Gunsmithing Muzzle Brake Suppressors

[bassani]

Outside of reducing recoil, does a muzzle brake serve another function?

I often see people posting about their barrel lengths and stating the presence or absence of a muzzle brake with an implication as if that you can go with a shorter barrel and add a muzzle brake which will improve accuracy.

It is my understanding that muzzle brakes in general can improve accuracy to all rifles just by the recoil reduction which decreases "flinching" and muzzle rise. So that being the case, a longer barrel with a muzzle brake is more accurate than a shorter barrel with a muzzle brake. So why even bring it up?

I'm asking because perhaps I am just not aware of another aspect of a muzzle brake.

Why would you choose not to have a muzzle brake on any rifle outside of the fact that you don't want the extra length or possibly dont want to gas cloud obscuring your view?

 

[xs hedspace]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

Muzzle brakes deflect a lot of noise to the sides, annoying people at the range, and sometimes blowing stuff off the benches, if you are bench testing. Don't know if they increase accuracy, but if you are sensitive to recoil, they reduce flinching. But training is the way to reduce flinch.

 

[wtopace]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

I would guess the function would be similar to that of a suppressor. A lot of people see slightly smaller groups from the same rifle, only suppressed. The general thought is that the extra 8-10" of non-turbulent air will allow the bullet to further stabilize allowing it to spin-up more freely before it has the outside forces exerted on it.

I would be doubtful if this effect is noticeable from a 2-3" muzzle break with holes punched in it.

 

[CaptLink]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wtopace</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would guess the function would be similar to that of a suppressor. A lot of people see slightly smaller groups from the same rifle, only suppressed. The general thought is that the extra 8-10" of non-turbulent air will allow the bullet to further stabilize allowing it to spin-up more freely before it has the outside forces exerted on it.

I would be doubtful if this effect is noticeable from a 2-3" muzzle break with holes punched in it. </div></div>
I would agree with the above gentlemen.The only improvement in accuracy may be due to a improved vibration node.Browning used a adjustable system called the BOSS that worked on that principal.After all if it really did improve accuracy the bench rest crowd would use them.

 

[STR]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

A muzzle brake isn't going to make the rifle more or less accurate. Nor is the length of the barrel. The shooters interaction with the rifle is what makes a big difference. With a muzzle brake on there, you feel less effect from recoil, so you feel more relaxed, and concentrate better on what you should be doing behind the rifle. The recoil affects some people more than others, so it's not about whether or not you need one either. I like them on everything, even on a .223, and it's not because I'm sensitive to recoil. Some guys opt to do without because of extra noise, side blast, cost, ect., ect. Non of which applys to me. I really like to see impact on target, and a brake on an already low recoil caliber allows this for me.

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

The theory is that a brake that separates high velocity gas from the bullet flight path very close to the barrel prevents the bullet from having to fly at subsonic or transonic velocity for a short space relative to the air that it is flying in.

Theoretically, a properly designed, and totally symmetrical muzzle brake should increase accuracy.

This effect should be most pronounced on shorter barrels like a 7.5" 5.56mm barrel where the high velocity gas interacts with the bullet for a greater flight time than say a 24" barrel.

 

[bassani]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

I knew there was something else behind it but it seems fairly unproven

The BOSS system, as i recall, is more about barrel vibration trying to adjust the center by moving the adjustable muzzle brake on the end of the barrel.

 

[bassani]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

just found this about the BOSS
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=107

 

[HPLLC]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Maelek</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I knew there was something else behind it but it seems fairly unproven

The BOSS system, as i recall, is more about barrel vibration trying to adjust the center by moving the adjustable muzzle brake on the end of the barrel. </div></div>

The boss is a totally different concept- it is a harmonic balancer for crappy sporter barrels which have lots of whip.

The reason for the brake increasing accuracy being unproven is that most threads are out of concentric, and most brake apertures aren't totally concentric. Eccentricity will delete any improvement and can even hurt accuracy. So failure to properly apply the brake is the reason if any that it is "unproven".

 

[CaptLink]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

If gases can be stripped off in symmetry it would act as a extension to your crown and I could see that increasing the accuracy of VLD bullets.But most brakes are asymmetrical like the A2 flash hider it hurts accuracy.Sounds like a opportunity.

 

[BlkExp98]

Re: Muzzle Brake Suppressors

Wasnt there a company that made a muzzle brake with a shroud that helped lower the noise and flash. It didnt lower it below a bare barrel but i thought it helped. Nor-Cal Precision made it after looking back at a paper i printed on it a long time ago. Here is a review of one of their rifles that i found after a quick search. The "Tactical Vent System" is on the end of the barrel of the rifle pictured. http://www.tacticalintervention.com/reviewsnorcalnighthawk.html The paper i have calls it a flashider too. If you cant find any info on it ill scan the page i have.

If for nothing else its an interesting concept just to take a look at.