Muzzle Brake => Face full of gas?

[marklbucla]

I simultaneously shot my new to me Bushmaster M4 Post Ban w/Permanently attached muzzle brake and .223 for the first time on Friday. With each shot, i felt a little whoosh of gas in my face. Is this normal (and safe!) for muzzle braked barrels???

 

[blackhawk2000]

Probably gas leaking past the charging handle.

 

[Strongbad]

This is normal. It will vary depending on how the vents in the brake are cut. My 30/378 Weatherby with the stock Weatherby Accubrake had a really bad blast that would hit you. A Shilen rebarrel sans muzzle brake fixed the problem.

Aside from cutting down on some of the muzzle jump, which isn't that bad, I've never understood the need for a brake on a 223. It's not like it has that much recoil to begin with, each to his own though.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

IMHO the "need" for a muzzle brake on an AR came about when flash hiders were deemed politcally incorrect and people still wanted some kind of tacticool thingie on the end of their barrel, so the manufacturers stuck on muzzle brakes since they weren't allowed to sell flash hiders.

 

[blackhawk2000]

I probably have the same exact model as you. Brake, fixed telestock, no bayo lug, M4 profile barrel. I get no gas in the face. Gas can and does on some guns, leak past the charging handle. http://www.mountsplus.com/miva/merchant.mvc?page=MSP/PROD/gas/PRI-M69-GB2

Do a search for gas buster charging handle for more companies that sell. Also a bead of silicone ran along the area it vents at will also work.

 

[marklbucla]

Is gas leak a defect or just something that happens to occur with some?

 

[blackhawk2000]

The AR justs vent gas directly into the chamber. It's how the weapon cycles. In the process gas goes where it can. Out the charging handle is one place where it can go if there is a big enough air gap. Some get it some don't. I've only put about 300 through mine, and I'm the first owner. It doesn't do it, but that's not to say after time it won't happen.

 

[blackhawk2000]

Someone pasted this on AR15.com. Use black silicone so it doesn't show up so well if you do it.

 

[marklbucla]

The charging handle I got with it did feel flimsier, and maybe even thinner than the one I got with my complete Olympic PCR.

 

[Jenrick]

I've got an AR-180B with the standard brake. No gas in the face for me.

-Jenrick

 

[Fingolfin]

Only time I felt gas in my face from a muzzle brake was bump firing my AK.

 

[.45Guy]

No gas with my ar, but I do catch alot of brass.

 

[marklbucla]

This might explain why I got a complete upper for $350

 

[Bottom Gun]

Were you shooting from the hip or was the rifle up to your shoulder?

I once had a brake that bounced gas back into my face when I fired from the hip. It was a totally useless blast enhancer.
I took it off and never felt any more gas. It was much more pleasant to shoot without the brake. My groups improved considerably as well.

My suggestion is to take the brake off and either replace it with a real flash hider or just keep the barrel bare.

 

[boofus]

Well known problem for suppressor owners. The solution is to get one of those PRI Gas Buster handles and epoxy a piece of rubber or silicone in the gap like shown in the earlier picture.

The AR system sends gas right back into the upper part of the receiver. Any type of muzzle device that impedes the flow of gas out the front will cause it to come oozing out of any hole in the back. Including the charging handle hole, so block that hole and no more Wolf juice in the face.

 

[boing]

I'm guessing that it's not actually propellant gas, but just the concussion wave in the air from the brake ports.

But, that's guessing. Neither of my ARs vent operating gas to the shooter.

 

[Snowdog]

The only time I notice any effects from the KDF muzzle brake on my SAR4800 is when firing prone. Other than that, no whoosh, no nothing.

Now ask anybody standing next to me and you'll likely hear a different story.

 

[280PLUS]

Mine doesn't do that.