New Varimax Quick-change muzzlebrake

This is the ideal muzzlebrake for guys who regularly traverse between bush hunting and open country shooting. Leave the brake on the rifle, simply turn the braking function on or off as required. No point of impact shift.

Huge amount of work and testing to get the design right in the end. Copyright/Registered design. Patent pending.

See my website for more info: www.muzzlebrakes.co.nz

or the Youtube short demo vid: Muzzlebrake Short Video Varimax QC - YouTube

VARIMAX®-QC.

Attachment 12668Attachment 12669

Mainly intended for lightweight hunting rifles in .223Rem to .30-06 range of calibres. Maximum calibre limit 7mm Rem Mag or .300 Win Mag. (Not suitable for ultra-mag sizes cartridges, or anything .338cal or bigger).

now those are a cool idea.
Just been watching a few of your break comparision videos.
So even with this breaks port closed it still reduces recoil by 17%? How does that work?

Awesome design man!

+1, those prices are just to supply Break?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

now those are a cool idea.
Just been watching a few of your break comparision videos.
So even with this breaks port closed it still reduces recoil by 17%? How does that work?

Awesome design man!

---

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, that is what the results from the tests show. I don't know why, but i suspect that enough gas disturbance/resistance is caused by the brake internals, that it minimizes the rapid discharge of the propellant gas to atmosphere, which is usually the main cause of the recoil forces.

I guess you could say it kind of acts like a 'mini-suppressor' when the ports are blocked off.

When you have a proper test-jig set-up like that you start to discover things and little improvements that you just can't tell from the usual shoot-and-guess methods.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neckshot

+1, those prices are just to supply Break?

---

yes, these prices there are for the brake only. Fitting is additional cost -depends alot on whether the brake has to be indexed or not, what type of rifle, amount of finishing work required, etc.

I have been trying to get the price of the Quatromax and Tresamax brakes down a bit, but these new Varimax brakes are taking a long time to make. I doubt i will be able to get the price down much on these - but will see how it goes. If they are popular and i can do bigger numbers of them, then this should help. Cheers.

Thats an impressive piece of engineering there!!!
Is there an option for one where the ports can be opened/closed without needing a tool to loosen locking mechanism?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by distant stalker

Thats an impressive piece of engineering there!!!
Is there an option for one where the ports can be opened/closed without needing a tool to loosen locking mechanism?

---

Thanks. Yep, there has been alot of time and effort go into this particular project over the last 12 months or more. Alot of prototypes made, and torture testing!

Actually this version of the Varimax (QC) is the one that doesn't require a tool to change the sleeve position. Hence the knurled end-cap. Check out the link to the short you-tube clip (listed in first posting) and you can see the the sleeve position can be changed in seconds by hand, without tools, and locked in either position so that it won't move when the rifle is fired.

The earlier versions of the Varimax all had a locking screw or detent ball system, and were shorter, but i think this latest version is the best and most practical. Though it is a little bit longer than the others. Pics of both versions are shown on my website.

Just got back from the range this arvo, and while we were there I test-fired a customers .308win with one of these fitted. Good recoil reduction, the brake self-tightens when you fire the rifle, and no point-of-impact shift between ports open/ports closed. Awesome! Cheers.

Looks bloody good Dean, very nice idea for the average hunter has the all round rifle one of these would be handy not taking it on an off with POI shifts :thumbsup:

My new Varimax QC is being fitted at Gunworks this week and very much looking forward to testing it.
Quality bit of kit that should be great for the sort of hunting I do! :-)

Looks great Dean, really slick looking product.

Some extra pics from recent installation of a Varimax-QC to a customers rifle. External surfaces beadblasted to blend with existing finish on stainless barrel.

Locating/locking pin indexed at 6 0'clock position. Rear of brake body tapered down to be just above barrel diameter.

Locking sleeve position can be changed in a matter of a few seconds. No tools required! Brake also self-tightens on barrel thread as it fires, so loctite not required.

I am only supplying these on installs i do myself at present. The time taken to make these is 4-6 times that of a normal brake. Will be looking to be able to supply to other gunsmiths in the trade later in the year, hopefully.

Attachment 14109Attachment 14110Attachment 14111Attachment 14112

Update as of January, 2014. This invention has now been granted a Patent by the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ).

Patent number: NZ 611493

Quite possibly the first firearms-related patent to be actually be granted in NZ for years (or decades?).

Also, I am now in a position to be able to supply my muzzlebrakes as retail sales, or directly to other gunsmiths for fitting, providing that the fitting instructions/guidelines (supplied with all my brakes) are followed.

No need to import something from overseas, the best muzzlebrakes are being made right here in NZ. Test results (as well as numerous positive feedback reports from satisfied customers) have proven the superior performance of my designs in comparison with all others of comparable size.

Email me to purchase any of my muzzlebrakes, thread-caps, etc., or for dealer/gunsmith enquiries.

