The ASR flash suppressor is made by Silencerco, and is part of the ASR line of muzzle devices. ASR stands for Active Spring Retention, which is Silencerco's proprietary suppressor mounting system. This flash suppressor mounts onto your firearms and essentially acts as a base for the mounting of a number of Silencerco suppressors. Not only is it a mount for their suppressors, but makes mounting a very easy one hand screw on/screw off operation. This also makes it easy to move suppressors from one firearm to another. Silencerco says that this muzzle device will mount most of it's ASR suppressors. Specifically, it will mount all of the suppressors in these series:
Alpha: Harvester 300 and Omega K Series, Octane Series
Bravo: Harvester EVO, Hybrid 46, Harvester 338, and Omega 300
Charlie: Saker ASR Series, Chimera 300, Omega 36M, and Hybrid 46M
The ASR flash suppressor is available in a number of popular thread pitch and caliber combinations, including 1/2 x 28 for 5.56, 5/8 x 24 for .30 caliber, and 1/2 x 36 for 9mm. This version that we have here is the 1/2 x 28 model for 5.56, which will be mounted on my 10.5" AR pistol. MSRP for the ASR flash suppressor is $92 and can be bought right from the Silencerco shop, but it can often be found for slightly less than that. I got this one for $80 at Brownells.
Whilie the ASR is a great mounting point for suppressors, the main reason that I picked this up is because it is a very capable flash suppressor. What does a flash suppressor do, though? At it's core, a flash suppressor is a muzzle device that reduces the visual signature of your firearm by modifying how gasses exit the barrel. They do this by allowing the exiting gasses to cool down as they exit the muzzle, reducing the likelihood that they will ignite and create a flash. Most do this by leaving large open areas for outside air to mix with the exiting gasses from the barrel, usually with the use of prongs or tines like this. The tines make room for the outside air to mix with the exiting gasses, cooling them down.
One side effect of using tines as a means of flash suppression that some (like myself) find annoying is the distinct and sometimes very loud "ping" sound that is made each time a shot is fired. This is a result of the tines making a sort of "tuning fork" effect as they vibrate with the pressure of the gasses passing by. In the past, the remedy for this was to either connect the tines physically (as with an A2 birdcage) or to file down the tines. Silencerco saves you this step by making the tines of the ASR flash suppressor each a slightly different length right from the factory, preventing any ping.
The ASR comes packed in a Silencerco branded bag, and they throw in a small tube of Rocksett to apply to the barrel threads when installing as well. There is no shim for timing included with the flash suppressor, so it just screws down onto the barrel as far as it will go. (The ASR muzzle brake does need to be timed, and as such includes some shims to use to get everything aligned correctly). Then it's just a matter of torqueing down the flash suppressor (I did mine to 25 foot-pounds) and heating up the parts to allow the Rocksett to activate and cure.
I took the ASR flash suppressor to the range, and asked the RSO to kill the downrange lights for a few minutes while I tested. I observed that the ASR functions as advertised. Out of 100 rounds of mixed ammunition, I had no visible flash signature for any of them. Even better, I did not have any of the ping that I have become used to with other pronged/tined muzzle devices.
So that's the PT review of the Silencerco ASR flash suppressor. Not only is it a great way to quickly mount and dismount suppressors, but it is a very capable and easy to use flash suppressor in its own right. If you're interested in the ASR, you can pick one up for yourself either at Brownells, where I got mine, or right from the manufacturer at the Silencerco Shop. That's all I have for you this time, so until next time, Stay safe!