Yet more muzzle brake questions ...

[Apache659]

After about a ten year hiatus (back injury, long story) from shooting my .300 Win Mag I'm getting back into it again. My problem is that it appears I've gotten older and the recoil is affecting me more physically/mentally than it used to which is causing me to anticipate the shot. It looks like I'm going to have to add a muzzle brake ...

What I would really like is a slab style brake, just because I like the way they look, but the ones I've seen aren't tall enough to fit my barrel because it's 1" at the muzzle and the slab brakes that look like they will fit are designed for much higher grain loads than I'll be shooting, so if I went with one of those I'm pretty sure it's not going to be as efficient. Several of the round brakes I've seen state something like "Muzzle diameter .850" or larger recommended" but they don't seem like they will have a large enough actual diameter either (once my barrel is threaded) without going to one for a much higher grain load ...

So my questions are: How far back are the threads cut on the barrel? Is there a standard length 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" or is it up to the smith installing the brake? Does anyone have any insight on what brake I can use? I'd like to stay with a side/top ported model to reduce dust in case I want to shoot prone ...

I've searched the Forum but I don't really see any answers to my questions ...

 

[EasternNChunter]

I'd talk to your gunsmith or call the manufacturer of whatever brake you want to use. Sorry I can't help you any more than that.

 

[bh-ltr]

Darrell Holland does a great job on muzzle brakes. I was kinda against them from reading here. Too many people complaining about the noise and shock impluse and what not.... Also a lot of complaints about it kicking up dust and crap. After reading all these comments I decided to order a suppressor. I contacted Darrell Holland to get my barrel threaded for the suppressor and after talking with him about it he talked me into getting his brake rather than a thread protector. Boy am I glad he did! I have none of the complaints and/or issues that people have talked about and I've shot on a line of 4 guys with this brake on the rifle with all of us in close proximity. No issues.

Personally I'd rather shoot with his brake than the Thunderbeast 30P-1 that I have. Both have their uses but the brake tames recoil better and makes spotting your own shots really easy even at close ranges. I've got a fairly large barrel but its not quite 1" i'm sure he'd be able to get it done. I've also gotten one of his brakes installed on my dad's sporter barrel 300WM and it really tamed it down! I've never EVER seen my dad shoot that things more than 5 times on an outing. Last time we shot together was when I gave him his rifle with the break on it as a surprise. He went through 30 rounds that day and he only stopped shooting it cause that was all the ammo he had. I shold add that he's getting up there too as he's in his 70's. If you want to talk to Darrell you can check out his website here: Holland's Gunsmithing & Shooters Supply and/or call him at 541.439.5155. Tell him you got his number from Brett in Eugene. If you check out the brake on his site you'll see pictures at the bottom of the page. The radial brake is the one you want.

~Brett

 

[MikeEzell]

I'd recommend a round 1" brake like the Ross Schuler or similar, and have it properly fit to your gun by a qualified smith. The standard length for threads on a muzzle is .600" but can vary based on brake design. IMO a 1" brake will look nice if the smith blends it back with the barrel, but a 1.250 will offer a small benefit in recoil reduction. This is based on equal installation and brake design...only difference being brake outside diameter.

 

[rubicon_unlimited]

Check out Centershot rifles muscle brake.

 

[Apache659]

Check out Centershot rifles muscle brake.

I was looking at the 3 Port Muscle Brake after posting last night, I'll check into the Holland brake also ...

 

[wadebrown]

I have had great luck with the Muscle Brake

 

[xXlojackXx]

I put a muscle brake on my .338 and it takes the recoil down to a much easier to manage level.

 

[glock270]

Look at one of the brakes that A.P.A offers.I put a Fat Bastard on my 338 edge and couldn't be happier.Also,I have a friend that has a Defensive Edge brake on a .300 ultra and it works very well.

 

[EasternNChunter]

APA makes great brakes. I am having the Little Bastard put on my .300 win mag.

 

[Apache659]

I was looking at the Little Bastard but it's too small for my barrel diameter and the Fat Bastard is made for a higher grain load than I'll be shooting. The 3 Port Muscle brake seems to be in the lead right now ...

 

[Catwhacker]

I have a 3 port slab sided muscle brake on a sendero 7mag & it makes a world of difference on that rifle. It's wider than it is tall & it's 1" tall (across the flats)

 

[EasternNChunter]

I was looking at the Little Bastard but it's too small for my barrel diameter and the Fat Bastard is made for a higher grain load than I'll be shooting. The 3 Port Muscle brake seems to be in the lead right now ...

Well, its being put on my M24 contour...

 

[TheSolitaryTraveller]

How do you guys pick up your brakes, it's it off the specs, looks, it was mentioned, or something else. I wonder because my brother toward me I should do a few engineering things in the knife and firearm world, since i'm starting to get back into designing and engineering and also because I like this stuff for some reason (not sure why, just always been drawn to guns and knives)

 

[Apache659]

If I had a choice I like the looks of the slab style brakes over the round ...

 

[WhiteDingo]

I have a 3 port Muscle Brake installed on my .30-338 Win Mag single shot that works superbly. I don't have an accurate measure of the felt recoil reduction, but it makes my 200gr MatchKing loads much more pleasant to shoot.