[Skunkabilly]

Seems the concensus here is everyone hates them.

Any purpose to consider say, a Bushie with an AK muzzle brake?

Shooting when no one is around? Just for the military-style look?

And can they be had on Dissies?

[Braz]

Skunkster,

I've always been told the brake direects the gas upward to avoid stirring up a dust cloud when prone. Not something civilians need when ya get more muzzle blast and noise, imo.

[swingset]

All brakes serve one indisputable purpose in the civilian world: They look tactical.

[Wildalaska]

A good brake serves to keep the barrel on target for rapid second shot aquisition...

WildlessrecoilisbetterAlaska

[BigG]

Doodads, man, doodads! :neener:

[podwich]

They can protect the muzzle from damage.

[Matt G]

podwich brings up the only real benefit, to me.

Otherwise, they:

Add unnecessary length.

Make already loud carbines and rifles even LOUDER to the shooter.

Give the impression to some that a rifle is somehow more dangerous.

Give the impression to some others that the owner is somehow trying to make his rifle look more dangerous.

If my rifle is that long, overall, I'd rather have 2 more inches of barrel length.


These are simply my take on muzzle breaks, and I mean no slam on those of y'all that have them on your rifles. But if my barrel was more than 16" and I had a permanently-mounted MB, I'd probably have it cut off and have the barrel re-crowned. :)

[Steve Smith]

The guys that shoot 3 gun like them I'm sure, but for the average Joe, the poster before me got it nailed.

[twoblink]

Muzzle breaks vent upwards to keep barrel climb from happening so your have better follow up shots. They also protect the crown of the muzzle, which is probably one of the most important parts of the gun as far as accuracy is concerned, as a good crown outflows the gas evenly so you don't spin and yawl your bullet from uneven gas distribution.

Would I pick a muzzle break over a longer barrel length? No.

Also, it makes your LOUD gun LOUDER. Fairly tactical looking, but not that practical..

[Zundfolge]

Add unnecessary length.

Put one on a 14" rifle and its legal for us surfs to own.

Other then that, pretty useless.

[Kaylee]

I thought it was just 'cause evil black rifles look nekkid without something hanging on the end of the barrel.


-K

[Logistar]

A good brake serves to keep the barrel on target for rapid second shot aquisition... I know that is what it is made for. The thing I do not understand is that if the stock comes straight back on an AR-15, won't THAT keep the muzzle from rising when you fire a shot?

I mean on a handgun for example, the barrel sits ABOVE the grip. Therefore the gun moves backward (and tilts UP) when fired. Most rifles have stocks that place them lower on your shoulder so I can see recoil moving the muzzle up on them. It would seem to me that the AR-15's recoil would go STRAIGHT back into your shoulder and not raise the front of the gun up.

Am I crazy? On second thought... don't answer my LAST question!

Logistar

[Poodleshooter]

Why? How else are newbies going to piss off their neighbors on the highpower line?
"Whaddya mean it's not a service rifle?" ;)

[Skunkabilly]

OK now that everyone dissed them, how many of you guys HAVE them? :D

I'm probably going to get an untactical looking Dissy with plain boring unmilitary looking barrel.

Can they screw on temporarily for 3-gun matches?

[Steve Smith]

Poodleshooter, you're more than welcome to bring it, but don't be surprised if you're stuck on the 5th relay...after everyone else goes home! :D

[Freedom in theSkies]

...Never really noticed a difference in the light .223 recoil.
On .308 it is more effective.
Nevertheless, they look cool. Oops, I mean Tactical

[Quintin Likely]

I never really saw the sense in a brake on a .223 caliber weapon in the first place...

You'll get slightly better accuracy with a regular crowned barrel on an AR than a brake. The brake may not allow the gases to expand evenly as the bullet leaves the muzzle, "tipping" the bullet and affecting accuracy. And braked weapons are loud as hell.

[thumbtack]

I think Rock Jock could use one.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7192

[Matt G]

Yes, and I was proud of his honesty. Not a lot of men can publicly admit that they're a wus. :D


(RJ, I'm kidding, friend!)




[Mental note to self: don't dis a man who regularly puts 200 rds a day through his AR; you can run, but you'll only perish tired...]
;)

[gun-fucious]

11-INCH M-16, FULL AUTO, ONE HAND
WITH JP RECOIL ELIMINATOR
http://www.jprifles.com/recoil.htm

These 20 frames represent 1 second of un-altered video in which at least 14 rounds were fired FULL AUTO from an 11-inch M-16 with ONE HAND!_ Note the complete lack of gun movement. The JP Recoil Eliminator delivers a level of performance that you must experience to appreciate. Although I'd like everyone to have the opportunity to try this product, it's just not possible. Therefore, I feel this video demo is the next best thing.

[Wildalaska]

You'll get slightly better accuracy with a regular crowned barrel on an AR than a brake.

Absolutely false...depending of course if the brake is installed correctly...

WildshotembothwaysAlaska

[Kentucky Rifle]

..I got the "plain barrel". I realize that I'm in the minority, however the plain barrel just looked better. (To me.)

KR

[goosegunner]

Muzzle brakes will make it harder to get snow and/or dirt into the barrel, which will prevent you from getting small parts of your gun into your face. :D

[Badger Arms]

It seems that only us Northerners prefer muzzle brakes. I'm going to disagree that the .223 is without recoil worries. The gun does indeed jump and move and there is recoil, albiet not as much as a shotgun or 50 caliber.It would seem to me that the AR-15's recoil would go STRAIGHT back into your shoulder and not raise the front of the gun up.This is absolutely not true. The center of mass for the AR-15 does not lie directly in-line with the bore and the gun is, therefore, not a true in-line design. Also, the center of the footprint that the butt has against the shooter's shoulder is not centered on the bore line or the recoil centerline. Just because part of the buttstock lies inline with the bore of the rifle does not make the AR-15 an in-line design in any way. The muzzle DOES rise. My muzzle brake does negate this rise entirely.

To illustrate my point, imagine an AR-15 rifle with a 50 pound weight attached to the bottom of the magazine. When you fire the gun, the entire gun will rotate in a manner that MUST cause the barrel to rise even if you burry the rifle deep on your shoulder. No, the rifle isn't that heavy but the center of mass is below the bore line. MOST people keep the rifle higher on the shoulder so that the bore of the rifle is actually above where the gun mates. This is not universally true though.

As for muzzle blast and noise... have any of you ever fired a 30-06 or a 7mm Magnum? My .223 with a muzzle brake dosen't come close. Shoot often with hearing protection and seldom without and you'll be fine. If you worry about annoying others at the range, don't bring out your magnum rifle either. Perhaps Alaskans don't have other's distaste for muzzle brakes or report?

[BigG]

I guess what Badger Arms is saying is that if the AR was truly in line the butt would look like a crutch - half above and half below the buffer tube.

[Badger Arms]

Yeah, but the sight line would be about 6-8 inches above the bore line in that case.