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Re:U.S. Army Camouflage Improvement Explained (2013) by Sharlin on Monday August 01, 2022 @03:32PM (#32311004)
I don't think muzzle flash is a big problem in today's rifles. Any powder left burning by the time the bullet exits the barrel is wasted energy, so things tend to get optimized pretty thoroughly (this is the field of internal and transitional ballistics). Carbine-length firearms (if they're chambered for rifle rounds) do tend to have bigger issues with muzzle flash. Flash suppressors [1], either integrated or add-on, help and have exactly zero complexity compared to a hypothetical water mister.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_suppressor

Re:U.S. Army Camouflage Improvement Explained (2013) by hajile on Monday August 01, 2022 @07:03PM (#32313232)
Muzzle flash is a HUGE problem with modern ar-15 style rifles. You won't get 100% efficiency until something like 22-26 inch barrels, but that's a VERY long gun to be using (and even those have muzzle flash).

With all the urban combat, there's a push toward shorter and maneuverable. In something short like the 10.5" M4A1 CQBR, flash becomes a much bigger problem (especially in dark rooms where it can be positively blinding to the shooter).

A suppressor helps with this issue, but it also starts adding back length to the gun (somewhat defeating the purpose).

300 blackout supposedly helps the problem (I've never shot it from a SBR) and also has better short-range (esp subsonic) ballistics compared to 5.56, but it too has muzzle flash.

The newly selected Army XM5 rifle and cartridge were designed for super-high pressures and achieving high speeds in a short barrel likely causing even more muzzle flash. Thankfully, this rifle is going to be suppressed for everyone by default. Unfortunately, it's super heavy (and that's without the super-heavy optics), has less ammo per magazine, and despite the goal, is still going to be blocked by higher-level body armor, and is still 36" in a SBR configuration (for comparison, the Israeli CTAR-21 is 30% shorter at just 25" providing rifle firepower in a SMG package).

Re:U.S. Army Camouflage Improvement Explained (2013) by samstave on Monday August 01, 2022 @11:31PM (#32314821)
This was what I was talking about, but failed to articulate.