I know the topic of muzzle brakes brings on numerous almost fanatical replies. Mostly what I am looking for here is if anyone has actually found one that is resonably quiet that actually works. I have found a company that has a unique product and was also wondering if anyone has actually used one. The site is http://www.bp-tec.com/.

Ken...

muzzle brakes can't really be quiet - its a simple matter of physics. you are diverting hot supersonic gas.

Perhaps I should rephrase. There are those out there that divert the gas more away from the shooter and there are those that divert it somewhat back. Obviously anyone to the sides of either of them are going to get an earfull. Just looking for those that, though may not be quite as effective on recoil, don't blast the ears of the shooter. On the range with the more powerful cartridges it would be nice be able to fire enough rounds to become comfortable with the rifle. At the same time I simply go to the far side of the range so bystanders aren't beat up by the muzzle blast.

Ken....

Ah, but if one takes the hearing aids out, the sound is bearable.

LOL.... Good one two canoes...

Ken,

I have no personal experience in this area but, several folks have told me the Vais break does a great job of reducing recoil without alot of increased noise.

Perhaps worth a look...?

Regards,
Dave

What did you say?
Piece of cake, was it?
Sorry Mate I've lost a lot of my top end hearing due to shooting a rifle with a muzzle break.

This is obviously a development from the compensators used on IPSC open class guns. These do not tend to increase the noise as much as most rifle brakes ... which can be utterly obnoxious.

Be warned however, most IPSC open shooters will tend to wear both ear plugs and ear muffs as these pistols are still very loud even though they are of smaller caliber (major Super).

The other brake system that I have found to be less objectionable than most is the MagnaPort system. It too tends to be less rattling than most rifle brakes ... but louder than one with no brake at all. It tends to control muzzle jump without reducing recoil a lot.

Heat, a company called Vais is suposed to have a "quieter" one.

quote:

Mostly what I am looking for here is if anyone has actually found one that is resonably quiet that actually works.

Yes. I have a VAIS on my CZ 550 416 Rigby. The people who were shooting next to me at the range said it sounded like a standard .30/'06 to them. I had my ear protectors on, and of course could not judge the sound too accurately.

I've never shot this rifle without the brake, but was shooting 350-grain bullets at 2700 FPS, and it seemed to kick less than my un-braked .375 H&H with 270-grain bullets. Both rifles weigh about the same.

The .416 is actually quite pleasant to shoot with this 350-grain load. So I guess the brake does reduce recoil..........

I'm considering putting one of these brakes on my No.1 .45/70, which with a 400-grain bullet and 60 grains of RE7 is a real "rip-snorter"!!

Heat

Over the years I've spent a lot of time at the range. All brakes do what I call redirection of noise at an unacceptable level. On .338's and above they should be referred to as "Ear Breakers". The noise is totally unacceptable.

At our range rifles with brakes can only be shot on certain benches 1- 8 so I pick a bench at the other end near the Range Master office. We let all the muzzle brake shooters say on the other end of the range and impress each other.

I certainly understand the noise factor. As at the range I go to I would definetly go to the far end. The brake is more for the range time to get accustomed to the rifle. While in the field there would be no need. Simply put, I'm not particularly recoil sensitive but for the harder thumping cartridges and getting familiar with them it's nice to be able to shoot 30 or 40 rounds a session. I want to be completely comfortable with a weapon before I take into the field.

Ken....

Hey oldun--

What am I gonna do? I only have one aid.

O i forgot - i've got a good brake on my state arms 50 - only problem was this winter when I shot it out of the shooting building at the range and the backblast blew out the windows.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
O i forgot - i've got a good brake on my state arms 50 - only problem was this winter when I shot it out of the shooting building at the range and the backblast blew out the windows.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
muzzle brakes can't really be quiet - its a simple matter of physics. you are diverting hot supersonic gas.

Actually, it isn't a matter of physics or even technology, but a matter of law.

In many places in Europe you'll find regular hunters/gun nuts like us with suppressors on the ends of their barrels. "Why would they need those?" you ask?

A well designed suppressor will dramatically reduce felt recoil while dramatically reducing muzzle blast while (of course) dramatically reducing noise while usually improving accuracy. If I was going to screw anything onto the end of my barrel, it would be a suppressor. Other than size/weight it's a win-win all the way around, as opposed to a muzzle brake which is a win-lose-lose risk injury to anybody near you compromise.

But the HollyWood image of "silencers" only being useful for Hitmen to screw on as they approach some poor, innocent, unsuspecting victim will likely keep them restricted to the point of rediculousness in this country so we'll just have to stay in the dark ages. Sad really. If nothing else than from a public health standpoint they should be encouraged IMHO.

Of course I have permanent hearing loss from shooting (as do millions upon millions of others) so I might be biased.

http://www.probed2000.com I have one on a 15" 30-06 Encore Pistol Barrel tames it down to a 243.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon A:


In many places in Europe you'll find regular hunters/gun nuts like us with suppressors on the ends of their barrels. "Why would they need those?" you ask?

A well designed suppressor will dramatically reduce felt recoil while dramatically reducing muzzle blast while (of course) dramatically reducing noise while usually improving accuracy. If I was going to screw anything onto the end of my barrel, it would be a suppressor. Other than size/weight it's a win-win all the way around, as opposed to a muzzle brake which is a win-lose-lose risk injury to anybody near you compromise.

But the HollyWood image of "silencers" only being useful for Hitmen to screw on as they approach some poor, innocent, unsuspecting victim will likely keep them restricted to the point of rediculousness in this country so we'll just have to stay in the dark ages. Sad really. If nothing else than from a public health standpoint they should be encouraged IMHO.

Of course I have permanent hearing loss from shooting (as do millions upon millions of others) so I might be biased.

Yupp, thats it. My lathe is working overtime, now in front of hunting season, I install at least one suppressor each day.
Everyone wants them, for all the reasons listed above. Beside, we are alowed to hunt by the light of the moon after dark, so the lack of muzzle blast is important not to be blinded by the flash, so one can follow a wounded animal - and also hear it.

See, in Norway, our gouvernment pays all our hospital bills, and the hearing damages are becoming a large bill for the city hall, therefore they encourage the use of silencers.

Heat- the company's claim of no "increase" in noise is correct- of course no muzzle brake increases the noise, it is as Jay suggested the re-direction of the noise. An easy to understand analogy is that a muzzle brake makes a rifle sound like you are standing beside the muzzle, not behind it. One primary advantage of a muzzle brake in the field is that you can actually see your bullet hit the animal- sure you need ear protection, but you should be wearing some sort of ear protection with anyway, after all at 120-145 decibels you are damageing your hearing everytime you pull the trigger- after 45 years I know the affects.

Thanks DuaneinND. I am certainly aware of the redirection of the noise. Make no mistake, I do wear hearing protection even in the field. With the modern day electronics it's very easy to not only hear your prospective quarry but then have the earmuffs shut down the noise as the trigger is pulled. Have to love that technology (plus they keep your ears warm ).