Anyone have experience with Shrewd Muzzle Brakes? How about Vais?
Will go on a .416 Rem.

I really like the Vais. Be careful with some of the super recoil reduction types. I have one that directs so much gas back toward the shooter you wind up with a lot of dust with you in the middle if using it in a dry area.

I have several rifles with the Vais brake. They are very effective and the sound is directed away from the shooter as compared to the old boss brakes.

I've used a Vais on my 7mm Rem Mag. for about 6 or 7 years. It replaced, and is not as obtrusive as, a KDF. It is not hard on the shooter but blows the noise and blast directly sideways, really hurting anyone standing to the shooter's side, but not behind him. Not perfect, but is as good as they make them now. it is easy to remove, clean, and put back on.

The great advantage of a muzzle brake in long-range American shooting, where the deer or other game can be 300 yds. or more away, is that the noise is dissipated at the site of the shot and the target animal (which has not seen the hunter) cannot locate from whence the noise came. This is less of an advantage in Africa, where ranges usually are shorter and the game is more nervous and alert because of the constant presence of predators.

I had a 416 Wby with the factory brake and could have used it to clean the yard of leaves the blast was so bad. I made a brake simular to the vais and it is so much better like blanco county post says. Go with the Vais and you will be happy you did.

There is no such thing a "shrewd" muzzle break. The phrase is a non-sequitur.

I agree on the Vais.

I have experience with the Weatherby AccuBrake and it was truly top notch. But I have also seen a couple of others that I would install if I needed. One was made by AccuFlite Sako and the other by Tip Burns. Both very similar to the Weatherby and both matched the barrel contour perfectly and there was absolutely no gap of any kind when it was made up. Looked perfectly fitted and worked effectivley too from others reports. I prefer the look of these mounted to the bulged out look of some of the Vais. And then get the thread protector to install when the brake is not in use.

You might have a look at the Weatherby one local to you and even order one and have it fitted if it matched up to your muzzle. This style sure helped shooting a 378 from the bench. I am not sure but it may be KDF made.

Hmmm - now I am going to have to get one for my 416!

The weatherby AccuBrake does work BUT it creats a blast and is loud. The Vias is so much better.

There is a thread on muzzle brakes in the Medium Bore forum. I have a brake bought from G.S. Custom on my 416 Rigby. Seems to work fine but I have nothing to compare it against.
Peter.

As it is dogcats's thread, and he did not ask about the Weatherby AccuBrake, or the others, I truly hesitated to put that in my post. But as I said it is tested effective.

One of the alternative defintions in Websters of "fierce recoil" should be a picture of a Weatherby 378. When I asked the Weatherby custom shop guys they said "nobody here actually wants to shoot 'em." So the brake goes on for anytime it is not in the safe or case . For safety reasons

But as notable physicsts have observed, there is no free lunch. All of the brakes have blast and volume. Sitting at a bench with a solid roof over you magnifies this. But you have on your ears etc. For field use just clear your trackers LOL. They've seen them before. Dogcat as the Classic Hunter may have his thread cap on then anyway. Or not.

For that 378 I need a separate rifle bearer. Not to carry the rifle, but to reach over and pull the trigger while I have my fingers in my ears, my teeth clinched, and my eyes closed. Thats without the brake .

Seriously having seen the Vias, and others, I think that all the good ones are about the same. Just dont get such a muzzle mass out there and one that blows stuff all over you. I am sure dogcat wont be doing that. Probably more dependent on just who can get to your rifle in a reasonable turnaround time that you trust to do the work correctly.

I put a Vais on my 375 Ruger and it made a huge difference. I don't think it cut the felt recoil as much as other brakes but the difference in noise reduction is well worth the trade off. I also put one on a 300 WBY and used the gun to take a Moose here in Ut this fall.

I have installed over a hundred brakes. Vais and others, they all work. If you think the blast is too much open the muzzle hole up a bit. It will decrease the recoil reduction as well as the noise. It's always a trade-off. I use them on the bench, but never hunting out of respect for the people that may be around me.....Tom

I've got a Vais muzzle brake Version 2 that is absolutely wonderful. I got to know George before he went back to Greece and it was very informative to listen to his explanations and the results of his testing.

The noise increase is minimal.