Firearm FAQ: Do Compensators Help Accuracy?
Posted on October 27, 2022 at 12:52 PM by The Biker Lawyers
It all started with a picture of a customized P-80
I got a message from Rick, who is a member of my Midwest Shooting leagues team. He was at the range experimenting with a compensator and sent me a picture of his custom race gun, a P-80 with an attached thing on the end of the barrel that I had never seen before (pictured).
Less recoil = more accuracy?
I had no idea what it was. He explained it was a compensator that screws into the barrel of his 9mm and controls recoil which should make him shoot more accurately.
So, I went to the old Google to research more about this magical attachment.
“Compensators dramatically reduces muzzle rise and sensed recoil”
Apparently, this contraption allows for wicked-fast target re-acquisition because it helps control recoil. Controlled Recoil on a firearm makes you more accurate and helps for faster target acquisition because, in theory, your muzzle doesn’t move as far off target. At least, that’s what I got from my “research.”
Getting a professional education on compensation
So, I brought Rick and Jayden from Midwest Shooting into the classroom to get a look and deeper education on compensators. It turns out there are at least two different types of compensators. There are outboard designs that one can screw into threaded barrels or guns with compensators built-in to the barrel design of the gun (see picture above).
It was explained to me that the compensators allow for gasses to be released from holes in the compensator which slightly forces the muzzle of the gun downward and, as a result, lessens the recoil.
“Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” – Jayden, Midwest Shooting
Obviously, Jayden gave me a fairly good education on why compensators help control recoil and Rick let us know how he did while on Midwest’s range practicing with the compensator.
Rick sent me a picture of his target, and, to my still relatively untrained eye, it looked fantastic… but it turns out, that was from his shots WITHOUT the compensator.
So the verdict: to each their own.
What do you think? Have you ever used a compensator? Does it do all the things the Almighty Google claims or is it just a cool way to customize your piece?
About Russ: The biker community’s Ambassador of Ammo
Known as a professional Radio Gypsy, Russ is the voice of “crazy stories and bad behavior” on Rock 108 every weekday from 10 AM – 2 PM (CST). After a shooting expedition with friends, Russ found a new passion for firearms and is now searching to find the perfect fit to match his needs. Join him as he tests and reviews various guns and targets, learns gun safety, and occasionally blows stuff up every week right here!
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