No BS input on muzzle breaks?

[longarm21]

Muzzle brakes have an advantage in second shot follow up by reducing muzzle climb and recoil impulse, both very desirable in shooting, however one has to weigh them in relation to other requirements. If you're civvy street or making stoopid (with two "O"s) long range shots from optimal conditions and positions there is no real draw back. When you start talking about stacking up or firing from a concealed/enclosed position (sniping, FIBUA/MOUT, CQB) or firing in conditions of reduced/altered light, a muzzle brake is a very bad thing. The noise, excess gas and burnt/un-burnt powder all lead to increased audio and visual signature which can jeopardize those involved through compromising their visual, audio and tactile senses.

There are several good flash suppressor/muzzle brake offering on the market that while they don't do both as well as the specialized kit, provide a more than acceptable result

If this is true, then why do nearly all Accuracy International offerings have them? Argueably the best sniper weapons in the world, used by more elite forces than we could likely all name if we tried...

not trolling - actually want an honest answer to this.

 

[lejarretnoir]

On Topic; I shoot .223 and would love to kill the modest muzzle jump so I can see where my shots are landing. Is a break effective on a .223? Given a stainless, non threaded barrel is there options to attach a break?

They are very common on AR15's. It does reduce recoil and flip somewhat on mine.
Your unthreaded barrel would do well to be put on a lathe and threaded, indexed properly by a smith for brake work.

 

[GunBoy]

The best way to attach a brake is to Thread the barrel, clam on doesn't work due to that fact that most barrel are taper, and for clam on to work, you would have to machine out the taper part of the barrel, otherwise it will eventually come loose or twisted.
I will tested these 5 out this weekend, but the first one I already done a minor test on one of my AR15, these thing make double tape easy, you could empty the whole 5 round and there is no jump, the majority of the gas exit the side way on both side to stable the barrel, there is no jump or climb, only lot of noise. and fun!!!.

Here a Couple new one for Pussy AR Shooter!, Hahaha.

Clear out your inbox Gunboy, I'm trying to send you a message!

On Topic; I shoot .223 and would love to kill the modest muzzle jump so I can see where my shots are landing. Is a break effective on a .223? Given a stainless, non threaded barrel is there options to attach a break?

 

[skypilot]

If this is true, then why do nearly all Accuracy International offerings have them? Argueably the best sniper weapons in the world, used by more elite forces than we could likely all name if we tried...

not trolling - actually want an honest answer to this.

If a brake is a disadvantage the brake simply wouldn't be used by the team.

Conversely if you are DM in SWAT and shooting a Big Mac from a chopper at a run away, stolen 18 wheeler on an Interstate, the noise and blast won't matter as much as the accuracy/recoil reduction advantage for a shot on the front engine block.

 

[sask farmboy]

If this is true, then why do nearly all Accuracy International offerings have them? Argueably the best sniper weapons in the world, used by more elite forces than we could likely all name if we tried...

not trolling - actually want an honest answer to this.

My guess is that most of the worlds real snipers are running suppressors. not positive on that though.

 

[Scrubbit]

Hi, I have an ATRS brake on my 300 WM, and wouldn't shoot without it. Getting a brake/compensator put on my 308 as well to spot shots and reduce recoil. Wouldn't regularly shoot anything over 308 without a brake unless it's a semi-auto. Plug and wear electronic ears for every shot. Warn others at the range prior to shooting. Common courtesy. The better the brake, the louder it is as it efficiently directs force/sound to the rear. Fellow had a stock Savage 338 Lapua with factory brake at the range yesterday and my 300 WM was louder by a fair margin.

 

[Noltz]

They are very common on AR15's. It does reduce recoil and flip somewhat on mine.
Your unthreaded barrel would do well to be put on a lathe and threaded, indexed properly by a smith for brake work.

The best way to attach a brake is to Thread the barrel, clam on doesn't work due to that fact that most barrel are taper, and for clam on to work, you would have to machine out the taper part of the barrel, otherwise it will eventually come loose or twisted.
I will tested these 5 out this weekend, but the first one I already done a minor test on one of my AR15, these thing make double tape easy, you could empty the whole 5 round and there is no jump, the majority of the gas exit the side way on both side to stable the barrel, there is no jump or climb, only lot of noise. and fun!!!.

Thanks guys. I don't know what's involved in removing the barrel from this, plus being stainless machining and tapping for a break would likely cost a good bit. I'll live with it.

 

[Horse96]

I'd start by spelling 'brake' correct.

 

[Horse96]

If this is true, then why do nearly all Accuracy International offerings have them? Argueably the best sniper weapons in the world, used by more elite forces than we could likely all name if we tried...

not trolling - actually want an honest answer to this.

