One of the great things about going to SHOT Show are the chance encounters that lead to new friendships and surprising new products. I ran across UM Tactical’s R.A.G.E. (Rapid, Adjustable, Gas Expulsion) Compensator by meeting one of the business owners in a casual non-business meeting.
We know that compensators direct gas for the purpose of reducing felt recoil and controlling muzzle rise and torque. Most come in one piece designs and baffle configurations and each one claims to do miraculous things in terms of the above purpose. Having used them in one form or another for about 30 years or more, I am pretty familiar with what they can or cannot do.
This one is different - intriguingly so. For one thing, it is modular. It is comprised of a central steel ported portion with aluminum baffles that slip into one another over the central portion and contain various configurations of ports. The ports come in varying sizes and angles in relation to boreline.
By turning the baffles or restacking them in different configurations, you can change the amount of gas pressure as well as the direction of the gas pressure. With three tuning port washers on the device and two extra ones that are easily interchanged, you can do around 100 different configurations, according to the manufacturer. You can then lock in the configuration using the four set screws on the locking nut.
The company also says the increase in sound is only 12 decibels above the standard AR-15 birdcage flash hider and that the unit is easily taken apart for cleaning.
So far, they are set up for .223/5.56, .308 and 9mm carbine. Price is around $160 retail. You can check them out at UMTACTICAL.com.
