It doesn’t fit the typical “mold” of compensators and with so many seemingly coming on the market everyday, this one stands apart from the rest with it’s looks if nothing else.
Rifenbark designed this comp over a period of four months and it’s really interesting to see a company take what looks like a Sci-Fi looking ventilation port and but it on top of a cylindrical design.These vents aid in the directing of gasses and fouling up and away on a slight angle from the muzzle. This helps reduce muzzle climb and aid in faster follow up shots on target. These ports are at a slight angle and not straight up which is great because you get some spill off laterally on the angle as opposed to hot venting pushing the muzzle down on the Y axis. The big porting chambers you are used to seeing on the horizontal with most Brakes and Compensators are actually narrow and long on this single chamber comp. It is an appropriate cut that pairs well with the vertical ports and allowing “just the right amount” of compensation. Any more and it would most likely render the vertical ports useless, any less and it could send more gas to the vertical and push the muzzle down unnaturally.
Let’s talk about the concussion for a minute. Most brakes and compensators have a very solid and chest thumping “THUD” when you are shooting it. Most who have shot on a line alongside or even in the same vicinity of big chamber brakes and comps know that sound all too well. Now, I don’t know because I am not an engineer if it has to do with the shape of the horizontal ports or the size of the ports or both that makes it sound the way it does. Maybe its that combined with the vertical ports, who knows. What I do know is it doesn’t “thud” quite the same way. Its a different sound that variates from what you are used to just enough to really get your ears screaming. I relate it to my young infant daughter. I can tolerate long useless angry cries because a broken toy, hungry, diaper change…whatever. But then she amps up the octave level on certain occasions and it renders me absolutely useless as a parent without ear protection. I don’t know what that decibel level is, but it can go straight to hell.
Installation was difficult and treacherous when we first received the device. This is no longer the case as they now make a tool for installation. But let me tell you, I tried everything, a pipe wrench, monkey wrench, pliers and channel locks. The thing that seemed to work best was a screwdriver through the horizontal brake ports and let me tell you, I have never before been worried about snapping a Craftsman screwdriver like I was that day. There are no flat spots for your standard armorers tool or even a wrench so as not to interfere with the design that seamlessly flows into the barrel. The tool they have now looks very similar to a 1911 bushing tool. It is made of resin, provides great leverage and makes getting this device on and off a breeze now.
It’s not too heavy, looks a bit awkward and is a bit wonky to get on or off if you don’t have the installation tool, but it does exactly as advertised and won’t make you any friends at the range. Whether that is your desired result or not one thing is for sure… you won’t have any trouble getting some “personal space” at your local range.
