Looking at a 375 with a muzzlebrake installed by Answer Products (which I understand is no longer in business). Are these brakes any good?

Thanks,

JDG

I would never have a rifle with a muzzle brake of any kind. I have two Brownings that came with the BOSS and I changed to the CR device to eliminate the brake. They will ruin your hearing as well as your PH, trackers and anyone at the range position next to you. No .375 needs a brake anyway, IMO. If it can be removed or cut off and the barrel re-crowned, it would be worth a consideration. There are other options if recoil is a problem.

Large bore handguns are a different story, and I have MagnaPorted four of them. It's all about muzzle flip on handguns.

I cannot answer your question directly, however.

I'll second Lion Hunter's remarks. Remember - bruises are temporary, hearing loss is permanent. If the muzzlebrake screws off, you could have a machinist/gunsmith make you a cap that would screw over the threaded portion of the barrel or just cut off the brake.

i have a 300 win mag with answer system brake, best brake I've ever shot, easily unscrews and can get a thread protector to use with hunting mine has no POI shift. As said loud loud loud. prefer brakes on my 338 lapua, 50 bmg etc as the will often be bench or prone. No brakes on double 470 or 375 but shot standing the recoil is totally managable. if price is right go for it if not happy with the brake use a thread protector!

Thanks, gentleman. I appreciate the advice. Having never owned a rifle with a brake your thoughts were helpful. I am in no rush to buy another rifle and I certainly have no "need" for a 375 so I'll probably pass on this one and wait until the right one comes along.

Thanks again,

JDG

I have 7 rifles with muzzle brakes; the smallest being a 6.5x55 and the largest a .358 X .404 IMP.
Perhaps the smaller rifles don't need them but it sure makes shooting off a bench a lot more pleasant than without the muzzle brake.
roger

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I'll second Lion Hunter's remarks. Remember - bruises are temporary, hearing loss is permanent. If the muzzlebrake screws off, you could have a machinist/gunsmith make you a cap that would screw over the threaded portion of the barrel or just cut off the brake.

Started thinking about this response and it prompted a couple more questions: The rifle I was looking at was a 375 with a 24" barrel which I presume included the length of the brake. Thinking about the option of just cutting the brake off and having the barrel re-crowned, wouldn't that effect the performance of the rifle? I don't mind a shorter barrel on a light 375 but at what point is a barrel too short and/or does it effect performance and accuracy?

Thanks,

JDG

An inch or two will not make any difference to the animal you shoot. My current 458Lott is an RSM with 22" bbl while my partners Dakota is a 24" pipe. We are shooting the same loads with negligible difference in velocity.

We have both just ordered 458B&M rifles built by SSK with 20" bbls - you can also have them with 18" bbls. Performance will be between a 458WM and the Lott with the 20" pipe.

I have several rifles with Answer Products brakes. I like them as well as other gunsmithing that was done for my by Sam at Answer Products. Sorry to hear the're gone. Anyone know why they closed?

the bigger the bore ratio (amount of powder being burned to the size of the hole) the less velocity is affected by small changes in length. There are some guys here sporting 18-21" 375's with only a slight loss. Its when you have a lot of powder for the bore size (this is where "over bore" comes from) then you DO need that extra length in order to burn all the powder. 257 Wby, 264 Win Mag, even 7mm Rem, these can lose significant velocity under 25-27". IIRC a 24" 264 Win Mag ends up basically being a 270 Win with more recoil and muzzle blast lol.

I have shot rifles with brakes, and without. I like them for bench work, especially if they are the removable type. Anyone that gives you the whole "less of a man" for using them is a bunch of bullshit. They're the ones with the real ego problems, not you. Rifles NEED to be benched at some point, and if its more then you care to tolerate ON THE BENCH, by all means get a brake. You could also use a Lead-Sled, but these too are just as controversial.

Get a removable brake, zero your rifle, check loads or factory ammo, then use field positions without the brake.