The last item (for the upper) is the muzzle device. We could write a whole article on just muzzle devices. Sometimes there are called muzzle breaks, recoil compensator, flash hider, flash suppressor, sound suppressor and the Hollywood term, "silencer". The one most people are familiar with is the standard A2. The beauty of the AR-15 rifle is that just about all barrels are threaded for muzzle devices. You could mount a "sound" suppressor using the same threaded barrel. But we digress. There are literally hundreds of muzzle devices out there. Some claim to stifle the noise a bit, soften the recoil and help prevent muzzle rise. Some are called “linear compensators”. Some are just for looks. There are some mean looking ones with sharp pointy spikes on them but all they do is tear up your range bag or snag your pants leg. That being said, Yankee Hill Machine (YHM) has some really cool MDs.

In some jurisdictions (non-free), the muzzle device has to be pinned to the barrel. Some folks think you can't buy and use a "silencer". Well, you can in many areas buy a "suppressor" and even hunt with it. You local gun store can help you all you need to know about acquiring a suppressor for your AR-15. 

SAA offers the Dragon’s Head “linear compensator” which actually directs the muzzle blast away from the operator and will help prevent muzzle rise. This is all dependent on what you mount the Dragon’s Head to and what ammunition you use. There are a lot of variables to the AR-15.

Next Part 8 – The Lower Receiver