Dean.

with that thread on the end a slip over suppressor would be nice

What does the Varimax QC weigh ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Echo

What does the Varimax QC weigh ?

---

An unfitted Varimax-QC weighs 141grams - that is with the 1/4" minimum bore hole. Obviously gets a little lighter when opening up to 7mm or .30cal clearance.

All stainless steel for durability and strength. The added mass on the end of the barrel enhances accuracy by stabilizing the vibration profile at the muzzle - right where the bullet exits.

Over the past few weeks I have been flat out trying to get some of my DFM muzzle brakes stock levels up a bit, and this now includes reasonable numbers of the Varimax-QC brakes in 1/2-28 , M14x1.0mm, and 9/16-24 - these being the most popular thread sizes. Have been exporting a lot of them too, which is neat. I particularly like selling to the US and CDN market - a bit like selling ice to Eskimos! - but knowing that people have found out THE place to buy the best world leading muzzle brakes is little ol' NZ - well that is pretty cool.

I still have testing vids of the brakes on my website, but really should get around to updating them soon, as some are a little dated now being a few years old, but still good info there , especially on the purpose built recoil testing machine for measurable recoil energy results. Also a good comparison test with suppressors, which debunks the claim from some suppressor makers about '50-70% recoil reduction' with their suppressors. (Lol..... :yaeh am not durnk: )

www.muzzlebrakes.co.nz

Cheers, and happy new year guys!
Dean.

whats one cost to be fitted ? my barrels already threaded as it came with a early gen hardy can its a weatherby vanguard s/s in 300 winmag

Have been using one of Deans QC brakes for nearly 18 months now.
I have put about 600 rounds down range through my .270wsm and apart from needing a clean every 30-40 rounds, the brake has been trouble free and performed exactly as expected.
Operator error did cause what at first I suspected could be permanent hearing damage, after forgetting to put my hearing protection on whilst shooting a chamois at 510m a couple of days ago with the ports open, but I won't be making that mistake again!
Highly recommended piece of kit!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jakesae101

whats one cost to be fitted ? my barrels already threaded as it came with a early gen hardy can its a weatherby vanguard s/s in 300 winmag

---

I have found that fitting this model of brake to previously threaded barrels can be a bit problematic, or just not really do-able.

They ideally need to be indexed to certain orientation like a side port brake, the thread fit tolerance must be snug or close (not sloppy), and the thread extension length cannot be longer than 14.5mm.

There may be a few cases where the existing thread may be able to be used or modified, but in general i prefer to quote them on the basis of it being a new install where the brake is custom threaded and indexed onto the barrel in one setup. Less hassles this way. Just means chopping off the existing thread, so you would only lose 13-15mm approx.
Zap me an email if you want price estimates including freight back to you, cheers.

My Quatromax brakes are generally better suited for fitting to prethreaded barrels as they don't need to be indexed, and are available in a 'long' thread recess option.

What sort of point of impact change would you expect from Quatromax brake with it off for close shooting and on for longer shots?
Barrel is a Number 5 Kreiger in 7mm

Thanks

Also what is weight of Quatro max?

Weight of Varimax QC ?

n

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Echo

What sort of point of impact change would you expect from Quatromax brake with it off for close shooting and on for longer shots?
Barrel is a Number 5 Kreiger in 7mm

Thanks

Also what is weight of Quatro max?

Weight of Varimax QC ?

n

---

Weights are for unfitted brakes, and approximate only. Varies depending on thread size, and bore size, as well as tapering after fitting to barrel.

Quatromax - 73 grams. Varimax-QC 137grams.

POI shift between on and off can be hard to determine, as it really depends on barrel profile, but also the harmonics of the barrel itself. It can be as little as 1/4" at 100 yards, or maybe 2" at 100 yards perhaps for a really skinny whippy barrel. For a #5 contour i would expect that the POI shift would be at the minimal end of the scale.

Usually a guy will sight in with the brake on at 100 yards or longer ranges. For offhand shooting of deer, etc at close range (i.e. 10 yards to 60 yards) the POI shift becomes irrelevant, as it gets less with the reduced distance. (i.e. half or less).

So your muzzle break is a bit like the one that savage have been selling for more than 20 years on their bear rifle?
Review: Savage Model 116 Bear Hunter - RifleShooter

Similar, but different. Mine features a more efficient porting design that is essentially milled (not drilled) graduated discharge chambers, and a better more secure locking system. Hence the Patent title is 'An improved adjustable muzzle brake for a rifle'.

Actually i thought Savage had discontinued their version because of problems with their design. I am aware of another one that also had drilled holes and a detent ball locking system for the sleeve positions, but the problem with that one was a tendency for the sleeve to want to self rotate around upon firing, over-riding the detent ball lock. My system is more secure and more reliable, as well as actually being a better brake than the others as well. Cheers.