Muzzle Flash: Many feel muzzle flash is a disadvantage. On the battlefield it is because it gives away one’s (almost always hidden) position and makes the shooter vulnerable to lethal counter fire (many times from superior weapons and multiple attackers).  Reduced flash may be an advantage to hunters since the flash from a high-powered rifle can be extensive and might spook (by sight) an animal before the bullet or the sound arrives, but it has little effect on the shooter, even when (if) seen through a scope. Therefore, it has very minimal to no effect at all for follow up shots.

Now consider the following:  Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, companies began bringing out military and police ammunition pouches with Velcro flaps.  Many writers said that the noise of these flaps being opened would give away the position of the person—it would too, but it’s pretty obvious that if the person needed to reload a now-empty firearm from a Velcro closure ammo pouch that the odds are pretty good the person(s) he was shooting at had a good idea where he was. Once this was pointed out in some military magazines, the Velcro noise notion went the way of the Dodo bird.

Now, consider the following: At close self defense ranges (that’s what we are talking about here) handgun muzzle flash (regardless of type of handgun) actually works to the shooter’s advantage.  If you are under assault it is pretty obvious the attacker knows where you are.  If you must fire to protect your life, worrying about muzzle flash giving away your position is hardly a concern.

When a handgun is fired at an attacker (especially at night or in reduced light) the attacker facing the muzzle gets all of the flash, every glorious bright powder-burning bit of it. This can cause some temporary blinding (flash-bulb effect) as well as a tremendous psychological effect even if not struck by the bullet.  In addition, if the attacker is very close and if the defender misses (it happens much more than you might think at ranges under 10 feet) the attacker gets massive noise, flash heat and certainly some hot powder particles all of which may diminish or even stop the attack.

However, when firing, the defender will only see some flash over the top of the revolver, not the whole ball of flash the attacker gets and in low light, for just an instant, the attacker is somewhat illuminated by the flash and made even more visible.  Another big flash advantage in low light, is that the flash silhouettes the defender’s sights.  This can help the defender adjust quickly for a second shot (more experienced or practiced shooters can routinely take advantage of this). But this moment of flash can be even be utilized by less-experienced shooters also; they just need to be made aware of it and how it can help them.

Low Flash Ammunition: In the late 1970s and ‘80s ammunition companies, feeling that people wanted to avoid the muzzle flash a concept advanced and made popular by magazine articles (from many writers who had never been in gun fights), developed powders with less flash and these were quickly supported by the gun media.  Coincidentally, the low-flash powders were and are less expensive to produce than are the higher flash powders.

We at Charter Arms feel (regardless of firearm) that a bright muzzle flash is an advantage in self-defense situations to the defender and a distinct disadvantage to the attacker—shorter barrels deliver a bit more flash.

Getterdun!  The key to compact, lightweight self-defense revolver design-and an advantage over compact semi-autos-is that Charter Arms light and compact revolvers are comfortable to carry and will be with you if needed.