing the results of each muzzle brake with the video camera, I was able to see the linear effectiveness of each brake.
My conclusion is fairly obvious... any compensator is better than nothing at all. However, every muzzle brake I tested but one (the Dragon's Head from Surplus Ammo) performed the same as far as the X & Y movement of the rifle is concerned. This result was most unexpected. I was expecting to see much more of a difference between the muzzle brakes. I suspect with all the various models on the market and all linear movement being equal, there has to be a difference in how they perform on the Z axis. I have a few ideas how to test for this so I may give that a try.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPZfgDR28zr-NP56b8CM3AYrGb1JBAqQews89-phpbsRZPxDjmjct7PYnhwTIOj_edoSEUKIq5K22iMmyWnndkIR4kvQYfNspmSWYeCBFgMsbFRgR_icSKzFrmzeJk4aXoPPfIo-_Ga4r/s640/Compensator+Test+1.jpg)
A1 Flash Hider
Surplus Ammo & Arms (SAA) "Dragon's Head"
Double Star "Flash Enhancer"
JP Enterprises
Lantac "Dragon Advanced Muzzle Brake"
SureFire
Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) "Blackout 51T"
Banks Bullets
Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC) "Breakout 51T"