The iconic AK47 rifle has been around for more than 50 years and is still going strong as the choice of rifle for freedom fighters as well as terrorists all around the globe. In that time people have developed synthetic stocks, rail systems and better triggers and muzzle devices for this old war horse. The old style 45* slant brake that came attached to the end of many varieties of AK47 rifles was revolutionary and effective in 1947 but by the 21st century people wanted more options and better ways control the recoil and muzzle rise from their AK47 pattern rifles. The problem that now faces the millions of owners of AK47 rifles in 2017 is what muzzle device should they consider if they are wanting to upgrade from the stock muzzle device. It was this quandary that prompted us to attempt to answer that very question, in this latest article that we simply titled: Top 5 AK 47 Muzzle Devices.
We set no real parameters for our Top 5 list other than the brakes we listed must fit the standard 14-1 Left Hand thread that graces the end of so many AK47 pattern rifles. There is no limit to cost, size, shape, or manufacturer in our very unscientific list, our goal here is to provide you options. The Top 5 AK47 Muzzle Devices we selected will cover a wide range of prices and manufacturers, and styles. Some of them might be a bit more unique or exotic looking than the hardcore AK 47 purists will like, and that’s fine. There is no one size fits all answer to anything in the firearms world so why would accessories be any different ? So without any more delay, let’s get down to business and bring you our Top 5 list in no particular order.
#1 Epsilon AK by VG6 Precision (MSRP $94.99)
This brake is one of the more expensive ones on the market and the cost of nearly $100.00 alone is enough to stop some people dead in their tracks. VG6 Precision has built this brake using lessons they learned in the 5.56 version of Epsilon that has been extremely popular. The Epsilon AK brake features treated stainless steel material that is then coated with black nitride finish for longterm durability. The brake measures 2.21″ long and weights in at 2.24 ounces. Potential uses should note that this brake helps with felt recoil but that reduced recoil comes with a downside. Owners of the Epsilon AK brake have said that the brake defiantly increases the felt concussion by neighboring shooters, as well as a marked increase in the sound of the round being fired as well.
#2 Fighter Brake by Definitive Arms: (MSRP $39.99)
The Fighter Brake by Definitive Arms is a brake that I personally own and have used on my Polish AK for the last several months. This brake was a replacement for the Manticore Arms Nightbrake that wasn’t living up to it’s hype. What I found with the Fighter Brake is a brake that is light weight (1.3 Oz ), compact (1.73 ” overall length), and reduces felt recoil without kicking up large amounts of dust and debris when shooting. The brake is affordable, built in the United States and will count towards your overall part count if you are trying to maintain 922(r) compliance on your rifle, that’s a hard combination of attributes to beat. I can say I’ve used this brake while putting just over 1000 rounds threw my AK47, it’s not a ridiculous amount of rounds but its substantial in my mind.
#3 Zenitco DTK 2 (MSRP $74.95)
When it comes to Russian AK47 accessories ZenitCo is one of the biggest names in the game. Every piece of ZenitCo gear I have ever handled or used it built typically Russian. That is t0 say it’s well built, heavy, durable, and simple and the DTK 2 is all of that. The only problem with the DTK 2 is finding them, especially since the Russian arms embargo started a few years ago it seems everything marked ZenitCo went up in price overnight and became scarce. The brake isn’t light be anyone’s standard (3.7 ounces), but it is relatively short in comparison to other brakes with an overall length of 2.0″. The shear size and location of the side exhaust ports guarantees that recoil will be felt by anyone standing to the left or right of the shooter. As noted this muzzle device might be one of the heaviest on the market and that will turn off many potential owners. The AK47 is heavy enough, adding more weight to the end of the barrel might not be for everyone, but this muzzle device is a hot seller despite it’s robust size and weight.
#4 AK-351 by Arsenal Inc (MSRP $21.29)
This offering from Bulgarian AK maker Arsenal is the most affordable on our list but has the least information available about it. What we know about the AK-351 is that it available on www.kvar.com and is designed to be used on rifles chambered in both 7.62x39mm as well as the 5.45×45 mm round. We also know that it features a hard chrome lining and it is designed to allow a user to install this muzzle device and still be able to attach a bayonet to their rifle if they wish. Outside of those known qualities the rest of the AK-351 is an enigma, but at $21.29 it might be worth the overall risk to try it out. The device appears to not have any ports in the twelve or six o’clock positions which should limit any chance of kicking up dust while shooting in the prone position.
#5 J-TAC 47 by Primary Weapons System (MSRP $69.95)
Last but not least is the J-TAC 47 by PWS, a unique muzzle device that features an interesting port lay out design. The J-TAC features two large ports that and shaped like the letter “J” which might account for it’s name. Hitting the scale at 2.4 ounces its weights in at about the middle of the pack for the Top 5 we have listed. The brake is 1.95″ long with a .875″ diameter, which is about average with the other highlighted devices in the countdown. The engineers at PWS claim that the shape of the ports will reduce felt recoil by the shooter but will not deliver any noticeable increase in blast noise directed towards anyone standing near the shooter. I have reached out to PWS in an attempt to get one of the J-TAC 47 devices to try for myself and see if it’s marketing hype or if they have figured a way to tame side blast and not compromise the recoil reduction capabilities.
What’s Next ?
What’s next on the horizon for the continual advancement of the AK47 in terms of muzzle devices ? When we began this search we found several varieties of devices that looked like pronged spikes and spiked tubes that were in excess of four inches long. These aren’t what I would consider to be practical or useful brakes. Any muzzle device should be effective and do what is advertised but not at a cost of being too large, heavy or awkward. Only through range time, trials and error can a shooter begin to get a feel for what sort of muzzle device suits their needs. I’m not too proud to admit that I have made terrible choices on muzzle devices and ended up trying a few different approaches before I settled on the Definitive Arms Fighter Brake.
We want to hear your stories and see your pictures, Do you have a muzzle device that has worked particularly well for you ? Maybe you have tried several devices and still have not found the one that fits your needs. We want to hear about all the good, the bad, and the truly ugly muzzle devices that are out there. It doesn’t matter if its for 7.62, 5.45 or 5,56 we want to see them all.
Rick
