A2 Bird Cage Flash Hider History & Development

[prepare]

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?

[sinister]

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.

[Duffy]

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.

[AndyLate]

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

[1168]

On a P90 the A2’s effect is obvious.

[lysander]

Not specifically the M16, but . . .

The Muzzle Flash of Guns and Rockets (A Translation)

Engineering Design Handbook, Guns Series, Muzzle Devices

Muzzle Devices, a State-of-the-Art Survey. Volume 1. Hardware Study

[bamashooter]

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]

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.

[lysander]

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]

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.