View Full Version : A2 Bird Cage Flash Hider History & Development
Anyone have any knowledge on the history and development of the A2 Birdcage Flash Hider?
When was it introduced and by who?
What did it replace and was an improvement?
Has it undergone any improvements?
You ask a lot of questions about the AR / M16 / M4 family without doing any research at all.
Have you considered using a library? Lots of the sources you are looking for will get the books on inter-library loan for you to take home.
Closed front is a more robust design. Closed bottom to mitigate dust kicking up while shooting prone, which also makes it a compensator. The muzzle rise compensation is there, though it's hard to detect.
From retrorifles - "The A1 Birdcage flash hider replaced the 3 Prong on all M16 rifles in 1967, and continued to be used until final replacement by the A2 version in 1983."
The A1 doesn't snag on everything like the 3 prong and the A2's closed bottom doesn't kick up as much dust.
I carried both M16 A1 and A2 rifles - the closed bottom on the A2 FH stood out the first time I shot one at the range.
Andy
On a P90 the A2’s effect is obvious.
Not specifically the M16, but . . .
The Muzzle Flash of Guns and Rockets (A Translation) (https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA164593)
Engineering Design Handbook, Guns Series, Muzzle Devices (https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0838748)
Muzzle Devices, a State-of-the-Art Survey. Volume 1. Hardware Study (https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0909325)
bamashooter
07-09-21, 06:44
You ask a lot of questions about the AR / M16 / M4 family without doing any research at all.
Have you considered using a library? Lots of the sources you are looking for will get the books on inter-library loan for you to take home.
Gotta take a break. Took almost 20 seconds to google and read history of flash hider. Color me exhausted but more knowledgeable.
Straight Shooter
07-09-21, 07:09
From retrorifles - "The A1 Birdcage flash hider replaced the 3 Prong on all M16 rifles in 1967, and continued to be used until final replacement by the A2 version in 1983."
The A1 doesn't snag on everything like the 3 prong and the A2's closed bottom doesn't kick up as much dust.
I carried both M16 A1 and A2 rifles - the closed bottom on the A2 FH stood out the first time I shot one at the range.
Andy
Noticeable difference.
From retrorifles - "The A1 Birdcage flash hider replaced the 3 Prong on all M16 rifles in 1967, and continued to be used until final replacement by the A2 version in 1983."
A little over simplification here.
The three prong flash hider remained in service until the barrel assembly it was on was replaced, or the flash hider itself became damaged, the same went for the A1 bird cage.
We had a handful of three prong M16A1s in 1988.
Supplies of replacement A1 birdcages lasted until the 2000s, when they were finally classed surplus to requirements.
Ned Christiansen
07-09-21, 11:16
I think it's in the third one you linked to, one of the formulas concludes that something I came to suspect in my diaper-changing days was true: Pee=poo.
Renegade04
07-09-21, 12:01
A little over simplification here.
The three prong flash hider remained in service until the barrel assembly it was on was replaced, or the flash hider itself became damaged, the same went for the A1 bird cage.
We had a handful of three prong M16A1s in 1988.
Supplies of replacement A1 birdcages lasted until the 2000s, when they were finally classed surplus to requirements.
Those were some really old M16A1s. The 3-prong FH was dropped from the M16A1 in Dec. 1967. Even the later XM16E1 and Model 604 were eventually outfitted with A1 FHs before ceasing production, but most were produced with 3-prong FHs. The good thing about the 3-prong and A1 birdcage FHs is that they did not need to be timed. The A2 FH does because of the closed portion needing to be on the bottom.
Those were some really old M16A1s. The 3-prong FH was dropped from the M16A1 in Dec. 1967. Even the later XM16E1 and Model 604 were eventually outfitted with A1 FHs before ceasing production, but most were produced with 3-prong FHs. The good thing about the 3-prong and A1 birdcage FHs is that they did not need to be timed. The A2 FH does because of the closed portion needing to be on the bottom.
I swear we had some, not many, M16s with 3 prong FHs in Army Basic (1986). We certainly had a couple guys with chrome BCGs. I envied them because they were easier to clean.
Andy
bamashooter
07-10-21, 07:19
I swear we had some, not many, M16s with 3 prong FHs in Army Basic (1986). We certainly had a couple guys with chrome BCGs. I envied them because they were easier to clean.
