Muzzlebrake ineffectiveness?

[Andy T]

I installed a Surefire MB762K on my AI AE MK II. The main reason was primarily for aesthetic reasons. After shooting the rifle with the brake, I don't notice any difference before/after, except more concussion, and am tempted to remove the brake.
Do brakes usually help ? Could it also be because the rifle is rather heavy and has a thick Krieger barrel that the muzzle brake makes little difference.

 

[ridenrunwv]

The more recoil a rifle has to start with the more you will tend to notice that recoil being reduced. I feel like the weight of the rifle and low recoil to start with is the reason you aren't noticing a difference.

 

[RanchhandTCR]

Could be, Ive used brakes on my hunting rifles and they made my 30-06 recoil like a .223 with 180g bullets. You did only put it on for looks so if you like the way it looks leave it on, if not take it off and put on a thread protector.

 

[ridenrunwv]

Try to find someone with a threaded barrel and a light weight / hard recoiling rifle to put your brake on and you will feel the difference.

 

[bjay]

My 260 mtu i cant tell diff and use same break on my varmint 308 its where i can tell the diff.i think theyre mostly for looks

 

[Bill Larson]

For a muzzle brake to work... Effectively.... It should be sized for the cartridge....
I.e.enough holes to let gas escape
close enough fit on the muzzle to shave off gas

 

[ridenrunwv]

For a muzzle brake to work... Effectively.... It should be sized for the cartridge....
I.e.enough holes to let gas escape
close enough fit on the muzzle to shave off gas

Didn't think about that... Trying your muzzle brake on a light weight rifle in 308 or similar caliber would be where you would see the biggest difference. A larger caliber would need a different brake to be most effective.

 

[Rthur]

I haven't tried the surefire. I have shot the badger fte, Little bastard, the RAD, and the JEC. Of these the little bastard and the JEC stood out as far as recoil reduction. In my experience the JEC is the best. This was on a rifle in the 13 pound weight class in 260. While this isn't exactly a heavy recoiling rifle positional shooting will amplify the recoil side effects. Both the little bastard and the JEC will need to be timed but they are very good brakes.

R

 

[FMJBT]

Powder burn rate also plays into it. Longer barrels that burn off most of the powder before the bullet leaves the muzzle will benefit less than shorter barreled rifles that have a higher volume of gas out of the muzzle to work with.

 

[hk dave]

Probably has to do with the weight of your gun.

I put that same brake on my Larue 18" OBR and the difference is dramatic.

 

[jwp6114]

I hav e 28" HEAVY 243AI and it feels real close to the same with or without break, but it is noticeable through the scope.

 

[AvsFan]

Brakes definitely work...I bet if you were to try a test like this one below - you would see the difference it makes (not as dramatic as, the video is a 338 Lapua). However, even w/a 308 there will be a difference in the amount of recoil exhibited on the rifle. Plus, I personally like the aesthetics & protection of the crown offered with either a brake or, flash hider vs. a plain muzzle.

 

[cmh2007]

My rifle weighs about 18lbs and with the brake you definitely can feel the difference. it feels like a .223 with it, but i am driving 155 gr bullets at 3000fps and yes there is fire that comes out of the muzzle on a 25 inch barrel...like stated before, it depends on how much gas there is to work with.

 

[waveslayer]

I have a Remington 700 in .308 that kicks like a MULE! I have a Lazzeroni 7.82 Warbird with a break... shoots like a loud .223. Bottom line, Breaks work, depends on the quality of the Break too.

 

[SigsauerP229]

I recently shot my 308 side by side with my gunsmiths 308. The rifles are built exactly the same with 2 exceptions, my gunsmiths 308 uses the Manners MCS-TF4 and mine is the Manners MCS-T4A. His also has the Gemtech QD flash hider and mine has the Gemtech QD Jake brake. Mine has a significant lower amount of recoil. Being 308 I don't think I would have noticed the significant reduction in recoil if I had not shot them side by side. Just some food for thought, you might try it on the same range day without and without the brake to notice the difference.

 

[gasdoc09]

I have a MB762K on one of my AR10s. I think it's a 12 pound rifle. It makes a large difference in recoil. It also makes it obnoxiously loud.

 

[steveptr]

I have the same break on my Rem700. It works well really well.

 

[bobaguilar]

The older I get the less I like recoil, but the reason I use a break is to help me stay on target to see my hits or misses. I know proper technique would help with muzzle jump as well.

 

[nic_bravo_whiskey]

I have a Remington 700 in .308 that kicks like a MULE! I have a Lazzeroni 7.82 Warbird with a break... shoots like a loud .223. Bottom line, Breaks work, depends on the quality of the Break too.

Your 308 kicks like a mule?

 

[cmh2007]

perceived recoil could be pretty bad depending on how poorly the gun fits him. if he is like me (very tall) a short LOP like on a factory gun can be slightly painful, just as one that grossly too long. Shotguns are a prime example of this, you set the gun up to fit the shooter and a shooter will claim the recoil went down, but really their body is more easily handling the recoil

 

[Direct_Fire]

put a surefire suppressor on it and you will get a really nice recoil reduction

 

[keez_34]

Try one of the APA bastard series brakes! Ive got a Fat Bastard brake on a 300 rum and it has less felt recoil than my 308 with a prim brake on it.