Abstract: A method for suppressing raising of dust as a result of firing a projectile from a barrel of a weapon, wherein the dust is raised by a shock wave exiting the barrel, the method comprising reducing an exit pressure of gases of an explosive charge exiting the barrel. There is also disclosed a weapon including a barrel with a barrel bore formed therethrough, the barrel bore having a longitudinal axis, and a barrel extension element extending from and in fluid communication with the barrel bore, the barrel extension element having a barrel extension bore formed therethrough, wherein a plurality of gas exit holes are formed on sides of the barrel extension element, the gas exit holes being non-symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane which passes through the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A muzzle flash and blast suppressor comprising a body of reticulated refractory foam generally surrounding the projectile path adjacent the muzzle of a device. One side of the body of foam is exposed to the pressure within the projectile path just behind the projectile, and the other side is exposed to the unconfined ambient pressure. The foam is required to be possessed of sufficient structural strength to permit its exterior side to be exposed without confinement to the ambient environment. Hot exhaust gasses flowing laterally of the projectile path pass through the body from the high to the low pressure side. In such passage the gasses are cooled by expansion and by contact with the interstices of the body. Debris is filtered out and the pressure is substantially reduced. Typically, the refractory foam has from approximately 30 to 100 pores per inch and is from approximately 90 to 50 percent void volume.