Elite forces like seals use suppressors for their 300wm's. Accomplishes what a brake would and also reduce muzzle blast.

 

[Maple Leaf Pilgrim]

If you take a close look at L115AX series sniper rifles deployed in the field you'll notice that they are generally equipped with the aforementioned flash suppressor/brake and not a dedicated brake. This combination suppressor/brake also serves as the QD mounting for the sound suppressor issued with the rifle.

The brakes you see on various civilian offerings are there for the comfort of the shooter involved in long range shooting and not deployed sniping missions. If you ever get a chance, build a little "doghouse" on dry/dusty ground, settle in and squeeze off a few rounds with a dedicated brake fitted. Everybody will see the cloud you've just created. When using a combination appliance the signature is greatly reduced.

Excellent question, by the way.

 

[Tomochan]

I have a brake on my .338 LM and on such a rifle I really appreciate it being there; I feel that absent such a device I really would not like shooting it for more than one or two rounds. Some of my .308's come with a brake but I eschew their use as in both F/TR and Tactical matches out here such muzzle devices are not permitted and so I would rather train my self to shoot to the best of my ability without a brake rather than have to adjust to increased recoil at match time. If matches permitted the use of brakes then I would use them at my regular range days. I would never laugh at or mock someone for using a brake - even on a mild recoiling cartridge.

 

[minniehill2]

 

[Hitzy]

What about linear brakes? They look like they would work OK and not deafen anyone...?

 

[ultimate_monkey]

while the linear style do reduce recoil to a point , all that gas is still being projected forwards. compard to a grill style brake they dont do much. probably on par with a flash hider

 

[screwtape]

If you take a close look at L115AX series sniper rifles deployed in the field you'll notice that they are generally equipped with the aforementioned flash suppressor/brake and not a dedicated brake. This combination suppressor/brake also serves as the QD mounting for the sound suppressor issued with the rifle.

The brakes you see on various civilian offerings are there for the comfort of the shooter involved in long range shooting and not deployed sniping missions. If you ever get a chance, build a little "doghouse" on dry/dusty ground, settle in and squeeze off a few rounds with a dedicated brake fitted. Everybody will see the cloud you've just created. When using a combination appliance the signature is greatly reduced.

Excellent question, by the way.

IIRC, that was the reason that a lot of the more experienced and longer-lived Red Army snipers during WW2 preferred Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles to the self-loading SVT-38s and SVT-40s. The Tokarevs had larger magazine capacity and a much higher rate of fire than the M-N bolts, but also had ported muzzlebrakes to control recoil and muzzle climb for faster follow-up shots. Unfortunately, the bloom of dust or snow kicked up by that muzzle brake could be like a neon sign pointing to an otherwise well-camouflaged sniper, especially when combined with the glint off high-flying ejected brass.

 

[Maple Leaf Pilgrim]

The Russian experience was instructive to say the least. One of the reasons there were so few semi-auto snipers weapons for the longest time was as much the overall firing signature as the concern over accuracy, as mentioned by screwtape. Yet, the Russians were quickly becoming masters of urban warfare and had come to realize that urban environments were quite target rich and this lent itself to a high capacity magazine on a semi auto rifle quite handily. This is a lesson that NATO has recently re-learned.

The general consensus among Russian strategists was that the sniper would have to find his own solutions. AKA, "These are the cards we've been dealt, deal with it or die... just try not to lose the rifle"... Some of the solutions were ingenious. They were more keen on putting a fairly large number of snipers on the ground, but the Mosin-Nagant sniper was really only effective on the conventional battlefield compared to the SVT which was fairly effective everywhere and really shined in FIBUA/MOUT. Sure the M-N sniper was used extensively in several sieges, but that was because it was all they had at the time. If they had the SVTs in real numbers in Stalingrad or Leningrad I'm pretty sure the Germans would not have been able to keep them hemmed in as effectively what with the target rich environment being made quite poor before German counter snipers could get a handle on things... if at all before a push by Russian Infantry. Remember, a well placed sniper can deny a large area to an enemy. Six angry steppes nomads with SVTs and a bad attitude could keep a lot of heads down while Infantry moved into position with machine guns and mortars... and then call in the indirect fire from their secondary positions. The Scout-Sniper concept did not happen in a vacuum.

 

[GunBoy]

I got a couples new model!

 

[TwoTone]

 

[caramel]

My Nemesis 308 got an heavy brake, but it is plaisure to se each shot hit the target... My custon rifle that coming from NS barrel is a 308 and will have a brake for the same reasons... JP.