Andy
I'm sure you did. 3-prongers remained in service for years after that reported drop date. On my second go around in the military, I saw them in the late 70s in Korea and early 80s down at Benning.
Flash hiders were replace for cause, not just to make all the M16s "up-to-date".
The dates given were the production cut overs. By 1967, how many M16 and M16A1s were produced? I think somewhere in the half to 3/4 million range. And no M16A1 got an A2 flash hider until they started to be re-manufactured as A2s
What determined the size and shape of the cut-outs on the A2?
bamashooter
07-11-21, 06:33
What determined the size and shape of the cut-outs on the A2?
Highly compensated defense contractors.
What determined the size and shape of the cut-outs on the A2?
The A2 was a no-brainer. It had to fit the size envelope (and blank firing adapter) of the A1 and offer similar flash supression. Port shape followed the A1, probably as much for aesthetics as any other reason.
What determined the size and shape of the cut-outs on the A2?
Tooling on hand.
The cut-outs for the A2 Compensator are the same as those on the A1, they just did not cut the bottom one and moved the rest of them to the top half.
The external dimensions were dictated by the, then NATO standard, rifle grenade.
Codename46
07-20-21, 16:15
Thanks for the info.
Reminds me of a post I made on the site back in 2014. Maybe some of the newer folks would get a kick.
Ode to the A2 Flash Hider
To the humble flash hider Uncle Sam calls A2,
I have a few words of appreciation for you.
Hiding flash is what you do best,
You do it as well as all of the rest.
But somewhere along the way what I've found,
You fell out of fashion, just tossed to the ground.
Surefire, AAC, Smith, BCM,
Maybe you’re not as trendy as them.
There’s no “Vortex,” “Battle,” or “Black” in your name,
But you expertly handle the flash just the same.
Proven for decades, worn and abused,
In jungles, mountains and deserts used.
Reporting for duty from sunset to sunrise
You kept many a soldier’s position from compromise.
A classic look that’s always a fit,
You even compensate a bit.
A mount for suppressors with no special collars,
And best of all you’re only eight dollars.
Perhaps the reason I love you the most,
Is the way you just work without any boast.
So thank you A2, for all that you do,
As for me, my ARs will be wearing A2s.
--Know1
Reminds me of a post I made on the site back in 2014. Maybe some of the newer folks would get a kick.
Ode to the A2 Flash Hider
To the humble flash hider Uncle Sam calls A2,
I have a few words of appreciation for you.
Hiding flash is what you do best,
You do it as well as all of the rest.
But somewhere along the way what I've found,
You fell out of fashion, just tossed to the ground.
Surefire, AAC, Smith, BCM,
Maybe you’re not as trendy as them.
There’s no “Vortex,” “Battle,” or “Black” in your name,
But you expertly handle the flash just the same.
Proven for decades, worn and abused,
In jungles, mountains and deserts used.
Reporting for duty from sunset to sunrise
You kept many a soldier’s position from compromise.
A classic look that’s always a fit,
You even compensate a bit.
A mount for suppressors with no special collars,
And best of all you’re only eight dollars.
Perhaps the reason I love you the most,
Is the way you just work without any boast.
So thank you A2, for all that you do,
As for me, my ARs will be wearing A2s.
--Know1
Awesome!
Reminds me of a post I made on the site back in 2014. Maybe some of the newer folks would get a kick.
Ode to the A2 Flash Hider
To the humble flash hider Uncle Sam calls A2,
I have a few words of appreciation for you.
Hiding flash is what you do best,
You do it as well as all of the rest.
But somewhere along the way what I've found,
You fell out of fashion, just tossed to the ground.
Surefire, AAC, Smith, BCM,
Maybe you’re not as trendy as them.
There’s no “Vortex,” “Battle,” or “Black” in your name,
But you expertly handle the flash just the same.
Proven for decades, worn and abused,
In jungles, mountains and deserts used.
Reporting for duty from sunset to sunrise
You kept many a soldier’s position from compromise.
A classic look that’s always a fit,
You even compensate a bit.
A mount for suppressors with no special collars,
And best of all you’re only eight dollars.
Perhaps the reason I love you the most,
Is the way you just work without any boast.
So thank you A2, for all that you do,
As for me, my ARs will be wearing A2s.
--Know1
Damn clever lol.
You forgot the "A3" that was used as a replacement for years by SF when A2 didn't cut the mustard: KAC NT4. I prefer the BE Meyers myself but...
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