Thread: muzzle brakes ?

I use a muzzle brake on two 7mmRemMag rifles, one light, and one heavy. It does help recover the image in the scope sooner than without the brake in case a second shot is needed. It reduces the recoil much more than a suppressor. One rifle has a radial brake and the other vents to the sides. In use, I don't notice any different between them, despite the 'information' on the web about radial brakes kicking up dust. There is an extensive test on the web of multiple brakes of different styles/designs of brakes and their recoil reduction - have a search and it will turn up easily. I find a brake is less cumbersome than a suppressor on a rifle with a barrel kept at magnum length. The blast from the brake is significant. Only an idiot would fire a braked rifle without hearing protection. I use electronic muffs and warn those I am hunting with who may be close by that I am about to take a shot. I have not noticed any reduction or improvement in accuracy with or without the brake on the barrel. However, the point of impact changes with/without the brake. I bought the first brake about 20 years ago from a fitter/turner producing a few batches for the market. It was $50 made to my measurements. I think you can buy from Aliexpress for much less now but the gunsmith will probably need to drill/ream the hole through the centre to suite the calibre of the rifle. Fitting to the barrel is a gunsmithing job and not something that can be done with a Makita drill and a pipe wrench.