L96/PM Muzzle device

[Micheal Doyne]

I am not trying to suggest the L96 was wrong to exclude it, what I am interesting in is looking for any documented reason for the L96 not including it when the trials rifles had been requested to include it and standard AI rifles included it. Other items removed from the spec post trials seem to have had relatively obvouse reasons e.g. the due safety catches.

[Roy W]

According to the book, there were two trials. Perhaps it disappeared from the requirement between the first and second trial.

[RobD]

Am I correct in thinking that muzzle attachments, by diverting gases sideways, can cause a cloud of dust to rise and reveal the sniper's position?
I have read that snipers sometimes shoot over a tarpaulin to prevent a cloud of dust rising in front of the muzzle - is that correct? If so, I imagine the sideways blast is hard to control.

There is of course nothing new under the sun, and Boer artillerists fired over anmal hides or tarpaulins during the South African War, for exactly the same reason. The photo shows Lt Heirnrich Grothaus of the Transvaal Staatsartillerie firing a 75mm Krupp QF gun over a tarpaulin from a concealed position outside Ladysmith.

[David TS]

Yep! I am not very popular with some when I am firing a rifle with a muzzle brake on the range, particularly if I am sharing a firing point with someone else! I do warn them first, and try and get on one end so I only potentially annoy someone on one side only.

It's worse in the summer as you put up a cloud of debris too, if the grass is dry.

[Micheal Doyne]

quit correct. There are pretty of arguments from cost, efficacy, concealment, even aesthetics, or plane mistake, but I just wish I knew the actual reason it was dropped. Oh well i’ll see what docs I can dig up in the new year.