Silencer Saturday #339: SilencerCo’s Little-known A2 ASR Flash Hider

Welcome back to Silencer Saturday! This week’s installment looks at the rather uncommon SilencerCo A2 ASR muzzle device and a related successor. Silencer-compatible muzzle devices can really throw off the look of some guns, particularly older ones. The A2 ASR is an object of desire for the retro crowd, so let’s take a look at what it is, why it was discontinued, and what its spiritual successor is.

Silencer Saturday @ TFB:

• SILENCER SATURDAY #338: Range Time With The HUXWRX FLOW 556 TI
• SILENCER SATURDAY #337: The HUXWRX FLOW 556 Ti Preview
• SILENCER SATURDAY #327: YHM Mounts & Muzzle Devices – Locking In The Bad Larry
• SILENCER SATURDAY #302: POI Testing With SIG SLH And SLX Suppressors
• SILENCER SATURDAY #306: The KAC QDC MCQ-PRT Ultra Compact 5.56mm Suppressor

Note: Firearms such as silencers, short barrel rifles, and other items are controlled by the National Firearms Act of 1934. The ownership and transfer of these items is highly regulated and they cannot be treated the same way as non-NFA firearms. In short, I wish there were no restrictions, but for your safety, please know and understand all of the applicable laws and regulations. I also have a very close relationship with SilencerCo that you should be aware of.

Before we dive into the topic, another brief note is in order. I’m not Pete. Silencer Saturday has been Pete’s baby for many years, and he is both an expert in silencers and an excellent guy all around. I'm honored to get the chance to write as part of this series.

What is the A2 ASR Flash Hider?

The A2 ASR mount is a hyper-niche item, and has not been sold in many years. There are only a few pictures floating around on the internet, one of which is a TFB picture from 2017. So here are a few more to rectify that shortage:

It clearly takes its design queues from the classic A2 birdcage flash hider. There are five slots on the top of the flash hider and the bottom is closed to keep dust and dirt from kicking up during prone firing. This differs from the A1 flash hider, which has slots around the whole circumference, but also necessitates timing the A2 ASR flash hider (with shims, never a crush washer!) during install. The ol’ bird cage has a reputation for effective flash hiding and a little bit of muzzle compensation without being too loud.

The standard ASR flash hider is a very different design. It has three prongs, each a different length. Those tines vibrate and disrupt the gasses and unburnt powder, which keeps the muzzle flash from being too bright. Because each tine is a different length though, there is no “tuning fork” effect as with some flash hiders that ring after each shot.

The regular ASR flash hider works extremely well, but it just looks wrong on some guns. It may seem at home on a modern gun with a rail, but looks out of place when carry handles or CAR handguards are involved. But before you ask in the comments, NO, I am not aware of any plans to reintroduce the A2 ASR flash hider. It probably is not going to happen no matter how much you ask for one. However, there is another option that is kind of close in appearance.

What Replaced It?

The ASR Closed-Tine Flash Hider looks reasonably close to a traditional birdcage. It has three large ports spaced evenly around the outside unlike the A2 ASR. This makes it easier to install because it does not need to be timed. I have not shot it as much in the dark as the other options but it seems to be effective at keeping the flash signature down.

Here is a spec comparison between the A2 ASR and the closed tine model:

A2 ASR

Length: 2.46”

Birdcage diameter: 0.865”

Weight: 4.6 oz

Closed Tine ASR

Length: 2.46”

Birdcage diameter: 0.845”

Weight: 4.1 oz

Looking at the measurements, both of these muzzle devices are very comparable. The most noticeable change is the weight. The A2 is half an ounce heavier, which is not really that much, but it is an 11% difference. Weight on the end of the muzzle is the worst place to have it so the reduced weight of the closed tine ASR is a nice perk.

Here are some side-by-side pics of both flash hiders on guns:

Conclusion

So why did SilencerCo stop making the A2 flash hider? I think it is because it is louder than the other muzzle devices. I shot the A2 ASR along side the closed-tine flash hider on the same 10.5-inch AR, with and without a silencer. Quantifying sound is a very difficult process, and measurements like decibels rarely tell the full story. So while I do not have any number to show you how much louder it is but it is in the range of noticeable but not glaring.

Some people may still pay the price premium on the second-hand market for an A2 ASR because it is rare or unique or cool, and it is all of those things. For people who do not want to chase a unicorn muzzle device and want a little better performance, the newer closed tine flash hider is the better choice. But either of these flash hiders looks good on a retro AR, and looking cool is, of course, the most important consideration.

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